Medium Variance Slots
Compromise is not always a bad thing. Especially if the dilemma is choosing between a slot that spoils you with lots of little small wins and one that makes you wait but offers a king-size jackpot. Sometimes it’s better to occupy the middle ground of medium variance slots.
- Low-volatility slots offer more frequent wins than medium variance slots but with lower payouts.
- High volatility slots offer less frequent wins than medium variance slots but with higher payouts.
Check out the best medium-variance games here!
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Medium variance slots fall somewhere in between the low and high variance slots. Meaning, you could get wins at fairly regular intervals but there’s still a chance of winning a big sum. Moreover, you’re taking a medium risk. That is, unlike a high variance jackpot game, with the medium variance slots you won’t be risking your bankroll too much, but you’ll still be in the running for big wins. The best of both worlds!
So, for all you non-extreme players who like to spin at that sweet middle spot, medium variance slots are the best choice. Below you’ll find our list of the best medium variance slots available.
15 Best Medium Variance Slots
At Labslots, we choose only from games developed by well-established slot providers. On that basis, here are our top 15 picks of the best medium variance slots for 2020. We have arranged them in descending order, beginning with the highest RTP slots first.
- RR Drops of Gold: 97.75% RTP
- A Night Out: 97.06% RTP
- Guns N’ Roses: 96.98% RTP
- Reel Rush: 96.96% RTP
- Victorious: 96.88% RTP
- Golden Ticket: 96.73% RTP
- Terminator 2: 96.62% RTP
- Untamed Giant Panda: 96.40% RTP
- The Lab: 96.30% RTP
- Sam on the Beach: 96.30% RTP
- Flame Busters: 96.10% RTP
- Koi Princess: 96% RTP
- Cool Buck: 96% RTP
- Cleopatra: 95.70% RTP
- Game of Thrones: 95% RTP
Medium Variance Slots FAQs
1. Rainbow Riches Drops of Gold (by Barcrest, SG) RTP: 97.75%
It doesn’t matter whether you chose to play a low, medium or high variance game, there’s sure to be a slot from the ever-popular Rainbow Riches series to top that chart. In the medium variance slots category, it’s Rainbow Riches Drops of Gold that steals every player’s heart. Drops of Gold follows the basic Rainbow Riches reels format of 5×3, but with a special twist. In this video slot, you’ll find an impressive number of paylines, ranging from 50 to 200, depending on your stake.
The game also has all the trademark features of the Rainbow Riches series, including the Pots of Gold, Wishing Well, and, of course, Big Bets feature. When playing any Rainbow Riches series game, remember that the highest RTP, in this case 97.75%, gets activated only when the Big Bets feature is active. The top prize here is a whopping 1,000x your bet. So, if you have some spare Irish luck in your pocket, do try giving this reel a spin!
2. A Night Out (by PlayTech) RTP: 97.06%
In a mood to party? Take this video slot from PlayTech along with you for a spin. This fruit machine, with its 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 win lines, gives the traditional fruit symbols a cocktail shake up with kiwi, pear, orange, strawberry and pineapple drinks all found on the reels.
However, the higher value symbols are the Beer symbol (a Wild card), the Dance Floor symbol (a Scatter) and the Bartender (the Bonus symbol). Use the Bet Max feature to activate all paylines and go all-in with a single click. This is a risky move but also ups your chances of winning. The game also comes with an autoplay option in case you want to keep the night going. A nice little touch, we say!
3. Guns N’ Roses (by NetEnt) RTP: 96.98%
Don’t tell us you’re not a fan of this legendary 80s hard rock band. Admit it, you are. And just like their sensational crowd-mesmerising music, this video slot from NetEnt (in affiliation with Bravado International Group) also features jaw-droppingly awesome features such as Wild substitutions, Expanding Wilds, the Appetite for Destruction Wild, a Bonus Wheel, Bonus symbols, Encore Free Spins, Legend Spins, a Solo multiplier and a Crowd-Pleaser Bonus Game.
This 5-reel, 3-row and 20-paylines slot game promises an unlimited amount of fist-pumping action. You can start playing the sweet sounds of spinning reels for as little as £0.20 and then raise the roof with a maximum wager of £200. Just press spin and get ready to rock!
4. Reel Rush (by NetEnt) RTP: 96.96%
Fan of the retro video-gaming era? Then this slot will give you the rush you’ve been looking for. Set within a unique square-shaped configuration (a 5×5 cluster mechanic), this fruity video slot boasts not just 90s-style graphics and soundtrack but is also loaded with features, including Re-Spins, Wild substitutions and Free Spins.
Also, there are massive chances of winning as the game offers a whopping 3125 ways to win. Quite a punch, right? You can take a spin on this video fruit machine from £0.10 all the way up to £100.
5. Victorious (by NetEnt) RTP: 96.88%
Need some military-style motivation? Take a spin on this Roman army-themed video slot by NetEnt that pledges to pillage and destroy everything and come out victorious! This 5 reel slot, with 243 ways to win, comes with non-traditional features such as the Golden Eagle Wild that substitutes for all symbols including the Free Spin symbol.
What’s more, when you enter the Free Spins round you’re transported right into the thick of the action. All your wins are tripled with a 3x multiplier and the game awards the best battlers with up to 25 additional spins. Minimum bets start at £0.25 and you can raise the stake all the way up to £125 a spin.
6. Golden Ticket (by Play’n GO) RTP: 96.73%
This slot game quite literally spells it out for the sceptics: it’s a golden ticket! A circus-themed video slot with 5 reels, 5 rows and 100 paylines, it could well be your ticket to riches. The minimum bet is just £0.20 and you can raise it up to a maximum of £40 a spin to be in with the chance of winning the maximum prize of £40,000. And the game has enough bonus features, such as Wilds, Multipliers and Scatters, to help you net that grand prize.
7. Terminator 2 (by Microgaming) RTP: 96.62%
It’s Judgement Day, punters! Are you ready? This slot game is! Like its cinematic namesake, this 5-reel video slot is also a blockbuster, with 243 ways to win and 2,950 times your stake as the top prize. As ammunition, you get two bonus features including a T-800 Vision feature where you scan for targets to win cash prizes. The minimum bet starts at £0.30 and rises up to a maximum of £30 a spin. If you play this game once, we’re certain that ‘you’ll be back’… for more!
8. Untamed Giant Panda (by Microgaming) RTP: 96.40%
Fond of the wilderness? The Giant Panda is part of Microgaming’s ‘Untamed’ series that features other titles such as Bengal Tiger, Crowned Eagle and Wolf Pack. While the Giant Panda may not be the most fearsome of these wild beasts, with 243 ways to win the game is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
This slot machine is jam-packed with special features, including collect-a-wild, lucky nudges and wilds aplenty. There is also a gamble game in which players have the chance to multiply their winnings by up to twenty-fold. The minimum bet required to get the 5 reels spinning is £0.30 while the maximum is £22.50.
9. The Lab (by ELK) RTP: 96.30%
Give your nerdy side a nudge with this chemistry lab-themed slot game from Elk. At first glance, this 5-reel video slot may seem ordinary, but if you dig a bit deeper you could find all the precious elements such as Au (Gold) and Pt (Platinum). Also, you need crucial elements such as Water (H2O) and Oxygen (O) to survive this slot as these symbols pay out more frequently. Crystal Molecules offer high wins.
On a single winning line, the green crystal can return 1,000x your bet and 2,000x when you’re in Free Spin mode. If the Lab symbol hits position 2 on reel 2 you enter into Free Spin mode where all winnings are doubled and the Lab symbol turns into Wild. In normal mode, you can hit X Scatters and double or even quadruple your winnings. Basically, there are a huge number of formulas that can land you a win. So, go experiment!
10. Sam on the Beach (by ELK) RTP: 96.30%
Remember the happy troll from Electric Sam? He is your host on this Caribbean-themed slot holiday. It’s a dreamy beach vacation where troll Sam is visiting his old uncle Ted with his wife and prankster daughter. The Electric treats represent an interesting mix of Sticky Wilds, Sticky Multipliers, Imploding Symbols and Bonus Multipliers.
The video slot may seem relaxing and sleepy but it comes with an electrifying 243 paylines. Also, this 5-reel slot is a mobile-first game with great graphics. If you’re looking for medium variance slots that transfer well to the smaller screen, we advise you to try this one.
11. Flame Busters (by Thunderkick) RTP: 96.10%
So, who wanted to drive that bright red fire engine as a kid? This block-building 5-reel video slot may not look that attractive to all, but it does give you 243 paylines. Inspired by First Responders, this slot takes you back to the time of pixelated computer games. The W stands for the Wild symbol and it substitutes for any other symbol except for the Scatter which is represented as an alarm bell. The mystery Burning Fire symbol can be replaced by other symbols except for the Wild and Scatter.
When you land 3 or more Scatters on the reels, you trigger the Alarm Bell feature. Once triggered you’ll be awarded Free Spins. You can get 10, 15 or 20 spins. If you manage to collect Scatter symbols during free spins, you’ll trigger the bonus game. If you are able to fight the flames, the big prize could be yours!
12. Koi Princess (by NetEnt) RTP: 96%
This 5-reel and 3-row anime-inspired slot takes you on a magical journey to pop-culture Asia. However, the visuals and soundtrack are just mood-setters for this awesome action-packed game. This 20-payline dynamic slot comes with massive bonus features including an incredible 4 Random Features and 4 Bonus Features, so there’ll be no shortage of ways to have fun. To unlock the big prize of up to 1,000 times your stake, the minimum you have to bet is £0.20 per spin, which you can raise to a maximum of £200 per spin.
13. Cool Buck (by Microgaming) RTP: 96%
How cool a slot is Cool Buck? Pretty cool, we say! This 5-reels and 9-payline video slot from Microgaming can be tried with a bet as low as £0.09 a spin, going up to as much as £45 per spin. The game comes with refreshingly cool features such as super stacked wilds in both the base game and Free Spins feature. The latter can be triggered in two ways and can give you up to 30 free spins. Furthermore, all wins during the feature are doubled. The top prize is 2,388x your bet. So, if you like the colour green, we suggest taking a spin on this slot game.
14. Cleopatra (by IGT) RTP: 95.70%
Listing online slots without making a trip to Egypt feels incomplete. What makes this slot a classic among all the other similarly themed slots is that it gives players a chance to win up to 10,000x their stake by betting as low as £0.01 and up to £200. This 5-reel and 3-row video slot comes with 20 paylines and good bonus features such as 50 free spins, that can land you a 50x multiplier, and the Sphinx Bonus symbol. So, even if you’re not an ancient history buff, give this slot a spin for a golden tour in the land of pharaohs and queens.
15. Game of Thrones (by Microgaming) RTP: 95%
Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it! This epic HBO hit has landed in slot form, with the soundtrack, graphics and symbols having all been borrowed from the original series. It also mirrors the TV show’s complicated plot and comes in two versions – one playable with 15 lines and another with 243 ways. The Free Spins round is where things get most interesting as you’re asked to pick a side. That is, choose from the four famous Westeros houses, where your winnings depend on your choice. True GoT style!
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Slot Variance Explained
Medium variance slots, as you would have guessed, are a mid-way on the slot variance scale. At the other two ends are low variance and high variance slots. Here is a quick breakdown of what each of these slot categories means for you as a player. Some game developers are now starting to create slot games where the slot variance can be adjusted according to the player preference. However, for now, here is a more compartmentalised view of various types of slot variances.
Low Variance Slots
Low variance slots are also often called low-risk, or low volatility slots. That’s because in these slot games wins come in fairly regularly. However, one should note that although winning is easier, the prize amounts are often small. The games have fewer paylines, although they are loaded with bonus features and have frequent win combinations. As a low-risk and low-reward game filled with regularly activated special features, this type of slot is ideal for beginners or people playing for fun.
Medium Variance Slots
The medium variance slots are a middle-ground between low and high variance slot machines. They are known to give plenty of low and mid-sized wins throughout the game, but they offer some big wins as well.
High Variance Slots
On the other end of the spectrum are the high variance slots. These slots are designed for high-rollers – players who bet high, are not averse to risk-taking, and can patiently wait for the much more infrequent wins. However, when they do win, the sum is usually much bigger.
it should be noted that high variance is not the same as a high return-to-player (RTP). Meaning, a slot can be ‘risky’ and yet have an RTP that matches a low variance slot.
What Are Your Favourite Medium Variance Slots?
What is your favourite slot variance type? Please share your thoughts and tell us about why you like medium variance slots and which ones you regard as the best medium variance slots?
