With some slot lovers all about the fun aspect, a different set of players are in for the thrill, risk-taking, and, more importantly, a big win. For this set of players, high volatility slots are their perfect match. These slots involve higher risk but provide an avenue for hitting big wins, sometimes life-changing jackpots, but there is a catch. These big wins come less often, explaining long dry-spell periods before hitting a same-symbol combination.
These are slot games tailored for thrill-seekers and risk-takers willing to go through the rough patches for an enormous payout. If you are among them, this guide is suited for you. We explain volatility basics, review the best high-volatility slots, and point you to the best US casinos where you can play them.
What are High Volatility Slots?
Slot volatility or variance refers to the risk involved in a game. High-volatility slot machines involve three main factors: high risk, low win frequency, and high payout value. They are the reverse of low volatility slots that involve low risk and pay more often, albeit the small returns.
With high variance slots, the returns are enormous and sometimes have progressive jackpots. But it calls for your patience since hitting the winning combination might take time, explaining the high risk involved.
Best US Online Casinos for Slot Machines with High Volatility
High volatility slots are common across many US online casinos. We point you to the best legal US online casinos, where you can take high risks on such slots from licensed and reputable providers like NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, and NextGen Gaming. Find one you prefer and click the links to sign up, claim the welcome bonus, and spin the reels!
15 Top High-Volatility Online Slots
Below are our picks of the 15 most popular high-volatility online slot games you can find in the above-mentioned online casinos:
| 🎰Slot | 🧑💻Developer | 💯RTP | 💰Max Win | 🖥️Casino to Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immortal Romance | Microgaming | 96.86% | 12,150x | Borgata |
| Dead or Alive 2 | NetEnt | 96.82% | 111,111x | FanDuel |
| Raging Rhino Megaways | WMS | 96.18% | 12,500x | Tropicana |
| Twin Spin Megaways | NetEnt | 96.04% | 38,000x | DraftKings |
| Mercy of the Gods | NetEnt | 96.64% | 1,600x | Unibet |
| Book of Atem | Microgaming | 96.45% | 5,000x | BetMGM |
| Medusa Megaways | NextGen | 96.28% | 50,000x | 888 Casino |
| Cyberslot Megaclusters | Big Time Gaming | 96.36% | 23,960x | Golden Nugget |
| Starburst XXXtreme | NetEnt | 96.26% | 200,000x | Unibet |
| White Rabbit Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 97.24% | 17,420x | Tropicana |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96% | 20,000x | DraftKings |
| Mega Joker | NetEnt | 99% | 2,000x | Golden Nugget |
| Reef Raider | NetEnt | 96.02% | 8,500x | FanDuel |
| Joker’s Riches 2 | High 5 Games | 96% | 1,000x | 888 Casino |
| King of Cats Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96.72% | 56,620x | BetMGM |
Immortal Romance – Microgaming
Immortal Romance is one of the success stories of Microgaming and is a high-volatility slot game you can play in several online casinos, including Borgata and Golden Nugget. With a high RTP of 96.86%, the vampire-themed slot incorporates superb graphics bringing out a supernatural feel and haunting soundtracks to add to the gaming experience.
The five-reel slot machine offers 243 ways to win, with the minimum bet at $0.30 to a max value of $6.00 per spin. The slot also gives value for money with its max win set at 12,150x your stake. Features to expect are:
- Free spins
- Multipliers
- Wild Reels
- Wild symbols
- Scatters
Dead or Alive 2 – NetEnt
NetEnt is famous for high volatility and RTP slots, and this is replicated on the Dead or Alive 2 slot game, featuring five reels, nine paylines, and a high RTP of 96.82%. The Wild West-themed slot is accessible across several US casinos, including FanDuel. With a minimum bet of $0.09 up to a maximum bet of $9 on each spin, you can grab a 111,111x maximum win!
Complementing the gameplay are crisp visuals as you interact with Della Rose, Apache the Kid, Billy the Kid, and co, with several features available to increase your payout value. They include:
- Wild symbol
- Scatter symbol
- Autoplay
- Free spins
- Multipliers
- Buy bonus feature (66x your stake)
Raging Rhino Megaways – WMS
The high volatility slot machine from WMS features a megaways mechanic, explaining the 117,649 ways to win on its six reels. Raging Rhino Megaways follows an Africa Safari theme, where you meet the likes of baggers, cheetahs, gorillas, crocodiles, and rhinos as the highest-paying symbol. With its 96.18% RTP, a bet between $0.20 and $20, and a max win of 12,500x your stake, you get value for money.
Most online casinos, including Tropicana, Borgata, and BetMGM, feature this slot, which is jam-packed with top features. They include:
- Wild symbols
- Scatter symbols
- Free spins
- Wild multipliers (up to 5x)
- Cascade reels
- Bonus Guarantee
Twin Spin Megaways – NetEnt
Another high volatility slot featuring a Megaways feature makes our list. This time, it is from NetEnt. Despite the classic theme, you will love the Twin Spin Megaways 96.04% RTP, the bet size between $0.10 and $100, and a max win of 38,000x your stake.
Like most Megaways slots, Twin Spin Megaways features six reels and offers up to 117,649 ways to win. Try the experience at FanDuel and activate several features, including free spins, after landing five scatters on the reels. You can also boost your payouts further by triggering others like:
- Wild multipliers
- Cascade reels
- Twin Reel
Mercy of the Gods – NetEnt
Themed around Ancient Egypt, Mercy of the Gods is another high variance slot from NetEnt. Playable on a 5×3 grid, the game features twenty paylines and comes loaded with features, including unique ones like Gift of Double Wilds and Gift of Wealth Jackpot features. The bet size of the video slot is between $0.20 and $100 and is playable via desktop or mobile at Tropicana and Unibet, besides other legal online casinos.
And as with most slot machines from NetEnt, Mercy of the Gods has a high RTP at 96.64%, with the max win set at 1,600x your stake. Other features of the high-variance game include:
- Wild symbol
- Scatters
- Free spins
- Respins
- Jackpot
Book of Atem – Microgaming
The 5-reel, 10-payline slot from Microgaming adds to our list of the high variance slots you can play in US online casinos like Golden Nugget and BetMGM. Like Mercy of the Gods, Book of Atem follows an Ancient Egypt theme, and besides its RTP of 96.45% and a max win of 5,000x your stake, it is another game jam-packed with features.
There is much to love about the slot, including the beautiful visuals and captivating soundtracks that immerse you in the experience as you look to unearth lost treasures and hidden riches. While you will not find unique features, you can activate the following:
- Ten free spins
- Bonus game
- Expanding symbols acting as stacked wilds
- Wilds and scatters
Medusa Megaways – NextGen
NextGen is not left behind, with the provider famous for some high volatility slots. Medusa Megaways is one such slot with an RTP of 96.28% and an impressive max payout value of 50,000x your stake. The slot features a megaways mechanic, allowing up to 117,649 ways to win on its six reels. Spin this and other high-variance slots at 888 Casino with a minimum bet size of $0.25 and a maximum bet size of $25 per spin.
You will love the Greek Mythology theme followed, visible on the high-quality ancient temples in the background and symbols featuring Pegasus and Medusa. Features to activate include:
- Free spins with win multipliers
- Bonus games
- Buy feature (100x your stake)
Cyberslot Megaclusters – Big Time Gaming
From Megaways to Megaclusters, and this time, Big Time Gaming goes big on the Cyberslot Megaclusters slot. The high variance slot has a 96.36% RTP and is available at BetMGM, allowing you to claim a max win of 23,960x your stake from a bet size of between $0.20 and $20 per spin.
Cyberslot Megaclusters follows a Megaclusters mechanic on the game played on a 3×3 grid with a color palette similar to that of the Starburst game, with an outer space or futuristic feel. One position will have nine symbols on a spin, and after landing a winner, the symbol gets replaced with nine other smaller symbols. You can trigger the following slot features:
- Wilds and scatters
- Multipliers
- Free spins
Starburst XXXtreme – NetEnt
You are probably familiar with Starburst. The maker of the popular slot comes back with a sequel, and as the name suggests, it is extreme in many aspects. One aspect is that it is among the best high-volatility slots available in most US online gambling sites, including 888 Casino and DraftKings. Adding to its availability is the above-average RTP of 96.26% and the extreme max payout of 200,000x your stake!
Action is on a 5×4 grid with nine paylines, with symbols seemingly floating above an alien planet. With NetEnt, you can expect high-quality graphics and soundtracks, and while at it, game features like:
- Starburst wilds with multipliers of up to 150x
- Free spins and respins
- Random wilds
- Buy feature
White Rabbit Megaways – Big Time Gaming
With an impressive 97.24% RTP, coupled with the high slot volatility and a max win of 17,420x your stake, White Rabbit Megaways is one of the best highly volatile games. The product from Big Time Gaming features five reels, offers 248,832 ways to win, and is playable across all devices with a minimum bet of $0.10 and a max bet size of $20 per spin.
You will love the storyline based on Lewis Caroll’s Alice stories, and while at it, activate slot features, including:
- Wilds
- Wild multipliers
- Free spins
- Extended reels
- Buy feature (100x your bet)
Extra Chilli Megaways – Big Time Gaming
A 20,000x max cash-out value awaits you on the Extra Chilli Megaways slot from Big Time Gaming. The slot machine features a megaways engine, offering 117,649 ways to win across its six reels. Any time you get three or more same-kind symbols on consecutive reels from the first reel, you will have a win or reaction. Remember to match the bet size set between $0.20 and $40 per spin on legal online casino apps like Golden Nugget and Unibet.
The Mexican-themed slot has its RTP at 96% and gets credit for its bright and colorful visuals and the Mariachi feel on the soundtrack. You can activate these features:
- Free spins
- Autoplay
- Reactions/cascade reels
- Win multipliers
- Buy feature
Mega Joker – NetEnt
Do you wish to play a high volatility slot with a 99% RTP? Then Mega Joker from NetEnt is the slot machine to consider. The slot is available at Tropicana Casino, where you can spin the reels on a 3×3 grid featuring five paylines with a minimum bet of $1 per spin. Released in 2011, it is a simple video slot following a classic style, and as you would expect in a 99% RTP slot, there are limited bonus features.
While you will not come across the regular free spins and multipliers, you can access a few bonus features contributing to reaching the max win of 2,000x your stake. They are:
- Supermeter mode
- Gamble
- Progressive jackpot
Reef Raider – NetEnt
Despite being a standard high volatile game from NetEnt, Reef Raider has a lot on board to give it a try at FanDuel, DraftKings, or Borgata. The storyline revolves around piracy and finding treasures, with the provider basing play on a 7×7 grid featuring a Cluster Pays mechanic. To its game mechanics, Reef Raider has an above-average RTP of 96.02%, with the maximum win set at 8,500x your stake.
Besides the Cluster pays mechanic, the slot from NetEnt has loads of unique bonus features you can activate. They include:
- Avalanche/cascade reels
- Random wilds
- Multipliers of up to 50x
- Cannon blast
- Treasure trail
- Free spins
- Mystery chest
Joker’s Riches 2 – High 5 Games
High 5 Games is another provider with highly volatile slots in our list. The provider heavily details the medieval-themed Joker’s Riches 2 game, where you find a castle on a hill, with jesters and rulers as the high-paying symbols. All the action will be on a 5×3 grid with twenty paylines, allowing you to spin reels with a bet size of between $0.20 and $200 at 888 Casino.
The max win is 1,000x your bet with the RTP at 96%. Expect a few features contributing to improving the payout. They are:
- Wild symbol
- Scatter symbol
- Free spins
- Lasting loot activated wilds
King of Cats Megaways – Big Time Gaming
Closing our list of the best high volatility slots is King Of Cats Megaways from Big Time Gaming. The Africa safari-themed slot allows action across its six reels, offering 117,649 ways to win, with its max payout set at an impressive 56,620x your bet.
The visuals are welcoming, with the backdrop featuring the beautiful Serengeti, but the highlight is on the Player Select feature allowing you to choose the Puma or Lion game. RTP values differ slightly on each game mode, but all average 96.7%. Other features of the game include:
- Wild symbols
- Scatter symbol
- Multipliers
- Retriggers
Guide to Slots Volatility: The 3 Basic Types
As mentioned, slot variance can be defined in three main aspects: the risk taken in a slot game, hit frequency, and value of payouts. You will find three main slot game volatility levels, and the table below summarizes them:
| Volatility | Risk | Hit Frequency | Payout Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | High | Low | High |
| Medium | Moderate | Average | Average |
| Low | Low | High | Low |
High Volatility Slots
High-volatility games are packaged with high-level risk, thrill, and excitement. They are perfect for experienced players with a huge budget or those motivated to grab large wins and are willing to go through the rough patches before they win big on the prizes. You expect a low hit frequency whenever you play high volatility slots, but a huge win awaits when you line up the winning symbols on a payline. Most Megaways and progressive jackpot slots fall into this category.
Medium Volatility Slots
Medium variance slots give the best of both worlds. There is no high risk or low risk involved, and as you would expect in such, the hit frequency is average, with decent winnings. You can expect games with moderate jackpots, with others having plenty of bonus features on their base games. The medium variance slots are further subdivided into two: low-medium and high-medium.
Low Volatility Slots
Low-variance slot games are the opposite of high-volatility slots. There is low risk involved, and as a result, the payout value is low. But the highlight is that the hit frequency is high, making them perfect options for beginners or players looking to have fun and longer gaming sessions with a tight budget. Some low variance slot games may have jackpots, but the grand prizes are prized lowly, averaging 100x your bet.
High vs Low Volatility Slot Machines
Having provided a review on each type above, we provide a table that helps you distinguish a high and low volatility slot:
| High | Low |
|---|---|
| Involve high risk | Involve low risk |
| Payout occasionally | Payout frequently |
| Big wins | Low wins |
| Require a big budget | Require any budget |
| Perfect for experienced bettors | Perfect for beginners |
Who Should Stick with High-Volatility Online Slots?
As we have stated in our slots guide, not every slot player can play a high-variance game. These games will require high risk and have a low hit frequency. Therefore, these high-volatility games are perfect for experienced players who understand the risk involved in games and are willing to go through with it at the expense of a massive payout, sometimes a jackpot.
Another group of players perfect for playing high volatility slots is those with a large bankroll that can sustain them during long dry spells. Like the first group, these players should be willing to take the high risk for a big reward.
Should I Still Consider the Slots RTP?
Besides volatility, the return to player (RTP) percentage is another common aspect to consider while playing a slot game. RTP refers to the amount the casino game pays back as profit to a player. The metric is expressed in percentages. For example, the Big Bass Bonanza slot machine has an RTP of 96.71%. It means a $100 bet returns $96.71 in profits. A slot with an RTP above 96% is generally a high RTP slot machine.
To answer the question, you should still consider RTP while playing high-volatility slots. A combination of high RTP and high volatility slots is a perfect recipe for big and profitable wins.
How You Can Discover Your Slots Volatility
You can use a few ways to discover your game’s volatility. They are:
- Checking the paytable: Some slot developers and online casino sites are generous with information on their games, allowing you to find information like volatility on the paytable.
- Trying the game: You can launch the game in the free-play mode and grade the hit frequencies and value of payouts to determine the volatility.
- Research: You can also read reviews online to find the volatility before playing slots, like this guide.
FAQs
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Is high volatility in slot games good?
Volatility will range from high to low. When you play high volatility slots, you will win less often but record big wins on the prizes.
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Which slots have high volatility?Most slot developers, like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, and Relax Gaming, have high-volatility slots. They include Big Bass Bonanza, Immortal Romance, Mercy of the Gods, and Raging Rhino Megaways.
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What does volatility mean in slots?Volatility refers to the risk involved in slot games. While you can lose a bet on all games, some are more predictable. You risk losing more as you play high-volatility slots than slots with low volatility.
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Do high variance slots pay more?You are likely to have a big win on a high volatility slot, albeit less often. It contrasts with low volatility slots that pay out frequently, albeit the small wins.
