
As pokies games at online casinos or land casinos are pure games of chance, it is always advised to play high-variance pokies wisely. You need to know that there is an element of risk associated with playing them, and you can lose more than you think to win.
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Sticking to your bankroll and playing responsibly is the key to winning pokie. Also, don’t form an addiction to pokies but play only as fun often as real money.
The other thing that is involved in playing pokies is its game variance. Pokies variance is simply the term that is associated with the volatility of playing pokies machines.
Types of Pokies Game Variance
There are three main types of variance when playing pokies games in any type of playing environment.
- High Variance Pokies
- Low Variance Pokies
- Medium Variance Pokies
High Variance Pokies
The most volatile and the very highest risk pokies machines that you can play however are those that have been designed as high variance pokies, however, there are going to be several pros and cons of playing those types of pokies.
At online casinos in NZ, you are always going to find plenty of high-variance pokies to get stuck into playing, either for free or for real money. A high variance pokies have the potential to pay out far greater amounts than low or medium-variance pokies.
A low or medium variance slot might offer players a top award of 250x – 500x the total bet. High variance pokies will offer players the chance to win 3,000x, 5,000x, or even 10,000x their initial stake.
Best Way To Play High Variance Pokies Games

The most important aspect of playing high variance pokies games is that you need to pay very careful attention to the stake levels that you are playing for, as the number of dead spins you will play off can often be huge in number.
Also, the high variance pokies machines that come with some form of the bonus game, much more so a free spins type of bonus game, tend to award their very highest valued winning payouts via those bonus games.
As such you should set about first choosing your bankroll to play any high variance pokies machine for, and then divide it up so that you can comfortably afford to play off a large number of base game spins with your available bankroll.
The more base game spins you do get to play off the more chance you will then have on anyone single slot playing session of triggering what may just turn out to be one of those much higher or even mega-paying bonus games.
Most online pokies players that have experience playing high-risk and high-variance pokies will also make a point of claiming deposit match bonuses when they are about to play such pokies.
In that way they can boost the value of their bankroll which in turn means they will then get more base game spins out of their bankroll with the additional bonus credits they have claimed via those bonuses.
High Variance pokies examples are Book of Dead from Play n Go; Dead or Alive from NetEnt, Immortal Romance from Microgaming, and others.
Low Variance Pokies
Low variance pokies games do offer players much longer pokies playing sessions and can often be achieved when playing those pokies, as players can often recycle their bankroll and those winning many, many times when playing.
You need to be well-tuned to play pokies machines that have been designed with the very highest possible payout percentages, as over your longer-term play those types of pokies will return to you as winning payouts more of your stake money.
Low Variance pokies examples include Sunny Shores from Yggdrasil, Well of Wonders from Thunderkick, Blood Suckers from NetEnt, Thunderstruck II from Microgaming; Bar Bar Blacksheep from Microgaming, and many others.
Play Pokies With Low Variance as a Beginner

If you are a beginner player or new to pokies then it is best advised by a pokies expert to play low variance pokies. At online casinos in NZ, there is a mixture of pokies machines.
This means you will find both high variances as well as low-variance pokies to play. If you want to keep your chance of losing quickly down to the absolute minimum, then it would be to track down and get stuck into playing any of the huge numbers of low variance pokies games.
Those pokies games have been designed in such a way that you will have plenty of base-game winning combinations spinning in and could also trigger lots of bonus games too, however, unlike high variance pokies, the winning combinations you will form will tend to be very low valued ones.
Medium Variance Pokies

The vast majority of online pokies you will find are medium-variance games. Unfortunately, defining what exactly medium variance is can be quite hard. When it is hard to determine the exact performance of a pokie, it usually falls into the medium-variance category. Many games are closer to low- or high volatility but are classed as medium.
This makes pokies with medium volatility both unpredictable and low-risk. There is usually a balance between the size of your wins and their frequency.
However, unlike low variance pokies, medium ones can give you an occasional big win, so you have something to play for – but keep in mind that they are not the most suitable for stretching your bankroll. Some of the best examples for pokies with medium variance include NetEnt’s Koi Princess, as well as Captain’s Treasure from Playtech.
Conclusion:
Understanding pokies game variance is crucial in New Zealand and globally. High-variance pokies offer substantial rewards but also carry higher risks.
Low-variance pokies ensure longer play but with smaller wins. Medium-variance pokies strike a balance between risk and reward. It’s essential to manage your bankroll wisely and play responsibly.
High-variance games like Book of Dead or Immortal Romance can yield huge returns, while low-variance titles like Sunny Shores offer more frequent but smaller wins.
For beginners, low-variance pokies are recommended for extended play with minimal risk. Remember, pokies are games of chance, so setting limits and responsible play are key.
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FAQ:
What is pokies game variance?
Pokies game variance, often referred to as volatility, indicates the risk and reward associated with playing a specific slot machine. It tells you how often and how much you can expect to win when playing a particular pokie.
What are high-variance pokies?
High-variance pokies are slot machines that offer substantial payouts but with lower frequency. These games are known for their potential to deliver large jackpots but may involve longer losing streaks.
Can you provide examples of high-variance pokies?
Some high-variance pokies commonly found in New Zealand casinos include Book of Dead, Dead or Alive, and Immortal Romance.
What are low-variance pokies?
Low-variance pokies are slots that provide frequent but smaller wins. Players can enjoy longer playing sessions with these games, and they typically have a higher return rate.
Can you recommend low-variance pokies for beginners?
Certainly, low-variance pokies like Sunny Shores, Well of Wonders, and Thunderstruck II are excellent choices for beginners in New Zealand. They offer a balance of entertainment and safer gameplay.
Are medium-variance pokies suitable for extending your bankroll?
Medium-variance pokies can offer occasional substantial wins, making them appealing for players who want a mix of entertainment and winning potential. However, they may not be the best choice for extending your bankroll significantly.