HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS – SLOTS WITH HIGH VOLATILITY
Last Updated: November 21, 2023Written by Stephen Cummings
Thrill seekers and risk takers – you have the opportunity to try your luck on the highest variance slots games. Slot machines come in three variances (aka volatility): low, medium and high volatility. So, what are high variance slots exactly? Slots with high variance give the opportunity for big potential wins at the expense of less regular payouts.
This page will talk you through the importance of volatility in slot games, as well as what we consider to be the best high variance slots to play. Our team of experts love playing high variance slots online, and we have come together to give you our opinion on what we believe to be the top ones currently available.
The table below showcases our favourites. Our list is based on playability, expected max payout and RTP percentage.
TABLE OF TOP HIGH VARIANCE ONLINE SLOTS
| SLOT GAME | RTP | MAXIMUM PAYOUT | WHERE TO PLAY |
| Space Donkey | 96.07% | 14,649x | All British Casino |
| Pirates Pub | 96.03% | 5,000x | Casumo Casino |
| Chocolates | 96.60% | 65,536x | All British Casino |
| Medusa Megaways | 97.63% | 50,000x | Hyper Casino |
| Big Bass Bonanza | 95.67% | 2,100x | Mr Rex Casino |
| Gorilla Mayhem | 94.50% | 5,000x | Luckster Casino |
| Jammin’ Jars | 96.80% | 20,000x | PlayOJO Casino |
| Legion X | 94.04% | 31,000x | Pub Casino |
| Joker Troupe | 96.68% | 25,367x | PlayOJO Casino |
| Genie Jackpots Megaways | 96.52% | 10,000x | Skol Casino |
| Pink Elephants 2 | 96.13% | 10,000x | Pub Casino |
| Gates of Olympus | 94.50% | 5,000x | Casumo Casino |
| Punk Rocker | 96.01% | 15,072x | Hyper Casino |
| Wild Expedition | 94.67% | 2,101x | Playzee Casino |
| Mighty Griffin Megaways | 95.95% | 50,000x | Amber Spins |
BEST HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS IN 2023
After researching max payouts, RTPs and general playability, we have compiled a list of what we believe are the best 15 high volatility slot games that you can play at online casinos. However, our editor in chief Jean Prince has chosen his editors pick for you below:
EDITORS PICK: BLOOD SUCKERS MEGAWAYS
The SlotsHawk editor has chosen the new high volatility slot Blood Suckers Megaways as his editors pick. The reasons? A high RTP of 97.66% and high maximum payout of 20,521x make this slot great value for money. In addition to that, our editor loves spooky themed slots which have character, and Blood Suckers Megaways has that in abundance.
Play at: Mr Rex Casino
1. SPACE DONKEY (RTP: 96.07%) BY NOLIMIT CITY
Released in October 2023 by NoLimit City, Space Donkey, in our opinion, is the number one high volatility slot machine in 2023. Space Donkey is one of the most daring slots of all time. An extremely interactive game which has three bonus rounds, we only recommend playing this high variance slot if you are an advanced slots player, as it is a rather complicated game.
Punk Toilet comes with lots of modern slot features including cascading wilds which help to increase multipliers. With a maximum win potential of 14,649x, Space Donkey guarantees excitement with every spin of the reels.
Features:
- Free spins
- Hide ‘N’ Seek feature
- Seek ‘N’ Destroy feature
- Lucky Draw
- Abduction Wilds
- Cascading Wilds
- Multipliers
- Hellfire Feature
- Scatter Symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: All British Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100 + 10% Cashback
18+. Min deposit £20. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
2. PIRATES PUB (RTP: 96.03%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY
Released in 2023, Pirates Pub is one of our favourite new high volatility slot releases due to its excellent graphics and modern mechanisms and features. Themed around pirates and pubs, Pragmatic Play have done a fantastic job when designing this slot.
Played on five reels and three rows with 9 paylines, Pirates Pub has the potential to become a classic slot game. Features include Sticky wild symbols, multipliers, repsins and wild reels. Play Pirates Pub and you will have the opportunity to trigger multipliers of up to 100x. Meanwhile, the maximum potential payout in Pirates Pub is set at 5,000x your bet.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Respins
- Wild symbols
- Sticky wild symbols
- Scatter symbols
- Multipliers
- High payouts
Play at: Casumo Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 + 20 Bonus Spins on Sahara Riches Cash Collect
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
3. CHOCOLATES (RTP 96.60%) BY BIG TIME GAMING
One of the top online slot games developed by Big Time Gaming, Chocolates is played on an 4×4 grid and has an impressive 65,536 paylines. This slot game takes its inspiration from a sweets and candy theme and comes with lots of colour and loads of great features.
The minimum bet is £0.10 whilst the maximum bet is £20. Chocolates revolves around its unique features which include multiplier wilds and sticky wilds as well as its special Chocolate Boxes feature. The payout during the bonus round fills out at 65,536 times your bet.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Wild symbols
- Sticky wild symbols
- Multipliers
- Wild multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: All British Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100 + 10% Cashback
18+. Min deposit £20. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
4. MEDUSA MEGAWAYS (RTP: 97.63%) BY NEXTGEN GAMING
Based on the Greek mythological Gorgon monster, Medusa Megaways is a high volatility slot machine from Blueprint Gaming. This slot is one of the original and classic Megaways slot games played on six reels. The minimum bet here is £0.25 that you can increase up to £25. It is possible to win 50,000x your total bet on this high variance online slot.
The graphics are cool and the theme is bold. The unique features make this game well worth playing and the massive payout percentage as well as the high RTP means that Medusa Megaways is one of our top recommended slots.
Medusa Megaways also features on our list of the best payout slot games.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Hyper Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
5. BIG BASS BONANZA (RTP: 95.67%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY
This is another hit online slot machine released by Pragmatic Play. The slot developer has showcased their ability to create world class high volatility slots with their Big Bass Bonanza slot. This game is in the slots libraries of almost every respectable online casino in the UK and for good reason – it is mightily popular. With a return to play of 95.67%, you get good value for your money too as well as a potential max payout of 2,100x.
Big Bass Bonanza is played on ten paylines and three rows with five reels. This Pragmatic Play high variance game is renowned for its superb graphics which appear straight out of the ocean. To score a win in this slot, all you need to do is land three matching icons on the fixed paylines. Boom! It is that easy.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Retriggers
- Autoplay
Play at: Mr Rex Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £200 + 100 Spins on Legacy of Dead
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
6. GORILLA MAYHEM (RTP: 94.50%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY
Released by Pragmatic Play in 2023, Gorilla Mayhem is a modern online slot game with plenty of features, and of course, a high variance. The SlotsHawk team recently tested Gorilla Mayhem at Mr Rex casino and we can confirm that it can be played by both experienced and beginner slot players. We recommend a low betting strategy.
The layout here is a 5×4 grid with 1,024 paylines. The RTP is 94.50% and the maximum payout is 5,000x the original wager.
Features:
- Free spins
- Respins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Sticky wild symbols
- High payout
- Autoplay
Play at: Luckster Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £200 + 100 Free Spins
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
7. JAMMIN’ JARS (RTP: 96.80%) BY PUSH GAMING
With a multitude of slot features and an impressive maximum payout of 20,000x, Jammin’ Jars is one of the most impressive high volatility slot machines out there. The free spins round is where the large payouts can be found.
Although the layout of Jammin’ Jars may look basic, the gameplay is anything but. If you are a fan of retro slots, you will love this one as all of the symbols are based on classic fruit symbols.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Wild symbols
- Sticky Wild Symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: PlayOJO Casino
Deposit £10 Get 50 Book of Dead Free Spins (No Wagering Requirements)
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
8. LEGION X (RTP: 96.68%) BY NOLIMIT CITY
A 31,000x potential payout awaits high volatility slots players in this game from NoLimit City. The beautiful graphics are the first thing I noticed when I tested this slot at Playzee casino. As with all slots from this developer, players will gain access to numerous modern features and various wilds.
Legion X is themed around Rome’s battles with the barbarian hoards. Played on a 5×5 grid, the minimum bet here is £0.20 with the max bet set at £100.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- xNudge wilds
- Infectious wilds
- Autoplay
Play at: Pub Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
9. JOKER TROUPE (RTP: 96.68%) BY PUSH GAMING
A massive potential payout of 25,367x awaits you in Joker Troupe. This high variance slot game is popular among Uk slots players for a number of reasons. The large payout potential, the high maximum bet size of £200 and the fantastic slot features, all ensure that Joker Troupe is a must play slot.
Joker Troupe was released in 2020 and is based around the theme of magic. We are sure that you will love this slot, the bonus game is fantastic too.
Features:
- Free spins
- Respins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: PlayOJO Casino
Deposit £10 Get 50 Book of Dead Free Spins (No Wagering Requirements)
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
10. GENIE JACKPOTS MEGAWAYS (RTP: 96.52%) BY BLUEPRINT GAMING
Like all games within the Megaways slots niche, Genie Jackpots Megaways slot is a thrilling high variance slot machine. Released in 2018, this slot provides you with a 25 line bet system. Scatter symbols will generate free spins. If you play this high variance online slot you will also be treated to wild symbols, mystery symbols and the buy-a-bonus special feature.
The minimum bet here is £0.10 whilst the maximum you can bet whilst playing this slot is £50. The maximum win potential playing Genie Jackpot Megaways is 10,000x your bet!
Features:
- Free spins
- Respins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Skol Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100 + 100 Bonus Spins
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
11. PINK ELEPHANTS 2 (RTP: 96.13%) BY THUNDERKICK
This high variance online slot was released in 2021 and is the sequel to the original Pink Elephants slot. Pink Elephants 2 gives you the chance to win 10,000 times your stake. This factor alone has made it one of the most popular high volatility slots in 2023.
Betting on Pink Elephants 2 starts at £0.10 per spin up to a maximum bet of £100 per spin. The RTP is very solid at 96.13% but it is the excellent gameplay which really make this slot machine stand out. The base game itself is nothing to write home about. However, the bonus round has the potential to reach epic climaxes. A high volatility slot mixed with a huge potential payout is a win in my book.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Pub Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
12. GATES OF OLYMPUS (RTP: 94.50%) BY PRAGMATIC PLAY
Themed around Greek myth and legend, Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play is the perfect high variance game for any players interested in ancient antiquity. In fact, Gates of Olympus is one of the most played online slots in 2023 due to its great features and fantastic graphics.
The great features only increase the excitement when playing this high variance game for real money. Random multipliers, numerous high paying symbols and a generous free spins round gives the opportunity for nice sized wins. A max payout potential of 5,000x is also worth noting.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Casumo Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 + 20 Bonus Spins on Sahara Riches Cash Collect
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
13. PUNK ROCKER (RTP: 96.01%) BY NOLIMIT CITY
Based on the notorious British punk rock scene of the mid-1970s, Punk Rocker is an exhilarating high volatility slot with lots of high paying features. Highlights of this 2023 high variance slot include Molotov wilds, a mystery symbol, respins and two different types of free spins – Civil War and Anarchy free spins.
Punk Rocker is a slot for players with a higher bankroll as it has a minimum bet of £0.25 and a max bet of £100. The max payout here is 15,072x your wager. Any fans of the punk rock era will love this slot. Punk Rocker from NoLimit City certainly stands out as one of the better slots released this year.
Features:
- Free spins
- Respins
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Sticky wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Hyper Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £100
18+. Min deposit £10. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
14. WILD EXPEDITION (RTP: 94.67%) BY RED TIGER GAMING
Wild Expedition is an adventure themed high variance slot machines with vibes similar to Book of Dead. With a hit frequency of 2 in 5, this is one of the slots played by high roller players due to its good hit rate and maximum bet limit of £200 per spin.
This game also comes with sticky wilds, multipliers and a remarkable bonus game which has been inspired by adventure stories. Wild expedition was released in 2021 and can be played at most online slot sites.
The only downside is the relatively low RTP level of 94.67%, but if you can overlook this, then you will likely enjoy playing.
Features:
- Free spins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Sticky wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Playzee Casino
100% Deposit Bonus up to £300 + 100 Bonus Spins on Starburst
18+. Min deposit £20. New players only. T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
15. MIGHTY GRIFFIN MEGAWAYS (RTP: 95.95%) BY BLUEPRINT GAMING
We return to the high variance Megaways slots arena now with Mighty Griffin. Assuming you are here to play high variance slot games, checking out Mighty Griffin Megaways slot is a no brainer. With a max payout of 50,000x, the potential for big wins is all too real and makes this game one of the best paying slots online.
This online video slot allows bets from £0.10 per spin up to £10. This game also features a progressive jackpot – 0.49% of the RTP is reserved as a contribution to the progressive jackpots.
Mighty Griffin Megaways actually has three progressive jackpots in total that can be triggered at any time including the industry-renowned Jackpot King progressive jackpot.
Lookout for the griffin symbol which is the highest paying symbol (50 x your stake).
Features:
- Free spins
- Respins
- Bonus game
- Multipliers
- Progressive jackpots (x3)
- Scatter symbols
- Wild symbols
- Autoplay
Play at: Amber Spins
100% Deposit Bonus up to £30 + 50 Bonus Spins
18+. Min deposit £5. New players only.T&C's Apply and BeGambleaware #ad
EXPLAINING TYPES OF SLOT VARIANCES
Don’t forget, there are three different types of slot volatility levels. Here’s a quick look at the main differences between low, medium and high. This should paint a clear picture for choosing which type of slot machine is correct for you.
LOW VARIANCE SLOTS
Low variance slots are the opposite of high variance slots. In low variance slot games, the wins come regularly but the payouts are much smaller in comparison to their high variance counterparts.
Low variance slots are best suited to beginner slot players. you can read more about these slots by visiting our low variance slots page.
MEDIUM VARIANCE SLOTS
As you have probably worked out by now, medium variance slots are somewhere in between low and high variance games. These slots produce plenty of low-medium sized wins with a sprinkling of large wins too.
Medium variance slots give the opportunity to win a decent number of times without having to risk too much of your bankroll. However, this is often not enough for those risk taking players who are looking to win big!
HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS
High variance slots come at the other end of the spectrum, you have to play these slots for a while before you hit a win, but when a win does arrive, the sum is likely to be big. These slots tend to attract high roller slots players and players who like to make large deposits.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOT VOLATILITY
If you plan on playing slots for the long-run, it is advantageous to at least be aware of the volatility of the slots you are playing. However, there are other factors which should be considered too.
For example, slots with a higher RTP will payout more in the long run, regardless of the volatility factor. A high RTP mixed with high variance is likely to affect how much you win when playing an online slot.
RTP will effect how much you will win over a long period of time. For example, a slot with 97% RTP will pay £97 for every £100 put into the slot. This percentage is theoretical and is determined after several millions of spins. In reality, there is a lot of luck involved. However, it makes sense to play high variance slots which also come with a high RTP.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARIANCE AND VOLATILITY
There are no real differences between the terms variance and volatility. It is safe to assume that a high variance slot is the same as a high volatility slot.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS
Like all aspects of life, high variance slots come with both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of high variance slot games:
- More potential for high payouts
- Can be more rewarding in the long run
- Many of the newest slots have high variance
Disadvantages of high variance slot games:
- Higher risk in comparison with lower variance slots
- Wins are sometimes less regular
There are pros and cons of all online casino games, the most important factor to consider is how much fun you are having. However, when playing high variance slots, you need to take your bankroll more into consideration.
WHERE TO PLAY HIGH VARIANCE SLOT GAMES
Any online casino which has its own library of slot games will likely stock a variety of slots with high variance/volatility. However, there are hundreds of such casinos to choose from in the UK alone.
Our slots analyst has picked our his choice of the casinos which he regards as the best ones for high variance slots players.
- All British Casino – An online slot site dedicated to UK players only, All British Casino has a games library of hundreds of high variance slot games. In addition, everyone who plays at All British Casino will receive 10% cashback on losses at the end of every month.
- BetFred Casino – One of the most well known gambling outlets on British shores, BetFred comes with a unique collection of high variance slots, many of which cannot be found at other casinos.
- Casumo Casino – With a library of over 1,000 individual video slots, Casumo is, in our opinion, one of the best all-round casinos in the UK. You can play all of the high volatility slots on this page at Casumo Casino.
HAVE FUN WITH HIGH VOLATILITY SLOTS
We hope that you have found this guide dedicated to the most up-to-date high variance slots information useful. The team here at SlotsHawk.com regularly update this page whenever one of us finds a brand new high variance slot or any other news regarding a game. So, be sure to check back regularly for important updates.
Please remember to always gamble responsibly.
HIGH VARIANCE SLOTS FAQS
There are hundreds of high volatility slot machines. We consider the best ones to be those which are high volatility and high RTP such as Medusa Megaways.
2. What does slot variance mean?
The variance in online slots games means how often you are likely to hit winning combinations and how big the wins will be. If you are playing a slot which does not land wins very often but has the potential for large prizes, then this means you are playing a high variance slot.
3. Is it better to play high volatility slots?
Put simply, the higher the volatility, the less often you will win, but when you do win, the win will likely to be on the higher side.
4. How do you know if a slot machine is high variance/volatility?
The volatility/variance of a slot game will be stated on the information section of the slot. All online slot sites are required to state the volatility level of a slot. If you are unsure, you can contact the customer service team of the casino.
5. Do high variance slot games guarantee a profit?
No. There are not any slots which guarantee a profit. In fact, the edge is always in the favour of the casino. However, it is possible to win money playing all online slots, including slots with high volatility.
6. Which online casino has the best high variance slots?
There are lots of online casinos in the UK which stock a variety of high variance slots. Our pick of the bunch is All British Casino which has a fantastic selection of high variance casino slot machines you can play.
7. Is it important to check a slots volatility?
This depends on how important turning a profit is for you. In our opinion, knowledge is power. Therefore, it is in your best interests to know as much about the slot game that you are playing as possible.
CONTRIBUTORS
Greetings, I’m Stephen Cummings
Stephen Cummings is often referred to as ‘The Oracle’. What he doesn’t know about slot games isn’t worth knowing. He’s our genius slot machine analyst who spends most of his time reviewing new games & sites.
Slots analyst since 2020
