What are progressive jackpot slot machines - and how to max your chances of winning

Progressive jackpots can potentially pay out life-changing sums of money. They come in all sorts, and in this guide I’ll walk you through the lot - how they work, the games behind some of the biggest wins, and the best UK online slot sites to play. I’ll wrap things up with four expert tips I’ve picked up over the years that might just tip the odds slightly in your favour.

Progressive jackpots vs fixed jackpots - what’s the difference?

Progressive jackpots and fixed jackpots work very differently when it comes to how the prize pool is structured. 

That’s because a fixed jackpot has a set payout that doesn’t change, no matter how many times the game is played. Play’n Go’s Piggy Blitz at Slotsite.com Casino is a good example. The game features three fixed jackpots- Minor, Major, and Mega - paying out 100x, 250x, and 1,000x your stake. You win by collecting the matching coins. Other popular titles include Gold Party by Pragmatic Play and Game of Thrones Power Stacks from Games Global. 

Progressive jackpots, on the other hand, increase over time. A small portion of every bet placed, typically around 1% to 5%, goes into a shared pot, which continues to grow until someone takes the lot. Such prize pools can be tied to a single casino (local progressive jackpots) or networked across several sites. Naturally, the latter pay out far more. But then again, they’re that much harder to hit.

Casinos like Betfred are very well known for their progressive slot games. They’ve even got a dedicated portal that tracks the current highest prize pools available. Some of the best ones you’ll come across are Jackpot Giant, Gladiator, and Jackpot King.

How do progressive jackpots work?

In addition to the standard wins from matching symbols and hitting features, progressive slot machines add an extra prize on top. Each one’s got its own way of triggering it. Take Mega Moolah for example. It activates the jackpot completely at random - no need for specific symbols or reel setups. One minute you’re spinning as normal, the next you get pulled into a special feature. 

Other titles tie the jackpot to a particular in-game condition or feature. In Alchemy Gaming's Wheel of Wishes, you'll want to land at least two scatters to trigger a Power Spin. Then, giant symbols can reveal a full Bonus Wheel and launch the jackpot round. However, there's another way to reach the jackpot, and that's by switching on Power Mode at a cost of 10x your bet. Ozwin's Jackpots and Greedy Goblins go down a similar route.

After someone wins, the prize pool resets to a predefined seed amount (e.g. roughly £250,000 for NetEnt’s Mega Fortune) and begins to grow again. This way, there's always a substantial reward on the line. 

Also, some progressive jackpot slots are designed without a maximum limit, which means the pool can keep climbing indefinitely. That’s how you get those massive wins hitting eight or even nine figures, like the €18.9 million payout on Mega Moolah back in 2018.

The different types of progressive jackpot games 

Progressive slot games come in a few different formats. Those known as standalones are limited to a single title on just one online casino. Since only the bets placed on that exact game feed into the prize pool, the jackpot builds up more slowly but stays entirely within that one machine.

Linked jackpots are shared across a group of games within the same casino. The themes and mechanics might vary from one to the next, but all of them feed into the same prize pot.

Network progressives climb the quickest and hit massive numbers. That’s largely because they take a cut from bets placed across loads of different casinos, all hosting the same game. Players from all over are chipping into the same pot—and all chasing the same win.

Then you’ve got timed jackpots. These aren’t tied to a specific win condition. Instead, they’ve got to drop before a set time or date. Knowing there’s a ticking clock, sometimes days, hours, or even minutes, adds a bit of edge and puts something real on the line before the prize has to go.

Pros and cons of progressive slots

Undoubtedly, the biggest appeal of progressive jackpot slots is the chance at those massive prize amounts. But of course, there are a few other things worth considering before deciding if these games are right for you. Take a look at the following pros and cons.

The biggest progressive jackpot slots of all time

Progressive jackpots can climb into eye-watering territory. Here are some of the biggest names behind record-setting wins.

WowPot

WowPot is a progressive jackpot network from Games Global (formerly Microgaming) linked across a range of slots. Each game has its own theme, but they all feed into the same ever-growing prize pool. Some of the most played titles at new UK casinos are Wheel of Wishes, Book of Atem, Sisters of Oz, Sherlock & Moriarty, African Legends, Queen of Alexandria, and 9 Blazing Diamonds.

The system features four tiers: Mini, Minor, Major, and the life-changing Mega Jackpot, which always resets at a hefty €2,000,000 after every win. To trigger the WowPot jackpot wheel, you first need to activate a special feature - like a Power Spin or free spins - by landing a certain number of scatter symbols. Then, if a Bonus Wheel appears, it takes you to the jackpot round, where you're guaranteed to win one of the four prizes. 

Have a go at Hippodrome Casino.

The biggest recorded win so far came on Book of Atem WowPot, with £42,149,180 scored just before Christmas in December 2023. Someone also scooped £11.8 million in June 2024, followed by another huge £15.1 million in April 2021.

MegaMoolah

Mega Moolah is widely seen as the most iconic progressive jackpot slot out there. Like WowPot, it became part of Games Global’s lineup after they took over Microgaming’s distribution business in 2022.

The network spans over 20 slots with different themes. Some of my favourite ones include:

• Mega Moolah Goddess — Mythology
• Atlantean Treasures: Mega Moolah — Underwater Adventure
• Immortal Romance: Mega Moolah — Gothic Romance
• Fortunium Gold: Mega Moolah — Steampunk City
• Book of Mega Moolah — Ancient Egypt
• Juicy Joker: Mega Moolah — Classic Casino
• Thunderstruck II: Mega Moolah — Norse Mythology

Still, the original Mega Moolah slot from 2006 might just remain the most recognisable of the lot. For something completely different, there’s even Roulette Mega Moolah. They all feed into the same prize pool, and you’ll find them featured at top gaming sites like Playzee and Duelz.

The game features four prize tiers: Mini, Minor, Major, and the Mega Jackpot, which resets to €1,000,000 after every win. It's actually been behind some of the largest payouts in online slot history. In April 2021, a player at Napoleon Casino took home €19,429,358, and back in September 2018, another landed €18,915,721. 

Yet, while plenty of progressive jackpots have made headlines, the one that still holds the official Guinness World Record for the biggest win belongs to a British player named Jon Heywood. On October 6, 2015, he hit a staggering €17,879,645 (around £13,209,300 at the time) playing at Betway.  

Yet, while plenty of progressive jackpots have made headlines over the years, the official Guinness World Record for the biggest ever win still belongs to a British player named Jon Heywood. On the 6th of October 2015, he landed a staggering €17,879,645 (around £13,209,300 at the time) while playing at Betway.

Mega Fortune

Mega Fortune is NetEnt's luxury-themed progressive slot. It's all about flashy cars, diamond rings, champagne bottles, and yacht-deck spins in a classic five-reel, 25-payline layout. You'll find it featured at the best online casinos in the UK, including trusted platforms like 7bet.

The jackpot consists of three progressive levels: Rapid, Major, and the top-level Mega Jackpot. You can access the round by landing three bonus symbols, which activates the signature prize wheel. From there, each spin moves you through a series of concentric rings, increasing your chances of reaching the highest prize. 

In fact, the biggest win on record came in January 2013, when a Finnish player at Paf Casino walked away with €17,860,868. Not long before that, someone in Norway hit €11.7 million. 

Tips for winning progressive jackpot games

Luck does just about all of the heavy lifting when it comes to progressive jackpot slots. That said, there are still a few things you can do to help the cause. Check out the following tips:

Choose high-RTP games

Higher return-to-player (RTP) percentages mean more of your stake is paid back over time. That naturally helps your balance last longer, giving you more chances to trigger a jackpot feature.

➡️ Read more about the best RTP online casinos in the UK.

Choose the right volatility

Same thinking here. The aim is to stretch your gameplay as much as possible for a better shot at landing the jackpot. If you’re working with a smaller budget, stick to lower volatility slots. They pay out smaller amounts but more often. High or Very High volatility games can go quiet for a while, but if your bankroll holds up, the wins that follow are usually well worth it.

Set a clear budget

Before you jump into any progressive slot, decide exactly how much you're willing to spend and stick to it. If you plan to play over a few days, divide your budget, and ideally, use a separate card or payment method just for your gaming balance. That way, it's easier to monitor deposits and withdrawals, plus you’ll avoid using funds intended for other purposes.

Explore daily jackpots

Daily jackpots, like the ones at Heart Bingo, offer smaller but more frequent payouts, often with guaranteed drops. These might be the better pick if you prefer going for something that's more within reach instead of chasing those once-in-a-lifetime payouts.

FAQs 

How are progressive jackpots paid out?

Progressive jackpots are usually paid as a lump sum. In most cases, winners receive the full amount by check or bank transfer shortly after verification is complete, though payout terms can vary depending on the casino.

What triggers a progressive jackpot?

Each game is different. A few progressive slot games trigger completely at random, while others need bonus symbols or specific combinations to unlock a jackpot round. Also, since certain slots require a minimum bet to qualify, it's always worth checking the rules before you start spinning.

How do you win a progressive jackpot?

Progressive jackpots are typically awarded through a dedicated bonus feature, which may involve a prize wheel, symbol-based game, or other in-game mechanic. Entry into this feature can be triggered randomly or through specific symbol combinations, depending on the slot's design.

What are the odds of winning a progressive jackpot?

The odds of winning a progressive jackpot are extremely low, often compared to lottery-style chances. Your likelihood depends on the game's design, bet size, and whether the jackpot is random or feature-based. Still, technically, every spin has a chance to hit it.

Does anyone ever win progressive jackpots?

Yes, plenty of players have hit huge progressives in the past. One of the biggest was €17.8 million on Mega Moolah. And more recently, a WowPot player won over £42 million in 2023.