Types of jackpot
| Type | How it works | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed (standalone) | A set top prize on a single machine | The prize does not grow |
| Linked | Several machines share one or more jackpot pools | Any machine in the group can trigger it |
| Progressive | The jackpot grows by a small slice of every bet until won | A large display figure does not mean it is about to drop |
| Tiered (mini, minor, major, grand) | Multiple jackpot levels, often in a hold-and-spin feature | The smaller tiers hit far more often than the top one |
Why big jackpots are rare
Jackpots are funded by players' bets. To pay a large prize, a machine or group of machines must collect contributions from a great many spins. That is why top-tier jackpots are designed to be hit rarely, and why a single session is far more likely to end with a loss than a jackpot.
Jackpot contributions are part of the machine's overall return, which in South Australia must be at least 87.5% for new machines over the long run.
Myths to ignore
- "It's due." A progressive that has not paid for a while is not more likely to pay on your next spin.
- "Bet max to qualify." Some games do require a minimum bet for certain jackpots; read the machine's help screen rather than assuming, and never raise your bet beyond your budget.
- "Watch for hot machines." Results are random. Watching other players tells you nothing useful.
Play with a plan
If jackpots are part of the fun for you, set your budget around the expectation that you will not win one. Read about volatility to understand why jackpot-heavy games can drain a budget quickly.