A Short Guide to Online Jackpot Slot Machines
Fancy trying your luck on Jackpot Slots? Are you a new player in the world of online slot games? Do you just spin the reels and watch for those little but often small wins? Or do you risk a big bet on a jackpot slot hoping for that big win so that your life literally changes overnight?
If you’ve never tried a jackpot slot, then you’re missing out on a wealth of thrills and spills, not to mention the chance to land that life-changing win. Keep reading this online jackpots guide to learn all about these entertaining games.
What are Jackpot slots?
In short, they are a sensational form of entertainment. Every spin could see you pick up some amazing winnings. Every slot game offers you the chance of wins where you can land 2x, 10x or even 50x your wager. But when we think of hitting the jackpot, we’re talking wins of 500x your bet and more.
Such a wide choice
Jackpot slots come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit all tastes and budgets. This makes them one of the most popular games online. But not all jackpot games are the same. Keep reading to find out more.
What are the different types of jackpots?
Let’s get into the technicalities of how many types of jackpot slot games exist in the slot machine market. The three main types are:
- Those with a fixed (or ‘standalone’) jackpot: not linked to other machines.
- In-house progressive jackpot: generated by linking the same game to itself within the same online casino.
- Networked progressive jackpots: the same game is linked to itself across several different online casinos.
How do fixed jackpots work?
The premise of fixed jackpots is that the value of the prize does not change. The game developers have, therefore, predetermined the sum of the jackpot in the slot. Because of this, most of the time they have a much lower value than is achievable on progressive jackpot games, but you can win more often. Furthermore, they often have a higher RTP percentage than other slot games.
What is RTP?
RTP or Return to Player rate is the theoretical percentage of money wagered a player could expect to win back. Choose games that have an RTP of over 96%. Do remember though, that the RTP was calculated by the game developer over thousands of spins.
How do progressive jackpot slots work
Slot machines with a progressive jackpot start with a set amount as the baseline prize. Every time someone spins the reels, a tiny part of their bet goes towards the overall jackpot, which can grow to enormous amounts on popular games.
To win, you need to land the right combinations. Often this is only possible when placing the maximum bet per spin. When someone wins the jackpot, the amount goes back to the minimum, and the game starts all over again.
How a jackpot increases
Approximately 7% of every bet placed on the slot contributes to that top prize. Therefore, if the jackpot remains intact, its value grows exponentially. Remember that anyone can win those jackpot prizes. However, remember also that the higher your stake, the greater the chance of winning! Once won, the jackpot is reset to its pre-defined minimum amount, and this varies from game to game.
How is the jackpot activated?
In some online slots, the jackpot is activated randomly during the main game, so there is no way to predict when an opportunity to win the loot will arise. However, in other slots, the jackpot is part of a bonus round activated when 3 or more bonus symbols appear. This is usually the case with fixed jackpots. Some games offer as many as four different-sized jackpot prizes — giving “mini”, “minor”, “major” and “mega” wins. Often these jackpots are accessible to players using a minimum wagering requirement.
Two types of progressive jackpot games
Local progressive jackpot slots
When a progressive jackpot is described as local, players from a single casino contribute to the value of the prize. The jackpot on the game will increase but is unlikely to hit the dizzying heights that some of the networked games can achieve.
Networked Progressive Jackpot slots
These are games that are linked across several interconnected online casinos. This means that the number of players spinning the reels can be huge! These are the games that can achieve the highest jackpot values. We are talking about amounts that can reach the multi-millions here!
The new Mega Drop Jackpot
The brand-new jackpot slots called Mega Drop offer a truly innovative gaming experience. Unlike the others, these video slots boast an unmissable multi-level jackpot as it is accessible to all players, at any bet level! This new system guarantees multiple jackpots wins with all slots with the Mega Drop feature.
Most popular jackpot slot of all time
If there’s one online game that needs no introduction, it’s undoubtedly the Mega Moolah slot from renowned developer Microgaming. Launched around ten years ago, Mega Moolah is a popular progressive jackpot slot. It holds the record for the highest jackpot ever awarded by an online slot game, when a British player won over £13 million in October 2015.
Other popular jackpot slots games
Building on the success of Mega Moolah, you can now find several other popular progressive jackpot titles out there, all offering the chance of those life-changing wins. Look out for NetEnt’s Divine Fortune and Hall of Gods. Fixed jackpot games area feature from many of the top slot developers. Try Pragmatic Play’s Wild Wild Riches or PearFiction’s Blazing Mammoth with its 7 fixed jackpots!
What have we learned?
After following this guide, you have learned about the different types of jackpot games available, how you can trigger them, and what outcomes you should expect. Although nobody can tell you how to win on jackpot slots, you should now have a clearer idea of how they work and can finally start playing for real and enjoy your winnings.







