Regular Slots vs. Jackpot Slots: Which Should I Play?

You may find yourself wondering whether you should play regular slots or jackpot slots. There is even a reasonable chance that you might not know the difference between the two. In this article, we will try and help you understand how each type of slot is played, their perks, and why they may be best suited to your needs.

Regular slots

As you will no doubt have figured out. Even regular slots have jackpots. So, what is the difference between them, and the typical “jackpot slots”, then? Well, regular slots are frequently called non-progressive jackpot slots. The reason for this is that their jackpots are fixed. They are always worth the same amount, no matter how many times, or how frequently they are won.

Regular slots like Fruit Warp often have prizes which are considerably smaller than progressive jackpot slots, and the amount that you can win is often based on the amount that you wager. A regular slot may have a jackpot which is worth 500x your total stake for instance. If you win the jackpot, it will always be worth that amount, no matter whether you have wagered $0.20 per spin or $200 per spin. You will always win 500x that figure.

Jackpot slots

Jackpots slots – more commonly known as progressive jackpot slots – are quite different. Their jackpots are progressive (in that they shift) and are not fixed at all. Instead, every time a player makes a bet the jackpot increases in size. Unlike regular, non-progressive slots, these jackpots can be worth millions of dollars at a time. When they are won, the prize disappears and defaults back to its standard, default level. It will then build up again over time as more players wager on the slot.

Progressive jackpot slots such as Melon Madness Deluxe, can be run over a network, which means that if several casinos offer the same jackpot slot, the same prize is available at all casinos offering the game. This means that the top prize may not be won from somebody playing at your chosen casino.

How much do you hope to win?

The first step in determining which type of slot is best suited to your needs is to look at how much you hope to win. If you want to win a specific amount of money in relation to your wager, you can easily sift through the catalogues of regular slots, to find one which will enable you to do that. Regular slots can often be cheaper to play than jackpot slots, too, so this may suit you nicely.

If you wish to win a life-changing sum of cash (and we’re talking millions here), then huge progressive jackpot slots may be your cup of tea. Keep in mind that progressive jackpot slots may cost more, and there isn’t quite the range of games for you to choose from, unlike regular slots.

Chance of success

You should also weigh in your chance of success. Jackpots in regular slot machine games usually have the same triggering features. For instance, you can win the jackpot by lining up 5 jackpot paying symbols on a payline. The RTP rate is also important since it tells you how often you are likely to win at all.

However, progressive jackpot slots can pay out their prizes in any number of ways. Some require you to land 5 symbols on a line (and not just any line, but a specific one). Some require you to spin a bonus wheel, some require you to beat an instant win game, and some are simply awarded at random. As a general rule of thumb, it is more difficult to beat progressive jackpot slots, which is why they are not won as often.

You may also wish to weigh up the chance that your jackpot is also available to other players at other online casinos. This means that somebody else may nab the jackpot before your eyes. This cannot happen with regular slots since the jackpot is always available to be won.

Which is best suited to your needs?

It really depends on what you’re after. Bearing in mind the two considerations we’ve mentioned above, the choice is yours. On the one hand, it can be very advantageous to play progressive jackpot slots. They are the only online slot machine games which are going to see you win millions of dollars worth of prizes.

However, non-progressive (regular) slots are never going to let you down. You always have a chance of bagging a top prize, and you know straight away what the maximum amount you can win is.

Most players stick to a simple strategy, and it may be wise for you to do the same if you still aren’t sure which slot is best suited to your needs. When a progressive jackpot is worth several million dollars, give it a try. When it has been won, go back to regular slots for the time being, until the jackpot slot’s top prize has reached such a height that it makes it worth the effort once more.