When someone settles down in front of a slot machine, in the back of their mind, they will likely be thinking about the jackpot. The jackpot is, of course, seen as the ultimate outcome of playing a slot machine, as it can deliver the dream of scoring a potentially life-changing sum of money. For many gamblers, chasing jackpots is the sole reason for playing.
However, the big jackpot can mislead players, as it’s not the only one that exists. A good example is progressive slots which typically have Mini, Minor, Major and Mega jackpots. Different variations of the big prizes can be found, for example, at places offering the best casino free spins. The Mega jackpots are the ones that everyone keeps an eye on, but because of the allure of hitting that Mega payout, it can leave Mini jackpots somewhat underestimated and overlooked.
Mini jackpots are the smallest type of big payout that can be landed. The actual value of a Mini jackpot will be determined by the actual machine. But typically a Mini jackpot will be from 10x to 50x the stake.
This is a long way from the top prizes, which can get up into the multiples of thousands of the original stake. So while it is a smaller payout, it is still a viable target to play for and a lot of this will be in relation to the amount of stake that is played.
On progressive jackpots, the Mega prize can only be triggered with a maximum bet. So it is far more risky and costly to play. But for someone who is playing with a lower, even minimum stake, then the Mini prize is a very relevant option and often a lower-risk target.
Mini jackpots tend to be a little underestimated, because bigger ones are available. But just because it is the lowest value of the four, it doesn’t mean that it is completely without value.
It is understandable that a player will be more likely to pass over the chance at collecting a win on a smaller jackpot prize, because of the greater appeal of getting a bigger one. Due to that, people can underestimate the value of a Mini jackpot.
Still, if one hits and it more than covers the amount of stake that's put in, then it’s a perfectly viable and a good reward. It may not be a life-changing sum of money, but it’s better than nothing.
Given the rarity of Mega jackpots landing, Mini jackpots are a much more viable form of jackpot to hit anyway. Another benefit of Mini jackpots is that because they do hit more frequently, it is a more realistic way of keeping the bankroll topped up. That in turn can extend the playing time on a carefully planned budget.
There are four common jackpot levels found in slots at online casinos. It’s well worth understanding what they are, so the risk and reward of playing for them can be assessed. Here are the traits of the four jackpot prizes:
Mini - As discussed above, the Mini jackpot is the smallest of the four. They will pay out far more frequently than others and can range up to 50x the stake.
Minor - A grade above the Mini offers quite a big jump up. A Minor jackpot prize will pick up where the Mini left off around 50x and go up to around 200x the stake. So substantial payouts can happen.
Major - Kicking things up a notch is the Major jackpot. Here, the multiplier amount can run anywhere from 500x up to 1000x.
Mega - At the top of the jackpot tree is the Mega jackpot, which is the one that all players dream of. Payouts can hit anywhere from 1000x up to more than 10,000x. They are the highest risk because of requiring maximum bets and a low-frequency payout rate.
Some slots have different jackpots, but why? The purpose of a machine having different jackpot prizes is to appeal to different players, by providing different kinds of playing experiences, as it takes a different strategy and stake to play for different jackpot prizes.
Smaller jackpots payout more frequently, and therefore more casual or conservative players may see them as being more attainable. They give a sense of reward through regular payouts, which keeps players well-engaged.
At the other end, the larger jackpots pay bigger returns, but land on a much less frequent basis and take a much higher-risk approach. But one jackpot shouldn’t undermine another. Anything that lands profit, be that a Mini or a Mega, can be measured as a success.
