Progressive Jackpots explained

Progressive jackpots are the headline-makers and record breakers of the online casino industry. Mega Moolah alone has created dozens of slot millionaires, but that’s just one of many jackpot slots, with developers like Blueprint Gaming, Playtech, and Pragmatic Play also offering massive progressive jackpots.

But how do these casino games work?

What is a progressive jackpot?

Progressive jackpots are steadily increasing, randomly triggered jackpots. Every round across every variation of the game contributes to a jackpot, and as long as you’re playing the game and meeting the stake requirements, you can scoop the grand prize.

Although they are more commonly associated with online slots, progressive jackpots exist across a variety of games. Playtech’s Age of the Gods jackpot system, for instance, features in over 30 slots inspired by Greek mythology, as well as a live roulette game.

How do progressive jackpots work?

Progressive jackpot games add a small portion of each stake to a jackpot pool. The more frequently a game is played, the bigger the jackpot becomes.

Once it triggers, the jackpot pays out and then resets to a seed amount as the process starts again.

Jackpot accumulation

The biggest progressive jackpots, such as WowPot, Mega Moolah and Age of the Gods, take a percentage from each spin of every game and at every slot site. Contributions vary, but it’s usually around 1-5% of each stake. So, if you wager €/$10 per spin, as much as €/$0.50 could go to the jackpot pool.

It may not sound like much, but all those spins add up. The Dream Drop Mega Jackpot has a seed amount of €1,500,000, and it triggers roughly every 1.5 months, by which time it climbs to an average of just under €1,900,000.

What is jackpot seed money?

A progressive jackpot rarely, if ever, starts at zero. If that were the case, and it triggered twice in quick succession, the second player would walk away empty-handed.

Immediately after a jackpot triggers, it returns to a seed amount. In effect, this is the least you can win from a jackpot trigger. In reality, the low probability of hitting a jackpot means it always has time to climb. Example jackpot seed amounts:

WowPot (Games Global)

• Mini = €10,000
• Minor = €50,000
• Major = €100,000
• WOWPOT! = €2 million

Mega Moolah (Games Global)

• Mini = $10
• Minor = $100
• Major = $10,000
• Mega = $2 million

Age of the Gods (Playtech)

• Power = €50
• Extra Power = €500
• Super Power = €5,000
• Ultimate Power = €100,000

Dream Drop (Relax Gaming)

• Rapid = €1
• Midi = €5
• Maxi = €100
• Major = €37,500
• Mega = €1.5 million

(€1 = $1.16, 21 Oct 2025)

How are wins triggered?

Random number generators (RNGs) randomise jackpot triggers. Usually, every player has a chance provided they meet the minimum stake. But, of course, if everyone had the same chance, there would be no incentive to stake more, so the odds of a payout (as with the contribution amount) increase with the stake.

Every game and developer has its own unique approach to jackpot triggers. Some, like Blueprint’s Jackpot King, first trigger a bonus game in which players can scoop any of the available jackpots. This way, RNG determines when the game triggers and what it pays.

Other jackpot slots, such as Playtech’s Kingdoms Rise, can trigger randomly on any standard spin.

Effects on RTP

The return-to-player (RTP) doesn’t paint the whole picture when it comes to progressive slots.

Technically, Mega Moolah has an RTP of just 88.12%, which is very low considering the industry average is around 96%. But that’s just the base game, and once you add the jackpots, that RTP bumps up to 93.42%.

It’s also worth noting that the Mega Moolah jackpot was first introduced way back in 2006. Modern players are more demanding, and competition is fierce these days, so new online slots tend to have higher RTPs.

As an example, Kingdoms Rise: Guardians of the Abyss has a base rate of 92.10%, but jumps to over 96% with the progressive jackpot.

Make sure the progressive jackpot is included in the RTP when you check the metrics.

Different types of progressive jackpot

“Progressive jackpot” is an umbrella term that references a steadily increasing jackpot. As a result, it applies to various jackpot systems and game types:

Standalone & local

A standalone progressive jackpot is tied to a single slot at a single casino. More commonly seen in land-based casinos and arcades, they offer better odds, but fewer contributions mean the jackpots climb slowly.

A local progressive jackpot works in a similar way, but here the jackpots apply to a group of slots or games, such as a bank of slots in a land-based casino.

Network / linked

Multiple slot sites, many games, and innumerable spins – these are the progressive jackpots that most online players know and love. Age of the Gods is a prime example, as its jackpot system covers 30+ games, and as Playtech is a major developer available at hundreds of global slot sites, there’s always someone contributing to the jackpot pool.

Timed: Hourly, daily, must drop

Timed jackpots, also known as “must drop” jackpots, are programmed to trigger by a certain time. As they get closer to that time, the likelihood of a pay-out increases, after which it’s guaranteed to drop.

Two of three Kingdoms Rise jackpots fall into this category – Daily Strike must pay before it hits £2,000 (€2,300) and drops several times a day; Power Strike pays daily.

Some of the most popular must drop jackpots these days are Red Tiger Daily Jackpot, Jackpot King's must-drop jackpots, and Pragmatic Play's Drops & Wins.

Looking for a jackpot? Look at this top slot site:

Improving your chances of winning

If RNG isn’t on your side, no amount of strategizing will help you. Jackpot slots are games of chance – skill doesn’t come into it. However, as with most casino games, there are some things you should know going in:

Setting your budget/bankroll

Set a budget before you play and stick to it. This is your gaming bankroll. It should be an amount you can afford to lose (never assume you will win) and shouldn’t be taken from the money you use for bills, living expenses or savings.

It can be tempting to play more often or for longer in the hope of triggering a jackpot. But in reality your chance of winning is the same on every spin.

Think of each spin in the context of a lottery. You can buy more tickets to increase your chances, but the odds are always against you, and it only takes one ticket to win.

Read and understand the casino’s T&Cs

Free spins and bonus credits are often ineligible for jackpot wins. Others have weekly/monthly cash out limits (although, as many progressive jackpots are paid by the developer, those limits may not apply). You could also be stung by restrictions on certain payment methods.

Either way, it’s best to be prepared. Always read the site and bonus T&Cs before you play.

Tactics – don’t just chase the big jackpots

All players are attracted to big jackpots, but if the prize has risen that high, it means the odds are slim. Check seed amounts to see how far it’s climbed, and don’t just focus on the biggest jackpot.

With WowPot games, you could win over €50,000 with the second-highest jackpot, and if you miss out on the Dream Drop Mega jackpot, you could still scoop €37,500 on the Major jackpot.

Alternatively, play timed/daily jackpot games close to the cut-off time or prize amount.

Gambler’s fallacy – watch out!

Just because a jackpot triggers more commonly during a certain month or day doesn’t mean those are “optimal” times. By the same token, the fact that a game hasn’t paid out in a while doesn’t mean it’s “due”.

Don’t attach meaning and strategy to something governed by chance. It’s the gambler’s fallacy, and it’s a trap that has snared many of us at some point.

Pros and cons of progressive jackpots

Progressive jackpots are one of the biggest attractions in the casino, but they’re not for everyone. Depending on your budget and playstyle, the cons could outweigh the pros.

Summary

If you find a progressive jackpot game with fun features and a high RTP, you can’t go wrong. It’s like getting a lottery ticket with every spin – sure, the odds of winning are slim, but you can still enjoy the game’s standard features.

Remember, though, it’s easy to get carried away when you’re chasing big prizes, and while every player and every spin has a chance, the actual odds of winning are very small.

Create a budget and stick to it. Have a thorough look at Slot Gods’ progressive network jackpots page. You’ll find a great selection of games to try out. But remember, always play responsibly.