Jackpot Slots
Jackpot slots - overview and history
Ever since the first mechanical slot machines made an appearance in the 1880s and 1890s, the spinning reels have mesmerized gamblers. A win could range from a free drink, cigar, or stick of gum in the early days. The biggest prize on a liberty bell machine was 50 cents. Today a single spin of the reels could turn the gambler into an instant millionaire. Let's look at how to make that possible, which machines to play, and how to bet if you want the chance to win big. If the big prize doesn’t appeal, you can also check Scatter or Cherry slots categories.
What is a Jackpot slot
A jackpot slot is any slot machine that offers a grand prize, the jackpot. You can find three types at any land-based or online casino. The first and most popular is the progressive jackpot. Still, many machines also offer a predetermined mystery jackpot or a non-progressive jackpot.
Progressive jackpot
A percentage of every wager made on a machine or network of machines contributes to the reward pool. When a gambler wins the jackpot, the amount is reset, and the bank begins to grow again. You will find a few different types of progressive jackpot slots.
Stand-alone: Only wagers from a single machine contribute to the grand prize. Usually, the jackpot amount is small, and the payouts are more frequent. You typically find these slots in land-based casinos.
In-house: A network of slot games from one casino or provider all contribute to the prize bank. The jackpot amount grows faster, and the payout is more significant than on a stand-alone game.
Wide-area: The most popular progressive jackpot slots cover a vast area network of egames. The payouts can reach seven figures. This type of progressive jackpot can potentially link games worldwide, each wager contributing a small percentage to the ultimate prize. The most famous jackpot wins have been on slots on an extensive network to contribute to the jackpot counter.
Fixed jackpot
With a fixed jackpot, the grand prize remains the same regardless of the number of bets placed on the game. Once the winning symbols line up on the pay-line, the bettor claims the winnings. The prize amount doesn't grow no matter how many bets have been made since the last payout.
Mystery jackpot
Land-based and online casinos often offer a predetermined mystery or must-win jackpot on a game. Like the progressive jackpots, a percentage of every wager contributes to the pool. Once the predetermined amount is reached, the game pays out. There's no need for any other winning conditions to be met. The gambler that makes the final contribution to the prize takes all the winnings. The prize's amount is determined by the casino, and several different mystery jackpots of varying amounts could be available at any time.
How do I win a Jackpot
Merely playing a jackpot slot doesn't mean you qualify to win the grand prize. Different games and casinos have differing criteria to win a jackpot. We've put a few tips together to help you know what to look for and how to find it.
Bonus funds
Always read the terms and conditions before playing any slot with bonus funds. Some online casinos exclude jackpot slots from the games you can play with bonus funds. In this case, the casino cancels the winnings. There is also generally a withdrawal limit on winnings from a bonus. Don't play a machine with a million-dollar jackpot from a reward if you can only claim $2000 of it.
Check the paytable
Every game, including jackpot slots, has a paytable. The paytable details the game's volatility, the conditions for winning, and how to qualify for the grand prize. Many networked progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah only payout the main reward on a maximum bet. Other games with smaller jackpots require a smaller qualifying wager to win the prize. Suppose you play a jackpot slot without making qualifying bets. In that case, you're contributing to the ultimate win without giving yourself the chance of claiming it.
Know the game
There is no strategy or skill needed to win a jackpot on slots. Still, we recommend that you learn how the game works. Know the symbols and the paylines and study the paytable. Play a free demo version of your chosen jackpot slot so that you know how the bets and controls work.
Keep your expectations realistic
Jackpot slots with a high jackpot payout pay less often. Each game has a return to player (RTP) value and a volatility score. Typically, the games with a high payout have high volatility and low RTP. This means that your odds of winning a big jackpot are less than your odds on a minor windfall. For example, the most common progressive jackpot is a lottery, and they have an RTP as low as 50%. Don't worry; the RTP on jackpot slots is significantly higher than that.
Where do I find Jackpot slots
Almost all land-based and online casinos have jackpot slots. All you need to do is search jackpot slots online. You will find lists of casinos in your jurisdiction that have jackpot slots and which games they offer. You can even check reviews and find free versions of the jackpot slots to try out. Once you've decided on the game to play and the best jackpot slot casino, you're ready to try for that big win.
Which Jackpot slots are the most popular
The big progressive jackpot slots receive the most media attention, and as a result, they have become the most popular. Some more experienced gamblers prefer playing for the smaller jackpots with a greater chance of winning. Microgaming's progressive jackpot slot Lion's Share took 20 years to pay out the grand prize of $2.4 million. We have listed the most popular progressive jackpot games if you want to try for the big money prizes.
Mega Moolah
Microgaming released this slot in 2006, but it remains famous for the massive progressive jackpot wins. The game offers four progressive jackpots within the bonus round. Once the bonus round is activated, all you need to do is spin the reels to see if you can win the mini, minor, major, or mega jackpot.
Mega Fortune
The Mega Fortune slot game was released by NetEnt in 2009 and is a luxury-themed slot with yachts, limos, cigars, and luxury watches as symbols. The scatter symbol is a bottle of champagne. The bonus round also unlocks the game's three progressive jackpots.
Hall of gods
Hall of gods has a Norse god theme and was released by NetEnt in 2010. You access the game's three jackpots through the bonus round triggered by three Thor's hammer symbols. The mini and midi purses are more minor, local prizes, and the mega jackpot is the big payout. Instead of spinning reels in the bonus round, the player is invited to smash shields. Three of the same symbols behind the smashed bucklers reveal the player's luck.
Jackpot Giant
Playtech released their most popular jackpot slot in 2014. Players win the progressive jackpot by lining five scatter symbols up on payline #1. A bettor needs to have placed the maximum bet to qualify for the big win.
Other popular Jackpot slots
You can find almost any kind of jackpot slot online or at land-based casinos. Monty Python's Spamalot from Playtech offers bettors a chance to win the holy grail or the slightly less holy grail. Other popular jackpot slots include Cleopatra, Gonzo's Quest, and Immortal Romance.
Conclusion
We all dream of winning one of the big progressive jackpot slots, but few people ever do. Part of the charm and attractiveness of these games is the possibility of winning big, and there's nothing wrong with that. Remember that the edge is always with the casino, so you should treat gambling as a pleasant pastime and expect to spend more than you win. If all you want is the thrill of winning a grand prize, smaller jackpots pay more frequently.