1 April 2026 | 3 min read | Author: Emma Hämäläinen, Jackpots and game technology
There is an idea circulating online about secret games ”nobody else knows about”. A casino's game list is public, and every game's numbers are in its own info panel. What the progressive jackpot does contain, however, are things that are genuinely not advertised – and those are worth knowing.
How a progressive jackpot works
A jackpot grows by a share of every stake placed on the game. The share is typically a few per cent, and it is taken out of the base game's return. In practice that means two things:
- The pot grows with the money wagered, not with the clock. The moment it hits cannot be predicted or timed.
- The base game's return to player in a jackpot game is often lower than in a comparable game without one. The difference has been moved into the pot.
| Claim | How it actually is |
|---|---|
| A jackpot is ”due” when the pot is large | The hit is drawn separately on every spin, whatever the pot size |
| A bigger stake raises the chance of hitting | Some games require a full stake to qualify – the condition is in the rules |
| It hits more often at night | A random number generator does not know the clock |
| There are games others cannot find | The list is public; search and filters show everyone the same thing |
What to check before a jackpot game
- Whether the jackpot requires a particular stake or all paylines.
- The base game's return to player, if it is stated separately from the jackpot share.
- Whether the pot is local to one casino or shared across several.
- Whether a win is paid at once or in instalments.
- Whether a withdrawal cap applies to the jackpot as well.
Questions and answers
Are jackpot games worth playing?
They are more expensive in the base game and offer a small chance of a large win. Which matters more is a matter of taste – but it is worth knowing in advance.
Can a jackpot hit be predicted?
No. If it could, the game would not be on offer.
Are some games really exclusive?
A distribution deal can be exclusive. That concerns where a game is offered, not what it costs the player.
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