Volatility
How sharply a game's results swing: high volatility brings rare big wins, low volatility brings frequent small ones.
Volatility, also called variance, describes how widely results scatter around the average. Two games with identical RTP can feel completely different to play.
Bankroll and feel
It decides how long a budget lasts and what a session feels like. A high volatility game may run hundreds of rounds without a meaningful hit and then land a big multiple. A low volatility game returns smaller wins far more often. Neither is superior; each fits a different budget.
Limbo makes it visible
Target 1.1x in limbo and you win roughly 90% of the time for small gains. Target 100x and you win roughly 1% of the time. The house edge is the same for both, yet the 100x player rides much bigger swings and is likelier to run out of a fixed budget before a hit comes.
Choosing a level
- Low volatility fits long sessions and bonus wagering.
- High volatility calls for a bankroll that is large relative to your stake.
- Slots often publish a volatility rating, while provably fair games let you dial it in yourself through the target multiplier or risk setting.