High volatility slots, including popular titles like Triple Diamond and 88 Fortunes, feature larger but less frequent payouts, making them perfect for risk takers and high rollers. Below, we’ve highlighted the best high volatility slots and explained how they work.
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The best high volatility slots combine risk with big win potential, and despite dry spins in the base game, big bonus rounds can be rewarding.
Play the most popular high volatility slots at top casinos in the US. Grab your bonus and start playing.
Triple Diamond is a classic three-reel slot from IGT that brings back-to-basics high volatility gameplay. It provides nostalgic visuals but cuts back on features and focuses on pure spins.
Best for: Players who want simple high volatility in a classic slot package.
Traditional design with very simple gameplay
Win up to 1,199x your stake
Works well for newcomers to high volatility slots
88 Fortunes is an Asian-themed slot that uses a 243-ways to win system and has a free spins bonus. Players love this game because of the Fu Bat jackpot mini game alongside its medium volatility base game that tilts towards high volatility for bonus rounds.
Best for: Players who like the popular Asian theme genre and want fixed jackpot options
Vibrant design and Asian theme
243 ways to win
Fu Bat jackpots and free spins
Konami’s China Shores slot delivers its Asian theme with slick visuals on a game with 30 paylines and high volatility. Mechanics in the game include a free spins bonus round, cascading reels, a respins modifier in the base games, and multipliers.
Best for: A more feature-rich take on the Asian theme, this game features a fun base game and free spins modifiers.
Excellent bonus system with free spins, respins, and multipliers
Suits casual and high-rolling players
Cascading reels add chain reaction wins
Fortune Coin by IGT brings you an Asian theme in a game that feels like a Las Vegas video slot machine. It plays on the 243 ways-to-win system and has free spins, random cash drops, and its own Fortune Coin fixed jackpot.
Best for: A classic-looking video slot that has a fixed jackpot and the potential for random rewards.
Fortune Coin feature triggers jackpots, cash prizes, and free spins
243 ways to win system
41,666x multiplier max payout
Raging Rhino by WMS dials the volatility to 11 with intense gameplay on six reels and 4,096 ways to win. The free spins bonus is powerful and includes growing multipliers, but the base game is very volatile.
Best for: Players who like extreme volatility with lots of reliance on bonus features.
4,096 ways to win
Free spins with multipliers
Fun African wildlife theme
Jin Ji Bao Xi is a top high volatility example. It has 243 ways to win and lots of feature layers. You’ll see a respins feature in the base game and a collection system to boost wins. There is a jackpot that can trigger randomly, too.
Best for: This slot works well for players with experience and who like lots of features and jackpots.
Multiple bonus systems including jackpots, respins, and collections
Top Up and Golden Chance features
A good choice for players who like strategy
Thundering Buffalo from High 5 Games allows you to choose between 243 and 720 ways to win, making this a customizable option for players. Features on the high volatility slot include free spins that you can retrigger and a built-in jackpot.
Best for: Players who like more control over their stakes and how much risk they take with each spin.
Multiple ways-to-win
Retrigger free spins
Jackpot Dash mini game
It’s time for a little less conversation and a little more action on the Elvis Lives slot from WMS. This is a slot with 5 reels and a 12-row system, making it a colossal slot with 60 paylines. Symbols can stack to boost wins, and other features include wandering wilds, an ELVIS meter jackpot, and bonus rounds.
Best for: Players who like colossal reel slots with lots of features, and Elvis fans, of course.
Wandering wilds and doubles power bigger wins
Bonus features including ELVIS meter jackpot and multipliers
Giant 4x4 symbols across reels
Diamond Queen by IGT has a standard configuration of 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines. But it is the Mystical Diamond free spins bonus that drives the game. This round comes with expanding wild reels and a 1,000-coin jackpot.
Best for: Players looking for gameplay that focuses on powerful wilds and simple base game spins.
Expanding wild reels during free spins
Up to 23 free spins that you can retrigger
1,000-coin jackpot
Rakin Bacon by AGS delivers its high volatility gameplay across 5 reels, 3 rows, and the 243 ways to win system. It has a customizable free spins bonus where you can choose the modifier and volatility. You’ll be able to expand reels up to a total of 3,125 ways to win, while there is a fixed jackpot picking mini game, too.
Best for: Players who want to configure the free spins bonus to suit their play style.
Free spins let players choose volatility and reel expansion
Expanding ways system ranges from 243 up to 3,125
Static jackpot pick feature
High volatility slots are a type of online slot that has large swings between risk and reward. They often have dry spells with fewer wins and payouts less than your stake, but can deliver bigger, high impact wins through bonus triggers.
Expect to see longer stretches without returns.
Strong bonus rounds or base game wins can lead to big total payouts.
Players who target big one-off wins over steady returns will love high-variance games.
To understand volatility in slots, we have prepared a volatility guide for you, where you can get further information
High variance slots work similarly to any other type of slot game, but their payout structure is different.
All slots with high volatility have a betting range where you can select the amount you want to stake each spin by using controls in the game UI.
Click the spin button to start the game, allowing the random number generator to generate the game result.
Base game wins happen when you match standard symbols, usually 3 or more, on an active payline.
Activate bonus features by hitting scatter symbols during the base game, allowing you to access free spins rounds.
Get bigger payouts from modifiers during free spins, including multipliers, expanding reels, and more.
High, low, and medium volatility slots have plenty of similarities, but they differ in how they pay and how big wins are on average. If you’re wondering, “Are high volatility slots better?”, use the table below to see:
High Volatility Slots give you big wins by focusing on special bonus rounds and features, but you’ll get bigger gaps between payouts. Some of the best high volatility slots are Triple Diamond, Raging Rhino, 88 Fortunes, Jin Ji Bao Endless Treasure
Medium Volatility Slots balance how frequently they deliver wins with the payout amount. This means you get moderate risk and a mix of wins from the base game and bonuses. Payout amounts won’t be large, but they can help with consistent gameplay over a session.
Low Volatility Slots roll out lots of small wins that keep your bankroll ticking over, but big bonus-driven payouts are less frequent. When choosing high volatility vs low volatility slots, consider your overall budget and how much risk you’re willing to take.
High volatility offer a high maximum win potential serving as the hook for players.
Having access to big maximum payouts means high-variance games work well for players who hunt for jackpots over steady bankroll control.
High volatility games won’t appeal to you if you prefer simple slots. But players who love bonus rounds and features tend to choose high variance slots.
There’s no doubt that you need to have a bankroll that can withstand swings in results, including spins where you win less than you bet.
High volatility slots can deliver big wins, but they often require patience and a solid strategy to navigate longer dry spells. Understanding how to manage your bankroll and expectations is key to making the most of these high risk, high reward games.
Always play with a set bankroll made from an amount of money you can reasonably afford to lose. You’ll have dry spells, so we recommend spreading your budget over multiple short sessions.
Since high volatility slots tend to carry risk, keep your bet amount consistent instead of moving it up and down per spin. This allows you to manage risk by extending your bankroll.
Look for slots that have a lot of features, as these are the games that give you ways to get a big potential payout if you spin through the high volatility.
Play a free demo version of the slot before you commit real money. This allows you to test the game features and payment structure without the pressure or risking your bankroll.
Knowing where to play high variance slots is all about finding a secure and legit casino. Most online casinos stock high volatility slots, but that does not mean you should play on any random site. Since we use the same review process for every casino, we can provide a completely impartial rating based on important factors:
All the casinos we list are licensed real money platforms or legally active sweepstakes casinos.
How many games the casino has, with most top brands stocking hundreds or even thousands of slots with high volatility.
We select casinos with high volatility games from known providers such as IGT, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, WMS, and more.
Our reviews look at bonuses, like welcome offers or no deposit bonuses, available to help players boost their bankrolls or grab free spins. But we go further and look at the real value of a bonus by checking the full T&Cs.
Payment reliability is important, so we list all deposit/withdrawal methods on a casino site and how long the platform takes to cash out winnings.
Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia all allow you to play real money online casinos.
Maine aims to launch its regulated iGaming market in 2026.
Licensed casino states regulate casinos under strict rules. And one of the benefits is direct access to responsible gambling features like deposit limits, session timers, and self-exclusion.
US regulatory bodies include the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Availability of high volatility slots in other states is sporadic, but 30+ states allow sweepstakes and/or social casinos.
Sweepstakes platforms do not require a gambling license because they operate under sweeps competition laws. You’ll be able to play slots and casino-style games for free with virtual credits and can redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes.
There is no law in the US that prevents residents from visiting offshore casinos. These are international options that are licensed by outside authorities such as Curacao or the Malta Gaming Authority.
You can only play if you are 21+, and if you require assistance, there are state and national organizations that can help, including GambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous.
Which slot machines are high in volatility?
Slot games such as Triple Diamond, 88 Fortunes, China Shores, Fortune Coins, Fortune Coin, Raging Rhino, Jin Ji Bao Xi, Elvis Lives, Diamond Queen, and Rakin Bacon are amongst the top high volatility slots.
What is the $20 method at the casino?
The $20 method is when you spend just $20 on a single slot game before moving on to another. This allows you to try lots of games on a smaller bankroll.
How to win high volatility slots?
There is no magic formula for winning high volatility slots because each spin is completely random. But you can manage your bankroll by making consistent and steady bets.
What slot is most likely to pay out?
High RTP slots are a good option if you want to play high volatility games because these slots will return more in the long term. If you want short-term results, low volatility slots work better.
What does high volatility mean in slots?
High volatility shows how often a slot delivers wins and how big the payouts can be. These high-variance games pay less frequently than other types of slots, but can result in big bonus-driven payouts when they do hit.
Are high volatility slots better?
High volatility slots are great if you have a bankroll that can withstand dry spells, and they work for players who chase big payouts and take risks. But they won’t necessarily suit your style if you want steadier sessions and tight bankroll control.
How do high volatility slots work?
High volatility slots work just like any other slots. The main difference is that wins are less frequent but more likely to be larger.
Can you win more on high volatility slots?
High volatility slots usually have higher maximum payout amounts and deliver bigger wins when they do hit. But the trade-off is lots of dry spells or base game spins that pay out less than your original stake.
What is the difference between high and low volatility slots?
A high volatility slot pays less frequently but can deliver big wins when it does pay out. Low volatility games are more consistent and provide lots of frequent wins, but with smaller payouts.
Are high volatility slots risky?
Yes, high volatility slots are risky because you usually need to withstand lots of losing spins while you wait for a bonus feature to trigger. This can mean losing streaks are common.
What RTP do high volatility slots have?
High volatility slots come in a range of RTPs, but most sit around 96%, which is the average RTP for online video slots.
Are high volatility slots good for beginners?
While high volatility slots can be beginner-friendly, the payout structure isn’t necessarily. Losing streaks and taking big risks are things beginners tend to avoid, which is why low and medium-volatility slots work better if you’re just starting playing online slots.
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