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Online casino progressive jackpot trends for 2020

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Progressive jackpots offer players the chance to win life-changing cash prizes. Here is what can be expected in 2020.


Slot games are the quintessential game of chance made popular by the one-armed bandit machines from a time gone by. These reel games have evolved a great deal since then and have only grown in popularity. With more features and even greater payouts, slot machines are the go-to game for new players at land-based and online casinos.

Progressive jackpot slots

Progressive jackpot slots, in particular, have gone from strength to strength as each game tries to outdo the next with bigger jackpots. 

As many of these games link across multiple casino operators, the jackpot grows every time a player places a bet for real money. The jackpot updates in real-time and draws gamers from all over the world who hope to trigger the progressive bonus wheel in the hopes of landing on the Epic, rather than Minor or Major jackpots in the case of Mega Drop.

Every progressive jackpot slot works in a similar manner and requires players to trigger a bonus game in order to take a spin on the jackpot wheel.

Just in September 2020 alone, the following games have proven to hold substantial jackpots of close to a million dollars:

  • Reels of Wealth: $546,835.13
  • Faerie Spells: $546,835.13
  • Legend of the Nile: $185,518.63

More recently, the following games have paid out jackpots of over $50,000:

  • Rudolph’s Revenge
  • Fantasy Mission Force
  • Fire Dragon

The jackpot prize only stops growing once it has been won after which it starts its upward climb again until the next winner.

Jackpot trends

As gamers demand more bang for their buck, casino game developers and operators continually up their games to keep up. Microgaming’s Mega Moolah is in its 13th year and dishes out winnings so frequently, it earned a name as the “Millionaire Maker” with almost £80 million paid out in 2019 alone.

Mega Fortune by NetENT is another popular choice where one player walked away with €3.7 million in April this year.

Hot or not?

Jackpot slots can have one major prize or a few smaller prizes. Games that have minor, major and epic options give players the feeling that they are more likely to win and can act as a drawcard.

A trend amongst slot players is to research the jackpot before playing to establish how long it has been since the jackpot has been won. You may find a progressive slot with a jackpot of over €12 million waiting to drop at any moment. Slot games like Joker Millions payout on average of every 4 months.

There is, therefore, a direct link between the size of the jackpot and frequency it pays. Players need to decide which progressive jackpot slot offers the stronger likelihood of a payout. Microgaming even offers players a Jackpot Meter where punters can see when last the jackpot paid out and the amount the winner won.

Progressive slot themes

There is a trend of more Asian-inspired games across the board. To encourage more players to give online casinos a try, game providers have explored themes to appeal to a wide range of players.

Film-themed casino games are also popular with gamers as Playtech’s DC Superheros gives Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune a run for their money.

Exotic locations and mythical storylines like Egypt and Greek mythology hold a great range of appeal as players live in the moment as they spin and win.

Online slot machines make use of a random number generator to decide on the outcome of each spin and this element offers players the thrill of victory as they spin the reels.

While not every person will win a large cash prize, smaller prizes keep up the level of excitement as players enjoy these games of chance.

Published: October 13, 2020

Anything incorrect or missing?

Stelly avatar image

Article by Stelly

CasinoWow Contributor

Hey there! I am Stelly, and happily, I'm part of CasinoWow's content team. It excites me to be able to write and share with all gambling enthusiasts unbiased reviews and news that contribute to the gambling community and industry. Thankfully, I also have the chance to help you make an informed choice for casino brands and games, as well as provide interesting guides and news.

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