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What Are Progressive Jackpot Games?

The difference between traditional jackpots and progressive jackpots lies in the size of the prize pool. Unlike traditional jackpots, progressive jackpots continue to grow infinitely. The prize pool increases as players play the game, in other words, and there is no fixed or maximum amount. That’s why progressive jackpots are so lucrative – the amount of money you can win often reaches a massive scale. In contrast, traditional jackpots often have a finite amount of money that can be won.

Most Popular Progressive Jackpot Slots

  1. Mega Moolah – $27 million
  2. Mega Fortune – $27 million
  3. Major Millions – $3.8 million
  4. Shopping Spree – $7.4 million
  5. Jackpot Giant – $16.2 million
  6. Jackpot Pinatas – $2.7 million
  7. Aztec’s Millions (Realtime Gaming) – $6 million
  8. Hall of Gods (NetEnt) – $11.8 million
  9. Arabian Nights (NetEnt) – $13 million
  10. Cash Splash (Games Global) – $183,530

A Closer Look at the Best Progressive Jackpot Slots

Here is some more need-to-know information about each of our top 10 progressive jackpot slots.

Mega Moolah – Mega Moolah is a jackpot slot from experienced provider Microgaming now Games Global. The game launched in 2006 and was one of the first jackpot slots online.

Mega Fortune – Mega Fortune is a jackpot slot from industry giant NetEnt. It was published and made available to the masses in 2009.

Major Millions – Games Global formerly Microgaming will be a frequent part of this list. Major Millions is another incredibly popular jackpot slot from this publisher. It has been around since 1996 in one form or another, though it was first relaunched in 2013 with an all-new matrix.

Shopping Spree – Shopping Spree is a Realtime Gaming jackpot slot with well over a decade in the industry. It has only four recorded wins, the first in 2011 and the latest (at the time of writing) in 2022.

Jackpot Giant – Released by Playtech in 2014, Jackpot Giant has some of the most impressive wins on our list. It has paid out four times, the first in 2016 and the latest (at the time of writing) in 2019.

Jackpot Pinatas – Jackpot Pinatas is a jackpot from Realtime Gaming, a name you might recognize by now. It has been around for well over a decade, with its first recorded win in 2013.

Aztec’s Millions – Yet another slot from Realtime Gaming, Aztec’s Millions, was released in 2009. It is known for being a lucrative but pricy jackpot to play.

Hall of Gods – Hall of Gods is a slot released by NetEnt, the same developer as Mega Fortune. It was launched in 2013 and pays out frequently – typically once a year or so.

Arabian Nights – Arabian Nights is another popular slot from NetEnt. It was released in 2005 and has been won dozens of times since its inception.

Cash Splash – The final jackpot on our list was released by no other than Games Global. It was published in 2004 and tends to pay out smaller sums than the other names on our list.

How Do Jackpot Slots Work?

Progressive jackpot slots increase in size whenever a player places a bet. The money that you wager goes directly into the ’pot’ and determines the amount the jackpot pays. When you win, you’re essentially winning a ‘seed value’ along with the value of past players’ bets. The term ‘seed value”’ refers to the minimum amount a jackpot can award. Once someone wins a jackpot, in other words, the prize pool doesn’t go down to $0. It returns to the seed value (typically sponsored by the casino or developer). This ensures that players always win something even if the jackpot recently paid out.

Pros

Thumbs Up Huge prize pools

Thumbs Up Infinite jackpot size

Thumbs Up Potentially big payouts for small wagers

Cons

Thumbs Down Long wait between wins

Thumbs Down Low RTP value

What Should You Consider When Playing Jackpot Slots?

There are many factors to keep in mind when playing jackpot slots:

  • RTP
  • Slot volatility
  • Your budget

Return to Player (RTP) refers to the amount of money players typically win at a specific game in return for their bet money. Low RTP slots return less money for your wager, while high RTP slots pay back more for your wager.

Slot volatility refers to how often and how much players win. Low volatility slots tend to pay out small amounts regularly. High volatility slots pay out more money infrequently.

Always keep your budget in mind when playing. Decide how much you can afford to spend before placing a bet, and stop wagering when your bankroll runs dry. Another thing for casino players to check is can you get any casino bonuses that can be used to play jackpot slots.

Where Can I Play Progressive Jackpot Slots?

You can play progressive jackpot slots in a few different places. In addition to in-person betting venues, players can access games via mobile casino apps and online casinos. What’s the difference? While the two are similar, they have distinct qualities.

Online casinos are casinos accessed from your home computer. You can connect to the network wirelessly and enjoy progressive jackpots, but you might not be able to gamble on the go. Mobile casino apps, on the other hand, are designed specifically for mobile devices such as your smartphone or tablet. You can run them on the go, whether you have access to your computer or not. You can also use your mobile network to connect, so even if you don’t have access to wireless internet, you’re usually good to go.

What Are the Odds of Winning a Progressive Jackpot Slot?

According to Untamed Science, the chances of winning a progressive jackpot are between one in 50 million to one in 100 million. That means that a game with one in 50 million odds pays out for one player out of 50 million. The likelihood is incredibly small, but as we’ve seen, not impossible.

How Are Progressive Jackpots Paid?

Progressive jackpots are paid in two different ways. You have two options – a lump sum or an annuity. A lump sum works just as it sounds: the entire jackpot worth is paid out immediately. That might sound perfect, but keep in mind that you need a certain infrastructure in place to support large amounts of money. This is important not only to avoid spending your money all in one place but also to invest your funds, if you are so inclined, to help them last longer. Annuity payments, on the other hand, are payments that are paid per year rather than as a lump sum. These payments tend to have a set number of years over which time the full lottery amount is paid (minus any expenses or taxes due).

Who Makes Jackpot Slot Games?

Jackpot slot games are a lucrative industry, and many well-known providers have jumped in feet first. Among the most well-known developers include:

Starting from the top, Games Global is home to an incredibly successful jackpot series: WowPot! The franchise is popular among new and experienced bettors alike for its impressive payouts. NetEnt is an incredibly prolific developer in the casino industry. They have many popular slots, including Mega Fortune, one of the most lucrative progressive jackpot titles on the market. Playtech offers players Jackpot Giant, another fan favourite. Finally, IGT offers players incredibly successful jackpot slots with their Wheel of Fortune series.

My Top Tips for Winning a Progressive Jackpot

Before you start playing your funds away, I have three top tips I want to share with you:

  1. Be realistic about your chances. There’s nothing wrong with responsibly playing jackpots, but there’s also no guarantee you’ll win.
  2. Don’t get your hopes up so much that you end your gaming session upset.
  3. Make smaller bets over a longer period of time, as you may be waiting a while for a win.
  4. Build your budget before you start and portion it out so that you can spend as much time betting as possible.

Nothing can guarantee a win, but these tips might help you organize your wagering and play responsibly.

What Other Slot Types Are Available to Play?

In addition to progressive jackpot slots, there are a few other slot types to keep in mind. The most popular include:

  • Video slots
  • Classic slots
  • Megaways slot

Video slots are similar to jackpot slots, but they don’t provide the chance to win a huge pot of ever-increasing funds. Classic slots are simple three-reel slots without special features. Megaways slots are video slots with 117,649 ways to win.

If you’re looking for other games to play why not check out crash games like JetX , or live dealer games like Dreamcatcher, Crazy Coin Flip, and Cash or Crash.

Progressive Jackpot Slot FAQs

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Which is the best progressive jackpot slot?

Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune are often neck-in-neck when it comes to big wins.

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What is the biggest jackpot won?

The biggest jackpot won by the games on our list is tied between Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune at $27 million.

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Are jackpot slots fair?

Jackpot slots are fair! They are random and ensure every player has an equal chance to win.

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How often are jackpots won?

Jackpot slot wins are won at anywhere from days to years-long intervals.

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Can I play progressive jackpot slots for free?

You can play progressive jackpot slots for free, but not for real money.

Marie Claire Graham
Marie Claire Graham Author

With 9 years of experience in all things related to online casinos, Marie-Claire Graham is our online gambling expert. She has written everything from casino reviews to news stories and blogs, but her passion lies in games. Her hands-on experience... Read more about Marie Claire Graham