Are online casino jackpots unwinnable? Real Facts

Despite numerous stories and reports of people winning massive jackpot prizes, a few percent of punters don’t believe that online casino jackpots are winnable. If you fall in this category, we are here to convince you otherwise.

In this article, we will discuss all things jackpot and provide tips to help you win. You will learn about progressive jackpots, how they work and how to make the most out of them. Read on.

Progressive Jackpots – What Are They?

Online casinos provide various types of jackpots. One of the most common ones is the progressive jackpot. This one is often offered on casino games like blackjack, poker and slots. The prize is set at a base value and keeps growing as more players join. This continues until one lucky person wins. In that case, the prize drops to the base value and grows again.

As you would expect, progressive jackpots take time. Therefore, they may not be the best option for players who are a little pressed for time. You must be willing to follow through with the rest of the game without quitting along the way.

Types of Progressive Jackpots

The most popular types of progressive jackpots include:

• Network progressive jackpots: Any progressive jackpot that links several casinos falls under this category. Every time a player joins and makes a bet, a portion of the stake is sent to the pot. So, the ultimate prize can accumulate to astronomical sums. This type of progressive jackpot is the highest.
• In-house progressive jackpots: Here, the jackpot links multiple games within one casino. So, only players registered in that casino can take part. These jackpots are often called local jackpots.
• Standalone progressive jackpots: These jackpots are exclusive to one game, usually a slot machine. So, you must play that particular game to participate.
• Mystery Jackpots: This is a sub-category of standalone progressive jackpots. Unlike other jackpots, it triggers at any time. The winnings are unknown until the jackpot is hit.

How Jackpots Work

According to the National Weather Service, the odds of lightning striking you are 1 in 15300.  The odds of hitting a casino jackpot, on the other hand, are 1 in 70 million. So, it is a lot harder to hit a casino jackpot than it is to be struck by lightning. Yes, hitting the jackpot is very much possible. However, it requires lots of luck and commitment.

Each time you wager on a progressive jackpot, you contribute a tiny portion to the prize. This makes the jackpot amount continue building up as players keep trying their luck. The cycle only stops when a random player finally wins.

Most online casinos now offer progressive jackpots. BetMGM, BetRivers, and FanDuel have some of the largest jackpots in the industry at the moment. Further, some slot games have become the Holy Grail in the jackpot world. They include:

Big Fallen Jackpots In Histories

Hitting that big jackpot is no mean feat, as gambling enthusiasts will tell you. However, there are lucky players who’ve hit some of the biggest jackpots in history. The following are some of the biggest jackpots ever won.

Anonymous – $39.7 million at Excalibur Casino (2003)

It is always fun to hear stories about how lucky some people get. This is one of them. As an anonymous 25-year-old player waited for a basketball game, he went to kill some time at Excalibur Casino. He staked $100 just to end up with $39.7 million. At the time, the odds were 1 in 16.7 million.

Cynthia Jay-Brennan – $34.95 million at Desert Inn Casino (2000)

This is yet another incredible jackpot-winning story. At her mother-in-law’s birthday party, Cynthia went to play the Megabucks Slot machine. On her 9th try, she hit an all-time-high jackpot of $34.95 million.

Anonymous – $27.6 million at Palace Station Casino (1998)

A 67-year-old retired flight attendant ranks third on this list. Although she had intended on spending only $100, she spent $300 at a Megabucks slot machine, where she hit the $27.6 million jackpot. Unlike other players who like taking the lump sum, the lady chose to take $1.1 annually for the next 25 years.

Johanna Heundi – $22.6 million at the bally’s Casino (2002)

While taking her breakfast, Johanna tried out the Megabucks slot machine. Although this was her first-ever try, according to the LA Times, she risked $170, which later won her $22.6 million in one spin!

Elmer Sherwin – $21.14 million at the Cannery Hotel & Casino (2005)

They say that lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. Well, for Sherwin, it sure did since he’s the first gambler on our list who’s a double jackpot winner. In 1989, the player won his first-ever jackpot worth $4.6 million at the Mirage Casino, barely 24 hours after it opened to the public.

Elmer hoped to hit the jackpot again as he continued gambling over the years. In 2005, he hit the Megabucks slot machine jackpot worth $21.14 million. He was 92 years old then and donated a sizable chunk of his winnings to rescue efforts post hurricane Katrina.

How To Make The Most Chance On The Jackpot

Every progressive jackpot has its unique setup. Although you win by sheer luck, you need to ensure your eligibility to trigger it. Technically, you cannot wager a nickel per spin and expect to trigger the pot.

For instance, BetMGM shares its ‘The Big One’ jackpot across different games. Players must bet at least $1.35 per spin to become eligible. Therefore, you will have to value each payline by $0.09 if you play a game with 15 paylines.

Enough talk. Here are some tips to help you make the most chance on the jackpot.

• Use bonus money first – Since winning is difficult in the first place, it is advisable to utilize bonus funds. Always meet all wagering requirements so that the funds can be available for cash out. This way, you get a chance at the jackpot without risking your hard-earned cash.
• Only play when you predict that the jackpot “must hit” – Knowing a casino’s maximum jackpot size can be hard. However, you can always look for previous wins just to get an idea. Often, you will notice that payouts are usually consistent.
• Smaller jackpots are most likely to hit – If a jackpot has a few participants, the odds of winning are much better. Obviously, bigger jackpots attract more players. Therefore, smaller jackpots offer you the best chance of winning. It is much easier to hit a $100,000 jackpot than a $10 million jackpot.

Final Spin

To wrap it up, online casino jackpots are winnable. However, the chances of winning are small, regardless of the pot size. To get an edge, pick smaller jackpots because they have few participants. So, instead of having 1 in a million shots, you get 1 in a thousand shots or something like that.