Different types of jackpots
There are three types of jackpots: fixed, standalone, local, network progressive jackpots and wide area progressive jackpots.
Fixed jackpots
A fixed jackpot game is a regular slot that has a jackpot amount that never changes. These games are non-progressive and pay out more often but with smaller prizes than progressive slots.
Once a player wins the prize, another player can win the same amount at any time. Fixed jackpot prizes can vary in amount from game to game and different game requirements trigger them.
Standalone progressive jackpots
Standalone progressive jackpot games are not linked to any other slot game or network. Each time a player places a bet on that specific game, a percentage is added to the jackpot.
As a result, the jackpots are not as large as in network-linked games (typically in the thousands – see below), but the chances of winning can be higher. These games are good for players who want a good balance of jackpot amount and winning potential.
Local progressive jackpots
Local progressive slots are also known as in-house progressive slots. These games differ from standalone slots because they are linked to other slot machines at the same casino. This means that there are more players adding to the prize pool at any one time, producing higher jackpots than a fixed jackpot or standalone slot.
The jackpots are in the medium range, but they are lower than the jackpots on network progressive slots.
Network progressive jackpots
Network progressive slots are when the same game or series of games is linked by a network across many gaming platforms owned by the same casino operator. This can apply to online or land-based casinos in the same region.
The amount of money staked across the network results in larger jackpots than local progressive slots. Only wide-area progressive slots pay out more than a network progressive slot.
Wide area progressive jackpots
Wide-area progressive slots offer the biggest prizes of all. The jackpots can reach vast amounts, but the chances of winning are much smaller. These games link to slots from multiple different casino operators in different regions. These jackpots can be linked to one game or a series of games with a similar theme.
Wide-area progressive slots are not in-house. Instead, a third party operates them and pays the casinos a percentage of the profits.