Practical guide to the probabilities and variance of slot machines

Online casinos offer an immersive experience due to many aspects. One of the first things you will probably notice is of course the sounds, the buttons, the visual effects and the multitude of animations. That said, for every online casino game, including slot machines, there is an element of risk associated with it. That's what gives us adrenaline rushes when we play.

This unpredictability corresponds to what is called the variance or the volatilitý of a game. These two terms are used to describe the uncertainty about how much money you could lose or win. The so-called "high volatility" or "high volatility" slot machines tend to pay large amounts over short periods of time, while the "low volatility" slot machines will rather tend to pay you small winnings for the same period of time.

For its part, the variance corresponds to the importance of the risk incurred by playing a game. Thus, the amount of winnings for a given period depends on the variance of a game. It is usually easier to cash out winnings at a low variance slot machine. However, these gains, even if they are more frequent, are usually smaller. Medium to high variance slot machines thus require to have a larger starting fund in order to be able to continue playing. Indeed, at these machines, the winnings are rarer, but they are also more important. In this case, the effect of variance cannot be avoided. However, it is possible that it will be to the player's advantage for a short period of time. On the other hand, low variance slot machines allow players to play longer, since the winnings are distributed more regularly.

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The highest paying online slot machines

Online casino software companies have a responsibility to ensure the quality of their games. They are the ones who design the technology behind every online casino game. Moreover, the most experienced players rely on these different publishers in order to establish how this or that slot machine tends to pay.

The online gaming industry has a few big names in the slot category and each of them offers a wide range of return rates depending on the number of paylines and reels.

Among these industry giants, we can find names such as:

Microgaming, NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Playtech, Play 'n Go, Amatic, Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play.

The names mentioned above may only constitute a quarter of all the publishers on the market, but they are also the most well-known. When they design their games, they establish their own return rates and normally apply them to certain types of games in particular. By taking a closer look at how these publishers design their slot machines, it is possible to get an idea of how their choices influence return rates. However, from time to time, an exception arises and a new game is released on the market with a return rate that no one expected.

As we mentioned earlier, the games the highest paying casino games are determined by their designers and the tendency of a game to pay little or a lot depends entirely on what publishers choose to integrate into their games. The different features have a considerable influence on the return rate, volatility and variance of a game. Thus, since the type of slot machines and the publisher's choices in terms of volatility, variance and return rates influence the way a slot machine is played and the chances of winning, we invite you to read the rest of this article to be able to make an informed choice when choosing your next slot machine. Some slot machines come with attractive offers, such as the famous no deposit required bonus from Play n Go .

The slot machines with the best return rates (TRJ)

Here are the online slots with the best return to player rates in Canada.

Supplier Slot machine game TRJ %
Playtech Goblin's Cave 99.32
Playtech Ugga Bugga 99.07
NetEnt Mega Joker 99
Playtech Tropic Reels 98.95
Playtech Cinerama 98.94
Playtech Triple Profits 98.72
Thunderkick 1429 Uncharted Seas 98.6
Quickspin Joker Strike (High Roller mode) 98.11
NetEnt Blood Suckers 98
Yggdrasil Jokerizer 98
Betsoft Good Girl Bad Girl 97.79
Playtech Golden Tower 97.71
Playtech Alien Hunter 97.69
Betsoft WhoSpunIt 97.64
Betsoft Gypsy Rose 97.63
Microgaming Hot Ink 97.5
Microgaming Retro Reels 97.5
Microgaming Retro Reels Extreme Heat 97.5
Betsoft Safari Sam 97.5
Microgaming Bikini Party (with re-spins) 97.49
Microgaming Dragon Dance (with re-spins) 97.49
Microgaming Reel Gems (with re-spins) 97.49
Microgaming Wild Orient (with re-spins) 97.49
Microgaming Couch Potato 97.43
Betsoft At the Copa 97.42
Playtech Jungle Boogie 97.4
Playtech Alchemist's Lab 97.32
Thunderkick Børk the Berzerker 97.3
Playtech Sultan's Fortune 97.26
Betsoft Greedy Goblins 97.2
Playtech Neptune's Kingdom 97.19
Microgaming Froot Loot 97.17
Playtech Diamond Valley 97.16
Playtech Funky Monkey 97.15
Play N Go Rage to Riches 97.12
Thunderkick Toki Time 97.1
Betsoft The Tipsy Tourist 97.1
NetEnt Jack Hammer 2 97.07
NetEnt Jack Hammer 2: Fishy Business 97.07
NetEnt Secrets of Atlantis 97.07

Progressive slot machines

Progressive slots are the most difficult to understand, but are certainly among the potentially highest paying slots. They normally offer return rates between 85% and 95%, but the earning potential is simply astronomical. Progressive slot machines like Mega Moolah can pay sums up to millions of dollars to players who have sufficient funds to get to the jackpot. Indeed, due to the relatively low return rate, players still need to have large funds to be able to play for a long time, even if the value of the bets remains relatively low, because this type of machine tends to pay large amounts infrequently. So here is a list of the most popular progressive jackpot slots from different software companies, accompanied by their return rate.

Supplier Slot machine game TRJ %
Microgaming Mega Moolah 88.12 + 8.8 (Jackpot contribution)
Microgaming Mega Moolah Isis 88.00 + 8.8 (Jackpot contribution)
Microgaming Major Millions 5 Reel 89.41 + 7.47 (Jackpot contribution)
NetEnt Mega Fortune 96.00
NetEnt Mega Fortune Dreams 95.9
NetEnt Arabian Nights 95.62
NetEnt Hall of Gods 95.30
Playtech Age of the Gods Jackpot 94.03 - 95.02
Playtech Gladiator Jackpot 91.46
Playtech Giant Jackpot 91.25-94.22
Playtech Beach Life 93.25
Yggdrasil Empire Fortune 94.3
Yggdrasil Joker Millions 94.3

The classic slot machines

Classic slot machines are so named, because they are usually older and have few special features. They usually offer fairly low return rates to the player, especially because they were designed a long time ago. Nevertheless, many players continue to play it because of the nostalgia element that these machines offer and thus, the publishers ensure that these retro machines remain accessible for players. Anyway, there are still very lucrative classic slot machines.

Modern slot machines

Modern slot machines are by far the most popular, and leading publishers, such as Microgaming and NetEnt, have filled the home pages of online casinos with this type of slot machines. To qualify in this category, a slot machine must normally have 5 reels, more than 10 paylines, built-in bonus games and sometimes even betting options. In addition, it is possible to adjust the preferences for an optimal gaming experience. Parameters such as sounds, bets and automatic play can be adjusted according to the preferences of the players. As a rule, these slot machines offer medium to high return rates to the player, most often between 96% and 99%. This type of return rate means that players will see winnings more frequently than at slots with lower return rates, even though they may not be paying such large amounts. Modern slot machines almost all offer games inside the main game mode. This is called bonus games or games and it is normally thanks to them that players earn the most money.

The 3D slot machines

The category of 3D slot machines is probably the one where we find the most diversity. For this reason, players should check out the return rate, as publishers tend to indulge themselves by being creative when designing these games. 3D slot machines are available in a wide range of themes that can be based on movies, books or fantasy stories. The higher the return rate, the more frequent the winnings, and the luckiest players can even land a jackpot.

An important factor to take into account when it comes to choosing the best casino game is not only to look at the return rate to the player, but also to look at the payout table and take into account the combinations offering the highest winnings in order to recognize the symbols, bonus game triggers and betting options. These features allow players to have fun while waiting for the jackpot.

Video game type slot machines

This is a completely new kind of slot machines that offer high return rates to players, and therefore more frequent winnings. This type of slot machines rather have the appearance of real video games with complex rules and objectives to achieve. By making the player participate more actively and by offering frequent winnings, these slot machines allow you to focus on the game while providing a new experience of online gambling.

The variance of slot machines

As we mentioned earlier, the variance of a game directly influences the experience and the duration of the game. However, some players have no idea how online slots work. First of all, it is important to understand that slot machines work using random number generators. These number generators can be likened to shuffling a deck of cards or rolling a die. Thus, online slot machines use computers to generate random numbers that will determine the outcome of each game played. You should know that if online casinos use such generators, they also determine the percentage of return. Of course, this is set so that the casino always has an advantage over the players. In addition, after losing, players tend to play faster to try to regain the lost sums. It is the combination of this error of judgment and the probabilities set by online casinos that makes them profitable. On the other hand, such a strategy turns out to be disadvantageous for players.

Whether it's 3-reel games, multi-reel slots, bonus slots or free spin slots, too often we have heard players say to themselves "The next one, I win it", or "My luck will spin", which only benefits online casinos more. This logical error is called the bettor's mistake . In other words, the bettor's mistake consists in believing that the previous result or results have an influence on the following results when this is not the case. This is a misinterpretation of how variance works in games of chance.

This is how online casinos manage to generate profits; counting on the fact that no matter the variance, the probabilities tend to be realized in the long term. For their part, players can only rely on luck when playing slots or other online casino games. However, in the long run, it is more likely that this will result in losses. As an example, we can imagine a slot machine that pays when five identical symbols appear on the game board. To win, a player should have five "cherry" symbols. As mentioned earlier, casinos and slot machines use random number generators. In this situation, let's say that the probability of getting five cherries is set at 1/5 for each row. Thus, the probability of getting all five cherry symbols would be 0.032%. Rounding up, we can therefore estimate that a player should hit the jackpot once every 700 spins.

The different types of slot machines and their variances

We have seen how variance influences players' chances of winning. However, we still have to look at how it works and what makes players keep playing.

Many players prefer low variance slot machines, as they allow you to play for a longer time while offering a lower risk. That is, the money put into the online slot machine lasts longer. These slots are designed to offer more combinations that allow you to win small frequent wins rather than a single big win. So we could say that these are low-risk slot machines that reward little. The advantage of this type of online slots is that it is possible to play them for a longer time with the same amount of money. However, the chances of winning large sums of money are very slim.

On the other hand, high variance online slots are designed to offer big wins, free spins and offer bonus games. While the winning potential remains high at these slot machines, the number of winning combinations is however limited. These slot games usually last less than low variance slots and carry a higher risk of losing money. It is therefore essential to have a strategy and manage your funds accordingly when playing this type of slot machines. In addition, it is important to choose your high variance slot machine correctly. It is recommended to look for those who have not paid for some time, because this way they will have had time to accumulate a bigger jackpot. In addition, this strategy can increase your chances of hitting the jackpot and winning a large amount.

Considering all that has just been said, let's remember that each player must take into account his available funds when it comes time to choose a high or low variance slot machine. If you are a player of high variance online slots, it is recommended to have a strategy for managing your funds and making the smallest possible bets in order to be able to play longer and get through the series without winning. When you win at a high variance slot machine, take your money and switch slots. It is also important to know how to withdraw and take your money at the right time when playing a low variance slot despite the low risk associated with them.

Conclusion

To conclude, let's note that depending on the player, both high and low variance slot machines, provided that they are played correctly, can work in favor of the player. If you want to be able to play for a few hours, low variance slots are a good choice for you. However, we must not forget that they offer low-paying combinations, which translates into smaller winnings. Remember that once you have obtained a few winning combinations, it is time to withdraw your winnings in order to avoid losses.

By the way, the opposite is true for high variance online slots. If you want to win large sums and you have large funds, then you could choose a high variance slot machine that has not paid a large amount for some time. In this way, you will improve your chances of hitting the jackpot. However, while it should be remembered that it is impossible to avoid variance, the way you choose to play and manage your funds can help you put luck on your side. One of the strategies to use in high variance slot machines is to place the smallest possible bet. Thus, your funds will last longer, which will give you a better chance of getting a winning combination at one of the best slot machines in Canada . In addition, it is important to avoid using betting features, as these could prevent you from inflating your funds.

Understanding the implications of variance can certainly take some time, but it is still possible to win considerable amounts by playing slot machines in a reasonable and wise way.

Last Updated: April 6, 2022
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