A progressive jackpot is a prize pool that increases over time as multiple players place bets on a particular slot game. With every wager, a portion of the bet contributes to the jackpot, allowing it to grow until one super-lucky player bags the whole amount.
The way jackpots work nowadays, at its simplest, is this: a portion of every wager contributes to the jackpot pool, which continues to grow until one lucky player triggers the win. This can happen randomly, or by landing a specific combination of symbols. Some jackpot rules will require you to place a maximum bet to qualify for the top prize.
Fixed vs progressive jackpots
A fixed jackpot comes with a predetermined prize amount that doesn’t change, regardless of how many players wager on the game. By contrast, progressive jackpots continue to grow until someone wins the whole lot. While fixed jackpots like Playtech’s Buffalo Blitz return consistent payouts, progressive jackpots are the ones that offer the potential for significantly larger wins, making for a considerably more thrilling experience.
Prizes often exceed millions of dollars, with the largest one being recorded so far paying out $20,062,600. The lucky winner was British player Jon Heywood, who was having a go on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah at Betway online casino in 2015. The win made it to the Guinness Book of Records.
What makes them so popular? Their unpredictability and the potential for huge payouts from relatively small stakes are the big attraction here. Granted, the odds of snagging the top prize are often slim, but the possibility of walking away with a massive windfall keeps even the most cautious players coming back for more.