Slots have quickly become one of the most popular casino games in the world at both online and in-person casinos. Jackpot slots, in particular, have become just as in demand online as they have been for decades in brick-and-mortar venues. It’s easy to understand why, with online titles like Mega Moolah Jackpot doling out wins of up to £13 million. Even smaller online wins can be surprisingly big, with Crazy Time Live, for example, netting one lucky player £11,200 right here at LeoVegas! But what are your realistic chances of hitting a jackpot in slot games? Let’s break down the odds so you know what to expect before you play.

How do slot jackpots work?

Before we talk about slot jackpot odds, you should know how this type of game functions. How do slot jackpots work? Jackpot slots differ from traditional video slots by offering players the chance to hit a jackpot while playing. There are two kinds of jackpots to keep in mind: fixed and progressive.

Fixed jackpots offer players a set jackpot, regardless of how much they bet and how long they play. Progressive slot jackpots, on the other hand, steadily increase as players play. Some progressive jackpots are network-wide, too, which means that the jackpot increases as players at other casinos play as well. This increases the amount players stand to win. Hall of Gods and Mega Moolah are two of the most popular examples of slots with this type of jackpot.

Keep in mind that there is no real strategy for winning a jackpot. Some players track jackpot size and think that playing at a certain time of day will give them a better chance of winning, but this is not true. Jackpot slots use random number generators (RNG) to determine spin outcomes, which makes the game completely random. You should also keep in mind the various jackpot-triggering methods before you sit down to play. These include bonus rounds, max bet conditions, and even random triggers with no rhyme or reason.

What are the chances of hitting a jackpot?

What are the odds of winning a slot jackpot? Unfortunately, the exact odds are not usually made public, which means that we can’t give you a definitive answer. What we can give you, however, are the most common slot machine jackpot chances we’ve come across.

Typically, you have a one in five million to a one in 50 million chance of winning progressive jackpots. Fixed jackpots offer slightly better odds, but they are by no means common. Compare this to the likelihood of winning the UK National Lottery, which stands at roughly one in 14 million, and you can see just how rare wins truly are.

There are two factors to keep in mind with both progressive and fixed slots. The first is return-to-player (RTP) values. This refers to the amount of money players win over time, on average. A slot with a 98% RTP, for example, means that players should theoretically receive 98% of the money they spend back over time – a potentially very long period of time. Jackpot slots tend to have lower RTPs than regular slots, reflecting the low likelihood of a win.

Volatility is another factor to keep in mind. Highly volatile slots are more unpredictable than low-volatility slots. That means that players might swing wildly from big wins to big losses on every turn. Low-volatility slots, on the other hand, offer smaller wins but also smaller losses. This applies to jackpot slots as well. Jackpots with high volatility have bigger wins but burn through your bankroll quickly, and there’s never a guaranteed win.

Factors that affect your jackpot chances

There are a few additional factors that can affect your jackpot chances. The first is bet size. Some slots require max bets to be eligible, which can lead to huge losses. The number of reels and paylines also affects your chances of winning. In general, having more reels and more paylines means more chances of winning. The amount of time you play can also potentially improve your chances of winning by sheer virtue of having more spins than other players, but it doesn’t make much of a difference in the end.

Make sure to read jackpot slot rules as defined by slot providers and the online casino in question before you play. These can sometimes impact your odds of winning. Finally, remember that there are no such things as “hot machines”, strategy tricks, or time-of-day tricks that affect your likelihood of winning; the odds always remain the same.

Pros and cons of playing jackpot slots

There are pros and cons to consider when playing jackpot slots. The first pro is the massive winning potential they offer. They often come with bonus rounds and entertaining features to spice up gameplay. You may find jackpots added to popular games to make them even more appealing, so if you’re a slot fan, you might come to appreciate jackpots quite a bit.

One of the biggest disadvantages of jackpot slots are the extremely low odds of winning the jackpot itself. The RTPs on jackpot slots are also typically lower than non-jackpot slots, which means you stand to win less in the long run. Finally, jackpot slots can encourage higher-risk gambling, including boosting bets for a chance at huge rewards.

Tips for playing jackpot slots responsibly

Before you sit down and play with your newfound knowledge, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding responsible play. First, set a budget and stick to it. Use only money you can afford to lose. Jackpot slots, like all casino games, should be thought of as entertainment and not an investment. Do not rely on them to make money. Finally, just because a slot says you “can win” a jackpot doesn’t mean you “will win” a jackpot. Perhaps you’ll win, but maybe you’ll lose 100 spins in a row. It’s all up to chance.

LeoVegas offers a wide variety of tools to help players keep their gambling in check, including loss limits and session time limits. Our goal is to ensure everyone plays responsibly.