The Best Progressive Jackpot Slots For Canadians In 2020
The New Year is fast approaching and the online casino has pushed through yet another successful year of online slot releases. At the top of the pile are the mega paying progressive jackpot online slots that have consistently been making millionaires out of ordinary Canadian citizens.
In this news piece from Online Casino Geeks, we are going to look at the very best progressive online slots out there right now. The top 4 are golden oldies that have survived the online casino market and remained popular. We will also look at some of the latest progressive slots with their all singing and dancing features typical of today’s high-tech online slots market.
- Mega Fortune
Still at the top of the pile, and one of the oldest progressive slots out there is Mega Fortune. NetEnt released the Mega Fortune online slot game way back in 2009 and players still haven’t grown tired of this rich and famous themed progressive slot game. This is a 5-reel low variance slot game with 25 pay lines and a 96% RTP. For a progressive slot game, this is a pretty impressive RTP and considering its release date it is amazing to see this slot still regularly touted as one of the highest paying online slot games on the planet.
Features on Mega Fortune come thick and fast with champagne scatter symbol,s a wild symbol, and an intriguing bonus game in which a wheel of fortune gives players the chance to win huge prizes. Every so often a lucky winner will get to the centre of the wheel and land the million-dollar jackpot!
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: $8.8 million
Largest Payout: $19 million
2. Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah was the king of progressive jackpot slots for a long time before Mega Fortune took over. It is a Microgaming slot game released in 2006, so 3 years earlier than its competitor Mega Fortune. Mega Moolah has also recorded the biggest ever jackpot win won by a British army veteran playing on his mobile device!
Once again, the theme is one that never seems to get old for online slot players. Set in the sun-drenched African plains with cheery lions, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, and other African wildlife, players spin 5 reels with 25 pay lines on jungle fun. However, there is a catch to playing this millionaire-making monster of a slot, and that is its 88.12% RTP is quite low for an online slot these days.
That said, you will still spin plenty of decent wins thanks to features that include free spins, wild symbols, and 4 progressive jackpots which are the mega, major, minor, and mini jackpots. Players can randomly trigger the progressive jackpot ‘Spin a Win’ game in which there are several levels that can lead to any one of the 4 available jackpots.
As for winning on Mega Moolah, besides the jackpot that is, your big wins will come via the free spins game where you will get 15 free goes and all combinations connected during this bonus will have x3 multipliers applied. On top of this, the wild symbol will apply a x2 multiplier to every combination win it interacts with. Overall, this is a medium variance slot game and with all the multiplier involved it is hard to believe the RTP is so low.
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: $6 million
Largest Payout: $26 million
3. Arabian Nights
Another NetEnt progressive jackpot slot comes into the mix in the form of the incredibly popular 2013 slot release Arabian Nights. This slot is available on both mobile and desktop devices and only has 10 pay lines to speak of. It is the fact that it has so few pay lines that it has become a popular progressive jackpot slot game amongst slot players because the total spin bet is much lower than Mega Moolah and Maga Fortune.
As for the gameplay, this slot comes with the most common reel format of 5-reels and 3 positions for symbol in each. It is a medium to high variance slot game and has an impressive RTP of 96.25%. With its Arabic style theme and entertaining symbols, this slot has a lot of character.
The slot’s features bear a close resemblance to Mega Moolah so far as the fact that there is a useful wild symbol that will double all wins it helps to compete or extend. There is also a scatter symbol that pays a huge 500x the total spin bet for landing 5 on the reels before triggering the Arabian Nights online slot free spins games in which you are given 15 free shots at landing combination wins which will all have a x3 multiplier applied when lined up from left to right.
You will find the Arabian Nights progressive jackpot slot alongside Mega Fortune at online casinos that have NetEnt games available as well as a host of other NetEnt progressive jackpot games.
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: $150,000
Largest Payout: $4.9 million
4. Gladiator Jackpot Slot
Gladiator is the fourth most popular online slot today. It is yet another slot that was released some years ago and remains consistently popular despite new slot releases attempting to take the limelight away from the older and still very popular progressive jackpot slot games.
Now the Gladiator online slot is popular for obvious reasons. It is based on the hit movie Gladiator released in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott. You will be joining Maximus, Proximus, and Ceaser on modern 3D and cinematic reels created by Playtech. Despite this slot’s early release date of 2012, the gameplay and features are incredibly modern. Cinematic film clips continuously play out as the game unfolds and there are plenty of an8imated effects making the game feel like you are playing on your Xbox or Playstation.
There is an impressive ‘Coliseum Bonus’ round where you will be launched into the Gladiator’s armoury room and presented with an interactive feature. The first round is a game that will decide your fate in the second round which is the up and coming free spins bonus game. The idea of this first stage is to win extra wilds symbols and combination multipliers to be applied to your free spins session.
On top of free spins, you will also have the chance to reel in more cash via the ‘Gladiator Bonus’ game. This is a simple pick me bonus game with excellent animations to enhance the excitement of accumulating large wins.
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: $1.9 million
Largest Payout: $4.8 million
Brand New Progressive Jackpot Slots
There are always new progressive jackpot slot games being released with modern 3D graphics, state-of-the-art animations as well as the most up to date features.
- Gold Money Frog
NetEnt has been extending their collection of progressive jackpot slots this year and their latest release for December 2019 is one that we have been waiting for. This is a Chinese themed online slot with all the best NetEnt graphics and animations to boot.
There are 5 reels and 25 pay lines, an RTP of 92.96%, and a min-max bet of $0.25 – $50 per spins to get your chance at one of three progressive jackpots. Despite the low RTP, there are 3x multipliers applied to any winning combinations on the free spins round which is triggered by easy to land scatters that will also give you a spin bet multiplier. However, the key to progressive jackpot is the Bonus Wheel bonus.
This is a brand new progressive slot game only just hitting the Canadian online slot scene, so we will need to keep an eye on this to see how big the jackpots from this slot will be.
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: (Brand New Slot)
Largest Payout: (Brand New Slot)
2. Cowboy Treasure Deluxe
Another new progressive slot released in the Canadian online casino market in 2019 is the 3D animated Cowboy Treasure Deluxe slot game. This slot has a Cowboy style Wild West theme and as it was released in March 2019 it has already had a chance to pay out a huge progressive jackpot.
It has a much better RTP (96.37%) than Gold Money Frog and the graphics, as well as animations, are typical of Play’n Go’s excellent design team’s ability. You can get up 400x your total spin bet for 5 scatters and 30 free spins which also includes a x3 multiplier on every combination linked up during the free spins game.
As for the jackpot, there are ‘bonus scatters’ and just three anywhere on the reels will open up the chance to win one of the jackpots. These are the ‘Super Jackpot’, ‘Major Jackpot’, or ‘Minor Jackpot’. If you fail to hit any one of these, then you leave the bonus with 100 coins.
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: $50,000
Largest Payout: $50,000
3. Wheel of Wishes
Wheel of Wishes hasn’t been released yet as it is due to hit the Canadian online casinos in January 2020. We still don’t know the RTP, but when we do, we will be sure to update you here. The slot has been designed by Alchemy Gaming, however, it will be Microgaming that use their Quickfire delivery system and Microgaming Progressive Jackpot Network a.k.a. MPJN.
Average Progressive Jackpot Payout: (Jan 2020 Slot Release)
Largest Payout: (Jan 2020 Slot Release)
Progressive Jackpot Slots with High RTP (Return to Player)
When you are playing progressive slots the chances of winning the jackpot are very slim, but the fact that there is a chance of winning a large cash amount and that you could be the lucky winner means we all have good reason to play them.
Some slot players would ask why anyone would play a slot without a progressive jackpot? After all, it is similar to playing the lottery. However, a strong argument against playing progressive slots is that many of them have a low RTP designed to offset the large payouts. For example, Mega Moolah’s RTP is very low for any online slot.
If you would rather play a slot game that gives you the possibility of striking it rich one day, then the best way to play is by looking for the progressive slots with the best RTP. Also, for those that prefer to win often, then we have also included information on whether the slot is a low, medium, or high variance slot a.k.a. low, medium, or high volatility.
In this section, we have created a list of jackpot slots with the highest RTP available. You can also mix and match these with other jackpot video slots we have already mentioned in this blog.
1. Mega Joker – 99% RTP
Mega Joker has an unbelievable RTP that rivals even non-progressive slot games. This is a NetEnt slot released in 2013 and comes with 3-reel and 5 fixed pay line on 2 slot machines in one. It is arguably a mid to high variance slot depending on how you play.
Despite it being a classic slot, it is actually quite graphically challenging as in it took NetEnt until mobile casino players in Canada. The mobile version became available in 2019 and is set to rival all jackpot slots this 2020. What makes this slot special is that it comes with a Super-meter mode alongside its mystery wins and progressive jackpot features.
The Super-meter is basically a common land-based slot feature of old but is actually very exciting and we wish more slots did this. Basically, when you win on the base game, you can collect or spin on the second set of reels for a super win where bigger pay-outs lay in wait. However, here is the catch – the base game RTP is in fact very low – 85.28% to be exact, but when you get into the Super-meter game, this is where the RTP of 99% comes in.
Plus, there is always a chance of smashing in that lucrative Mega Joker progressive jackpot win.
2. Jackpot 6000 by NetEnt – 98.86% RTP
Following on from Mega Joker is another 3-reel and 5 fixed pay line classic slot game with a reasonably well-paying progressive jackpot video slot game. NetEnt released Jackpot 6000 in 2014 as a high variance slot game. Although this slot game was much easier for NetEnt to design for mobile casino players because there is just a single set of reels.
This slot also has a Super-meter, so when you win, you get to play a more lucrative version of the game. At the same time, there is a progressive jackpot always looming as you play.
3. Gold Rally by Playtech – 97.01% RTP
Gold Rally is another 3-reel slot but this time with 8 fixed pay lines. It was designed way back in 2004 and has since been paying out online casino players jackpots in excess of CA$1 million on quite a few occasions. There have been a large number of Canadian players winning on this slot.
It is one of the rare Playtech progressive jackpot slot games to pay over the CA$1 million mark. Plus, despite the fact its 3 reels represent a classic slot, this game has some awesome graphics and mobile slot players will be able to partake! As far as the variance is concerned, we would put this as a medium variance slot even though Playtech doesn’t really let us know, so we have predicted the variance from our own experience of playing this slot.
4. Mega Fortune Dreams by NetEnt – 96.4% RTP
Mega Fortune Dreams was designed in 2014, and it is a follow on from Mega Fortune. This is a medium variance progressive slot with 5 reels and 20 pay lines. There is quite a lot to do on the reels too with special features that include scatters for spin bet multipliers as well as 10, 15 or 20 free spins that offer x3 multipliers, but you can easily ramp this up to x10 multipliers by landing more scatter symbols.
To land that progressive jackpot win, you will need to land the bonus symbol on reels 3, 4, and 5. In the bonus, there are 4 levels with cash wins on the outer rim and the chance to progress. If you progress you get the chance to win the Rapid Jackpot first, then the Major Jackpot on the third level, and if you get past this, you will land the Mega Jackpot.
Adding to the fun, the wild symbol links up with all regular symbols, and if you land 3 on the reels, you will get a re-spin!
5. Hall of Gods by NEtEnt– 95.5% RTP
It seems as if NetEnt have cornered the market with high RTP progressive slot titles! Well here is another one that is incredibly popular amongst Canadian players. Hall of Gods was released in 2013 and still has sublime graphics, excellent animations, and regularly pays out huge jackpots via its Midi, Mini and Mega jackpots that range from thousands to millions of Canadian dollars depending on when the slot opens up its jackpot coffers.
You can trigger up to 20 free spins with scatters and every combination connected dishes out a x3 multiplier. There is also an expanding wild symbol helping you along the way in both the free base game and free spins game. Then, to land that elusive jackpot win, you will need to land the bonus symbol where 3 progressive jackpots lay in wait.
One of the main points that we should make is that this is a low to medium variance slot. This means you will win little and often with features helping you spin-in big wins.
6. Joker Millions by Yggdrasil – 95.3% RTP
Joker Millions does not have the graphical prowess that Hall of Gods has, but it has a decent looking 3D interface, some well-designed symbols, and it is a mobile progressive slot game as it was designed with the mobile player in mind in the height of the mobile slots craze in 2015.
You have 5 reels and 25 pay lines with some neat features to spin in on what is a medium variance slot game. We absolutely low the freeze, re-spin, plus column multipliers feature, which is unique to this slot and very cool. Winning symbols will stick, the reels will re-spin and the more columns you will after each re-spin, the higher the multiplier. Even without the jackpot, this feature has the potential to land big wins which is why the Joker Millions online slot title has made such a big name for itself. Well, that and the fact that it pays million CA$ progressive jackpots!
Winning the jackpot is a matter of landing the special joker symbol on each reel which triggers the mystery wins feature with 5 prizes to be won. Of course, this includes a shot at the jackpot.
7. Empire Fortune by Yggdrasil– 94.3% RTP
Another slot that is very popular and has a reasonably high RTP for jackpot style slot game! Empire Fortune was designed in 2016 and is a high variance slot. Its high variance means you will not win too often, but when you do, you should win big.
There are 5 reels and 20 pay lines to play as well as 3 progressive jackpots to win. You can play one of 4 bonus modes, there is a hold feature, up to the 30 spins to be won, and a jackpot wheel with 3 levels where there are 3 progressive jackpots to be won.
8. Jackpot Giant by Playtech – 94.22% RTP
Jackpot Giant comes with a massive 50 pay-lines, so it’s not overly cheap per spin. That said, you can get the coin value as low as CA$0.01, so you can spin for CA$0.50 per spin. For that, you get awesome graphics on 3D reels that are transparent showing the mountainous terrain in the background in the giant’s natural habitat.
On top of this, Jackpot Giant comes with loads of animations on what is an excellent theme about giants. You will also win quite often as this is a low-medium variance slot. There is nothing better than playing a progressive slot game that replicates the win ratio of a non-progressive jackpot game!
Linking up the wild symbol into a combination on lines 2 to 50 is enough to give you a CA$50,000 pay-out. However, to empty the progressive jackpot counter and win the Giant’s jackpot, you will need to land the same combination on line 1 specifically. Other features where you can continue to spin in wins include the Giant Bonus round where you will play a pick me game by selecting volcanoes that pay out huge rewards.
Considering this slot title was released in 2014, its gameplay and graphics feel like they are well ahead of the times.
Round Up
There you have it. Although there are many new progressive slots being released in online casinos available in Canada, the best progressive jackpots are the golden oldies. None of these slots got to where they are without having excellent features, consistently large payouts, and sublime gameplay. Each slot developer has added its own touch of class to every one of these slots and none of them shows any signs of diminishing in popularity any time soon.
Make sure you check out our online casino reviews where you will be able to discover which casinos offer NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playtech games where you can check whether the jackpot slots collection includes any one of these 4 popular progressive jackpot games.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do progressive slots contribute money to their jackpot?
A percentage of every bet made by the players playing the slot is contributed to the slot’s jackpot. The more players that play the slot, the quicker the jackpot will payout and the higher the payout will be.
Why do most progressive jackpot slots have a low RTP?
This is mainly because the slot needs to make its profit using the house edge as it guarantees a portion of the progressive jackpot. Also, as mentioned above, usually around 20% of every spin bet made by players is contributed to the jackpot which means the RTP is set lower so the slot makes a profit for the casino.
What is a progressive jackpot network?
A progressive jackpot network holds a progressive slot in a central location. With the slot in a single location, multiple online casinos can connect to it. As a result, players from XYZ casino, for example, can connect to the slot at the same time as players from ABC casino. With members from multiple casinos able to connect to the slot, this means a huge number of spin bets are made per hour. The more bets made, the bigger the progressive jackpot will become, the faster it will build-up, and the quicker it will payout. Some progressive slots can payout 2 or 3 times per month.
Is there a strategy to winning progressive slots?
There are not really any online slot strategies as such. The best way you can apply a strategy is bankroll management and bet sizing. That said, progressive jackpot players will only play on jackpot slots that have not paid out for a whole and thus the slot is due to a payout.
Can I win a progressive jackpot using my welcome bonus?
You need to read the terms and conditions of the bonus. Usually bonus free spins will have a limit to how much you can win and if you do win, the money will be placed in your ‘bonus money’ balance money. Just make sure you read the casino’s bonus terms and conditions before playing progressive jackpot slots anything other than your ‘real money’ balance.