What Triggers A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?

January 12, 2023
[seopress_breadcrumbs]

Slots that have jackpot prizes give us a brilliant opportunity to win a significant amount of money, but the question still remains. What triggers a jackpot on a slot machine? 

What Triggers A Jackpot On A Slot Machine

While the answer to this question differs between games, in this article we’ll take a look at what triggers a jackpot on a slot machine, how slots work, and what slot machines are available.

But first, let’s take a look at the two main types of jackpots. 

Types Of Jackpots

There are two types of jackpots. These are fixed jackpots and progressive jackpots. These jackpots are differentiated by their nature and value. 

Fixed Jackpots

What makes fixed jackpots unique is that the size of the jackpot doesn’t grow with how many games you play. Fixed jackpots are not as popular as the type of jackpot we’re going to talk about next – progressive jackpots.

Progressive Jackpots

What makes progressive jackpots great is that the prize pool is constantly increasing, and progressive jackpots are directly determined by the amount of spins.

These jackpot slots accrue a prize pool with each stake made. So online progressive jackpots have millions of players, meaning that they accrue a huge prize amount. 

If a player makes a winning combination on a slot machine, then they hit the jackpot. If no players make a winning combination, the prize fund continues to grow rather than being raffled. 

How Do Slots Work?

Now let’s take a look at how slots generally work. With each game you will see a rules page and paytable, where you can take a look at how much you could win with any combination of winning symbols or on the bonus games. 

If there is an available jackpot, then you will find the details of the jackpot here too.

But it’s worth remembering that a jackpot will be offered alongside the normal prizes, meaning you can still win a lesser amount by winning over three of the matching symbols. 

When it comes to progressive jackpots, the amount will go up each time someone plays the spot even if they don’t win the jackpot.

A decreased amount of every wager will contribute to the jackpot, allowing it to keep increasing until a winner is decided and at which point it will return to the starting points. 

How Many Jackpot Slot Machines Are There?

The market for online slots has increased greatly over the years, with a lot of these types of games now available in a lot of online casinos, and have a variety of prizes available to win. 

The simplest way to get started with jackpot slot machines is to check out the games lobby of a casino you frequent.

You should be able to find some slots that have jackpots, or you may see the current total noted on their progressive jackpots (see also “What Is A Progressive Slot Machine?“). 

You may see jackpot games in their own category on some online casinos, so you can go straight there to check out the biggest prizes.

You should be able to see all the available options when attempting to claim a large jackpot with unique gameplay options and themes. Some of the most popular slots have been recently updated with jackpots.

Because of factors like popularity and the simplicity of winning the jackpot, some will reach higher levels than others.

Therefore, you can’t simply look at the jackpot amount and calculate from that figure if it gives you the greatest chance of a big win. 

How To Win The Jackpot

There isn’t one single way to win the jackpot, as developers of slots can create their games to provide the jackpot in any way they want. The range of slots available online continues to grow, so the variety of ways you can win will likely also grow.  

What Triggers A Jackpot On A Slot Machine (1)

Maybe the easiest way to trigger a jackpot prize is randomly. In this scenario, you can win the jackpot on any spin and you’ll just receive a message to give you the good news when you hit a jackpot!

Or, the jackpot will be paid when you get a specific combination of symbols. This is normally the highest paying symbol from the paytable, or it could also be paid out in a combination with an additional symbol or a random symbol.

Yet another way of winning slots on the jackpot is by participating in a special bonus round. However, to reach this stage you’ll have to get the correct combination of symbols. In the next stage you will be asked to select objects or maybe spin a wheel of fortune. 

Final Thoughts

This type of game is ideal for some people, but not for others. One of the most important factors to consider is the volatility. A slot with a large main prize will tend to be more volatile than other games. 

This is because low volatility slots normally pay out smaller wins. Games with a higher volatility will have larger prizes but might pay out more sporadically.

Jackpot slots tend to have a higher volatility, so while trying to win the main prize you may find yourself in a losing streak. 

Of course, the chance that you could win a big jackpot also makes these games more exciting, and this is music to the ears of anyone who likes the excitement of knowing your next spin could mean you winning a big prize. 

It’s sensible to keep in mind what you want to achieve ahead of playing. If the chance of winning a large jackpot is appealing to you, then you’ll want to keep a close eye on the jackpot slots.

However, if you’re content playing some slots where you can win smaller amounts, then you’ll find a huge selection of jackpot slot machines to choose from (see also “How To Hit The Jackpot on Slot Machines“). 

We hope that this article has given you an idea of what jackpot slot machines are available out there as the number of online slot machines grows, and what triggers a jackpot on a slot machine so you can win big money (see also “What Are The Biggest Slot Machine Wins?“)!

Richie Thames

Hi, my name is Richie Thames and I have been a software developer for 12 years. I have worked on some of the most popular online slot machine games, including ones you still see in online casinos today. While there is no simple trick to win the jackpot, there is power in learning about your game before playing. With several decades of experience under my belt, I created this website in the hopes of helping newbies on their journey. Please, enjoy my website, and I hope you learn something valuable about the art of gambling. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next jackpot winner?

Richie Thames Profile Picture