Imagine this: You’re spinning those reels waiting for a miracle, and suddenly you hear that victory sound…you’ve won the jackpot.
It is something many people dream about, and those who play in online casinos are no exception. Jackpots are a dream for many. We here at Fruity Slots won our first on-stream jackpot back in 2020, but the adrenaline never stops.
However, if you do live under a rock and don’t know what a jackpot is in the context of gambling, let this article be your guide. We will also explain the different types of jackpots, how they work, and their pros and cons.
What Is A Jackpot?
In casino games, the jackpot is the biggest prize that the game has. It is a large sum of money that has grown over time. It is common in online and video slots and builds up as players play. Sometimes players have to meet wagering requirements to be in with a chance of winning a jackpot prize, although this depends on the type of jackpot you’re playing for.
What Types Of Jackpots Are There?
A range of jackpots exists in slots and other casino games. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Progressive Jackpots.
- Fixed Jackpots.
- Local Progressive Jackpots.
- Wide Area Progressive Jackpots.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots are one of the most common jackpot types. They are jackpots that build slowly but continue to build every time someone wagers. A percentage of players’ bets is used and added to the prize total. The jackpot continues to build and can go up to a ridiculously high amount.
Once it is won, it resets to a predetermined value and starts again.
Progressive jackpots have their pros and cons, which we will explain below.
Pros
- Chance of winning a large sum of money.
- Widely accessible.
- Provide entertaining and exciting gameplay.
Cons
- Low odds of winning.
- Higher betting requirements.
- Risk of losing money is much higher.
Fixed Jackpots
Fixed jackpots are the most boring type of jackpots. These jackpots are jackpots where players can win a certain fixed amount of money that has already been decided. Therefore, fixed jackpots do not change no matter how much a player wagers, and many slot games have these.
Sometimes slots will have more than one fixed jackpot prize available where players can win a variety of jackpot prizes. While these jackpots are considered safer, they do have some cons.
Pros
- Offer players consistent payouts.
- Gameplay is safer and not risky.
- Easier to hit (in theory).
Cons
- Smaller prizes compared to other jackpots.
- Not exciting – gameplay is too predictiable.
- Prize money does not increase.
Wide Area Progressive Jackpots
Wide area progressive jackpots are like their name suggests, they are jackpots with a wider reach that reach beyond one slot machine or casino. Usually, these jackpots feature players from various regions, and the prize fund becomes bigger because there is more competition.
While the prizes to be won are large, there are some downsides to this large jackpot type.
Pros
- Jackpot sizes are huge.
- Provide cross-country gameplay and socialability.
- Very popular due to fast-paced gameplay.
Cons
- More competition due to lots of players.
- Bigger bet requirements (usually).
- Infrequent payouts (high volatility).
Local Area Progressive Jackpots
The polar opposite of wide area jackpots, local area ones are limited to one casino but feed into multiple games in the casino. Because of this setup, local area progressive jackpots grow fast. However, they still have limitations due to their geographical setup.
Pros
- Fast growth of the jackpot.
- Better odds than wide area jackpots.
- Creates a community of players in one casino.
Cons
- Not as big as wide area progressives.
- Limited to one casino.
- Payouts are still rare due to wagering.
Which Jackpot Is Best?
Answering the question of which jackpot is best is difficult. Some players may prefer a standalone jackpot so they can play entirely alone, whereas others may prefer wide area progressives because they create a community and have big payouts.
At the end of the day, which jackpot players think is best depends on their playing style and priorities.
All we can ask is that when you play with jackpots or in tournaments, you think about the risks and know the jackpot you’re playing inside out.
