How Slot Machine Jackpots Work

Slot machines are among the simplest casino games with jackpots. And you don't need to be skilled or do anything extraordinary to be eligible for these prizes. All players have the same winning odds. However, not all slot machines have a jackpot feature. And when available, the type of jackpot varies by game.

In this article, we explain how slot machine jackpots work, highlighting the types and how they operate so that you can set your gaming expectations correctly.

Slot Machine Jackpots Meaning

A slot machine jackpot is a set or accumulated cash prize that can be won at random. It is activated by landing special symbols during regular gameplay or in a bonus round. Slot jackpots can range from a few dollars to thousands or millions of dollars.

Types of Slot Machine Jackpots

Below are the various forms of slots jackpots:

Fixed Jackpots

Fixed jackpots are predetermined cash prizes that do not change, regardless of the number of players on the machine. In some games, the jackpot is a fixed amount, such as $500 or more, while in others it is a maximum multiplier. This means that if you wager $10 and are offered a 3,000x multiplier, you could receive a $30,000 cash prize.

The advantage of a fixed jackpot is that you are informed of the maximum win amount you can get at any point in the game. Also, hit frequency can be high in some games.

Progressive Jackpots

Winning progressive jackpots is the dream of many slot players. This jackpot is a prize pool, consisting of a small percentage of players' bets. Over time, the amount grows into a substantial cash prize, thousands or millions of dollars, waiting to be won by a single lucky player.

Progressive jackpots exist in three forms. It can either be local, networked, or must-drop.

Local Jackpots

A local progressive jackpot is a cash prize accumulated from bets on a specific slot game or a set of slot games in a casino. As a result, it takes time to become substantial, but fewer players are competing for the prize.

For example, if there is a slot with a jackpot in Casino A, only bets from players who wager on that game in that casino count towards the local jackpot.

Network or Wide Area Jackpots

A network progressive jackpot operates differently from the local system. This jackpot is accrued from wagers on a slot machine available across multiple locations, i.e., various casino brands. It isn't limited to a specific area or casino.

Let's say Casino A has a slot game with a jackpot, and other Casinos, B, C, D, E, F… in different jurisdictions have the same game and are connected. All wagers across these locations contribute to the network jackpot. And with many players hoping to be the lucky winner, the cash prize increases in value until someone hits it.

Must-Drop Jackpots

A must-drop progressive jackpot is a size, date, or time-limited jackpot. It works similarly to the network jackpot, but with a validity period or maximum cash prize. The cash prize continues to increase until a set date or time, after which it resets if no one wins.

How Slot Machine Jackpots Work: Latest Update

Slot machine jackpots, whether fixed or progressive, are triggered by landing unique symbols such as wilds or by winning a bonus round. What qualifies every player for a jackpot is to place a wager, not lower than the minimum amount or higher than the maximum credit. However, in some games, you have to wager the maximum credits to be able to be eligible.

A Random Number Generator (RNG), a precise computer algorithm, determines the outcome of each spin. Therefore, neither casinos nor software developers can influence game outcomes. The winner of a slots jackpot is the lucky one.

Influence of RTP and Variance on Slot Machine Jackpots

The Return to Player (RTP) percentage affects Jackpots. Games with low RTP tend to feature large jackpots, while games with High RTP offer smaller jackpots. The simple math behind this is that if a game offers about 99% RTP, there is little to no room for any other wager cut that can contribute to a pool prize.

However, this does not mean that all high RTP slots offer little to no jackpot. No. They can feature fixed jackpots, but progressive or often rare. Likewise, not all low RTP games offer jackpots.

Variance or Volatility affects jackpot size, i.e, the amount you can win. A game with high volatility offers a less frequent but significant jackpot. Conversely, Low-variance slots offer frequent but smaller jackpots.

Busting Slot Machine Jackpots Myths

Here are three popular myths about how slot machine jackpots work:

Myth #1: Slot Jackpots Are Timed

It is a myth that slot machine jackpots are triggered on certain days or at specific times. Neither date nor time can influence the slots' RNGs. The outcome of slot spins isn't seasonal. Therefore, this belief is false. Not to be confused with a must-drop jackpot, as these are two different concepts.

Myth #2: You Can Trick the Machine to Hit the Jackpot

Some players claim there are ways to manipulate slot machines into hitting the jackpot. The suggested tactics include repeatedly pressing the play button, placing bets in sequence, or pulling a machine's lever in a specific way. All these claims are false. Again, the RNG in slots is not affected by these tricks.

Myth #3 Casinos and Software Providers Can Manipulate Jackpots

It is illegal for any casino or software provider to rig slot machines. They have no control over a machine's jackpot and cannot determine who will win.

Mind-Blowing Slot Machine Jackpot Records

• In 2023, an anonymous player won a $42 million jackpot in an online casino.
• The highest slot jackpot ever recorded in a land-based establishment is $39.7 million. The cash prize was won in 2003 by a software engineer from Los Angeles.

In Summary

Slot machine jackpots are randomly triggered cash prizes that can be fixed or progressive. To be eligible, you only have to place a wager as specified in the game's instructions. RNGs decide the outcome of each spin and cannot be influenced. A game with high RTP and low variance will offer smaller jackpots than a game with low RTP and high variance. So, before you play a jackpot slot, read the details of the game.

FAQs

Are Jackpots in slots guaranteed?

No, hitting jackpots in slots is by chance.

Does placing max bets increase Jackpot odds?

No, placing maximum bets does not increase your chances of getting jackpots in slots.

How often do jackpots hit slot machines?

The odds of hitting a jackpot in slots are low (1 in 5,000 to 1 in 30 million).