Jackpot Slots are one of the most played genres of casino game online but ever wondered how they work and where that jackpot money comes from?
We’re going to answer all of your questions about jackpot/progressive slot games. Find out what they are, how they work and our top tips on helping you land a jackpot of your own!
By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to know about progressive jackpot games.
- What is a Jackpot/Progressive Slot?
- Different Types of Jackpot Slot
- How Does A Progressive Jackpot Slot Work?
- How To Increase Your Chances of Winning A Jackpot!
What is a Jackpot/Progressive Slot?
Jackpot slots play much like ordinary slots but with the added bonus of a jackpot prize that can be won. Every time these slots are played, a percentage of the money wagered on the game is added to the jackpot total, coining the term ‘Progressive Jackpot slot’ – as the jackpot progresses as the game is played.
Once a jackpot has been won, the embedded algorithm within the game will calculate a new total. This will need to be re-filled until the jackpot will drop again. This is, of course, a secret number that’s generated at random by the slot.
Progressive jackpot games will have an allocated jackpot maximum and minimum. When the jackpot restarts, the figure is always above zero. And the maximum jackpot that can be won is usually under twenty million (but there is no documented proof of this).
Different Types of Jackpot Slot
Jackpot slots vary but all offer a jackpot sum. We’ve looked at a Progressive Slot already, but here are some different types of jackpot slot that players can enjoy.
Localized Jackpot Slots
Some games will offer a jackpot feature that operates in a very similar way to the big progressive jackpot games, however, the jackpots will be much smaller (e.g. £100, £500 and £1000) and require a player to build-up a jackpot meter before they get a chance to win. For example, a game might allocate a symbol that adds one token to the jackpot meter every time it appears within the game. Once the player has filled the jackpot meter, they get a chance at activating the jackpot feature and a shot at a big-money prize.
Must Drop Jackpots
Must Drop Jackpots are online slots that release jackpots within a set number of hours. The game will have a panel showing various jackpots and the time left before each of them must drop. These games usually work within a 24 hour time period. For example, £1000 must drop within 24 hours, £500 must drop within £12 hours and £250 must drop within 6 hours. These games will drop jackpots at random intervals within the set time period before restarting the clock.
How Does A Progressive Jackpot Slot Work and Who Pays The Jackpot?
Progressive jackpot games allocate a percentage of every wager placed on the game, world-wide. The jackpot is held by the game provider, commonly mistaken for the casino where the jackpot was won. This is why the totals get so big and why lucky players become multi-millionaires overnight!
Why is Winning A Progressive Slot So Hard?
This is also the reason why the odds of winning a jackpot is like winning the lottery. Not only do you need to play at the exact tipping point of the progressive jackpot balance, but your chance of winning is diluted by the many millions of people playing the slot at that very precise moment.
How To Increase Your Chances of Winning A Jackpot!
When it comes down to improving your chances of winning a jackpot, there are only small things that you can do to improve your chances.
- Firstly, do your jackpot slot research! Find out the historic wins of each jackpot game and work out the average tipping point (there’s plenty of sites dedicated to just this that can be found with a quick Google). With these figures in mind, you can improve your chances by only playing the slot when it’s reached this figure.
- Make sure your bets qualify to win the maximum jackpot. Some games will only pay out a portion of the total figure if the wagers placed to win it are too low.
- Keep your eyes peeled for jackpot slots that have passed their previous record. If a slot has passed its jackpot record then it’s well on it’s way to dropping.
- Create a Jackpot Budget that you are willing to spend. The thrill of chasing that every growing figure can add increasing pressure to spend more than you can afford to lose. Avoid this at all costs!
- Increase your gaming balance by claiming a New Online Casino bonus. Getting some extra bonus funds will help you to play a progressive jackpot for that much longer without breaking into your own budget.
