Casino jackpots are somehow bonuses, but not like the ones we have reviewed so far. The difference is that is not guaranteed that you will get the jackpot if you make a deposit or if you play a certain number of times, or bet higher.
The jackpot is the biggest possible win for one spin on a specific slot machine. The games offering this prize, give the player chance to win the maximum amount with minimum effort. Just one spin can trigger a win, regardless of the bet amount.
The total jackpot amounts vary depending on many factors, starting with the casino, the type of game, or the type of jackpot the specific game offers.
On this page, you can learn more about the jackpots and the types, before deciding which game to play. Also, you can read about the most popular jackpot slots at the moment.
How the jackpots work?
There are different types of jackpots, as you will read below, but no matter which type of game you are playing, they all have one thing the same. Everything is up to luck! all these jackpots can be won at random after any spin. This is thanks to the Random Number Generator that all casinos use. With this, jackpots can’t be predicted or be won by having a strategy. The only strategy you can make is how much to bet and on which slots.
Some jackpots have fixed amounts, so your bet has nothing to do with that amount. The only thing here is to remember to check the minimum bet amount to be part of the race for the big win. The progressive jackpots on the other hand increase with every bet, since portions of each bet, goes towards the pot.
Also, there are games with only one jackpot, and games with multiple jackpots. Plus, is best to choose games that offer other bonus prizes apart from the jackpot, such as bonus spins, wild cards, etc.
Types of Jackpots
Depending on the online casino and the games available, there are different types of jackpots offered. There are two main types of jackpots, progressive and fixed, but below you can read more about the other types as well.
Progressive Jackpots
The progressive jackpots are currently the most popular. The reason for that is because one progressive jackpot can be life-changing. This is because some progressive jackpots reach even 10.000.000 euros.
The progressive jackpots are not fixed, i.e. the amounts of the jackpot are not fixed. Instead, the game with a progressive jackpot has its own pool that increases as each player spins the reels. A percentage of every bet placed goes for that pool. So, the more people play that game, and the more they bet, the higher the pool becomes.
There are no rules when the progressive jackpot might hit and it is usually hard to win. This is the reason why some jackpots reach those enormous amounts because it can take months until someone hits the jackpot. As there are no rules, it also might happen that one player hits it two times in a row, or two players to win one after another. What is different is the amount. If you hit the big jackpot, then the pool starts to fill from the start, so the second time you might only win the minimum amount. Players have the same chances of winning a progressive jackpot every time they spin the reels, regardless of the jackpot’s size.
Ways to Win a Progressive Jackpot
There are different ways to win a progressive jackpot. Before playing you will need to get familiar with the ways of winning, as well as the random number generator. The progressive slots work on Random Number Generator and ensure fair play. Their main function is to determine when a jackpot or bonus game is going to be triggered.
One of the ways to win a jackpot can be hitting a certain winning combination. To win, you must line up certain symbols on a designated payline.
Another way is by betting the top stakes possible. The more you bet the more tickets you get. And if one of your tickets matches the algorithm after a spin, you win the jackpot.
Random progressive jackpot games are those where any spin can trigger the jackpot, without the need to hit a certain combination or play bonus spins.
Playing a bonus game is another way to hit the jackpot. Some games feature a special bonus round that can be triggered during the game. The bonus round can be spinning a wheel, or choosing cards that can determine your prize.
Must-drop jackpots are games that are designed to trigger jackpots by a strict deadline.
Types of Progressive Jackpots
There are three different types of progressive jackpots. Depending on the amount of the pool, the games that contribute to the pool, and the number of people playing at one time, they are divided between Standalone Progressive Jackpots, Proprietary Progressive Jackpots and Wide Progressive Jackpots.
Standalone Progressive Jackpot applies only to one game at one casino. This means the jackpot pool consists of bets made only on that particular game in the particular casino.
Proprietary Progressive Jackpot is the type where more games are linked together to form the jackpot pool. This means that the bets made on those games at one particular casino all feed into the same pool.
Wide Progressive Jackpot is the type of jackpot linked across multiple casinos. This means that each casino that offers a particular game, contributes to the same jackpot pool. The pool is for a particular game and all players playing that game, regardless of which casino they use, contribute to the same pool.
Fixed Jackpots
Unlike the progressive jackpots, the fixed jackpots, as the name implies, have a fixed amount that is paid out. The amount of the jackpot is not related in any way to the amount invested in the game. Regardless of how many players bet, or how big their bets are, the amount is not changing because is built into the actual game. The player can hit the jackpot two times in a row, and the amount will be the same, the fixed amount.
All fixed jackpot games use random number generators, so it is all down to chance. This provides fair play and equal chances. Plus, it adds more to the excitement since you might hit the jackpot without expecting it.
Players often choose these types of jackpots because the chances to win are bigger. These jackpots tend to be more steady with fewer fluctuations. However, there is no guarantee that you will win the jackpot by playing the fixed jackpot games, but when you do, you can win a lot of money.
Mystery Jackpot
The mystery jackpots or sometimes called Must-Hit-By jackpots are the type of jackpots that are guaranteed to hit by a certain point. This jackpot has a set starting value and must be hit by the maximum is reached. This means can be trigger anytime between these two limits.
You will notice these games as on top of the side, there will be a jackpot meter that says Must Hit By (or Must Win By) and the maximum amount. Basically, part of your wager goes towards the meter and there is no telling when can be triggered. However, the closer the total is to the “must hit by” amount, the better your chances of winning the jackpot.
Multiple Jackpot
Multiple Jackpots means that the game has more than one jackpot attached to it. These jackpots are always progressive, which means that a portion of every wager goes towards the pool and it keeps increasing until the jackpot is hit. If let’s say the game has four jackpots, a portion of each bet goes to all four jackpots. Once one of the jackpots is hit, the players receive the payout of that particular jackpot, and the rest remain the same i.e. keep on going up.
Types of Jackpot Games
The most common games that have jackpots are the slots. However, there are variants of the classic table games that offer jackpots as well, and usually, it is a progressive jackpot.
Slot Machines
Slot machines are the most popular casino game, and as such, they have different types of jackpots attached. There are slots that offer fixed jackpots. All you need to do is play and hit the winning combination to win the jackpot. The winning combination is different for different slots, so before you start playing check the winning combinations. The progressive jackpots can be won in various ways, as explained in the progressive slots section.
Progressive Video Poker
Progressive video poker is practically the standard form of video poker with an additional progressive jackpot. The pool increases with the number of players playing the game, and you can win the progressive jackpot if you hit a certain winning five-card hand. Usually, the winning hand is a royal flush.
Progressive Poker
Apart from progressive video poker, online casinos offer progressive poker games as well. Along with the standard bet, the player can also wager on the progressive jackpot. The variants of the game have some winning combination set that if the player gets, wins the jackpot. The winning combinations are different for the different progressive poker versions, so that is something you should check before playing. Most importantly, you can still play your favourite standard game but with the opportunity to get the perfect winning hand.
Progressive Blackjack
The progressive jackpot version of blackjack is part of many online casinos. It gives you the opportunity to win a jackpot along with your normal game of blackjack. The progressive blackjack is almost the same as the standard blackjack game, where in addition to your normal wager you place a side bet that goes towards the progressive jackpot pool. That way, the pool will keep increasing with each hand played at the table. In order to win the jackpot, you will need a winning combination of cards and that combination varies from casino to casino. Usually, the winning combination of cards is four aces of the same colour.
Progressive Roulette
The progressive roulette game is much like a regular roulette game. The main difference is that alongside your standard bets, you add a side bet that goes towards the pool. In progressive roulette the side bet is a must, so make sure you understand the rules before playing. All the bets made go towards the progressive jackpot pool on a certain table. The winning rules are different in each casino, but usually have something to do with hitting the same number multiple times in a row.
Useful Tips
Although the slots are just games of chance and their outcome will always be random, here are some tips that can help boost your chances of winning a jackpot.
- Read all the instructions for the game you decided to play. Check all the winning combinations and rules
- Use the free play option of the game to get familiar with it before betting money
- Choose a slot with Return to Player (RTP) of 95% and higher
- Choose a slot that offers other prizes as well, not just jackpot
- Always play within your budget
- Choose the smaller jackpots. The reason why those progressive slots’ amount is huge, is because they’re very hard to hit. Games with smaller jackpots tend to pay out more frequently
- Bet the maximum amount in order to increase the chances to hit the jackpot
Games With Biggest Jackpots
As there are many jackpot slots, below you can find the most popular ones at the moment, the ones that are reaching the highest progressive jackpots.
Mega Moolah is a progressive jackpot slot provided by Microgaming, one of the best software providers. It has an interesting jungle theme, combined with jackpots, free spins, scatter symbols, and wild symbols. In the year 2020, the Mega Moolah jackpot was hit 7 times, with a total amount of 70 million paid out to players.
The Mega Moolah slot has 4 different progressive jackpots, Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega which is the biggest one. The progressive jackpots can be won by spinning the Jackpot Bonus game.
A variant of the Mega Moolah slot that is one of the most played now is underwater-themed Atlantean Treasures Mega Moolah. Apart from the theme, the difference is that there are no free spins but respins and there is no Scatter Symbol. However, it has the same number of progressive jackpots, which are four, mini, minor, major, and mega.
In order to win one of the progressive jackpots, you need to hit a small pearl Progressive Trigger Symbol that triggers a spin on the bonus wheel leading to the prize. At the moment of writing this, the biggest jackpot for this slot is over 14 million euros, available at King Billy Casino.
Jackpot Giant is a progressive jackpot slot provided by Playtech and it is one of the most played slots. It has a cartoonish-like style with a volcanic island theme. The slot is a 5 reel, 50 payline video slot that features free spins, wild symbols, a scatter symbol, and a bonus symbol which is the volcano. When hitting the volcano symbol anywhere on reels 1 and 5, it unlocks a bonus game called Giant Bonus. The bonus game consists of 6 volcanos out of which the player has to choose three to get a cash prize.
You can win when five of the Gold Wild Symbols are hit on the first payline. At the moment, Bet365 Casino has the highest jackpot for this slot, of around 5 million euros.
Hall of Gods is another slot that is one of the most played featuring a progressive jackpot. It is created by NetEnt and is based on Norwegian mythology. The Hall of Gods slot has 5 reels and 20 paylines. Features bonus game, free spins, scatter, and wild symbols as an addition to the three progressive jackpots the Mini, Midi, and Mega.
To win any of the progressive jackpots you need to hit 3 Thor’s Hammer symbols anywhere across the reels. Break the shields to match 3 amounts and reveal the prize. The Bet365 Casino has the highest jackpot for Hall of Gods at the moment, around 5 million euros.
