Hit frequency and volatility are some of the most common terms in the casino world, and it is imperative that players understand the difference.
Both, to some extent, measure how often players can win at the casino. Although wins are never guaranteed, casinos use such mechanics to draw players in. For example, if you know before playing that a game doesn’t payout much, you might feel put off and not want to play. However, if a casino game is advertised as a jackpot, you see that the winning potential is big.
Usually, the main reasons someone chooses a game are for entertainment or wins, and both hit frequency and volatility tell players a lot about that.
But what do these terms mean, and what is the difference between them?
What Is Hit Frequency?
Hit frequency refers to the percentage of spins over time that will result in a win for the player, whereas volatility is what measures the frequency and size of those potential wins. Let’s say your slot machine has a 30% hit frequency. This means out of 100 spins, on average, 30% of the time it will result in a win. Hit frequency also has an impact on how volatile a slot is.
Games with a high hit frequency result in small wins that occur often, which means the game has low volatility. In comparison, games with a low hit frequency result in rare big wins, meaning those games have high volatility.
We will not go into the specifics of high vs low volatility slots, but we will explain what the term means as a whole.
What is Volatility?
In gambling, volatility is the term that measures how often a player will receive a payout in the game and the average size of that payout. Simply put: The higher a game’s volatility is, the riskier it is. This matters to players because they need to know how the game works before playing and to make an informed decision on whether it is worth risking their bankroll.
However, players should be aware that volatility does not guarantee a win. It is just an average measurement to define how often wins are to occur and their size.
The Popularity Of Low Volatility Slots
Low volatility slots are popular because they payout often, but they also have a high hit frequency. Both of these things go hand-in-hand, and these are popular with the majority of gamblers, who play casually. In their mind, it is better to have smaller payouts without risking their bankroll than the chance of risky, big wins.
One example of a hugely popular low volatility slot is Starburst by NetEnt.
What About High Volatility Slots?
High volatility slots are the polar opposite in terms of the gaming experience. These appeal more to high-stakes and more experienced gamblers. High volatility shots also connect with a low hit frequency, because the likelihood of winning is much lower. However, the gameplay is considered to be more exciting, as every spin and wager matters, and the game is more unpredictable.
A popular high volatility slot is Book of Dead by Play’n Go.
Final Thoughts
It is confusing to understand the difference between hit frequency and volatility. The way to think of it is to think of how often payments are likely to arrive. Think of volatility as the measurement of both payout sizes and how unpredictable they may be.
This way, you will not be confusing the two. Anything related to frequency will be about how often something will occur, whereas volatility will always be more about sizing. Remembering the difference between the two will allow players to pick a game that suits them, giving them inner peace while hitting the reels.
