Last updated May 2026
5 min readThe one-line difference
RTP - the return that a slot machine will provide for its players. The other measure of a slot is its volatility, which determines how the winnings will be distributed from the money that is placed into the slot machine.
Slots can have high RTP and high volatility, or they can pay out a low RTP but with low volatility. Each of these slots is independent of the other.
Side-by-side comparison
| RTP | Volatility | |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Percentage of bets returned to players over millions of spins | How spread out wins are - frequent small or rare large |
| Expressed as | A percentage (e.g. 96%) | A label - Low, Medium, High, Very High |
| Affects | Long-run mathematical edge | Session-to-session experience and bankroll swings |
| Set by | Game developer AND casino (casino picks configuration) | Game developer only - casinos cannot change this |
| Can vary by casino? | Yes - same slot, different RTP at different casinos | No - volatility is fixed per game title |
| Where to find it | In-game info screen (use this - not provider websites) | In-game info screen or provider game page |
What volatility actually means for your session
Volatility is used to describe the risk that is associated with a particular slot machine. High volatility means that a slot will take a while to pay out winnings for the player, but eventually pays out large amounts. Low volatility means that a slot will pay out winnings more frequently but with lower pay-outs.
Volatility is a qualitative descriptor, not a figure that is published by slot machine developers like the RTP % of a slot. Each company has a different way of measuring and labeling the volatility of their products.
Why high RTP does not mean low risk
Many players get confused between the two numbers. A slot machine might offer a high RTP, such as 97%, but have very high volatility. This means that the slot will be mathematically favourable in the long run but offer significant losses during a playing session.
The other case is a slot with a low RTP, such as 94%, regardless of its volatility. A lower RTP will gradually wear away at your bankroll over time.
RTP determines how much money the house takes from you. Volatility determines how bumpy the ride will be when playing the slot machine. For serious players, RTP is the more important of the two figures.
Which one should you focus on?
For players looking to maximise the chance of getting value from their bankroll, focus on RTP first. The higher the RTP of a slot machine, the lower the mathematical edge that the house has over the slot player.
For those who have already determined that they want to play slots with high RTP percentages, focus on the volatility of the machines. Those with limited budgets can benefit from playing slots with low-to-medium volatility.
The same slot machine can have different RTP percentages at different casinos. Always ensure that you are playing at the casino that features the highest RTP percentage for that particular slot.
How to find both numbers for any slot
Load the slot that you wish to play at the casino that you selected. Press the button to view the game information within the slot machine. The RTP and volatility percentages will be published within the game.
For a pre-verified list of the best slots in the market with high RTP and volatility percentages, see our best RTP slots list. We verify the RTP of every slot at every casino for our players.