Jackpot Slots: Compare the Best Jackpot Slot Casinos in the UK 2024

Emily Thompson

Jackpot slots are a massive draw at UK online casinos because they take all the headlines. Big winner stories about life-changing wins frequently pop up, even in the national press. In fact, millions of pounds have been won from a single spin in the past. In this article, we will explain everything there is to know about jackpot slots, including where to play them at UK online casinos and how to maximise your chances of winning. So, let’s hunt that grand prize…

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Jackpot slots function in much the same way as regular slots. The main difference is that a top prize is held in reserve and one lucky player wins the lot. This top prize (i.e., the jackpot) can be generated in various ways – we’ll cover these below. For now, just know that one spin can win the lot. Then, the jackpot either resets to a given value or builds up from zero over time.

Most jackpot slots are just video slot games with a bonus round (or two), free spins and other special features. Normally any bet amount can win the jackpot – but some require the maximum bet amount to enable a jackpot win. One thing to note is that jackpot slots are usually not included in a welcome bonus, nor do they count towards wagering requirements.

In terms of how a jackpot win is decided, that’s down to the random number generator (RNG) algorithm. So, just like all results on the reels depend on the random number generated at the time you hit the Spin button, so is the timing of a jackpot win. It’s just that a jackpot win is triggered very, very rarely and it can happen at any given time – hence the excitement!

The different types of casino jackpot slots explained

The Top 10 Progressive Jackpot Slots at UK casinos

As we mentioned above, most of the biggest prizes belong to progressive jackpot slots. Below, we will cover the main progressive jackpot slot games available to UK players. We’ve also included the return to player (RTP) percentage to give you an idea of the average payout. However, it’s worth noting that massive jackpot slots have lower RTPs than video slot games.

Mega Moolah (Microgaming) – 88.12% RTP

The world-record-holding series of progressive jackpot slots. Jackpot slot games such as the original Mega Moolah, as well as sister titles like Mega Moolah Isis, Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad and Mega Moolah Atlantean Treasures, have paid out millions of pounds in jackpots several times. And as far as top progressive jackpots go, Mega Moolah is always the one to beat.

Mega Fortune Dreams (NetEnt) – 96.40% RTP

Hot on the heels of Microgaming’s Mega Moolah is Mega Fortune Dreams by NetEnt. This one is a sequel to the super popular original – simply called Mega Fortune. What’s more, it has the second-highest online casino jackpot amount in history. Mega Fortune Dreams takes the action to a luxury yacht where the Rapid, Major and Mega jackpots can be won simultaneously.

Divine Fortune (NetEnt) – 96.70% RTP

Divine Fortune and Divine Fortune Megaways again show NetEnt’s ability to craft engaging progressive jackpots. This one is like an Egyptian treasure hunt that would make Indiana Jones happy but set in a world of myth, ancient artefacts and fabulous wealth. Again, there are Rapid, Major and Mega jackpots available, as well as plenty of bonus spins and extra features.

Arabian Nights (NetEnt) – 95.22% RTP

NetEnt again delivers the goods with the Aladdin-inspired Arabian Nights jackpot slot. The game is slightly dated now in terms of its look but it’s dead simple to play. This is no doubt helped by its fixed 10-payline structure. Plus, its low-medium volatility means it frequently delivers smaller wins. And, of course, it’s been known to pay out millions of pounds too!

Leprechaun’s Luck (Playtech) – 88.01% RTP

We head over to the land of lush green hills, pots of gold and four-leaf clovers for this one. Of course, it’s a tongue-in-cheek game based on some of Ireland’s most well-known stereotypes. And with its multiple bonus rounds, scatters and wild symbols, it happens to be a lot of fun. Just note that the high volatility rating means its big wins can be few and far between.

King Cashalot (Microgaming) – 90.59% RTP

Ranking alongside Mega Moolah in the Microgaming top five progressive jackpots is King Cashalot. This quirky jackpot slot is loosely based on King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot but with a jackpot king in charge of the realm. Featuring nine paylines, multipliers and free spins, it’s a popular one to try out. Plus, the jackpot creeps above one million quid regularly.

Hall of Gods (NetEnt) – 95.70% RTP

Another excellent NetEnt progressive jackpot slot to try out is Hall of Gods. This one takes Norse mythology to another level and it once made a UK player almost £8 million better off. With expanding wilds, scatters and a Pick Win feature, Hall of Gods is a high-octane jackpot slot. There’s also a nifty bonus game where you get to chuck Thor’s Hammer to win prizes.

Beach Life (Playtech) – 93.25% RTP

If you like to take things a little easier, relax with the Beach Life progressive jackpot slot. This super colourful Playtech slot brings sunshine, sunbathers and ice cream to the reels. And while that sounds like Cornwall in the summer, this one is a year-round paradise based in the tropics. There’s even a Sunken Treasure bonus round and the chance to win the big jackpot.

Major Millions (Microgaming) – 89.37% RTP

Microgaming gets yet another spot on our top 10 list of best progressive jackpots with Major Millions. Another record-breaker, this 15-payline progressive jackpot slot certainly lives up to its name. However, note that you have to bet the maximum and cover all the paylines to be in with a shot at the progressive jackpot. To do this, simply make cash stakes of £3 on each spin.

Mega Joker (NetEnt) – 99.00% RTP

Last but not least, we wanted to highlight NetEnt’s old gold progressive jackpot slot: Mega Joker. As casino games go, this one is aimed at retro slot lovers – however, the impressive RTP of 99% means there are plenty of returns in store without even considering the main jackpot cash funds. There are just five paylines available on each spin, making it dead easy to play.

Top 10 list of progressive Jackpots

The Different Types of Casino Jackpot Slots

Now we know the basics of jackpot slot mechanics, let’s go over the different types. The following covers how a jackpot builds up, as well as when and where it can be won. We’ll also give you a rough estimation as to the amounts you can win, from thousands to millions…

❇️ Local Jackpot Slots

Local jackpot slots inherently offer fairly low prizes but increase an individual's chances of winning it. That's because local jackpots are limited to a single game at a single online casino. Therefore, rather than the same game (linked all over the world) generating a jackpot from multiple players at various online casinos, it's confined to one site. And as there are fewer players competing for the same jackpot all over the world, your chances of winning increase.

❇️ Network Jackpot Slots

This is almost the opposite of local jackpot slots. Here, the same game and its main jackpot prize are linked over a network of online casinos. And because more players are contributing to the main jackpot prize money, the jackpot is often significantly larger than it is with local jackpots. However, while the prize money is often larger, there are more players competing for it at multiple casino sites – therefore, your chances of winning a network jackpot decrease.

❇️ Fixed Jackpot Slots

This one pretty much does what it says on the tin. Rather than pooling a small percentage of all the wagers placed on the casino games in question, the jackpot is set at a predefined amount. So, regardless of how many players are actively chasing the jackpot at any given moment, the jackpot prize money is always fixed at the same amount. The same thing is true even when the jackpot has just been won – you can win the same jackpot moments later.

❇️ Progressive Jackpot Slots

Progressive jackpots are the ones with massive prizes – sometimes reaching multiple millions of pounds before some lucky player wins the lot. They build up gradually from zero and may be linked to multiple progressive jackpot slots – for example, all of the games in the Mega Moolah series are linked to the same progressive jackpot. The only thing to note is that progressive jackpot slot games are not to be confused with progressive slots or other progressive games.

❇️ Daily Drop Jackpot Slots

Last but not least, we have the daily drop jackpot slots. These ones are time-limited and often feature a fixed jackpot total. The main draw is that someone is guaranteed to win the jackpot prize within a certain timeframe. Often this is within 24 hours – hence being called daily drop jackpot slots – however, some last only an hour or two. The best thing about them is that you know that the jackpot will be won before the deadline is reached, adding extra excitement!

How to choose an Online Casino with Progressive Jackpot Games

New UK customers looking to play progressive jackpot slot games will first need to find a decent online casino. And we heartily recommend reading through a few of our online casino reviews before taking the plunge. Here, then, are the keys areas to consider before signing up:

👍 Welcome Bonus and Free Spins

The welcome bonus (or first deposit bonus) draws in new players. And the same is true when it comes to free spins (or bonus spins). But it’s important to consider the first deposit amount and what casino games are available for free spins and bonus spins. We can guarantee that progressive jackpot slots won’t be included, for example. Bonus funds contribute to video slots.

👍 Wagering Requirements

While the qualifying deposit for your welcome bonus and free spins may be low, you’ll need to weigh up the wagering requirements. That’s because wagering requirements need to be completed before your winnings using only bonus funds can be withdrawn. Also, most non-jackpot slot games contribute 100% to wagering requirements but other games will be less.

👍 Progressive Jackpot Slots

While your welcome bonus and free spins cannot be used on jackpot games – only regular slot machines – you’ll want a decent selection of progressive jackpots available for later on. And this largely comes down to the games providers. So, when new players pick a casino site, ensure there are games from one or more top providers like Microgaming, NetEnt and Playtech.

👍 Other Casino Games

While online slots with progressive jackpots are certainly fun, they’re not the be-all and end-all. Regular online slot games still enable you to win thousands if you land the top prize. And don’t sleep on other casino games. Table games like online roulette, blackjack and baccarat are great fun too. And then there’s the Las Vegas experience offered by live casino games as well.

👍 Payment Methods for UK players

New players will need a way to add cash funds into their account – as well as claim a first deposit bonus. However, not all payment methods for gambling are accepted for casino welcome bonus offers. Therefore, if you want an easy life, you’ll need to choose a payment method that is great for depositing, withdrawing and claiming a welcome bonus offer.

👍 Customer Support and Help

The best online casinos help new players get started with round-the-clock customer support. And even experienced players need a helping hand every now and then whenever there’s an issue. Having a friendly and knowledgeable customer support team behind you is worth its weight in gold. So, as well as being available 24/7, ensure there are live chat and email options.

👍 Licensed and Regulated Sites

We only recommend casino sites licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. The reason for this is simple. Unlicensed sites are not worth the risk. Whereas, sites licensed and regulated by the UKGC are run by the book, adhere to marketing rules and have enough reserves to payout jackpots. And finally, the UKGC always advises players to play responsibly.

What does RTP or Return to Player actually mean?

Return to player (RTP) is always given as a percentage. But many UK players either don’t know what it means or they simply ignore it. However, it can tell you a lot about the expected payouts of different online slots – and that includes slots with jackpots attached to them.

To illustrate RTP better, let’s look at an example. Say the RTPs of a few different slot games are rated at 95%. That means for every £1 wagered, the player can expect an average payout of 95p, with the casino making an average of 5p per spin. Or, for every £100 wagered, then the player can expect an average payout of £95, with the casino’s average profits set at £5 in this case.

However, as these are averages, that does not mean you will always get the average expected payout. Indeed, if you end up winning a jackpot, you will far exceed the expected average payout. On the flip side of this, there will be some players who lose more than the average suggests. Therefore, an RTP percentage is only a guide – not a cast-iron guarantee.

The Biggest Online Casino Jackpot wins of all-time 🤑

We’ve mentioned huge jackpots a few times – but how big are we talking? Well, below, we’ll go over the top five biggest jackpot wins to date. The numbers are truly quite astounding…

The Biggest Casino Jackpot win of all time UK

  1. Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad – $23.6 million (£20+ million)

The Mega Moolah series takes the crown but it’s not the original in the top spot. That honour belongs to Mega Moolah Absolootly Mad – based on Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Everything went down at the Napoleon Sports & Casino site in April of 2021. There, a Belgian casino player experience a slot machine meltdown and pocketed €19,430,723.60!

  1. Mega Moolah – $23.5 million (£20+ million)

A whisker behind our anonymous Belgian was the former Guinness World Record holder of 2018. This largely unknown player was playing the original Mega Moolah at 75¢ (70p) a spin. And within fewer than 50 spins at Grand Mondial Casino, the Microgaming online slot went bananas. And the rest is history. It held the record for three years and is still a truly epic win!

  1. Mega Fortune – $21 million (£18+ million)

The venerable NetEnt makes an appearance in the top 5 wins on jackpot slot machines with Mega Fortune. The original Mega Fortune online slot (before Mega Fortune Dreams came along) kicked out eight figures to a lucky Finnish player in 2013 at the PAF online casino. And his 25¢ bet on the progressive won him a cool $21 million – a record that stood for five years.

  1. Mega Moolah – $19.9 million (£17+ million)

Yep, that’s right the original safari-based jackpot slot Mega Moolah makes yet another appearance in the top five biggest wins. This one happened in 2015 to a young UK player staking just 25p a spin. Jonathan Heywood, a British soldier, was playing at Betway Casino when the unthinkable happened. In fact, Heywood thought he was dreaming at the time.

  1. Arabian Nights – $17.3 million (£15+ million)

In terms of progressive slots, NetEnt’s Arabian Nights wasn’t considered by jackpot hunters. No one at the time thought it would ever deliver a £15 million-plus jackpot. But a Norwegian player ignored all that while playing at Betsson Casino. And lucky for him, his session on progressive slots paid off big time. It just goes to show that anything can (and does) happen!

The Top 5 providers of Progressive Jackpot Slots

All of the best online casinos want to feature the best game providers. And when it comes to progressive jackpot slot machines, competition is fierce. Here, then, in addition to Yggdrasil and others, we wanted to give a special shout-out to five of the best jackpot slots providers:

Microgaming Jackpot Slots

Having got started in 1994, Microgaming is the oldest online casino games provider on the planet. And that includes plenty of jackpot slots, including the four-tier progressive jackpot system WowPot. For example, be sure to check out Wheel of Wishes, Book of Atem, 9 Blazing Diamonds, Sherlock and Moriarty. That’s in addition to Mega Moolah, Major Millions and more.

NetEnt Jackpot Slots

NetEnt was bought out by Evolution Gaming but still produces many top-tier casino games. In terms of progressive jackpots, there’s the aforementioned Mega Fortune, Mega Fortune Dreams, Divine Fortune, Arabian Nights and Mega Joker. For more progressive jackpot slots from NetEnt, try Vegas Night Life, Irish Pot Luck, Imperial Riches, Trollpot 5000 and more.

Playtech Jackpot Slots

Playtech jackpot slots come in all shapes and sizes. In fact, we regularly lose count when trying to total up the Playtech progressive jackpot total. For example, there’s the hugely popular Age of Gods series, Beach Life, DC Super Heroes, Gladiator and Gold Rally, to name but a few. For lesser-known jackpot slots, try Sweet Party, Funky Fruits and Jackpot Giant.

Scientific Games Jackpot Slots

We have yet to mention Scientific Games (known as SG), but the company’s Rainbow Riches series is extremely popular. So much so that we reckon Rainbow Riches is worth the price of entry alone. Other progressive jackpot slots by Scientific Games include Raging Rhino, Buffalo Spirit and Power Strike Egyptian Riches. All in all, SG produces some top progressive slots.

Pragmatic Play Jackpot Slots

Malta-based Pragmatic Play has slowly crept up on the big boys with a string of progressive jackpot slot games. For example, you can check out their best progressive jackpot slots such as Monkey Madness, Diamond Strike, Chilli Heat, Great Rhino and Fire 88. Not that the list ends there. We’re also fond of jackpot games like Wild Spells, Lucky New Year and Joker’s Jewels.

Other Jackpot games at UK Online Casinos

Not all jackpot games are linked to online slot releases. So, while the jackpot amount offered won’t be in the millions, there are plenty of alternative games with jackpots attached. Here, we’ll go over a few different options for whenever you fancy a break from jackpot slots…

Live Casino Games 🎲

Plenty of live dealer games based on either classic table games or TV game shows have special jackpots. For example, several Evolution Gaming titles have special jackpots baked in. Check out the likes of Cash or Crash, Gonzo's Treasure Hunt, Lightning Roulette and Lightning Dice.

Online Bingo Games 🖍️

Bingo has moved on from the days of being played in drafty town halls. Online bingo games are fast and dynamic affairs and some of them come with additional jackpot prizes to spice things up even further. Some of these will be randomly triggered or dropped once an hour.

Poker Tournaments 🃏

Winning the World Series of Poker will net you millions of dollars in prize money. But there are plenty of online poker tournaments with reasonable buy-ins and jackpot prizes if you end up winning the whole thing. Bring your best poker face to the tournament to stand a chance.

Jackpot slots – Conclusion

UK players looking for the best jackpot slots are spoilt for choice nowadays. Local, network and progressive jackpots are baked into a tremendous number of online slots. Some can win you a few thousand, while others creep up into millions of pounds before dropping. We hope our guide to jackpot slots has been useful and fun – just remember to always play responsibly!

Jackpot Slots FAQ

What are the biggest jackpot slots at online casinos?

By far the biggest jackpots are those attached to progressive jackpot slots. But these take time to build up – sometimes over several weeks, months or even years. So, at any one time, Mega Moolah could have the biggest jackpot, or if that's been won recently, it'll be another slot.

What's the difference between fixed and progressive jackpots?

Fixed jackpots are exactly what they imply – they are fixed at a certain jackpot amount. This could be £100,000 or £1 million, depending on the jackpot slot in question. Whereas most progressive jackpots build up over time, from zero (or a low amount) up to millions of pounds.

Is the RTP lower on progressive jackpot slots?

Generally speaking, the average payout (i.e., the RTP percentage) is lower for jackpot slots. This is for two reasons. First, the manufacturer deliberately set a lower average payout to save money for the jackpot winner. And secondly, each player is contributing to the overall jackpot.

Do I have to bet the maximum to win a jackpot?

A max cash bet is not always necessary to win a jackpot. But it depends on the jackpot slot in question. Most progressive jackpot slots do not require a max bet to be in with a shot at the big prize. However, others do require this. Therefore, it's best to always check the game rules.

Will I get paid in one lump sum after a jackpot win?

The vast majority of jackpot wins will indeed be paid out in one lump sum. That's because a big win is a great marketing opportunity for the casino operator – therefore, they don't want a disgruntled big winner complaining to the press about how it took years to receive the money.

Can I play progressive jackpot slots on mobile?

Absolutely. Mobile jackpot slots are abundant at UK casinos. So, if you have an iOS or Android device such as an iPhone or iPad, then you're ready to get going. Simply point your mobile browser at the online casino site and you'll see the full complement of jackpot games available.

Emily Thompson
Emily Thompson
Casino Researcher
30 Articles
21 Reviews

Emily is our Casino Researcher and statistical mastermind. She uncovers all the latest trends through the numbers and creates valuable insights to our readers and internally, so we can cover our articles and journalism from a statistical background and angle.

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