Key Insights
Quick Answer
High rollers avoid high-volatility games because they present too much risk, leading to unpredictable outcomes. They prefer games with more consistent returns and lower fluctuations to protect their bankroll.
Best Way To Minimize Risk in Gambling
Stick to games with low volatility, set clear betting limits, and focus on strategic play that allows you to control your exposure and manage your bankroll.
Biggest Advantage
By avoiding high-volatility games, high rollers can preserve their bankroll, make more strategic decisions, and reduce the emotional strain that comes with big swings.
Common Mistake
Playing high-volatility games in an attempt to win big quickly, which often leads to larger losses and less predictable results.
Pro Tip
If you're a high roller, focus on games with low volatility, such as blackjack or baccarat, where skill and strategy play a more significant role in outcomes.
What Are High-Volatility Games?
High-volatility games are casino games that have larger swings in wins and losses. The outcomes of these games are more unpredictable, meaning that the player can experience extended periods of losses or big wins.
1. Understanding Volatility in Gambling
In gambling, volatility (or variance) refers to the size of the fluctuations in a game’s outcomes. A game with high volatility will have significant swings—big wins followed by large losses—while low-volatility games tend to have more stable, smaller wins with fewer extreme fluctuations.
High rollers, who tend to play with larger bankrolls, often prefer to avoid high-volatility games, as the risk of losing large amounts in a short period is too great. Instead, they look for games with more predictable outcomes.
2. Examples of High-Volatility Games
Certain casino games are known for their high volatility, and high rollers often choose to avoid them. These games include:
- Slot machines: Many slots are high-volatility games, especially progressive jackpot slots, where the chances of winning are slim but the rewards can be massive. The large swings in wins and losses make them unpredictable and risky.
- Roulette (with high odds bets): Betting on long-shot outcomes like the single number bet increases the volatility of the game, as it offers large payouts but a low probability of winning.
- Craps (with high-risk bets): Some bets in craps, such as the "hardways" or "any 7" bets, have high volatility, as they carry large payouts but have lower odds of winning.
While these games can offer big payouts, the extreme volatility can be too risky for high rollers who prefer to control their bankroll and reduce the emotional strain of large swings.
If you want to learn about games with lower volatility, read Why High Rollers Rarely Chase Small Wins (Article #38).
Why High Rollers Avoid High-Volatility Games
High rollers focus on strategies that allow them to maximize rewards while minimizing risks. High-volatility games, with their unpredictable swings, can disrupt this strategy. Here’s why high rollers tend to avoid these games:
1. Preserving the Bankroll
For high rollers, maintaining a steady bankroll is critical to long-term success. High-volatility games can deplete a bankroll quickly due to the large swings in losses. Even with a large bankroll, the unpredictable nature of these games can lead to rapid depletion during a losing streak.
- Example: A high roller playing a high-volatility slot machine may win big once, but losing several times in a row can quickly drain their bankroll if the volatility is extreme.
High rollers prefer to play games that allow them to make smaller, more controlled wagers, ensuring that they can last longer at the table and avoid catastrophic losses.
2. Emotional Control
High-volatility games can be emotionally taxing. The constant swings between wins and losses can cause players to make impulsive decisions, increasing the risk of mistakes and emotional betting. High rollers prefer games where they can stay calm, focused, and in control.
- Avoiding emotional play: By staying away from high-volatility games, high rollers can focus on making calculated decisions rather than chasing losses or increasing their bets out of frustration.
Emotional control is a key aspect of successful high-stakes play, and avoiding high-volatility games is one way high rollers maintain their composure.
3. Better Control Over Game Outcomes
High rollers often prefer games where skill and strategy play a significant role in the outcome. In high-volatility games, luck tends to have a much larger influence, making it harder to control the results.
- Games with skill-based play: High rollers prefer games like blackjack, baccarat, or poker, where strategy and decision-making influence the results. These games offer a more predictable and consistent path to success, allowing high rollers to make informed choices based on their betting patterns and past experience.
By focusing on games where they can influence the outcome, high rollers reduce the impact of luck and increase their chances of long-term success.
High-Volatility Games vs Low-Volatility Games
While high rollers often avoid high-volatility games, they gravitate toward games with lower volatility, where the outcomes are more consistent and manageable.
1. Blackjack
Blackjack is a low-volatility game because it combines skill and strategy. By using basic strategy and managing their bets, high rollers can make calculated decisions that lead to more predictable results. The game has a relatively low house edge, making it more favorable for high rollers who want to minimize risk.
2. Baccarat
Baccarat is another low-volatility game that high rollers enjoy. The simplicity of the game, combined with its low house edge, makes it a great option for players who want to avoid large swings in wins and losses. By sticking to a simple betting strategy, high rollers can keep the game within a controlled risk level.
3. Poker
Poker is skill-based, and high rollers often excel in this environment. The ability to read opponents, make strategic decisions, and control the pace of the game helps high rollers manage risk effectively. Poker also offers consistent rewards based on skill, which reduces the volatility compared to luck-based games.
A Simple Example With Numbers
Let’s say a high roller has a $500,000 bankroll and plays two different games:
- Game 1 (High Volatility): A slot machine with a $10,000 bet per spin. They experience a series of big wins followed by several losses. After 50 spins, they’ve lost $300,000.
- Game 2 (Low Volatility): A game of blackjack with a $10,000 bet per hand. After 50 hands, the high roller has won $50,000.
In Game 1, the high volatility resulted in a substantial loss. In Game 2, the low volatility and more predictable outcomes allowed the high roller to maintain and even grow their bankroll.
Use simple bullets when helpful.
- Low-volatility games offer more stable and predictable outcomes.
- High-volatility games are riskier and can deplete a bankroll quickly.
- High rollers prefer games where skill plays a bigger role in influencing outcomes.
Common Traps To Watch For
Trap one
Chasing big wins in high-volatility games, which can lead to larger losses and emotional play.
Trap two
Underestimating the risk of high-volatility games, assuming that large bets will always lead to large returns.
Trap three
Switching to high-volatility games without adjusting your bankroll or betting strategy, which increases the risk.
Trap four
Not setting a stop-loss limit for high-volatility games, leading to unchecked losses.
Trap five
Relying too heavily on luck-based games, rather than focusing on strategy-based games where skill and control are more important.
Quick Checklist
Keep this short and scannable.
Step 1: Stick to low-volatility games like blackjack and baccarat.
Step 2: Set a stop-loss limit before playing high-volatility games.
Step 3: Use betting patterns to manage risk and avoid emotional decisions.
Step 4: Focus on skill-based games to have more control over your play.
Step 5: Regularly reassess your strategy to ensure it aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.
FAQs About High-Volatility Games
Why Do High Rollers Avoid High-Volatility Games?
High rollers avoid high-volatility games because they lead to large, unpredictable swings that can deplete a bankroll quickly. They prefer more stable, skill-based games that allow for better risk management.
What’s the Difference Between High and Low Volatility Games?
High-volatility games have larger swings in results, with bigger wins and losses. Low-volatility games are more consistent, with smaller, more predictable wins and losses.
Can I Win Big in High-Volatility Games?
While high-volatility games can offer large payouts, they come with the risk of losing substantial amounts quickly. High rollers often prefer to avoid this risk in favor of more controlled play.
What Are Some Examples of Low-Volatility Games?
Games like blackjack, baccarat, and poker are considered low-volatility because the outcomes are more influenced by skill and strategy rather than pure luck.
How Can I Manage Risk in High-Volatility Games?
Use betting patterns, set clear stop-loss limits, and avoid chasing losses to manage risk effectively in high-volatility games.
Where To Go Next
Now that you understand why high rollers avoid certain high-volatility games, the next step is learning how they prepare mentally for large sessions and manage their emotional responses.
Next Article: How High Stakes Players Approach Bonus Negotiation
Next Steps
If you want to understand how high rollers track their performance, read How High Rollers Track Their Performance Internationally.
If you want to learn about how high rollers control volatility with bet structuring, read How High Rollers Control Volatility With Bet Structuring.
If your goal is to develop personal betting philosophies, use Personal Betting Philosophies Seen Among High Rollers.
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