Players often wonder if bigger bets can lead to bigger chances of winning. Here’s an example of a question that leans in that direction:
Do you think the odds of winning a jackpot are greater on higher bets or do you think low bets have the same odds?
Debbie R.
This question could be interpreted in two ways:
- Are the odds of winning a handpay jackpot higher on higher bets?
- Are the odds of winning a progressive jackpot higher on higher bets?
Overall, the answer to both is generally yes. But let’s dive a bit deeper
Bet Sizing and Jackpot Handpay Odds
When it comes to winning a jackpot handpay, the amount won is the determining factor, not the amount wagered. No matter how much is wagered on a slot machine, if you win at least $2,000 (as of this writing), your machine will lock up with a jackpot handpay, regardless of location in the U.S.
That means just by the nature of that definition that biggers bets have a higher chance of triggering one. On a $1 bet you would need a 2,000x win. But on a $10 bet you’d only need a 200x win.
A jackpot handpay is somewhat arbitrary since it’s all about the win size. But if you are trying for one (and we don’t recommend that as the goal), betting higher will increase the odds of it happening.
Bet Sizing and Progressive Jackpot Odds
When playing slots, many times a progressive will be available to all bets. When betting higher, your odds of winning a progressive increases, often proportionally to your bet.
So if you bet $10 vs. $1, the $10 better would have roughly a 10x better chance of winning it. You’re also betting 10x more for that opportunity.
Ultimately, in the long run, if you bet the same amount on two different bet levels in total, you should, on average, get the progressive the same number of times.
But because one bet is smaller than the other, it will just be won less frequently because it takes a lot longer to bet the same amount through the machine.
Don’t Overbet Your Bankroll
In both cases, you’re not “winning more” because you’re also betting more to win more, if that makes sense. Overall, it’s not a way to make money on slots, and so we don’t want readers presuming that they should do this as a best practice.
While higher denominations are an opportunity to have a better payback percentage over the longer term, the most important factor is your bankroll. If you don’t have enough money to sustain such bet sizes, you’ll be more likely to run out of money before any of those wins can transpire.
It’s better to bet at a level your bankroll can sustain, and give you that chance to win something nice over the long term.
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