What Does Volatility Mean in Slots?

Volatility is a critical component that impacts the chances of winning a jackpot, the amount of the reward, and all other risks associated with the game. But, what does high volatility mean in slots? It means that they’re the riskiest but offer the biggest payouts. The level of volatility in slots is a key differentiator whether they're played online or at land-based casinos. What is High Volatility in Slots? High volatility means that a slot will offer less frequent payouts, but when it does, the winning amount will be considerably larger. These slots are therefore recommended for those with larger bankrolls, willing to risk more and prepared to wait out the significant wins.  It is important to keep in mind that volatility directly affects your gameplay and potential payout. Understanding the volatility of a slot can help players choose a game that matches their risk tolerance, playing style, and financial considerations, ensuring tailored and, therefore, more enjoyable slot sessions. Now that we’ve covered some basics, let’s take a look at the biggest high volatility slot titles! Top 5 High Volatility Slot Machines High volatility slots are an exciting option for players willing to embrace the unpredictability and the chance for significant wins. These slots are characterized by their potential to pay out large sums of money, albeit less frequently compared to low or medium-volatility slots. If you're someone who enjoys to play slots online and can handle the swings, high volatility slots may be right up your alley. Here's a thorough look into some of the best slots of this type: Gems Bonanza One of the most popular high volatility slot games is Gems Bonanza by Pragmatic Play. This gem-themed game features an 8×8 cluster reel layout and offers a variety of bonus features, including spin modifiers and a Gold Fever Progressive feature. With a maximum payout of x10,000 of your stake and an RTP of 96.51%, Gems Bonanza is a great choice for lucrative slot sessions.   The Dog House Megaways Another top pick for high volatility online slots is the Dog House Megaways. This slot machine features six reels, up to seven rows, and a paytable with an impressive 117,649 lines. With a maximum payout of 12,305 times the stake and 96.55% RTP, this game offers a good chance of winning big. The Dog House Megaways slot is a must-play for those seeking an adrenaline-fueled slot for real money.   Drago – Jewels of Fortune This game, developed by Pragmatic Play, features 5 reels and a massive 1,600 ways to win. With the potential to win up to 48,000x your bet and a multiplier feature that can boost wins to an insane 10,000x your stake, Drago – Jewels of Fortune is not for the faint of heart. If you play and land a full screen of 22 purple dragons, you can win up to 5,000x your bet. The game has an RTP of 96.5%, making it perfect for casino players who want to take up the challenge.   Book of Dead Developed by Play’n GO, Book of Dead is one of the best high volatility slot machines and has become a staple in many online casinos. With an Ancient Egypt theme, the game features five reels and ten paylines. Slot players can win up to 5,000x their bet by matching five top-value Rich Wilde symbols during bonus free spins. The game also offers a 250,000-coin jackpot and an RTP of 96.21%, so Book of Dead is an exceptional choice for players who want to embark on a new adventure and hope to land a big payout.   Jammin’ Jars Jammin’ Jars, created by Push Gaming, offers a maximum win of 20,000x your stake. The game is cluster-based and features wild multipliers, walking wilds, and free spins through the Bonus Buy feature. The game gives players a fair opportunity to win mainly because of its RTP of 96.8%. However, because of the extreme volatility of the game, participants should be prepared for both massive risks and huge winnings.   Pros & Cons of High Volatile Slots  For gamblers who prefer taking risks and pursuing significant wins, high volatility slots provide a fascinating experience. Yet, they also have their fair share of perks and drawbacks: Pros:                                 High volatility slots typically offer the highest jackpots, with the potential to win six to eight figures. High volatility games often attract players who enjoy employing strategies, as managing bankrolls can be crucial to success. Slots with high volatility usually employ dynamic themes and engaging gameplay. Cons: Frequent losing streaks on highly volatile slots in online casinos may be frustrating and demoralizing for some casino players. A lot of these games might be challenging to play for a long time and make managing your bankroll tough. Note: When choosing the right volatility of a slot machine for you, mixing and combining different volatility levels for a few spins is a good idea.  Are High Variance Slot Games a Gamble Worth Taking? While high volatility slots offer the potential for significant payouts, they also come with the risk of losing substantial amounts of money. In addition, besides the best high volatility slots we presented above, our selection of free casino games features different types of slots with varying volatility indexes and RTP rates. Why not give one of them a spin and see if you are ready for bigger risks and even bigger rewards?

How does a poker tournament get to be so big? Is it because of the number of people who sign up to take part in them? Is it because of the prize that the best players get at the end? Is it solely for the purpose of outwitting other players? Well, the answer to that question is that it's a combination of all those things. Poker tournaments with many players and big prize pools are always more popular than those with fewer people and smaller prizes. Since the WSOP became famous in the middle of the 2000s, poker players have been drawn to them. But there's one small thing that needs to be added to the equation—the hype. Simply put, some online poker tournaments get more people talking about them than others. So, let's look at some of the most important ones. What Are Poker Tournaments? A poker tournament has a set start time, unlike cash games. Each player buys a ticket for the event and starts playing at the same time with the same number of chips. Players keep going until they lose all their chips and are out of the game. A set number of people (usually about 10% of the total number of people who started playing poker) get paid based on how far down the list they are. All players who finish below the lowest paid spot leave the tournament with nothing but a story. For example, in a tournament with 100 people, all players who finish 11th through 100th don't get any prize. Online poker tournament buy-ins can be as low as a penny or as high as $1 million. If you're a beginner, you can look up poker rules and poker variants online. This will help you play online poker tournaments. What Makes These Tournaments Important? You must be wondering what's so special about these tournaments. Well, they stand out from the rest because of four main things. The number of people taking part: These tournaments have anywhere from a few poker players to a couple of hundreds. Online tournaments don't have limitations in terms of physical space, so you can expect thousands of participants. The best part about these biggest poker tournaments is how they make people feel. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be a part of something so grand. The venue: All of these tournaments take place in big, well-known casinos. Many people dream of playing poker there. Tournament prizes: The prize pool often amounts to millions of dollars. This alone shows that these are not the typical tournaments that happen every year. If you win one of these tournaments, you'll be the most famous poker player in the world. Also, if you win any of the big online poker tournaments, you're thought to be the best poker player. In the poker world, this is a big deal. It's a great way to make a name for yourself. Challenge: The biggest tournaments are hard to win because you need a lot of skill and experience. You are competing against thousands of seasoned players, so luck plays a small part. To win the title, you need to be patient, endure long hours of playing the game, and have a solid strategy in place. Let's take a look at some of the poker sites. WSOP The World Series of Poker is the biggest and most prestigious series of poker tournaments in the world. It started out in the 1970s when the infamous Benny Binion invited seven well-known poker players to his casino to play poker with a set start and stop time. Since then, the tournament has been held every year in Las Vegas. At the same time, there are many events in the US gambling capital. WSOP also has great online poker games. The main event, a no-limit Texas Hold'em tournament, is the best part of the whole competition. The winner of this game is, of course, hailed as the best player in the world. Buy-ins for events can be as low as $0 for the Tournament of Champions or as high as $250,000 for a high-roller event. The most coveted non-monetary prize is the famous tournament bracelet, which goes to the winner. But this tournament isn't just a place where people play poker; it's also a place where players from all over the world get together. Ignition Poker Ignition Poker is a US cardroom launched in 2016. It's part of the PaiWangLuo Network, which is the largest poker site network in the US. Ignition Poker operates in most US states and is primarily geared toward American players. Players can enjoy an omnichannel experience, allowing them to play at 15 tables at the same time and play cash games 24/7. You pay a fee to play in a tournament and get a set number of chips. Depending on the type of tournament you enter, you can't play anymore once your chips are gone. Sit and Go There are two main types of tournaments. The first type is called "sit and go." Simply put, they start when enough people show up to play. Players like these tournaments because there aren't as many people playing, and they don't have to wait a long time to play. Also, because there aren't as many people at the events, they usually don't take as long to finish. This is great for people who like to play tournament poker but don't have too much time to spend on it. Just like with cash games, there are a few ways to choose a sit-and-go tournament. The buy-in level comes first. Sit-and-go tournaments at Ignition can be played for anywhere from $1.10 to $215. After you choose your buy-in, you can decide whether you want to play Texas Hold'em or Omaha. Texas Hold'em is by far the more popular game, so you'll probably find that 90 % of the sit and gos in the lobby are of this type. Lastly, you have to choose what kind of sit and go to play. Here are the different things you can do at Ignition. Deep Stack: Start with twice as many chips. Double Up: If you beat half the other players, your buy-in will be doubled. Jackpot: The system gives out a prize chosen at random Hyper Turbo: The fastest format where the blind structure increases quickly. Triple Up: If you finish in the top third, your buy-in will be tripled. Turbo: A tournament with a fast blind structure. Multi-Table Multi-table online poker tournaments have the same rules as sit-and-go tournaments: you pay an entry fee and play until you win or lose all your chips. Events, on the other hand, can have hundreds or even thousands of players. This means that the prizes are big, but it also takes time for the tournament to end. Ignition is like most other places in that it has a schedule of events that happen every day. You can go to its lobby to see what events are happening on any given day. For this review, we'll look at the guaranteed tournaments. A "guaranteed" tournament is one that has a minimum prize pool no matter how many people participate. This is a risk that the casino takes, but it's pretty well thought out. If the prize pool isn't enough to cover the guarantee, the extra money is called an "overlay." Overlays are a great way to get people to come to a site because the events have more value for the players. In fact, overlays are now part of the marketing plans for most poker sites that use player forums and social media to let people know about them. Ignition Poker is proud of the fact it offers weekly tournament guarantees worth $2 million. The Poker Room The world of poker rooms is very different from that of casinos. Since poker is a game played between players and not against the house, the main goal of any operator is to get you to play as long as possible so they can get the most money from you. Therefore, a poker site needs to fill the tables. This is why most poker sites offer such a wide range of games. Just like many other poker sites, Ignition Poker allows playing on the go via the app available for iOS and Android devices. Bounty Tournaments Here is how most progressive knockout events work: The standard prize pool gets a portion of the buy-in. The rest of the buy-in goes toward each player's first bounty. When you knock out a player from the game, you get their displayed bounty amount and the same amount is added to your own growing bounty. PKO stands for "progressive knockout." Find them every day, and keep an eye out for the next PKO series. WPT The World Poker Tour is organized in the same way as the WSOPC. Every tournament has a main event, and it usually costs between $3,500 and $25,000 to participate. It might not be free poker, but it's well worth the price. Considering it has been on TV since 2002, it has become a worldwide brand that attracts players from all over the world. There's something called the WPT Main Tour, and all players who take part in it become members of the WPT Champions Club. Also, the best players can sometimes win prizes worth more than a million dollars. This was a list of some of the biggest tournaments in terms of how well-known they are, how much money they give away, and other factors. If you're interested in any of these, check out their websites to learn more. Triton Poker Triton Poker is a franchise, like the World Series of Poker, and there are Triton Poker tournaments all over the world. That makes it one of the best poker tournament sites. The events vary in size and how much you have to pay to participate, and some of them are very popular. Even though it's not as well-known as the WSOP, it made this list because some of the events have prize pools so big that everyone in the poker world likes to watch them. On the other hand, not many people can take part in them because they are often very expensive (we're talking six- to seven-figure buy-ins). Still, it's always interesting to see poker players risk so much money. World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) This is one of the largest poker tournaments, and people from all over the world take part. It's played on the PokerStars website in September. WCOOP began in 2002. It's the online version of the World Series of Poker. The WCOOP has many poker games, but Texas Hold'em is the most well-known. There are different buy-in amounts and prize pools for each type. Games include Limit, Pot-Limit, and No-Limit Texas Hold'em, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, Razz, Pot Limit Omaha High and Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, 5 Card Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw, and H.O.R.S.E. PokerStars held 186 different events during the 2018 WCOOP. There were 2,044 people in the main event of the 2018 WCOOP, and the winner won $1,352,967.97. The Main event had a prize pool of $10,220,000.00. The main event of No-Limit Texas Hold'em Poker cost $5,200 to enter. This tells us that PokerStars runs one of the biggest online poker tournaments, the WCOOP.

Governments impose gambling taxes on the revenue generated from various forms of gambling, such as lotteries, sports betting, and online gambling. The rationale behind such taxation is to generate revenue for the government, discourage excessive gambling, and regulate the industry. A key concept in understanding gambling taxes is the gross gaming revenue (GGR). GGR represents the total amount wagered by players minus the winnings paid out to them. It's essentially the gross profit for gambling operators before expenses are deducted. Taxes are often calculated based on the GGR, making it a critical figure in the economics of the gambling industry. Operator vs. Individual Player Taxes Individuals fortunate enough to win at gambling may be required to pay a percentage of their winnings in taxes to the government. The United States, for instance, imposes high taxes on individual casino winnings, but the percentages vary depending on the state and the amount won. Additionally, the United Kingdom demands taxes on winnings from certain games, such as the National Lottery. These policies aim to keep the tax burden on winners manageable. The countries with the highest taxes on gambling establishments usually don't require individuals to pay additional taxes on their winnings. By examining different countries' tax regimes, we can observe the financial impact of corporate taxes and see how different societies perceive gambling. Countries with the Highest Gambling Taxes Certain countries stand out for imposing the highest rates. By taxing gambling activities, these nations aim to generate significant revenue that can be used for public services and social programs or to mitigate the potential adverse effects of gambling. The following section will illustrate how the countries that have chosen to adopt the highest gambling taxes leverage this sector as a substantial source of government income. France The 2010 Online Gambling Law opened the doors to online racing and betting on sports. Five-year renewable licenses carry no fees for operators. However, they are required to pay fees to the organizers of French sports events for the right to offer bets. France imposes taxes based on the GGR. Online operators are taxed at a rate of 37.7% GGR for racing and 55.2% GGR for sports betting. Retail betting incurs a tax rate of 44.5% GGR. Operators' corporation tax decreased to 25% in 2022, while the standard VAT rate is 20%. Germany The Race Betting and Lotteries Act of 2021 introduced a 5.3% tax on stakes for sports betting, horse race betting, virtual slot games, and online poker, resulting in an effective rate of 5.03%. Land-based casinos face tax rates on gross gaming revenue, ranging from 20% to 80%. Offline slot machine operators must pay municipal amusement tax of 12% to 20% based on GGR. Betting shop owners may also face local betting shop taxes of up to 3% on stakes, independent of the federal sports betting tax. Macau Casino concessionaires in Macau must pay tax amounting to 35% of their GGR. Additionally, gambling operators are subject to two more levies—a 2% tax on their gross gaming revenue, which contributes to public funds promoting cultural, scientific, social, economic, and educational development, and a 3% tax allocated for urban development, tourism promotion, and social security.  Furthermore, a 5% tax is imposed on the commissions paid to promoters. The Macau Gaming Law also stipulates a special levy in cases where a gaming table or slot falls short of the annual minimum gross revenue requirement, calculated as the difference between the generated GGR and the minimum revenue thresholds per table (MOP$6,000,000) and machine (MOP$300,000). Denmark Online and land-based betting, online casinos, betting exchanges, poker, and other commission-based games carry a 28% tax rate. The land-based casino rate is 45% on GGR, with an additional 30% tax on the amount exceeding Kr4,453,400. The tax rate for physical machines is 41%. Gambling machines in restaurants face an additional 30% tax on amounts exceeding Kr33,400, while arcades have an additional 30% tax on amounts exceeding Kr278,400, plus a per-machine fee. In the non-profit lottery and no-stake games, cash prizes exceeding Kr200 and prizes comprising goods or services exceeding Kr750 are taxed at 17.5%. Austria Online casino games and betting in Austria are exempt from the standard 20% VAT, except for slot machines outside online casinos. The current taxation structure for online casinos is distinct for various products. A 2% tax is applied to all stakes for online and offline casino betting. However, when it comes to online casino gambling, a substantial 40% GGR tax is imposed. Land-based casinos may levy a 30% GGR tax. Additionally, slot machines at online casinos are subject to a 30% tax on the net gaming revenue. Countries with the Lowest Gambling Taxes Some nations choose not to tax gambling companies heavily. Therefore, understanding these factors sheds light on their approach to regulating the industry. Countries with low gambling taxes adopt these policies to stimulate economic growth, promote competition in the industry, and maintain the profitability of gambling businesses.  By keeping tax rates low, countries encourage operators to open new casinos, online platforms, and other gambling enterprises, leading to growing investment, job creation, and tourism. Another consideration is the competition among countries to attract gambling businesses. Reduced tax rates can make specific jurisdictions more appealing to casino operators, resulting in clusters of gambling establishments in the area. This competition among operators can result in better services and offerings for players. Russia Chapter 29 went into effect on January 1, 2004, making gambling taxes regional, with money going to the budgets of the Federation's component organizations. This amendment allowed every region to choose its own gambling tax rate as long as it remained within the boundaries stipulated by Law #142-FZ. Tax rates on slot machines with cash wins varied from ₽1,500 to ₽7,500, while bookmaker and totalisator cash desks and gaming tables had tax rates ranging from ₽25,000 to ₽125,000. Online sports betting license holders, the only type of online gambling permitted in Russia, pay a set monthly tax rate of ₽2,500,000 to ₽3,000,000. Singapore Gambling taxation in Singapore has undergone significant changes. Mass market GGR is now taxed at 18% for the first S$3.1 billion and 22% after that, which signifies an increase from 15%. Premium (VIP) GGR, previously taxed at 5%, now faces an 8% tax up to S$2.4 billion and 12% beyond that amount. These rates are contingent on casino operators meeting specific targets. Failure to meet them results in a default tax rate of 22% for mass GGR and 12% for premium GGR. Finland The gambling landscape in Finland is characterized by a state monopoly, with Veikkaus Oy as the sole licensed operator. Traditionally, the gambling tax stood at 12%. However, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this rate was reduced to 3.4% in 2022 and slightly increased to 5% in 2023. The tax rate will revert to the original 12% in 2024. Belgium In Belgium, the gambling tax is region-specific. A general 15% tax and 11% in Wallonia applies to gross wagers, excluding national lotteries, pigeon races by participants, and non-profit games. Horse and dog races incur a 15% tax on gross margins, extended to non-EU events since 2015. Online wagers face an 11% tax on net margins. Casinos are taxed differently per game type, and a fixed tax applies to gaming machines in Class A, B, and C establishments. Kenya The Income Tax Act and the Betting, Lotteries & Gaming Act govern gambling taxation in Kenya. Betting companies withhold 20% from winnings, so a win of Ksh50,000 results in Ksh40,000 for the winner, with Ksh10,000 going to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). A 15% tax on GGR, defined as gross turnover minus customer winnings, is also levied on bookmakers. This tax applies to casino, lottery, and prize competition winnings and must be remitted to the KRA by the 20th of each month. Key Takeaways on International Gambling Tax Policies Due to the introduction of gross gaming revenue (GGR), we can observe societal attitudes toward gambling and see how governments tax different forms of gambling, with the primary objectives being revenue generation, discouraging excessive gambling, and industry regulation. Specific taxation rates and policies are tailored to each country's unique socio-economic circumstances. Policies vary significantly in terms of tax rates on GGR, winnings, and specific gambling activities. Given this diversity, it's crucial for individuals, especially foreigners, to familiarize themselves with specific regulations of the country they are gambling in to avoid any legal issues.

Mastering the art of surrendering in blackjack is a crucial component of any player's strategy. By knowing when to surrender, you can significantly reduce losses and enhance your overall gains. However, the key lies in understanding the precise moments when this tactic is most beneficial. In this article, we'll look at the concept of surrendering in blackjack and explain the situations when it makes sense to do it to increase your chances of winning. The Basics of Surrendering So, what does surrender mean in blackjack? Well, surrender allows you to fold and lose only half of the initial bet. This option is available after the initial deal but before any additional cards are drawn. Opting for surrender means you concede defeat, forfeiting the opportunity to win that round while mitigating a potentially bigger loss. However, it's important to note that not all casinos or blackjack variations offer this option. Still, when it is available, it can be a valuable asset in your strategy. The decision to surrender is typically based on the strength of the dealer's up-card and the player's hand. The blackjack surrender strategy suggests that if a player has a weak hand and the dealer's up-card is a 9, 10, or an ace, it may be beneficial to surrender. In such scenarios, the dealer is more likely to have a strong hand, possibly even a natural blackjack, diminishing your chances of winning with a weaker hand. By surrendering strategically, you can minimize losses when the odds are not in your favor and conserve your resources for rounds where your hand is stronger and more likely to win. Ultimately, understanding when to surrender in blackjack can be an important component of a player's overall strategy, which will, in turn, help them make more calculated decisions at the table. Early Surrender Early surrender in blackjack, while not commonly offered in most casinos, is a strategic choice that allows players to fold before the dealer checks for blackjack. This option enables you to lose only half of your bet, irrespective of whether the dealer has a natural blackjack. This means that you can save money in situations where you have a weak hand, and the dealer's up-card is a strong card like a 10 or an ace. For example, if you have a hard 16 against a dealer's 10 up-card, you're likely to lose the hand since this is a difficult position for every player. In this case, opting for early surrender to mitigate your losses is a wise decision. This choice is often more favorable than risking the entire wager. Early surrender may seem like a logical move, but it's vital to keep in mind that it's not always the best option. There are situations where it's more advantageous to play out the hand, hoping to improve it with additional cards. Early surrender is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a tactical tool to be used judiciously. Late Surrender Late surrender in blackjack allows you to surrender a hand and lose only half of your original bet after the dealer checks for blackjack. Typically, it's a more common option than early surrender. Similar to early surrender, the decision to opt for late surrender should be based on the strength of your hand versus the dealer's up-card. For example, if you have a hard 16 and the dealer's face-up card is a 9, 10, or an ace, surrendering the hand might be a good option to cut losses in half. It's important to keep in mind, however, that not all surrender options are the same. Let's take the hard 16 again as an example, but the dealer's face-up card is a 7 or 8. In that case, it's a better option to continue playing because there's a greater chance for the dealer to go bust. As you can see, there's no foolproof recipe. This strategy requires careful consideration of each situation and the cards. Check for Blackjack Surrender Rules It's important to keep in mind that not all casinos offer surrender as an option. Even if they do, there might be restrictions and variations. For instance, some casinos may offer only early surrender, which can be done only before the dealer checks for blackjack. This option can be particularly advantageous in situations where the player anticipates a strong dealer's hand. Others may offer only late surrender, which can be done only after the dealer checks for blackjack. Late surrender is more common and often considered a more conservative approach, as it allows players to assess the dealer's initial hand strength before making a decision. Most casinos accept hand signals for surrendering. To indicate that you want to surrender, place your cards on the table and use your index finger to draw a horizontal line. That will signal to the dealer that you want to surrender your hand. In addition, some casinos may restrict the use of surrender to specific blackjack types and tables, while others may limit the number of times a player can surrender during a single game. This restriction is often based on the house rules or the betting limits of the table. High-stakes tables, for instance, might have different surrender options compared to lower-stakes games. Furthermore, when you play blackjack online, some tables don't offer this option. Therefore, it's recommended to check the rules and regulations with the casino you're interested in before you start playing. This can involve checking the casino's website, consulting with the dealer or a floor manager, or reading the rules at a particular blackjack table. To Surrender or Not to Surrender in Blackjack Early and late surrender can be important components of a blackjack strategy. However, mastering blackjack requires a holistic approach that encompasses various aspects of the game. Generally, early surrender is often seen as a more advantageous option compared to late surrender. This is because a blackjack game that includes early surrender tends to have a lower house edge, offering a slight advantage to the player. Still, many experienced gamblers advise against surrendering in blackjack, claiming that it's better to focus on developing a solid strategy. The rationale is that while surrendering can be a useful tool in specific situations, relying on it heavily can detract from the development of other important skills and strategies in blackjack. Therefore, it's important to view surrendering as a strategic choice rather than a habitual fallback. It should be an informed decision made in the context of each hand, considering the strength of your hand, the dealer's up-card, and the overall flow of the game.