A fixed jackpot is a jackpot that pays a set amount, almost always a set multiple of the stake, every time it is won. Unlike a progressive jackpot, it does not grow between wins.
What a fixed jackpot is
Many modern slots show a row of jackpot labels above the reels, often Mini, Minor, Major and Grand. When those amounts change only when you change your stake, they are fixed jackpots. They are part of the game's own paytable, funded by the game's maths rather than a shared pot.
Fixed jackpots are often confused with progressives because they look similar. The test is simple: if the figure ticks up as people play, it is progressive; if it stays put at the same stake, it is fixed.
How it works, step by step
- You place a stake. The jackpot values displayed are calculated from it.
- The jackpot is triggered by the game's rule. Common routes include coin symbols in a hold and win round, a pick bonus where matching three labels wins that tier, a segment on a wheel bonus, or a top line combination.
- You are paid the stated amount.
- Nothing resets. The jackpot is available at the same value on the next spin.
Common variations
- Tiered jackpots: four or five levels, each a different multiple of the stake.
- Full-screen jackpots: filling the hold and win grid awards the top tier.
- Mixed tiers: fixed lower tiers with a progressive top tier.
- Jackpot pick screens: match three labels to win that jackpot.
- Symbol-line jackpots: the oldest form, where a top combination on a line pays a set top prize.
What it does to the maths and the feel
Fixed jackpots are just large entries in the paytable, so their value is part of the game's RTP like any other win. Because they do not take a cut of every stake into a pool, a fixed-jackpot game does not have the split between base return and jackpot contribution that progressives have.
The lower tiers tend to land fairly often and are modest; the top tier is rare. The bigger the top tier relative to the stake, the more the game leans towards high volatility. Displayed values in pounds can look large, but they are multiples of what you staked, and the chance of hitting the top tier is small.
One practical difference from progressives is transparency. A fixed jackpot's value is in the paytable before you play, so you know exactly what each tier pays at your stake. What the game does not normally tell you is how often each tier lands, and that is the figure that matters for how a session is likely to go.
Rules in Great Britain
Fixed-jackpot slots are available on GB-licensed sites under the usual stake limits and game design rules. Since jackpots are usually tied to the stake, the stake limits indirectly cap the displayed value of fixed jackpots on a given game.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between fixed and progressive jackpots?
A fixed jackpot always pays the same amount or the same multiple of the stake. A progressive jackpot grows with every qualifying stake until it is won.
Do fixed jackpots change with my stake?
Usually, yes. Most are set as a multiple of the stake, so a higher stake shows a higher jackpot value. The paytable shows the figures.
What do Mini, Minor, Major and Grand mean?
They are common names for jackpot tiers, from smallest to largest. The amounts and the odds differ by game.