Mega Moolah, often dubbed the “Millionaire Maker,” is one of the most famous and beloved online slot games offering a progressive jackpot of the same name. Developed by Microgaming, this African safari-themed slot has been captivating players since its release in 2006, with its colorful graphics, playful animal symbols, and an engaging soundtrack that transports you to the heart of the savannah.
However, what truly sets Mega Moolah apart is its progressive jackpot system, offering four tiers of potential winnings, with the top-tier “Mega” jackpot starting at a seed value of £2,000,000. This life-changing jackpot can be randomly triggered, adding an extra layer of excitement to every spin. With its simple gameplay, low minimum bets, and the tantalising possibility of becoming an instant millionaire, Mega Moolah continues to be a favorite among both casual players and high rollers in the online casino world.
Money Train Origins Dream Drop is an exhilarating addition to the popular Money Train series, developed by Relax Gaming. This Wild West-themed slot combines the beloved features of its predecessors with the innovative Dream Drop jackpot mechanic, creating a high-volatility gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Set against a dusty frontier backdrop, the game boasts crisp graphics and an immersive soundtrack that transports players to the era of outlaws and steam engines. The slot’s main attraction is its bonus round, where you can collect various special symbols to increase your winnings exponentially. What sets this iteration apart is the inclusion of five progressive jackpots in the Dream Drop feature, offering the tantalizing possibility of massive payouts. With its engaging gameplay, potential for substantial wins, and the added thrill of jackpot chases, Money Train Origins Dream Drop has quickly become a fan favorite in the online casino world.
Age of the Gods King of Olympus Megaways is an electrifying fusion of Playtech’s popular mythological series and Big Time Gaming’s revolutionary Megaways mechanic. This divine slot transports you to the realm of Greek gods, with Zeus, the king of Olympus, taking center stage. The game features stunning visuals, with symbols adorned with intricate Greek-inspired designs set against a majestic Mount Olympus backdrop.
The Megaways engine provides up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin, creating an atmosphere of endless possibilities. Players can trigger free spins with increasing multipliers, adding to the game’s high-volatility excitement. What sets this slot apart is its inclusion in the Age of the Gods progressive jackpot network, offering the chance to win one of four pooled prizes on any spin. With its blend of mythological grandeur, Megaways thrills, and life-changing jackpot potential, Age of the Gods King of Olympus Megaways offers an epic gaming experience.
Progressive slots online are a popular type of casino game where the jackpot increases each time the game is played. These slots are interconnected across a network of machines, often spanning multiple casinos, both online and offline. Each time you make a bet, a portion of that wager contributes to the growing jackpot. This can lead to massive payouts, sometimes reaching millions of pounds, attracting many players eager for the chance to win a life-changing sum.
Progressive slots come in various themes and formats, including classic three-reel games and more complex video slots. The allure of potentially enormous jackpots, combined with the excitement of slot play, makes progressive slots online a staple in the gambling world.
Even when it comes to jackpot slots, we wouldn’t just recommend anything and everything. We employ a thorough vetting process to ensure that you can enjoy a superb gaming experience and potentially even win big. Let’s go over the most crucial aspects we pay attention to.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Potential for massive jackpots |
Lower payout rates for non-jackpot wins |
Often linked across multiple machines or casinos |
Higher minimum bets required |
Constantly increasing jackpot |
Lower odds of winning the jackpot |
Suitable for high-risk, high-reward players |
May require maximum bets to be eligible for the jackpot |
Can offer life-changing sums of money |
Jackpots are rare and unpredictable |
Often feature engaging themes and graphics |
Can lead to faster depletion of gambling budget |
Provide a social aspect as players chase the same jackpot |
May have more complex rules or betting structures |
Some offer secondary progressive jackpots |
Can be overwhelming for novice players |
Can be played online or in physical casinos |
May have longer waiting times between wins
|
Types of Progressive Slot Jackpots
Progressive jackpots can be classified into several types based on how they accumulate and how widespread they are. Here’s a look at the main types of progressive jackpots:
Standalone Progressive Jackpots
Standalone progressive jackpots are confined to a single slot machine, and the jackpot amount increases as players wager on that specific machine, with a small portion of each bet contributing to the jackpot pool. Since the jackpot is fed by a single machine, it typically grows more slowly and results in smaller jackpots compared to other types. These jackpots can be easier to win due to the limited pool of contributors.
Local Progressive Jackpots
Local progressive jackpots are linked across multiple machines within a single casino or a limited geographic area. These machines are networked together, contributing to a shared jackpot pool. Local progressive jackpots feature casino-wide contributions, meaning bets placed on any of the linked machines contribute to the jackpot. The pooled bets from multiple machines allow the jackpot to grow larger and faster than standalone jackpots, making it a more appealing choice. The combination of a limited player base and multiple contributing machines provides a balance between jackpot size and winning odds.
Wide Area Progressive Jackpots
Wide area progressive jackpots are linked across multiple casinos, sometimes even spanning different regions. These jackpots are connected through a network, allowing a larger pool of players to contribute. Their multi-casino contribution, with bets from machines in different casinos, often operated by the same gaming provider, feeds into a common jackpot pool. The extensive player base contributes to rapid jackpot growth, often resulting in very large payouts. However, due to the larger number of contributors, the odds of winning these jackpots are lower compared to standalone and local progressives.
Networked Progressive Jackpots
Networked progressive jackpots, also known as pooled or linked jackpots, are similar to wide-area progressives but can extend even further, often being linked across online casinos globally. These jackpots accumulate contributions from a vast network of machines, both online and offline.
Networked progressive jackpots feature global contributions, with bets from players around the world, across various online casinos contributing to the jackpot pool. The global player base and high volume of bets lead to some of the largest jackpots in the industry. While the potential payouts are massive, the sheer number of players contributing to the jackpot significantly reduces the odds of winning.
How to Play Progressive Slots?
Playing progressive slots is not unlike any other types of slots and the only difference is that they can result in much more incredible and life-changing wins. Let’s go over a simple step-by-step guide on how you can play your best progressive jackpot slots online at Virgin Games.
- Start by logging into your Virgin Games account if you already have one. If that’s not the case, you can easily create one in a few simple steps.
- We recommend starting with the Virgin Games offer we feature here on SlotsWise.
- After pressing the Play button next to it, you will be taken to the Virgin Games website, where you will be able to read more about the specific terms and conditions of the offer. After that, you can proceed with the registration process.
- It will require you to enter a few essential information, including name, address, phone number, gender, and more.
- After that’s done, you should receive a confirmation email or SMS that will allow you to complete and activate your new account.
- Unlike other casinos, Virgin Games doesn’t have a separate section for progressive jackpots, so you can use the search bar to look for your favourite progressive slot.
- Once the game loads, take time to explore it and read the info panel.
- Set the bet level to the required value and start spinning.
Progressive Slots Developers
Considering the popularity and appeal of the best progressive jackpot slots, there is no wonder why so many capable developers are starting to develop their own progressive jackpots or collaborating with some of the most popular and sought-after ones. Let’s take a look at some of the best game developers with progressive slots.
Microgaming
Microgaming is one of the leaders when it comes to slots in general, but particularly slots with progressive jackpots. It is also the developer of the world’s biggest and most frequently won Mega Moolah progressive jackpot, which has been implemented in many of its best online slots. Microgaming’s popularity among players because of its high-quality games also plays a big role in this, making it an essential element of countless online casinos. Since its rebranding, Microgaming stopped existing as such and has also slowed down in its release of progressive jackpot games. However, the Mega Moolah’s seed value of £2,000,000 still makes it a top choice.
Playtech
Playtech is another titan in the online slot industry, known for creating some of the best and most played online slot games. On top of that, it is also famous for its progressive jackpots, as well as the interesting twist in which it implements them. Namely, Playtech’s progressive jackpots are available only through its most popular slot series – Age of the Gods. It currently has over two dozen individual games, each one offering the potential to earn some exceptional wins. The best part about it all is that Playtech continues to create new Age of the Gods slots for even more fun and opportunity, with the Ultimate Power Jackpot having a seed value of £100,000.
Relax Gaming
Relax Gaming is a big name in the iGaming world, but it is a relatively new name in the progressive slots world. It became known for creating the popular Dream Drop jackpot network back in 2022 and took the online slot world by storm. You can now find many Relax Gaming slots that offer it, and surely there will be many more to come. Relax Gaming combines new Dream Drop slots as well as remakes of already existing and popular ones. It includes 5 linked jackpot pools – Rapid, Midi, Maxi, Major, and Mega. So far, there have only been 12 progressive jackpot winners of the Mega Jackpot, which can reach up to £3,000,000.
Blueprint Gaming
Blueprint is another titan that is known for creating some of the best progressive jackpot slots. Unlike Relax Gaming, for example, which is famous for frequent and high-quality releases, Blueprint is a bit slower when it comes to new progressive slots. It has created the famous Jackpot King jackpot that offers three separate pools – Regal, Royal, and the Jackpot King. There are countless slots that include it, and currently, it has a value of £100,000+, while the biggest recorded win is more than £7,000,000.
Jackpot Slots vs Regular Slots
Feature |
Progressive Slots |
Regular Slots |
Jackpot |
Continuously growing jackpot that increases with each bet |
Fixed maximum win potential |
Payout Potential |
Can reach extremely high amounts, sometimes millions |
Generally lower but more consistent payouts |
Odds of Winning |
Usually, lower odds of hitting the jackpot |
Generally, better odds of winning smaller amounts |
Bet Requirements |
Often require maximum bets to be eligible for the progressive jackpot |
No special bet requirements for jackpot eligibility |
Network |
Often linked across multiple machines or casinos |
Standalone machines |
Volatility |
Higher volatility due to the large jackpot |
Lower volatility with more frequent, smaller wins |
House Edge |
Typically higher house edge |
Usually lower house edge |
Popularity |
Very popular due to life-changing jackpot potential |
Popular for more frequent, smaller wins |
Contribution to Jackpot |
A portion of each bet contributes to the growing jackpot |
No contribution to a growing jackpot |
Reset Value |
The jackpot resets to a predetermined amount after being won |
Jackpot remains constant |
Game Variety |
Often themed games with special features |
Wide variety of themes and features |
Bankroll Management |
Requires larger bankroll due to higher bets and volatility |
Easier bankroll management with lower, consistent bets |
Biggest Progressive Jackpot Wins
Let’s take a look at the top 10 big winners of progressive slots, whose stories of luck and fortune continue to inspire many players worldwide.
- The €17.8 Million Mega Fortune Win
The world record for the largest online slot win belongs to an anonymous Finnish player who, in 2013, won a staggering €17.8 million on the Mega Fortune slot by NetEnt. This lucky player placed a bet of just €0.25, and a few spins later, he was a multi-millionaire.
- The €11.7 Million Mega Moolah Win
A British soldier named Jon Heywood won a whopping €11.7 million on the Mega Moolah slot by Microgaming in 2015. Heywood wagered only 25p and managed to hit the progressive jackpot, making him one of the biggest winners in online slot history.
- The €8.6 Million Mega Moolah Win
In 2016, another lucky player known as D.P. entered the millionaire’s club by winning €8.6 million on the Mega Moolah slot. What’s even more fascinating is that D.P. hit the jackpot using a mobile device.
- The $7.9 Million Hall of Gods Win
In 2012, a Swedish woman hit the jackpot on the Hall of Gods slot by NetEnt and won $7.9 million. The gods of Norse mythology surely favoured her that day.
- The $8.7 Million Mega Moolah Win
Yet another Mega Moolah winner, an anonymous player, won $8.7 million in 2017. This win further cemented Mega Moolah’s reputation as the ‘Millionaire Maker.’
- The €7.4 Million Hall of Gods Win
In 2016, an anonymous player won €7.4 million in the Hall of Gods slot.
- The €6.9 Million Mega Fortune Win
A Swedish player won €6.9 million on the Mega Fortune slot in 2021. This lucky player nabbed the jackpot with a bet of just €4.
- The $5.5 Million Mega Moolah Win
In 2008, Klaus E. from Finland won $5.5 million on Mega Moolah, making him one of the first mega winners at online slots.
- The €4.1 Million Mega Fortune Dreams Win
An anonymous player won €4.1 million on the Mega Fortune Dreams slot by NetEnt in 2017. This win added another millionaire to the long list of Mega Fortune winners.
- The €3.5 Million Arabian Nights Win
A Finnish player won €3.5 million on the Arabian Nights slot by NetEnt in 2012. This Arabian-themed slot turned out to be a magic carpet ride for this lucky winner.
Important Terms to be Aware of in Progressive Slots
Even though they play out as regular slots and offer the same gameplay, plus a special jackpot round, progressive slots differ in many ways. This is especially true when it comes to the terms and conditions surrounding the progressive jackpots. Let’s explore them in more detail now.
Eligibility to Win
It’s important to be aware of how to qualify and to qualify for the progressive jackpot. Usually, you will need to place the maximum allowable bet, as anything below it will not include the option to trigger the progressive jackpot round..
Winning the Jackpot
The jackpot is typically triggered by specific combinations of symbols, activation of a particular feature, or sometimes by random chance. Each game has its own conditions for winning, which are clearly defined in the game rules. This is something you need to be familiar with in order to know what to expect.
Payout Structure
You also need to be aware of the payout structure. The progressive jackpot is usually paid out either as a lump sum or an annuity. The terms of the payout, including whether it is in cash or credits, should be clearly stated. In addition to the main jackpot, progressive slots often feature secondary prizes or bonuses for other winning combinations.
Terms and Conditions
Progressive slot machines come with specific rules detailing how the jackpot can be won and the requirements for eligibility. These rules should be clearly displayed on the machine or online. Winners typically undergo a verification process to confirm their win and ensure compliance with the game’s rules, which may include identification checks. There may also be a claim period within which the jackpot must be claimed; otherwise, it could be forfeited.
Game Fairness and Integrity
Progressive slots are regulated by gaming authorities to ensure fairness. The games must use random number generators to ensure that outcomes are random and not manipulated. Casinos are required to provide transparent information about the odds of winning the jackpot and the current jackpot amount.
Jackpot Reset
After a progressive jackpot is won, it typically resets to a predetermined amount, which can vary by game or casino. Make sure to be aware of the value of the progressive jackpot beforehand, so you don’t waste time and money on small jackpot prizes.
Casino Policies
Different casinos may have additional rules or variations for their progressive slot games. It’s important to review the specific terms and conditions associated with each casino’s progressive slots to fully understand the game’s requirements and opportunities.
News and Statistical Insights Regarding Progressive Slots
News:
2024 has seen some of the largest payouts in the history of progressive slots in the UK. Notable wins include:
- Mega Moolah Jackpot – A lucky player from London hit the Mega Moolah jackpot, winning a record-breaking £18 million. This win has spurred increased interest in the game, leading to a spike in player registrations and game sessions.
- Major Millions – Another significant win came from the Major Millions progressive slot, where a player won £4.5 million. This win, widely covered in the media, has further fueled the popularity of progressive slots.
Statistical Insights:
- Revenue Generation – Progressive slots have significantly contributed to the online casino revenue in the UK. It is estimated that these games account for approximately 35% of the total online casino revenue.
- Player Engagement – A study shows that progressive slots players are more likely to engage in longer gaming sessions compared to regular slots players. The average session length for progressive slots is about 45 minutes, which is 25% longer than that of traditional slot games.
- Demographics – The primary demographic for progressive slots comprises players aged 25-45. This group is tech-savvy and attracted to the high-risk, high-reward nature of progressive jackpots.
Our Verdict on Progressive Slots
Progressive slots offer an incredibly thrilling gaming experience with the potential for winning big prizes. However, it’s important to approach these machines strategically to maximise your chances of success.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the rules of the game. Different machines may have varying rules, especially when it comes to qualifying for the jackpot. Being knowledgeable about these rules can increase your chances of winning and prevent any disappointments. Additionally, strategic gameplay is key. While slots mainly rely on luck, making informed decisions can significantly improve your winning odds.
Lastly, responsible gaming is essential. It’s important to set a budget and estimate the cost of playing before starting. The excitement of the game can sometimes lead players to overlook their financial limits, potentially causing problems.