Fixed and progressive jackpots are two different ways that casino games, especially slots, pay their biggest prizes. Knowing the difference helps you choose games that suit the way you like to play.
How Fixed Jackpots Work
Fixed jackpots are the simpler of the two. The top prize is set in advance and doesn’t change, however many people are playing. It’s usually a multiple of your stake: if a slot’s fixed top prize is 5,000x and you stake £1, the most you can win on a spin is £5,000.
Fixed top prizes are common in slots and table games. They can still be big, but they don’t build up over time. Players who like more regular, predictable payouts often prefer them. Slots such as Starburst at Grosvenor or Gonzo’s Quest at Grand Ivy have no growing jackpot: what you can win depends only on your stake.
How Progressive Jackpots Work
Progressive jackpots grow over time. Every time someone places a bet, a small part of the stake goes into the jackpot pool. The pot keeps rising until one lucky player hits the winning combination or bonus. These jackpots can climb to huge sums, sometimes millions of pounds.
Games such as Mega Moolah at Mr Vegas and Age of the Gods at 10bet Casino are well-known examples of progressive jackpot games. Their prize pools are shared across many casinos, which lets them grow quickly.
Progressive games usually have several jackpot levels, such as Mini, Minor, Major and Mega. The biggest payouts come from the top jackpot, which needs a special combination or bonus round. The chances of hitting a progressive jackpot are far lower than winning a fixed prize, but the payouts can be life-changing. Mega Moolah’s top jackpot, for example, starts at £1 million and grows until it’s won, and it has made headlines for multi-million-pound payouts.
Must-Drop Jackpots: a Middle Ground
Some jackpots grow like a progressive but must pay out by a set time or before they reach a set amount. At 32Red, the Showtime Jackpot has four tiers, each of which has to drop before it hits its cap: Silver before £100, Platinum before £500, Diamond before £5,000 and Blockbuster before £500,000. Spin and Win has a Daily Jackpots shelf with a pot that triggers every day, and bet365’s Dual Drop pays more than 2,000 prizes a week.
Fixed vs Progressive Jackpots: the Key Differences
The critical difference is the size and frequency of the payouts. Fixed jackpots give steadier, generally smaller payouts, while progressive jackpots offer the chance of enormous wins with much lower odds of hitting them.
| Fixed jackpot | Progressive jackpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Top prize | Set in advance, often a multiple of your stake | Grows with every bet until it’s won |
| How often it pays | More often | Rarely |
| Size of top prize | Smaller | Can reach millions |
| RTP | Usually higher | Usually lower, as part of each bet funds the pot |
| Examples | Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest | Mega Moolah, Age of the Gods |
Fixed jackpot games also tend to have higher return to player (RTP) percentages, because they aren’t funding a large, growing pot. Progressive slots often have lower RTPs because part of every bet goes into the prize pool. If RTP matters most to you, see our guide to the best payout slots.
Play Slots With Jackpots and Bonuses
Explore the best UK slot sites, including the top casino apps and the bonuses they offer. Jackpot slots are fun, but the odds of the top prize are long, so set a deposit limit and play only with money you can afford to lose. If you need support, call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
Fixed and Progressive Jackpot FAQs
What is a fixed jackpot?
A fixed jackpot is a top prize set in advance, usually as a multiple of your stake. It doesn’t grow, however many people play.
What is a progressive jackpot?
A progressive jackpot grows with every bet placed on the game, often across many casinos, until someone wins it. It then resets to a starting amount and grows again.
Which is better, a fixed or progressive jackpot?
It depends on how you like to play. Fixed jackpot games usually have higher RTPs and pay more often, while progressives offer much bigger but far rarer wins.
Do progressive jackpot slots have a lower RTP?
Usually, yes. Part of each stake goes into the jackpot pool, so the base game returns less. The jackpot itself is counted in the overall RTP, but most players will never win it.
Can I win a progressive jackpot on a small stake?
Often yes, though in some games a bigger stake raises your chance of triggering the jackpot. Check the game rules. UK online slot stakes are capped at £5 a spin, or £2 if you’re aged 18 to 24.