The Three Main Differences Between Online Slots & Jackpot Slots
A lot of slots have jackpots, but not all of them are jackpot slots. Players should know the difference between ordinary online slots and jackpot slots whenever they find a new game, so they know what prizes are up for grabs. Here we’ve outlined the three main differences you can expect.
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Jackpot Slots Have Bigger Prizes
Let’s start with the more obvious difference – jackpot slots are named after the larger prizes they offer. If an ordinary slot has a jackpot, it’ll typically be fixed with a hard cap. They typically range between 2,000x to 20,000x, depending on the slot and who is providing it. Jackpot slots are progressive, so the prize grows over time and, if there is a cap, it’s set much higher than any fixed jackpot.
Jackpot slots also use different progressive systems. There are standalone progressive slots where the prize applies to one game or linked progressive slots where one jackpot is tied to multiple games, or even across casinos. WowPot and LotsaLoot are two famous examples of these linked jackpots, and they are commonly found at jackpot casino sites online. Those jackpots are run by Games Global, but other providers like Playtech, NetEnt and Pragmatic Play offer their own progressive jackpots for their games.
Jackpot Slot Prizes Are Funded Differently
Most slot prizes are technically funded by player activity, but jackpot slots take this to a whole new level. Most online slots, including those with fixed jackpots, are funded as part of a mathematical equation using the slot’s return to player (RTP) percentage. Whatever isn’t returned to the player, what we call the house edge, helps the casino stay in business. Part of that is recontributed back to the slot, ready for expected payouts for those who do win the big prizes.
This isn’t the case with jackpot slots, whose progressive jackpot runs externally to the game’s RTP. Instead, jackpot slots shave a small percentage off of each player’s bet that gets diverted to the jackpot pool. This means that the more popular a jackpot is, the higher its prize can go. The record there belongs to Mega Moolah (another Games Global project), which is responsible for the world record for the highest prize won at an online slot.
Jackpot Slots Have Different RTPs & Volatility Ratings
You’d be correct in assuming that jackpot slots have different RTP figures than other slots online, since they’re funded differently. Most online slots like to keep their theoretical RTP in the 95% to 97% range, with a few exceptions stretching each way. This establishes a viable house edge while still allowing players to get a winning spin semi-frequently.
With jackpot slots, the fact that they shave off some of your bet impacts the RTP. That, and the house edge, results in a lower total RTP that usually sits between 88% to 94%. The result is a trade-off, a slot that technically carries a lower RTP for the figure but has giant prizes for those who do manage to win. Many players accept this trade-off while others prefer to stick to higher RTP experiences; it all depends on what you enjoy more.
The combination of a lower RTP and a larger prize makes progressive jackpot slots much more volatile than ordinary fixed jackpot slots. Most online slots spread out volatility through small, medium and large wins. If they have a fixed jackpot, it probably has tiers like Mini, Mega and Grand. With progressive jackpot slots, all eyes are on the large top prize.
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Knowing these differences, it should become immediately clear when you’re looking at a jackpot slot. Look for a larger prize, a lower RTP than what you’d see at other slots online and an identifying logo, name or brand associated with some of the biggest game providers in the business.
