Volatility in Pokies New Zealand 2024

Volatility is a common signifier that is mentioned in most pokie title descriptions, but what exactly is volatility? 

To answer this, among other questions, we have put together a generous amount of information about the different types of volatilities, why it matters, and how to determine the volatility of a pokie for all Kiwis to use as an advantage when searching for the best pokies, and online casinos, within New Zealand.

What is Volatility?

Volatility, also known as variance, is best defined as how often a game triggers a win and the average sizing of the winnings. In short, lower volatility pokies offer more chances to win but overall lower winning payouts, and higher volatility means a lower chance of winning but higher payouts in the end. In my experience, you can think of pokies’ volatility like different roller coasters:

• Low Volatility: It’s like a gentle roller coaster, offering small but frequent ups and downs.
• Medium Volatility: Similar to a thrilling coaster with a mix of moderate drops and exciting loops.
• High Volatility: It’s like the tallest, most intense drops, but they happen less often, creating moments of high excitement.

Types of Volatility

As with pokies themselves, there are different types of volatility. Overall, there are 5 different types, but most software providers sort them into Low, Medium, and High volatility categories. To assist players in understanding the differences between each volatility, I have compiled a short description of each below:

Low Volatility

Low volatility simply means that the games will trigger a win more frequently, but provide a lower payout amount on each win. Low volatility pokies can be a bit harder to find than other volatile titles, but many of them are top-tier pokies that Kiwis play daily!

Top 3 Low Volatility Pokies

Some of the most common, and popular, low volatility pokies include:

Medium Volatility

Medium volatility is simply the middle ground in between low and high volatility pokies. This level of volatility ensures a generalised 50/50 to balance out the big wins and small wins.

Top 3 Medium Volatility Pokies

I have made a short list below of the best, and my favourite, 3 medium volatility pokies that can be found by Kiwis everywhere:

High Volatility

High volatility pokies are simply games which payout less frequently, but the overall payout prize is much bigger. An example of this are the popular Megaways titles, with other mentions such as Progressive Jackpots and Hold & Spin pokies.

Top 3 High Volatility Pokies

Some of the most commonly played high volatility pokies in New Zealand include:

Which Volatility is Best for You?

Volatility is a player-defined preference, with each Kiwi wanting a different goal out of their pokie game. 

Those looking for bigger payouts might opt for a higher volatility pokie, or even a low volatility since they win more often even if it is smaller amounts. To put it simply, volatility is an ‘each to their own’ type of style when it comes to online casino gaming. 

*My personal preference is to use low volatility pokes; winning more often, albeit in smaller amounts, provides a much more pleasant and enjoyable gaming experience for me!

Difference Between Volatility and RTP

As most casino-goers know, RTP (return to player) percentages showcase the average percent a player gets back upon each bet placed. 

Volatility, however, is how often a pokie will pay a player. Both high and low volatility slots can have an RTP of 90%, which means that for every $100 I wager within those games, I receive $90 back on average. 

However, volatility or RTP percentages, no matter how high, do not guarantee a 100% win rate; there is still a chance you could lose your bankroll! It is all about playing the game how you want, and if you are looking for a big payout, then make sure that you are playing a high volatility pokie!

Conclusion

All in all, pokie volatility is important to consider when choosing a title to play. Wanting a big payout but don’t want to spend hours upon hours waiting? High variance games are for you! Needing a long amount of time for a game and only want short bursts of payouts? Low variance games are your best bet.

Pokies Volatility FAQs