Best low volatility slots to play at no wagering casinos

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

- 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:
Fishin' Frenzy

- 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
Play Fishin' Frenzy here:
Jack Hammer 2

- Developer:
- NetEnt
- RTP:
- 97.07%
- Max payout:
- 1,980x stake
- Volatility:
- Low
- Reels:
- 5
- Lines:
- 99
- Theme:
- Adventure, Crime
- Release date:
- 24th May 2012
Play Jack Hammer 2 here:
Esqueleto Explosivo

- Developer:
- Thunderkick
- RTP:
- 96.00%
- Max payout:
- 700x stake
- Volatility:
- Low
- Reels:
- 5
- Lines:
- 17
- Theme:
- Mexican
- Release date:
- 26th Oct 2015
Play Esqueleto Explosivo here:
Day of the Dinero

- 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:
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
High volatility slot pros and cons
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.
Play Crash Games here:
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.