Variance of a slot machine

[Jian132]

I read the very interesting post by Milka Mitrovic "All You Need to Know about Slot Variance at Online Casinos". But I still haven't got this point: how can one tell a high variance slot from a low variance slot WITHOUT PLAYING? Is the only way to know whether a slot is high or low variance is to play through and to see how the machine behave, or is there any other indication?

[pinnit2015]

If you go on Slotty or Betat they have a list of what they deem it to be. Personally I'm not sure if there's a hard and fast answer to what's high. Eg, a scale?

 

Eg. People will call Bonanza High. It's not, it's distinctly medium. 

 

I've always looked at the pay tables as an indication. Netent, for example, are now mainly low with rubbish returns for 5 wilds etc, so IMO they're mainly low variance.

[Jian132]

If you go on Slotty or Betat they have a list of what they deem it to be. 

 

Thanks a lot pinnit2015!

I looked at information available at Slotty and Betat. I came to understand that the question of variance for a certain slot depends on two factors: firstly, each slot machine has a factory theoretical RTP (I suppose this information is kept far from players); secondly, a slot machine can pay more or less than this theoretical RTP in real plays (God Random's will? Casino's adjustment?) and that's what casinos like Betat call HOT vs COLD (before I thought hot vs cold means more or less players who are playing it).

[pinnit2015]

The TRTP should be clearly advertised...many have it buried in the help file, some it’s when you load the game. But it should be advertised. So that to my knowledge should be clear. However that’s based over god knows how many millions of spins. The current RTP may be higher or lower than that for you.

 

Some providers like MG issue one RTP. Some, like play and go, give casinos the option of selecting the higher or lower RTP. Some like IGT have it between 92 and 95 for example.

 

I’m not sure if I would associate it closely with variance. For me it boils down to low: regular wins, small wins or high: less frequent but far bigger potential. Play raging rhino and bloodsuckers to see how that works out. RR can give 1000s for a 80p bonus but BS you’ll struggle to hit above 250x

 

There is an element of compensation with slots. If someone hits a massive win the TRTP will be thrown into chaos and therefore must be recovered from losing players- it’s their losses than pay for the few monster hits

[Jian132]

There is an element of compensation with slots. If someone hits a massive win the TRTP will be thrown into chaos and therefore must be recovered from losing players- it’s their losses than pay for the few monster hits

 

I realized recently that different casinos (not affiliated samely) actually share same multi-player slot games (multi-Avalon, multi-Isis): the games are running on the same server, simultaneously for players from different casinos. That makes me wonder what about individual slots: are they also running from a same provider's server to serve simultaneously players of different casinos? Your theory of compensation suggests me that it might be like that, in such a way that a massive win of a slot at one casino can influence its TRTP for players of other casinos. 

[Afi4wins]

Personally, I am not bothered at all with any Theoretical Return To Player (TRTP) of any game, nor am I bothered by its low, medium or high variance/volatility status. To like or to hate any game is purely individual and personal...no one shares the same tastes...just as not everyone would like bland food or spicy food. To each his/her own...and that matters the most!

 

TRTP and variance are purely for guidance only. Both indicate the characteristics of that game, and what to expect out of it, over a very long time of playing it, and certainly not over just a few plays on the game! This is where a lot of players got confused and misled! 

 

The truth is, a low variance game would give a longer playtime than a high variance game...but both types can still eat your wallet! A low variance game cannot pay big wins, but high variance games certainly can - but this also depends highly on the actual paytable of the game - only good paytables, with good win values for the symbols, can produce good big wins. Simple as that! 

 

In short...if you want big wins, go for the high variance games...or games with low TRTP (around 95-96%)...but in either case, make sure that the paytable can provide for big wins in the first place! 

[Fiekie247]

Personally, I am not bothered at all with any Theoretical Return To Player (TRTP) of any game, nor am I bothered by its low, medium or high variance/volatility status. To like or to hate any game is purely individual and personal...no one shares the same tastes...just as not everyone would like bland food or spicy food. To each his/her own...and that matters the most!

 

TRTP and variance are purely for guidance only. Both indicate the characteristics of that game, and what to expect out of it, over a very long time of playing it, and certainly not over just a few plays on the game! This is where a lot of players got confused and misled! 

 

The truth is, a low variance game would give a longer playtime than a high variance game...but both types can still eat your wallet! A low variance game cannot pay big wins, but high variance games certainly can - but this also depends highly on the actual paytable of the game - only good paytables, with good win values for the symbols, can produce good big wins. Simple as that! 

 

In short...if you want big wins, go for the high variance games...or games with low TRTP (around 95%)...but in either case, make sure that the paytable can provide for big wins in the first place! 

Well I do not care really much either - As long as I win, I am happy, but if  I lose I am a bit sad - Anyways RTP and things, I never look at those when playing a slot just like some players do not read the t's and c's. I take my chances - however If I really need to know about a slot, ill ask or read other players opinions about game play on a certain slot etc.

[Afi4wins]

Well I do not care really much either - As long as I win, I am happy, but if  I lose I am a bit sad - Anyways RTP and things, I never look at those when playing a slot just like some players do not read the t's and c's. I take my chances - however If I really need to know about a slot, ill ask or read other players opinions about game play on a certain slot etc.

 

Agree mate! An experienced gambler's opinion is worth so much more than a thousand words...and definitely worth more than any TRTP percentage or variance status could ever say!