The Mechanics Behind Must Win Jackpots in Online Casinos

By  //  January 24, 2025

Among the many types of jackpots that can be found at online casinos, the must win jackpot is often overlooked. Sitting alongside regular jackpots, progressive and Megaways, the must win jackpot offers something a little different for players.

Some operators will display them on their selection of popular games on their homepage. If not, they can be found in the jackpot section, and if you are on the hunt for them, it’s advisable to check out safe, reputable UK online casinos at which to play.

Must win jackpots are sometimes referred to as a mystery jackpot, because they add their air of intrigue and interest as players know that the prize has to drop. Below we investigate whether they are worth giving attention to.

What Are Must Win Jackpots?

Must-go, must win, mystery jackpots – these types of slots will show up under different names depending on the online casino. Either way, the name is appealing because it hints that a jackpot will be ready to drop very soon, and it instils a sense of urgency in players.

The Mechanics of Must-Win Jackpots

Must win jackpot slots operate on similar mechanics to progressive jackpots. Progressive jackpots are linked together on a network and a percentage of the losses that happen in the game, will continuously push the jackpot prize up. Then, at some random point, it will drop.

The must win jackpot payout system differs slightly, however. Instead of it being a random point where it will drop, a must win machine will payout a jackpot before it reaches a certain amount. That amount is pre-set and will change from game-to-game.

The Appeal of Must Win Jackpots

Progressive jackpots are notoriously hard to win and can go for very long periods without paying out the top prize. That is where must win jackpots fill in a bit of the space between that and other standard jackpot games.

With a must win slot, players know that the jackpot will drop before whatever the magic number is, is reached. But of course, they don’t know what number that is, it is something that can keep players on the edge of their seats while playing because that next spin could trigger the windfall.

The General Set Up

In most instances, there is an even chance that the jackpot will be triggered anywhere between the starting minimum amount and the maximum threshold for that particular game. Some slots, however, may be set up to give a greater chance of paying out when the game is closer to the maximum threshold. Perhaps 95% of the way there is when the odds will shorten, for example.

The jackpot trigger point is set randomly somewhere between the game’s starting value and the maximum possible jackpot. When the game is played, a percentage of the bets taken count towards the jackpot, which shifts the needle upward towards whatever the target is.

Game mechanics can vary quite a bit, and it’s possible that a Must Win jackpot could have two or more jackpot prizes available, and it could also be a percentage of the losses, or the amount won that moves the meter towards the top threshold. Always check the rules of individual games before playing.