Types of jackpot slots
How jackpot slots work
Jackpot slots set aside part of every qualifying bet for a big prize. Fixed jackpots always pay the same top prize. Progressive jackpots grow with every spin across one game, one casino or a whole network of casinos, until someone wins and the prize resets to a seed amount.
The trade-off is RTP: because some of every bet funds the jackpot, the base game usually returns less than a regular slot. Most players never win the top prize, so most of them experience that lower return. For the full explanation, read how progressive jackpots work.
The Mega Moolah network
Games Global's Mega Moolah family is the best-known progressive network in the world, linking many casinos into one prize pool with four tiers — Mini, Minor, Major and Mega. Its top prize has paid out eight-figure sums several times, and the jackpot wheel can trigger on any spin. Read Mega Moolah: the millionaire maker and our roundup of the biggest online jackpot wins.
Where to play jackpot slots
- International: Jackpot City and Spin Casino carry the Mega Moolah network and other Games Global progressives. Lucky Nugget's welcome package even includes 100 Mega Moolah spins (with heavy wagering on regular winnings — though jackpot wins aren't capped).
- US: BetMGM runs large networked jackpots across its states, and DraftKings offers in-house and networked jackpots.
Compare everything on our best online casinos ranking.
Types of jackpot
| Type | How it grows | Typical top prize |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | Doesn't grow — a set multiple of your stake | Hundreds to thousands of times the stake |
| Standalone progressive | Grows on one game at one casino | Thousands to hundreds of thousands |
| Local / in-house network | Linked across one operator's games (e.g. DraftKings, BetMGM) | Up to millions |
| Wide-area network | Linked across many casinos (Mega Moolah, WowPot) | Often millions |
| Must-drop / daily drop | Guaranteed to pay before a time or cap | Smaller, but you know it will land |
Well-known jackpot networks
- Mega Moolah (Games Global) — four tiers; record €19.4 million in 2021 on Absolootly Mad: Mega Moolah.
- WowPot (Games Global) — a newer multi-tier network whose top prize regularly runs into the millions.
- Mega Fortune (NetEnt) — paid €17.8 million in Finland in 2013.
- US operator networks — BetMGM and DraftKings run their own progressive families across their states.
The full list of record wins is in the biggest online jackpot wins.
Playing jackpots sensibly
- Use a separate, small budget — treat it like a lottery ticket.
- Check eligibility — some games need a minimum bet or bet level to win the top prize.
- Look at the base RTP in the game info.
- Ignore "hot" and "due" myths — see casino myths, debunked.
- Know how wins are paid — large wins may be verified and sometimes paid in instalments.
Jackpots and bonuses
Progressive jackpots usually count 0% towards bonus wagering, and some casinos block them while a bonus is active. Use your own money for jackpots and slots that count 100% for bonuses — see wagering requirements explained.
What we look for
- Access to major networks like Mega Moolah, or large in-house jackpots.
- Clear eligibility rules and visible jackpot amounts.
- A record of paying big wins promptly and publicly.
- Fair treatment of jackpot wins under bonus terms.
