Are jackpot slots worth playing, I hear you ask? You bet they are. But you need to be savvy. There are different types of jackpot games, and each title has its own mechanics, including varying return to player percentages, different volatility, and contrasting minimum bets and maximum wins.
So, I’m here to explain everything you need to know about progressive jackpot slots. I also reveal the best online casinos for playing these games in the UK.
Best jackpot slot sites
100% bonus up to £100 & 50 free spins
on Diamonds of the Realm when you make your first deposit.
What to look for in a top tier casino
Before we dive into jackpot games, I want to touch base and explain why I’ve recommended the above online casinos. Here are my non-negotiables if you’re looking to play jackpot slot machine games online:
- UKGC License: I only recommend online casinos with a UKGC license. If the site is not legal in the UK, it doesn’t make my list.
- Bonuses: Though you can’t always use bonuses to play jackpot slots, I still like to see promotions like deposit matches and free spins that you can use elsewhere at the casino.
- Game selection: I give top marks to casinos focusing on quality rather than quantity when stocking the game lobby. Ideally, 1,000 titles is the sweet spot from at least 20 providers. Of course, the casinos above also offer an excellent array of jackpot slots to make my list.
- Support: I always test a casino’s customer support for myself. I like using live chat and give extra marks to casinos that still provide phone support.
- Payments: I believe casinos should deliver your winnings in no more than 1-3 days. Anything over this is unfair. Moreover, I like seeing casinos offer 5+ payment methods to cover all bases.
- Mobile: Though it’s a personal preference, I like to play jackpot games on my phone. Therefore, I give better marks to casinos with a dedicated mobile app, rather than those that are simply optimised for mobile gameplay.
Bearing the above in mind, join me as I introduce you to the different types of jackpot slot machines available at my recommended online casinos.
Introducing jackpot slots
Some slot machines offer jackpot prizes, which can offer thousands, tens of thousands, or even millions of pounds in prizes.
These games are built like conventional slot machines but have a special bonus round or feature that can be triggered for a shot at the top jackpot prizes.
I regularly play jackpot games at my top-rated online casinos – my favourites are those within Games Global’s Mega Moolah series. After all, who wouldn’t want to play a slot nicknamed “the millionaire maker”?
However, as I explain below, there are different types of jackpot slot machine games to be aware of.
Different types of jackpot slots
When creating a new online casino account, navigate to the “Jackpots” tab to find dozens or hundreds of games with massive prize pools. But, there are numerous types of jackpot slots to be aware of:
In-game (fixed) jackpots
Slot games with fixed jackpots are widely available and offered by most online casinos in the UK. As the name suggests, they offer fixed prizes set before a reel is spun.
Usually, to play for the jackpot, you must trigger the re-spins or free spins bonus round. Then, mini, minor, major, and mega fixed jackpots are up for grabs. If the relevant symbols land on the reels, one of the fixed jackpots will be yours.
One of my favourite fixed jackpot slots is Gold Blitz Ultimate by Games Global. In fact, many of the games in the Gold Blitz series have fixed jackpots and are worth checking out if you’re new to this game type.
Progressive jackpots
Thanks to their huge potential wins, progressive jackpot slots are highly popular in the UK. For every wager placed on a progressive jackpot slot, a percentage contributes towards the jackpot prize, which climbs until it is won.
Many online casinos offer these games, so the win potential is enormous, often growing to millions or even tens of millions.
The Mega Moolah series from Games Global is the best-known progressive slot series in the UK, but others worth playing include:
| Series | Developer | Top Games |
| Mega Moolah | Games Global | Juicy Joker, Immortal Romance, and Thunderstruck II |
| WowPot! | Games Global | Sherlock & Moriarty, Queen of Alexandria, Book of Atem |
| Rapid Fire Jackpots | Blueprint Gaming | King Kong Cash, The Goonies Deluxe, Rick and Morty Strike Back |
| Age of the Gods | Playtech | God of Storms 3, Helios, King of Olympus Megaways |
| Jackpot King | Blueprint Gaming | Fishin’ Frenzy, Eye of Horus, Crown Gems |
Simon Says: “While I like progressive slots, I’m always wary of the return to player percentage (RTP) of these games, which can drop below 90%, way lower than the industry average for slots. Choose titles in the 92% to 96% range, as they give you the best chance of a payout. Anything below 90% stifles your winning chances.”
Local jackpots
Like progressive games, slots with local jackpots feature a progressive prize pool that continues increasing until the jackpot is won. However, being a local jackpot, it’s only winnable at one or a few partner casino sites.
Therefore, the prize pool is much lower than standard progressive jackpot slots, which can be played and won at dozens or even hundreds of casinos worldwide.
Network jackpots
Network jackpots work just like local jackpots, but they’re more widely available. They might be spread across ten or more casinos, offering bigger potential wins.
My tips for jackpot games to play
With so many jackpot games, how do you select the best and most rewarding games? Below is my advice for choosing a jackpot slot machine at a UK casino:
Start with the game’s RTP
Before you get carried away by the glitzy features, huge prize pool, and magic marketing of the game developers, take a breath and check the game’s RTP.
This figure is crucial, showing how much the slot pays out on average over time. The higher the RTP, the better for you, the player.
As a general rule, I always recommend playing slots with RTPs of 96% or higher. However, jackpot games differ; their RTPs range from 85% to 95%.
I never play games with RTPs in the eighties, as the house edge is too high. So, start with the RTP and pick a jackpot game with a return to player percentage that is as close to that 96% average as possible. Here are a few high RTP jackpot slots to help you get started:
- Fishin’ Frenzy Jackpot King (95.47%)
- Gladiator: Road to Rome (95.05%)
- Age of the Gods (95.02%)
- Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop (94.80% RTP)
- Jackpot Giant (94.22%)
- King Kong Cash Go Bananas Jackpot King (93.49% RTP)
Check the pool (local, network, or global)
Next, consider how many players are contributing to the jackpot prize pool. If you’re searching for those life-changing wins, play global progressive slots, as thousands of players at casinos worldwide contribute to the ever-growing prize pool.
These jackpots are harder to win but boast the biggest payouts you will ever see at a casino and are often over £1,000,000 when won.
Conversely, if you want to play a progressive slot with a better chance of winning, dial into local or network games. Rather than winning millions, you could win thousands or even tens of thousands if you hit the jackpot. Though not as exciting, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at a local or network progressive win!
Consider the stake limits
You need to check how much you can bet on the jackpot game. Some progressive slots have higher stake limits than standard slots. For instance, it’s common to see the minimum wager for top progressives at £0.25, £0.30, or £0.50 per spin.
In contrast, many classic slots at UK casinos offer a minimum bet of £0.05 or £0.10. The stake limit is important, as you shouldn’t select a game you can’t afford to play.
Another thing to know is that some progressive jackpot slots deal with weighted wagers. In other words, the more you bet, the greater your chances of winning the progressive pool.
Simon Says:“If you play these games, don’t get carried away. Always bet within your means and gamble responsibly when playing slots. Visit my safer gambling page for tips and resources to help you bet within your means.”
Best progressive jackpot slots at UK casinos
Okay, now down to business. Which are the best progressive jackpot games at UK online casinos? Here are my top five picks after playing dozens of these games while preparing this review:
Immortal Romance Mega Moolah (Games Global)
- RTP: 93.40%
- Volatility: High
- Minimum bet: £0.30
Of all the Mega Moolah slots, Immortal Romance gets my vote. Why? It’s one of the higher RTP Mega Moolah slots and has an awesome vampire theme. What’s not to love?
Age of the Gods (Playtech)
- RTP: 95.02%
- Volatility: Medium/high
- Minimum bet: £0.20
With over 20 titles in Playtech’s ancient Greek-inspired jackpot series, it’s not easy to pick the best game. So, I say, stick with the original. It has a decent RTP (95%) for a jackpot game, and it’s a classic slot that features free spins, increasing multipliers, and expanding wilds.
Book of Atem WowPot! (Games Global)
- RTP: 93.50%
- Volatility: High
- Minimum bet: £0.10
I’m a sucker for ancient Egyptian slots, and Book of Atem WowPot! is perhaps my favourite (sorry, Cleopatra). This game won’t win any awards for its outdated graphics, but the gameplay is solid, and every spin gives you the chance to win the WowPot! jackpot, which regularly exceeds the £1 million mark.
Fishin’ Frenzy Jackpot King (Blueprint Gaming)
- RTP: 95.47%
- Volatility: Medium
- Minimum bet: £0.10
While some of my casino-daft friends tell me that Big Bass Bonanza is the GOAT when it comes to fishing slots, I have to disagree. Blueprint’s Fishin’ Frenzy series gets my vote, and the excellent Jackpot King version is one of my favourite high RTP progressives to play.
King Kong Cash Go Bananas Jackpot King (Blueprint Gaming)
- RTP: 93.49%
- Volatility: Medium/high
- Minimum bet: £0.10
I’m a huge fan of the Jackpot King series, and this King Kong-inspired jungle adventure is a thrilling game with everything I like to see in a slot. The graphics are on point, the volatility isn’t ridiculously high, and I can play with a stake of just £0.10. It’s another top effort from Blueprint.
Why should you trust me?
So, why should you take my recommendations? Well, I’m a gambling industry veteran with decades of experience working with the biggest brands in online betting.
I’m also a gambling enthusiast, and I put my money where my mouth is. I test all games I recommend, playing with real money to determine how they work and whether they offer good value.
Crucially, I don’t always tell you what you want to hear. My reviews and recommendations are objective and based on my expertise and experience. I will tell you if I don’t like something, and I won’t recommend a dodgy casino just for a quick buck.
Jackpot slots FAQs
Which are the best jackpot slots at online casinos?
My favourite jackpot slots are Immortal Romance Mega Moolah, Age of the Gods, and Book of Atem WowPot! These games have reasonable RTPs, massive potential payouts, and various in-game features that make them fun to play.
What is the biggest progressive jackpot win of all time?
The UK’s biggest progressive jackpot win of all time came in 2015 when a British soldier won the £13,200,000 jackpot while playing Mega Moolah at Betway Casino.
How can I improve my chances of winning progressive jackpot slots?
Unfortunately, you can’t! I won’t sugar coat it by saying there’s a magic route to the jackpot prize. The only thing you can do to set yourself up well is to choose a game with a reasonably high RTP (95% is great for jackpot slots). Other than this, sit back and enjoy the game.
Can I use a welcome bonus to play progressive jackpot games?
Not usually. Most online casinos only permit you to use bonus funds and spins on classic slot games. Still, the fine print attached to the bonus is worth reading, as every casino has different terms and conditions.