In the world of online casino slots, chasing the biggest payouts is a primary motivation for many players. While a single, lucky spin can lead to a significant win on any game, a specific category of slots is designed to offer life-changing sums of money. These are the progressive jackpot game online slots, where a small portion of every wager contributes to a continuously growing prize pool.
How Progressive Jackpots Work
Unlike standard slots with fixed maximum payouts, a progressive jackpot grows every time a player wagers on the game. The jackpot is “networked,” meaning players from different online casinos are all contributing to the same prize pool. This allows the jackpot to climb to astronomical figures, often reaching into the millions. The jackpot is typically triggered randomly, and the odds of winning often increase with the size of the player’s bet.
The Titans of Progressive Jackpots
Certain progressive slots have become legendary for their record-breaking payouts and are the go-to choice for players seeking the biggest wins.
- Mega Moolah: Developed by Microgaming, this slot is often referred to as the “Millionaire Maker.” With an African safari theme, it holds the record for the largest online slot payout in history. The game has four progressive jackpots (Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega), with the Mega Jackpot frequently reaching multi-million-dollar figures.
- Mega Fortune: This NetEnt slot is all about a luxurious lifestyle, and its payouts reflect that theme. It also features a multi-tiered progressive jackpot, with the Mega Jackpot being the top prize. The bonus round is a “Wheel of Fortune” style game where players spin to advance toward the central jackpot.
- Hall of Gods: Another NetEnt creation, Hall of Gods is based on Norse mythology. It features three progressive jackpots and is known for creating some of the biggest jackpot winners in Europe. The bonus game is a “pick-and-click” feature where players must match three jackpot symbols to win the corresponding prize.
Beyond Progressives: High Max Win Slots
While progressive jackpots offer the biggest potential payouts, some non-progressive slots also have massive win potential, often expressed as a multiplier of your bet. These are typically highly volatile games where the maximum win can be incredibly high, even if the base jackpot is not progressive. For example, some Megaways slots and other high-volatility titles can offer wins of tens of thousands of times your stake or more, which can translate to huge sums of money for high rollers.
A Note on RTP
It’s important to remember that most progressive jackpot slots have a lower Return to Player (RTP) percentage in their base game compared to standard slots. This is because a portion of each bet is allocated to the jackpot pool. For a more balanced experience with frequent, albeit smaller, wins, a high-RTP slot might be a better choice. However,