Few casino games fascinate and attract players on the same level as progressive jackpot slots online. Offering rare but potentially life-changing wins, these slots are among the most frequently played games at an online casino.
Although the possibility of winning a jackpot is a thrilling prospect for players, it’s important first to understand how these games work. By understanding how progressive jackpots work, you can choose the best progressive slots by type and approach them with realistic expectations.
What Are Progressive Jackpot Slots?
Slots with a jackpot are a unique type of casino slots with significantly larger-than-average payouts available. These casino games are designed to build up massive jackpots which increase as more people play, offering much larger payouts than a standard slot machine. These games have a unique prize structure that uses a percentage of players’ bets to increase the overall pot, making them extremely popular, as we’ll explain further in this slot progressive jackpot guide.
How Do Progressive Jackpots Work?
Progressive jackpots online offer a prize that starts at a fixed amount (known as the seed) and grows in increments as players play the game with real money wagers. A percentage of these wagers contributes to the size of the pot, which is how it grows to significant amounts over time. Typically, the prize keeps growing until it’s won by a player or until it reaches the capped maximum.
1. The Role of Player Contributions
As we’ve already established, progressive jackpots are unique casino games online because, unlike standard slots, they’re partially funded by players’ wagers.
Here’s an overview of how each player’s bet contributes towards the progressive jackpot and increases the prize pool:
- A small percentage of the bet goes into the pot, increasing the size of the jackpot, which any random player can win.
- The remaining percentage is used for the regular payouts in the game.
2. Local vs. Networked Progressive Jackpots
Local progressive jackpots use a percentage of player bets from the same casino, whereas networked jackpot slots take a small percentage from all bets across multiple casinos. The latter are considered the best progressive jackpots because they pool funds from many casinos, increasing the prize fund to larger amounts than a local pot.
3. Random Number Generators (RNG) in Progressive Slots
A random number generator generates millions of numbers per second, corresponding to a random symbol combination on the reels. This determines the outcome of a progressive slot, guaranteeing a 100% random and unpredictable result on each spin, giving each player an equal chance of winning.
Types of Progressive Slots in Online Casinos
There are three major types of progressive slots at UK casinos: standalone, linked, and wide area network progressive jackpots.
Standalone Progressive Online Slots
A standalone jackpot is a type of prize typically found in a regular progressive slot machine that is not linked to other machines or casino online games. This means that the jackpot amount is ‘reserved’ for a single game and not shared with other jackpot slots. In other words, the jackpot prize can only be won in that game.
Linked Casino Progressive Slots
A linked progressive jackpot slot is a type of jackpot that connects multiple machines within the network across different casino online platforms. This means that each time a player makes a bet on any of the linked machines, a portion contributes to a shared jackpot pool. The more players participate, the higher the jackpot amount goes, sometimes reaching huge sums exceeding the one million mark.
Wide Area Network Progressive Slots
Wide-area network progressive slots are a type of jackpot game in which the prize fund is pooled from multiple games across different casinos and locations. Unlike standalone jackpots, which generate their own jackpots, these pots are linked to a wider network of online casinos, taking a portion of each bet into the communal jackpot.
If the jackpot is won, it resets to the seed value and starts growing in increments again. On the contrary, fixed jackpots can have multiple winners who win the same amount. The thrill of watching the jackpot numbers rise, combined with the chance to win big, makes these slots especially popular at online casinos.
One of the best examples is the Mega Moolah jackpot network, a wide area jackpot with multiple titles that can be played across different casinos for the same chance to win one of the four progressive jackpot prizes.
Progressive Slot Game Features and Variations
Like regular slots and many casino games, online progressive slots have special features and game variations that enhance the gameplay and provide additional winning chances. While you’re unlikely to hit the jackpot, the odds of triggering a regular win or bonus round are considerably higher.
Slot Features That Enhance Gameplay
These are some of the most popular features you’ll find in the best progressive slots online:
- Wilds – Wild symbols can substitute for other symbols in the game to create a winning combination. These symbols enhance the chances of triggering a winning line.
- Scatters – Scatter symbols are another type of special symbol that can trigger a bonus round like Free Spins. These symbols also pay regardless of their position on the reels, unlike regular symbols, which must land on an active payline to award a payout.
- Multipliers – Multipliers increase the payout of a win by a certain number, such as 2x, 3x, or more. They can be applied to wins generated in regular gameplay or during Free Spins and bonus rounds, increasing the overall payouts.
- Free Spins – Free Spins provide some spins you play without wagering any money of your own. These spins are usually played on special reels and can often include additional features, such as multipliers or enhanced wilds, increasing the potential for larger wins.
- Bonus rounds – Bonus rounds are special gameplay features found in advanced reel games and progressive slot jackpot games. They offer players additional opportunities to win prizes, often through mini-games, pick-a-prize features, or unique mechanics within the main game, such as increased paylines or winning ways. Triggering a bonus round usually involves landing specific symbols on the reels, as explained in the game’s paytable.
Top 5 Popular Progressive Jackpot Slot Titles
| Jackpot Game | Provider | RTP Rate | Volatility | Release Year |
| Mega Moolah | Microgaming | 88% | Low | 2006 |
| Mega Fortune | NetEnt | 96.6% | Low | 2009 |
| Eye of Horus Megaways Jackpot King | Blueprint Gaming | 93.69% | High | 2020 |
| Book of Atem WowPot | Microgaming | 93.50% | High | 2020 |
| Wheel of Wishes | Microgaming | 93.4% | Low | 2020 |
How Do Betting Requirements Impact Progressive Slot Payouts?
Unlike regular online slots, some online progressive jackpots have specific betting requirements that players must follow to be eligible to win the jackpot. It’s important to be aware of these requirements and any other important game rules by carefully reading the paytable before playing the game. By doing so, you’ll ensure jackpot eligibility and the best possible odds.
Minimum Bets and Jackpot Eligibility
It’s important to be aware that most progressive jackpot slots require you to bet the maximum to be eligible to win the jackpot. Others might specify a minimum bet that’s not necessarily the max, while others don’t have these requirements. Remember to read the paytable to understand these rules before playing the game.
Payout Ratios and Probability
Most casino progressive jackpots have a slightly lower RTP rate due to the larger prizes that can potentially be won. While most casino games like slots have an average RTP rate of 96%, progressive slots offer smaller percentages ranging from an average of 88% to 92%. However, the percentage varies for every game, and some progressive games have higher RTP rates.
How to Play Progressive Slots Responsibly?
Like all real money casino games, following responsible gambling practices is very important if you want to try your luck on progressive slots in the UK. It’s easy to get lost in the game and bet more than you can afford to lose in the hopes of winning a jackpot, so it’s critical to set limits on your casino account upon registration.
Bet Wisely and Set Limits
Playing within limits according to your budget is one of the best ways to play responsibly and ensure the best online casino. Setting limits on your account will help you stay on track and avoid overspending.
These can be set on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Once you reach your deposit or loss limit, you won’t be able to wager any more money for that period. This is particularly important when playing progressive jackpot slots because the urge to keep playing can be tempting.
Know the Odds and Avoid Expectations
Understanding the odds in progressive jackpot slots is key to managing your expectations. The odds of winning the big jackpot are slim, especially on the best online progressive slots, which offer massive prizes. Ultimately, winning a jackpot is extremely rare; the bigger the prize, the lower the odds. It’s best to play these games for fun and with realistic expectations.
Why Play Progressive Slots at Betiton Casino?
Betiton Casino stands out as the best UK online casino for progressive jackpot slots, boasting a large portfolio of popular jackpot titles from top providers like Microgaming, Blueprint Gaming, and NetEnt.
Extensive Range of Progressive Slot Games
Betiton works with the industry’s leading casino software providers to provide a competitive array of the best online casino games, including various jackpot slots such as fixed, progressive, and network progressive slots.
Besides the best progressive jackpot slots in the UK, Betiton has plenty of new titles, mobile casino games, and jackpots regularly added to the platform. You can also count on a reliable customer service team around the clock.
Secure Gameplay and Responsible Gaming Tools
Betiton UK is a fully licensed and regulated site where you can play online casino games without worrying about security. The casino has a valid gambling licence from the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission. This means you can bank on a fair and secure gaming experience with all the necessary responsible gambling options to set limits and enjoy games without putting yourself at risk of gambling addiction.
While progressive jackpots are undeniably appealing and tempting to play, it’s crucial to remember the principles of responsible gambling. Additionally, it’s also important to find the best online casino UK sites to ensure you get a great selection of jackpots with random and fair results.
