Jackpot Games
Did you know that jackpot games are the most popular form of gambling these days? Well, it’s ok if you did not. Let us do the work and fill you with some juicy nitty-gritty information about the jackpot slots. The jackpot slot is indeed an interesting topic in both the entertainment and gambling industries.
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Whether you are a pro or a newbie in casino games, you will certainly savour each bite of this article. So, check out the jackpot slot’s history, game types, and gameplay. If you’re into online casinos, you should not miss the jackpot games in the iGaming industry.
[featured site=’Casumo’ ][/featured]Jackpot games´ history
Do you know that the first slot machine was invented by Charles Augustus Fey between 1887 and 1895? From the idea of the first poker machine in 1891, the first slot machine was born. Compared with the first poker machine with five reels, Fey’s invention only has three reels. Fey made the machine’s ability to read a win easier by reducing the five reels into three only. Fey’s invention has an automatic payout and different symbols, unlike the first poker machine.
The manually operated generation
Instead of using playing cards, Fey limited the symbols into single hearts, spades, diamonds, diamonds, horseshoes, and liberty bells. Since the liberty bell is the highest paying symbol, Fey’s slot machine was called the Liberty Bell. Players who land three liberty bells on the reels get the highest payout in the slot. But since the Liberty Bell was not patented, many slot machine manufacturers of slot machines copied his invention.
In spite of being banned in some parts of America, the production of Liberty Bell in 1902 continued. But instead of using their previous symbols, they changed it into fruits and candies. Manufacturers also change the payment system from cash non-monetary prizes. For instance, players were paid with a chewing gum if they get three fruit or chewing gum symbols. Due to these changes, the fruit machine was introduced.
This new version of slot machine allowed manufacturers to get a way around the gambling ban without hiding anything. Until now, the term “fruit machine” is still used in the UK but it didn’t stop the evolution of the slot machine.
In 1907, a manufacturer based in Chicago named Herbert Mills produced another slot machine called the Operator Bell. Starting 1908, Mills’ slot machines became widely enjoyed in salons, bowling alleys, tobacconists, and bowling alleys. Players pull a lever at the right side of the machine to operate these slot machines. Having one arm to be pulled down, the slot machine was also called a “one-armed bandit”.
The electronically operated generation
Before online jackpot games came, further improvements were made in the manual slot machines. Starting in 1964, the first electromechanical slot was launched by Bally. This electronically operated slot machine was called Money Honey. Money Honey was also the first electronically slot built with a bottomless hopper to enable automatic payout. It became popular due to its improved features and increased payout which is up to 500 coins.
In spite of the improvements made by Mills, they kept the trademark lever of the machine for players.
It was only between 1976 and 1978 when Fortune Coin manufactured the first video slot in Kearny Mesa California. The video slot was first available in L.A. Hilton Hotel with a customized 19 inches Sony TV. But after applying some modification and cheat-proofing in the machine, the Nevada State Gaming Commission finally approved of the machine. It was only in 1978 when IGT acquired the Fortune Coin company based in Las Vegas.
But it was only in 1996 when the WMS Industries Inc. released “Reel ‘Em” as the first video slot with which featured a second screen bonus round. The second screen automatically when the bonus round was activated. Activating the bonus round means more prizes to take home so slot machines became popular at casinos too. Believe it or not, slot machines contribute about 70% to casinos’ floor space and income.
Later on, jackpot games were introduced in casinos with the Random Number Generator. As more machines are connected electronically, the jackpot prize grows nonstop until some hits the jackpot.
Online slots
Finally, we’ve arrived in the generation of online slots which gave birth to jackpot slots online. When the internet became popular in the 1990s, online slots were added by online casinos in their lists. Online slot started as a digital copy of the land-based slots until it was improved with the help of computer programming. Short after, software providers started to pop everywhere to create new themes, graphic design, and layout in the game.
Online slots with different themes and layouts were introduced online with 3 or more reels. Some feature the classic style of slot machines while others were packed with bonuses and free spins. As the software providers of online slots increased over time, the jackpot slots were finally brought online. But since online casinos were not only accessible in one city but in many countries, the jackpot prizes became wilder than ever. Thus, the mind-blowing prizes of jackpot slots became a powerful magnet that attracted players worldwide.
[featured site=’PirateSpin Casino’ ][/featured]Jackpot slot providers
If you are wondering what the first ever online jackpot slot is, it’s Cash Splash. Sounds familiar? You bet because Cash Splash was released by Microgaming in 1998 with an average amount of payouts. Microgaming came into the industry in 1994 so Cash Splash really made a big impact on the company’s growth. Even though it didn’t take long for other software providers to pool in the industry, Microgaming never left the spotlight.
In fact, Microgaming is now one of the leading software providers in the iGaming industry. Some of the software providers that also launched jackpot slots include the following:
- NetEntertainment
- Playtech
- QuickSpin
- Yggdrasil Gaming
- Betsoft Gaming
- Red Tiger Gaming
- Pragmatic Play
- Big Time Gaming
- Play ‘n Go
- NYX
- IGT
- Novomatic
- Cryptologic
- Leander Games
- WMS
- Ash Gaming
- Greentube
Where to play Jackpot games
Check out our selected casinos to play some of the most popular and newest highest paying jackpot slots:
- LeoVegas – Mega Moolah and Mega Joker
- Rizk – Mega Moolah and Hall of Gods
- Casumo – Mega Fortune and Mega Fortune Dreams
- Pirate Spin – Jungle Jackpot and Jackpot Jester Wild Nudge
- SlotStrike – Cleopatra and Cash Splash
- Casino Heroes – Arabian Nights and Mega Moolah
- Mr Green – Cleopatra and Hall of Gods
Though nowadays almost every casino has some sort of Jackpot games, so take a look at the list of new casinos if you are looking for a new brand to try out!
Types of games
Are you wondering why it seems like there are too many jackpot slots where some look different? Of course, they are all unique but you will notice that they are divided into different types. As a matter of fact, the jackpot slots indeed have into different types which include the following:
Random
If you’re some kind of a random casino player then you should know how the random jackpot works too. Each random jackpot game differs depending on its software provider. Just like other slots, random jackpots can have bonus rounds and free spins where you can win a bigger prize. But instead of expecting a certain amount of coins for winning, you will get a random jackpot. It’s not that confusing really since its name already says it all.
The best way to hit the random jackpot is to finish the game up to the last free spin. You may get a chance to hit the jackpot with only 1 cent bet per spin but you can always get a bigger prize with a bigger bet. Hence, the bigger you bet, the better odds of winning you can have.
Stand-alone progressive
As its name suggests, the stand-alone progressive jackpot is independent since its prize is fixed and not connected with other slots. As you play, a part of your wager is added to the game’s jackpot prize until you land the right combination symbols. Most stand-alone progressive jackpots feature a jackpot meter beside the reel so you can easily see your game progress. This type of jackpot game gives a fixed payout which is normally in coins.
Hence, players like you to enjoy a higher value of payout depending on your used currency. Still, its payout is lower than other jackpots.
Propriety progressive
Also known as the in-house progressive jackpot, the propriety progressive jackpot connects a group of slot machines to produce a bigger jackpot. Though it’s not that popular with other players, this type of jackpot is found in both land-based casinos and in online casinos. But, it doesn’t mean too that players don’t enjoy it since you have a better chance of hitting a bigger prize here. The same network of slots is operated by the same casino or software provider to give huge and unique winning potentials to players like you.
Wide area progressive
This type of progressive jackpot is also known as global progressive since it covers the biggest area. As a matter of fact, it can cover almost the entire globe with the help of an internet connection today. So far, the wide area progressive jackpot is the highest paying jackpot that you can enjoy. A bigger scope means the bigger number of players to join and bigger jackpot prize to win. Whether you play on land-based or online casinos, your machine is connected to more machines you can imagine.
However, its advantage could also be its disadvantage since your chance to win is reduced due to the number of connected casinos. But if you hit the jackpot, then you sure are super lucky. You could feed thousands of people in one day and still have lots to keep.
How to play jackpot games
Whether you’re new or not in this, you can certainly be the next multi-millionaire jackpot player. If you already have a chosen jackpot game but don’t know how to play like a pro, we’ll help you. It may seem that all jackpot slots have the same gameplay and features but they don’t. In fact, not all jackpot slots are created equally. Each game may vary depending on where company it came from. Some jackpot slots may be packed with tons of bonus rounds and free spins while others don’t.
So, find out here how you can play and enjoy online slots. Before the introduction of online casinos, video slots before only have 3 or 5 reels and a single pay line. Now, online jackpot games still vary with 3 or 5 reels but its number of pay lines is really bigger. For instance, a single jackpot slot can have over 1,000 pay lines. This can increase your number of winnings as well as your total amount of bet per line.
Some jackpot slots may vary in theme, layout, and payout but they are generally played in the same way. Thus, it’s great that online casinos offer a Free Play for players before they play with real money.
Slot reels
After loading up the game on either Free Play or Real Play, the reels will instantly appear on the screen. The classic jackpot slots always have three reels while the video slots have five reels. Each reel normally has more than twenty symbols which are based in its theme. Just like the good old days, the key to winning is to land the winning combinations on the reels. Depending on the game’s bonus features, you can win a bigger prize and get free spins during the regular mode and bonus round.
Once you’re ready to spin the reels, you just have to press the Start button or symbol on the screen. Most software providers include an Auto Play button so you can customize the number of spins. Some software providers also include a Stop button on the screen to stop the reels manually.
Paytable
First things first, never hit the Start button without checking the paytable. This is normally shown as the info icon with an “i” symbol. The paytable displays all the basic information you need to know about the game. It shows how much you can win for getting each winning combinations as well as the bonus rounds.
However, take note that not all jackpot slots offer a bonus round. Some game developers include while others don’t. Some also reveal the RTP or Return to Player percentage which can help you decides better.
Bets and payouts
Once you’re done the reading and understanding the paytable, you can customize your bet size and number of pay lines to play. If you want to start with a small bet, most jackpot slots accept as low as £0.01 per line. Then, you have to select the number of coins you want to bet on each line. You can normally bet 1-10 coins per line. Finally, you can select the number of pay lines you want to bet on per spin. You can select a few or bet on the maximum pay lines available in the game.
Some game developers include a Maximum Bet button for more chances of winning. For instance, if you bet worth £1.00, 10 coins per line and the maximum pay line is 20, the total of you bet is £200. However, some slots only offer fixed pay lines so you have no choice but to bet on the total pay lines they have.
Jackpot symbols
The number of individual symbols on each slot may vary depending on its theme and game developer. Some have 10 to 12 symbols while others only have less than ten symbols. Some themes range from the classic fruit slot to ancient Egypt, jungle, treasure, heavenly bodies, volcanoes, animals, and so much more. Generally, the highest paying symbol becomes the key title of the slot. But wait, there’s more since you can also land Wild and scatter symbols on the reels.
The Wild and Scatter symbols can give you more winnings since they normally substitute symbols near them into winning symbols. Some icons literally have the written Wild on the icons while others are simply represented by another symbol. Whatever is the symbol used to represent these features, they promise a bigger winning. It can also be in a form of triggering the bonus round and free spins (if there is any).
Final words
Now you are an expert of jackpot games. There are indeed tons of opportunities in playing them. Whether you are a small wager or a high roller, you can always get a chance to hit the jackpot. You can also have loads of fun during the game with various bonus features and free spins. It is not a wonder why one choose to play these games. It could be just one lucky minute and your whole life changes. However, remember to play safe, as there are no such thing as guaranteed winnings.