There’s more to winning on the online slots than you might think. There are different categories of prizes that you can win, and a lot depends on how the game itself is set up and how the online casino has set up their prizes.
Jackpots for online slots basically are categorized two ways, and you can get several variations within these categories.
Network Versus Local
The first category looks at where the money for the jackpot comes from. A local jackpot is linked to the specific game at the specific online casino that you’re playing at. A local jackpot is usually the smallest prize you’ll see in casinos, but they do tend to pay out more often than all the other options.
A network jackpot is exactly what it sounds like – it’s made up of a network of online slots that all contribute toward the jackpot. This network can be created by the game developer, where they dictate that every casino using that specific game must link to the network for the jackpot. The alternative is that several online casinos come together and link their jackpots for a particular game that they all offer.
Fixed Versus Progressive
As the name suggests, a fixed jackpot is one where the prize is announced at a set amount, and it doesn’t change regardless of how many players go for it or how many bets are placed in the hunt for the win. With a fixed jackpot, when an online or mobile pokies player wins the prize, the jackpot is then reset to the same amount for the next player to win.
On the other hand, a progressive jackpot is one that starts at a certain amount and gets bigger and bigger as more people play the game. A player will win this jackpot at random, and then the prize money will reset back to the starting amount. If you want to win a progressive jackpot, it’s always best to wait until the prize money has built up over time. The longer the game goes without paying out, the higher the jackpot will be.
Which One Should You Play?
You might think that a network jackpot, especially a progressive one, is what you want to aim for. The opportunity to win big is definitely there because the prize money is going to be much higher. However, you must remember that those jackpots pay out less often than a smaller, local jackpot. In addition, you’re also competing to win against far more players when there’s a network jackpot involved.
It’s always good to play across your options. Aim for the bigger wins, but also include aiming for the smaller jackpots in your online slots strategy. Smaller jackpots will pay out more often than the bigger ones, meaning you can make a lot more money if you look at your winnings overall. Of course, the bigger wins are great to go for as an added extra in your strategy.