If we were to single out the biggest factor to consider when choosing online casino games, that would almost always fall on the shoulders of return-to-player percentage (also known as RTP). It indicates how good a game is at returning what you wager, and that goes for how likely you will win. However, that's only half the battle.
The next half is finding games that fit what makes you tick as an online casino player, and we all know that volatility is your next best bet when choosing slots. Low volatility slots push more of the payouts into more frequent, smaller bits of wins.
High volatility slots are the other way around; they pile most of their payouts into heftier, rarer bonus rounds and prizes. That means they produce large swings even when you're placing smaller bets. Then there are medium volatility slots, and these titles bring the best of both worlds to the table.
In this guide, we are going all out on medium volatility online slots. What are they, and why should you play them? Look ahead for our top five picks to try in 2026.
First things first - what is a medium volatility slot?
Medium volatility slots are what it says on the label. They push most of the wins toward modest payouts that come not too frequently and not too far apart.
Most medium volatility slots feature hit rates somewhere between 20 and 30 percent. That means roughly one in every four or five spins will return something to your balance. The prizes themselves tend to range from small multipliers of your bet to moderate bonus round payouts that can reach 50x to 200x your stake when things line up right.
Why play medium volatility slots?
Right out of the gate, medium volatility games give you breathing room, and your bankroll doesn't evaporate in 20 spins like it might on a high volatility slot that's running cold. Even so, you're not stuck grinding out wins worth less than your original bet, which happens all too often with low volatility titles.
These slots work well for players who want their sessions to last without needing a massive starting balance. You get more spins per dollar compared to high volatility games, and those spins actually feel like they’re going somewhere. The bonus features in medium volatility slots tend to trigger at a reasonable pace, keeping things interesting without making you wait forever.
Versatility is also the name of the game. You can adjust your bet levels and still get a fair shot at seeing some returns without burning through your budget in minutes.
How to find medium volatility slots
Most online casinos don’t advertise volatility ratings on the game thumbnails, so you’ll need to dig a little:
-
Read the paytable - The easiest method is to check the game’s information screen or paytable.
-
Software provider site - If that doesn’t do it, check with the software provider because they mostly put out full spec sheets for their slots. You will find the volatility, RTP, and other features on the game’s page.
-
Reading reviews helps too - Casino review sites and slot databases typically mention volatility levels when covering new releases.
-
You can also eyeball the paytable for clues - If the top prizes are moderate and the pay structure shows a fairly even spread of winning combinations, you're probably looking at a medium volatility slot. Games with massive top prizes and sparse paytables tend to be high volatility, while those with tons of small wins listed are typically low volatility.
Top 5 medium volatility slots worth playing
1) Jungle Stripes by Betsoft
If you are looking for a high payout slot that also ticks the medium volatility checkbox, you can hardly do better than Betsoft’s Jungle Stripes. It sports a 97.03% RTP, wild symbols, and brings a jungle theme to life on a 3D grid spread across three rows and five reels.
2) 9 Pots of Gold by Gameburger
9 Pots of Gold offers instant scatter jackpots up to 2,000x your stake. The game includes a bonus round with randomly applied win multipliers of either x2 or x3. With a 96.24% RTP, it's become a beloved game among fans of the leprechaun theme without the sting of extreme variance.
3) Divine fortune by NetEnt
Divine Fortune is the poster child for superb slots on the higher spectrum of medium volatility. For a progressive jackpot slot, its clutch of special features and RTP of 96.59% aren’t too shabby. We love its Wild-on-Wild feature with expanding wilds that can cover entire reels, and the max payout caps at 60,000x your stake.
4) Eye of Horus by RTG
RTG’s breakout title Eye of Horus proves that medium volatility slots can still pack a punch with an ancient Egypt theme, and pays up to 10k x your stake. With a sweet-spot RTP sitting at 96.31%, the slot has a nice bonus round where expanding wilds can upgrade all symbols and leave only high-tier pays on the reels.
5) Rich little piggies meal ticket by Light & Wonder
Light & Wonder did a bang-up job on Rich Little Piggies Meal Ticket. It is built around a coin collection system that randomly triggers mini bonus games and pushes the maximum payout to 12,500x your bet. There’s also a standard bonus round, and its modest 96% RTP is good enough without the painful variance of similar pig-themed slots.
Wrapping Up: where can you play medium volatility slots?
Save for practicing in demo mode, it’s a no-brainer to play medium volatility slots at a reputable online casino. The last thing you want is to play at a flimsy site, and that’s why it pays to do your homework.
Thankfully, platforms like Casino Guru USA and other expert review sites have done the legwork for you. Read their expert online casino reviews and narrow down your search to five safe picks you can try.
