Best low volatility slots to play at no wagering casinos

Best low volatility slots to play at no wagering casinos
Claudia Hartley
by Claudia Hartley Last updated:

Low volatility slots offer smaller, steadier wins. They can help you stretch out your bankroll for longer, letting you enjoy more play time for the same amount of money. We’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about the best low volatility slots at no wagering casinos.

Best low volatility slots

Here are 5 of the very best low volatility slots:

Starburst

Starburst-Online-Slot-by-Netent-Screenshot-1
Developer:
NetEnt
RTP:
96.10%
Max payout:
500x stake
Volatility:
Low
Reels:
5
Lines:
10
Theme:
Space
Release date:
1st Nov 2013

Play Starburst here:

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  • Hot Streak Casino

    Hot Streak Casino

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Fishin' Frenzy

Fishin' Frenzy Online Slot by Blueprint Gaming
Developer:
Blueprint Gaming
RTP:
96.12%
Max payout:
5,000x stake
Volatility:
Low-Medium
Reels:
5
Lines:
10
Theme:
Animal
Release date:
13th Sep 2014

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  • Casino Orca

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  • Casino Stars

    Casino Stars

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Jack Hammer 2

Jack Hammer 2 Online Slot by NetEnt
Developer:
NetEnt
RTP:
97.07%
Max payout:
1,980x stake
Volatility:
Low
Reels:
5
Lines:
99
Theme:
Adventure, Crime
Release date:
24th May 2012

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  • Casino Stars

    Casino Stars

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Esqueleto Explosivo

Esqueleto Explosivo Online Slot by Thunderkick
Developer:
Thunderkick
RTP:
96.00%
Max payout:
700x stake
Volatility:
Low
Reels:
5
Lines:
17
Theme:
Mexican
Release date:
26th Oct 2015

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  • Casino Orca

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  • Casino Stars

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Day of the Dinero 

Day of the Dinero Online Slot by Games Global
Developer:
Games Global
RTP:
96.00%
Max payout:
5,000x stake
Volatility:
Low
Reels:
5
Lines:
30
Theme:
Mexican
Release date:
24th Jun 2024

Play Day of the Dinero here:

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  • Hot Streak Casino

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  • Space Casino

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Characteristics and benefits of low volatility slots

Low volatility slots let you win more often, but typically your payouts will be quite small. As with every kind of slot game, you can’t predict exactly what’s going to happen, but a good rule of thumb is that you can play low volatility slots for longer without burning through your bankroll. 

For more risk-averse players, or those on a smaller budget, choosing low volatility slots is a smart move. You get all the same features, themes, and excitement as a high volatility slot, but without the heartbreak of a sustained losing streak.

Difference between volatility and variance

When you read slot reviews, you’ll often see volatility and variance referred to as the same thing. While they’re very close to one another, they’re not actually the same. Below we have defined them precisely, to help you pick apart the difference:

Variance

This refers to how much payouts change and is calculated over a long period of time. A slot that consistently paid out between 2x and 10x the bet would be considered low variance, while a slot that swung between 2x and 5,000x the bet would be high. 

Volatility

This refers to how often you’ll win and how large the wins will be. This is calculated over a short period of time. You can think of volatility like a short term measure of variance.

Things to consider when choosing a casino low volatility slots

Your first step when choosing a new casino to play low volatility slots at should always be their reputation. Look for a Gambling Commission licence and positive player reviews - and look out for any of these red flags

Game selection

Next up is a great selection of low volatility games. This can be a trickier one as lots of casinos don’t let you filter their games by volatility. Player reviews, and our reviews too, are a good place to find this out if you can’t filter by volatility. Otherwise look out for frequent free spins bonuses. These are typically for low volatility titles, like Starburst.

Claiming a bonus

Lots of us claim a deposit bonus when we sign up to a casino for the first time. These always come with wagering requirements attached, which can be a pain. But, low volatility slots can make them a whole lot easier. As you can theoretically wager for longer on a smaller bankroll, you should fulfil the wagering requirements more quickly. 

However, if you’re claiming a no wagering bonus (or you’re just looking for that massive win) low volatility slots aren’t going to get you there.

Strategies for playing low volatility slots

While you can’t guarantee wins on slots, you can change how effectively you manage your bankroll. Below are some of our tips:

One of the big mistakes that many players make is assuming low volatility games are also high RTP. It’s just not the case. Look at the RTP separately and choose higher RTP games (above 96% is solid). 

Many of us are tempted to bet big on the assumption that we’ll make bigger wins. While this is technically true, you’re not making bigger wins in relation to your stake. A £50 win on a £5 stake is the same ratio as a £10 win on a £1 stake. The only difference is that if you hit a losing streak, you’ll burn through your bankroll a whole lot quicker at £5 per spin.

Progressive slots

The only time that betting bigger leads to bigger wins is when you’re playing progressive jackpot slots. Most of these slots make it easier to trigger the jackpot bonus game when you’re betting bigger. So, if you want to bet bigger (and have the bankroll to back it up) opt for progressive slots.

Using the casino’s ‘hot list’ to pick low volatility slots isn’t a guaranteed winning strategy, but a lot of players seem to report good fortune using hot lists. It could be called a ‘top 20’, ‘hot slots’, or similar, and can be a good place to get suggestions on what to play. The following casinos all have low volatility slots on their hot lists currently:

Low volatility vs high volatility slots

There are plusses and minuses to both low and high volatility slots. Let's compare the two...

Low volatility slots pros & cons

  • Pros

    • Easier to manage your bankroll
    • More gameplay for your money
    • More engaging due to more frequent wins
    • Useful for fulfilling wagering requirements
  • Cons

    • Lower chance of big wins
    • Can start to feel repetitive

High volatility slot pros and cons

  • Pros

    • Higher chance of big wins
    • Often have higher max win potential
    • Arguably more suspenseful and exciting
  • Cons

    • Burn through your bankroll quicker
    • Low entertainment value during cold streaks

What kind of slots player are you?

The only way to work out if low volatility slots are for you is to consider what kind of slots player you are:

  • Low volatility player: want to take your time, stay in the game, enjoy features, and don’t mind missing out on bigger wins.
  • High volatility player: looking for big wins and happy/able to risk your bankroll. Learn more here.
  • Medium volatility player: got some traits from both, opt for slots that fall in the middle! Learn more here.

Not sure which type you are? Think about how you handle losing streaks or how long you want your play session to last.

Crash games – an alternative to low volatility slots

Crash games are becoming ever more popular and if you’re a fan of low volatility slots then you might just like them. These games often state a volatility level, but you’re sort of in control of your own destiny a bit more. 

In these games a rocket (or similar) takes off and you need to cash out before it lands. Hold on too little time and you get a smaller than necessary win, hold out for too long, the rocket will crash and you’ll get nothing. 

If you’re a low volatility slots fan then you can simply cash out sooner for the smaller win and keep those wins smaller and frequent. 

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Final thoughts

Low volatility slots are a solid choice if you’re on a slightly smaller budget, or you just want to stretch your money a bit further. You get to enjoy great features, interesting storylines, and really immersive gameplay, without the risk of burning through your bankroll in seconds. 

While high volatility slots often get the most airtime, there really is a place for low volatility slots. As mechanics get more sophisticated and the standard for slots gets ever-higher, low volatility slots might become more popular for players looking for ever more captivating slots who just want to enjoy the ride for as long (and as little) as possible.

Claudia Hartley
by Claudia Hartley Last updated:

Claudia is a bargain hunter by nature and puts this to great use sniffing out the best bonuses. Whether she's trawling through bonus terms and conditions, or scouring new casinos for bumper welcome packages, she's happiest when finding a great deal for her fellow players. In her writing at No Wagering she hopes to make unfair bonus terms a thing of the past and demystify casino jargon.