What Are the Types of Jackpot Slots?

Among the wide variety of casino entertainment, slot machines remain the most popular, especially those featuring multi-million euro jackpots. They offer simple rules, dynamic gameplay, and vivid visual effects. Modern developers provide a wide range of unique themes – from ancient Egyptian mythology to futuristic alien worlds. The main highlight of these slots is that almost any player has a chance to win big, even those betting just a few cents per spin.

RTP and Jackpots: A Variety of Options

Jackpot slots attract players because they add an extra prize layer to the usual slot structure. Instead of focusing only on standard line wins or bonus rounds, these games include a jackpot pool that can be fixed or progressive. In progressive versions, part of each bet usually contributes to the shared prize pool, so the jackpot can grow over time. This structure also affects the game’s math, especially RTP and volatility. That is why RTP in jackpot slots online can range from about 88% to 97%, depending on how the jackpot is funded and how often the game is designed to pay smaller prizes. 

There is also a noticeable difference in jackpot sizes. Classic fixed jackpots are often limited to a range of €1,000–€5,000, whereas progressive jackpots can reach millions of euros. For example, the Guinness World Records lists one of the largest jackpot wins in history. On October 6, 2015, a player from the United Kingdom won €17,879,645 playing Mega Moolah. Such massive sums in progressive slots are made possible because a share of each bet (often around 1–5%) is contributed to the jackpot pool, causing it to continuously grow until it is won.

5 Key Types of Jackpot Slots and Their Parameters

In the gambling industry, jackpot slots are classified into different categories depending on how the prize pool is formed, player engagement, and how winnings are distributed. The choice of a specific game depends on playing style, bankroll size, and willingness to take risks.

Fixed Jackpots

In this category, the maximum win amount is a fixed value that is predetermined and built into the game’s paytable by the developer. It does not change and is not influenced by player activity. These games typically have the following characteristics:

• Prize pool: from €1,000 to €5,000;
• RTP (Return to Player): 95–97%;
• Payout frequency: daily or weekly;
• Key feature: the jackpot amount does not increase and is not dependent on external factors;
• Popular examples of fixed jackpot games: Cleopatra MegaJackpots, Atlantis Megaways, 5 Treasures.

Progressive Jackpots

The main feature of these games is a continuously growing prize pool. It keeps increasing until a lucky player hits the jackpot. With every bet placed by participating players, a small percentage is added to the jackpot fund. As a result, the prize can reach millions – and sometimes even billions – of euros at the moment it is won.

Key characteristics include:

• Prize pool: from €100,000 to €20,000,000+;
• RTP: rarely reaches 95%;
• Win frequency: extremely low (sometimes years can pass between jackpot wins);
• A well-known example: Mega Moolah by Microgaming.

Network Progressive Slots

The largest and most large-scale subtype of slots with a progressive jackpot. In this system, the large prize pool is made possible because a percentage of players’ bets from a single game model or series is pooled together across casinos worldwide. It can link multiple casinos, game providers, and sometimes dozens of countries. Key features include:

• The prize pool often exceeds €20,000,000;
• The RTP (Return to Player) is typically between 88% and 92%;
• A popular example game is Hall of Gods.

Local Progressive Slots

Unlike global progressive slots, the jackpot in this type is tied to a specific online casino. As a result, the prize pool is formed exclusively from the activity of users within that particular operator. Key features of these games include:

• Jackpot sizes ranging from €10,000 to €500,000;
• RTP averages between 89% and 95%;
• Wins tend to occur more frequently than in global counterparts;
• Popular game examples include Divine Fortune, Immortal Romance, and Age of the Gods.

Guaranteed Jackpots

A highly popular modern slot mechanic where strict time or betting thresholds are applied to the jackpot system. The system is required to trigger a win once the player reaches a certain total wager amount (for example, €100,000) or at a specific time (e.g., Wednesday at 11:00 PM). These slots also have their own characteristics:

• Jackpot sizes often range from €1,000 to €1,000,000;
• RTP typically falls between 90% and 96%;
• Popular examples include the Jackpot King network, Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop, and WowPot!

Key Takeaway for Players of Jackpot Slots

As operator experience shows, multi-level reward systems significantly increase audience engagement and satisfaction. These games are indeed attractive due to the chance of hitting a large prize even with minimal bets. However, players should keep in mind that the larger the potential prize, the lower the RTP level is, and therefore the lower the chances of winning.