If you’re unfamiliar with how the various kinds of online slots online operate, you may find yourself wondering whether you should play regular video slots or progressive jackpot slots. These are the two main genres of online slots games, and when logging in to a top online slots site, you’ll usually find a separate section for jackpot slots within the games library.
The truth is, there are benefits to playing both regular slots and progressive jackpot slots, and the slot that is most suitable for you is down to personal preference. To help you choose, we will try to help you to understand how each type of slot machine is played.
Regular Video Slots
The most confusing aspect of the division between regular slots and jackpot slots is the fact that regular online slots have a jackpot too. So what’s the difference? Well, regular slots have ‘fixed’ or ‘non-progressive’ jackpots. This means that the jackpot is always the same value, no matter how many players are active, or how recently the jackpot was won.
For instance, a regular online slot may offer a fixed jackpot of 1000x your stake. This never fluctuates, so if you win the jackpot, it will always be 1000x your stake, whether that wager is 10p or £80 per spin.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
In contrast, jackpot slots or progressive jackpot slots, offer varying amounts that are based upon external factors. In other words, these jackpots are not fixed and can vary from one spin to the next. Every time a player places a stake, a portion of that stake is added to the total jackpot sum. This sum increases in value until it is won. As a result, the more players that are active on the game, the higher the jackpot will be. Progressive jackpots can reach millions of pounds, but can also be extremely difficult to win.
When the jackpot is eventually won, the figure resets to a lower default value, and the whole process starts again as players place wagers on the jackpot slot.
When you play progressive jackpot slots, you will be dreaming of winning the jackpot. The games that are available will have different sizes when it comes to the top prize they have to offer. Winning a jackpot will always put a smile on your face but with some games, landing one is a life-changing moment.
With most casino slots games, the top prize that can be won is a fixed one. All the details of how much you can win for each winning combination can be found in the paytable. For example, in the game ‘Jack in the Box,’ the jackpot is 600x your stake. Considering the minimum stake on that game is £1 and the maximum £250, you can see that there are some large wins available on this slot.
Progressive Jackpot Chances of Winning
The chances of landing a progressive jackpot are not great. However, they do get won so someone is going to have that magic moment. You will find that the Return to Player on these progressive jackpot games isn’t as high as on others with smaller jackpots.
There are several ways in which these progressive jackpots can be won. One way is a grid that contains different symbols. There will be four progressive jackpots, all with different sizes and one of them will be won. The first three matching symbols determine which one you will win. Of course, it’s usually the smallest one but one day perhaps it will be the life-changing one.
Whereas the bonus round needs to be triggered, a chance to win the progressive jackpot can come randomly. Playing with a higher stake (sometimes the maximum) gives you more chance of this happening. You need to be wary of your budget though and not spend too much chasing the progressive jackpot, have a read through our strategy for some handy hints tips about getting the best from playing slots and controlling your budget.
Just How Much Can You Win?
Just how much you can win will depend on how much you stake. Betting at the maximum amount possible can win you large sums of money but always keep to your budget. It’s when there is a progressive jackpot that the big money wins can come along. These can and do reach six figures and can go months without being won. So just what is a progressive jackpot and how high can they get? You can find them on slots that are networked together such as Mega Moolah or Major Millions and Mega Fortune.
Every time the game is played, a small percentage of the stake made will go into the progressive jackpot fund. These games are of course extremely popular so the jackpot will be climbing to fantastic heights and regularly into six figures. Imagine spinning the reels and the next minute being a millionaire with a life-changing casino jackpot. That’s just what happened to the British soldier in 2015. His stake on the ‘Mega Moolah’ slot was only 25p but amazingly he won £13m. ‘Beach Life’ requires players to get five Wild Sun symbols on a pay line to win its progressive jackpot and this can be as high as $6.5m.
Who are the Biggest Jackpot Slot Winners?
There is nothing like the adrenaline and thrill you get out of playing slot games, especially when you’re winning and reaching all of the bonus features that come with them. It’s hard to believe that the lights, the sounds, and the jangling of the coins as they spill out could be replicated anywhere outside of a casino, but surprisingly enough, insanely popular, online slots, have done not only that but completely reproduced the thrill of the win.
Though online slots winners don’t dish out their names just as they wouldn’t dish out their money, as they choose to remain anonymous and understandably so, most well-respected online casinos in the industry will share their players’ success stories anonymously. They’ll even share stories of those who have made noteworthy cash prizes in the runner up spots. If you are somebody who wants to make the leap into the online slots world but are holding back for whatever reason, take a look at some of these jaw-dropping success stories that have completely changed the players’ lives.
Beginners Luck
The first major success story comes from 2017, and it didn’t take long for this Norwegian player to bag a life’s worth of savings. After not having been signed up to the Betsson online casino for long, the player started playing a slot game developed by Yggdrasil, and after a few short minutes of playing, the Norwegian had won over £1.1 million.
The player had casually logged in to the casino and started playing on his mobile phone, meaning he could have been anywhere; at the pub, in work, or even on the toilet. Imagine that!
Hall of Gods Slots Jackpot
In the spring of 2018, while playing one the most popular online slots games, Hall of Gods, by leading slots developers, NetEnt, this player inadvertently became a god himself.
With a modest bet of just £10, the anonymous player was spinning the reels and triggered the game’s high-paying jackpot features, going on to win over 600,000 times the amount of his bet. The player won more than six million dollars from one game.
Flowery Fortune
Though this may not be his real name, Latif signed in to PlayOJO Casino in February, and despite the holiday game being out of season, he played Flowers: Christmas Edition.
Though it was a strange choice of game, the decision paid off for Latif as he was able to spin £19 into over £100,000, and with it being just after a Christmas, the cash came at a time when we all need it the most! Again, Latif was also a newbie, so there may be some reality to the bitter idea of beginner’s luck after all.
Mega Moolah Jackpot Winner
In 2015, a 26-year-old soldier in the UK landed an enormous win on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah slot game. He had signed up to Betway Casino and following a 25p stake on one spin of the popular online slot game, he landed himself an incredible £13.2m! The young soldier vowed to purchase the best possible medical treatment for his father who was awaiting a heart and lung transplant. He was also keen to spend a portion of his winnings on a luxury car… and when you become an overnight multimillionaire, why not?
A Mega, Mega Fortune
The online slots game Mega Fortune promises an abundance of wealth, and seems to deliver! A 30-year-old Swedish man managed to scoop up a jaw-dropping €8.57m jackpot in 2015 from the popular NetEnt slot game, while a Finnish man placed a small bet on the same slot game in 2013 and landed himself almost €18 million!
Is it Possible to Play Online Slots for a Living?
It’s true that many people gamble for a living; you have probably heard about successful professional Poker players, and similarly, there are some people (albeit a small percentage) who manage to earn a living from playing Blackjack, or betting on sports or horse and dog tracks. It is unusual, however, to find people who earn a living from alternative casino games such as online slots.
That’s not to say it’s impossible – after all, we have seen that there are plenty of slot games that offer a hefty payout – however, you would likely need to be pretty wealthy already to make a living out of it. For starters, you’re going to need enough cash in the bank that you can afford to lose for a while. After all, the house always has the edge in casino games and that is usually between 2% and 10%. What this means is, that players lose between 2 and 10% of every pound that they wager on the game.
While the house edge and the Return to Player percentage can vary in the short-term, the long-term results are based on math that works in favour of the casino to ensure a profit. In short, a player attempting to make a long-term living from online slots is unlikely to be successful.
Which Type of Online Slot Should I Play?
There are perks to playing both kinds of online slots. With progressive jackpot slots, the jackpots are usually significantly higher in value; in fact, these are the games that often offer life-changing sums such as millions of pounds. However, the odds of winning a progressive jackpot are much lower than the odds of winning a fixed jackpot on a regular slot game.
The best type of slot for you depends on your playing style and how much you want to win. If you enjoy winning smaller sums relatively regularly, regular slots would be the most suitable slot game for you. If you enjoy the risk factor, you’re comfortable spending more money and your desire to win an enormous amount, progressive jackpot slots may be the slot game of choice.
Where to Find Top Jackpot Online Slots UK
Now that you’re hopefully a little clearer on the key differences between regular and jackpot slots, let’s consider where is best to play. Thankfully, there’s an ocean of reputable online casinos listed here on Spin Bonus, many offering premium slot games of both varieties from leading industry providers such as Microgaming and Playtech. Choose an online casino with consistently positive reviews, a UK Gambling Commission license and look for a generous welcome bonus or free spins on card registration
Summary
There are many more success stories from lots of other online slot games and more often than not, it only takes one spin. Though you shouldn’t just read our guide to online slot games expecting to win straight away, as we can’t all be like Latif or the lucky Norwegian player, those jackpots aren’t going to win themselves and it’s clear from our list above that it is possible to become a multimillionaire from a small bet on a single spin. One thing is for sure though; it’s worth looking around online casinos and trying a game or two out for yourself; there are enough great ones to choose from!
