Progressive jackpots are a staple of online slots. Who doesn’t like shooting for a big prize? Fairly new to the mix are Games Global’s WowPot Jackpots, but already they’re becoming some of the most popular. Offering significant prize pools and slick games from a number of top studios, they’ve earned a bit of a reputation as a go-to choice for jackpot seekers. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the world of progressive slots or you’ve been playing for years, this guide will break down how WowPot Jackpots work – and give you the inside scoop on some of the standout titles.

What Are WowPot Jackpots?

WowPot Jackpots are part of a progressive jackpot network. This means the prize pool grows as more players spin the reels. In fact, around 5% of each spin goes towards the WowPot in these games. This means the more people play, the bigger the main jackpot gets. However, one place that WowPot differs from traditional progressive jackpots is its three other prize tiers. These stay the same, with the WowPot growing and are separated as below:

• Mini
• Minor
• Major
• WowPot

The main WowPot jackpot is the highlight at a minimum of 2 million euros when seeded – and only growing. The setup of these slots means anyone can win with a single spin, no matter the stake size, though higher bets do increase your odds of triggering the jackpot feature.

How Do WowPot Jackpots Work?

Unless you’re particularly interested in game mechanics, playing a WowPot slot feels similar to any other slot game. No special strategies or techniques are required. The jackpots are triggered randomly during gameplay, where you’re invited to spin a wheel, or uncover symbols, to determine which of the four prize tiers you’ll land on.

Top WowPot Slots to Check Out

The WowPot collection is jam-packed with visually stunning and feature-rich games. Lots come from Games Global, but there are a handful of games from other studios too, meaning you’ll find a whole host of different mechanics to get your teeth stuck into.

Sherlock and Moriarty WowPot

Sherlock and Moriarty WowPot is one of the most popular titles from the huge collection of jackpot slots at Jackpot City casino, why? It has brilliant characters, including the fiendish Moriarty, clever mechanics – and the chance to trigger the WowPot. Its engaging characters and rich atmosphere make it a firm favourite among players. Who doesn’t like a mystery to solve, especially one with a big prize at the end?

Book of Atem WowPot

No series of slots would be complete without a nod to Ancient Egypt and that’s where Book of Atem steps in. Despite its ancient theme, it has a bunch of modern slot features, including expanding symbols. Throw in its jackpot potential and you’ve created a compelling mix.

Queen of Alexandria WowPot

Expanding wilds are a great way to boost wins and that’s the name of the game in Queen of Alexandria WowPot. This slot also has the ever-popular Ancient Egyptian theme though with a royal edge thrown in for good measure.

Understanding how to play suited connectors in Texas Hold’em poker is a skill every player should get to grips with before hitting the tables.

Suited connectors refer to hands composed of two consecutive same-suited cards such as 8♣7♣ or 5♦4♦ or 6♣5♣. These hands have massive potential, but players must be careful with them.

Players can make costly errors if they do not consider factors such as stack sizes and opponent behaviour. Read on as we look at some of the mistakes to avoid when playing suited connectors.

Overvaluing Suited Connectors in 3-Bet Pots with Short Stacks

Three-betting suited connectors against opponents with 60 big blinds or fewer is a one of the most common mistakes poker players make.

Suited connectors are famed for thriving in deep-stack situations but they can be hugely ineffective when stack-to-pot ratios (SPR) shrink.

They can be excellent three-bet bluff candidates with deeper stacks because they have the power to make better hands fold pre-flop.

Suited connectors also be played post-flop while providing significant implied odds by hitting big hands such as straights or flushes.

However, the reduced SPR limits post-flop manoeuvrability and lowers implied odds against shorter stacks. Three-betting these hands becomes a less effective strategy.

Players must consider flat-calling or folding when up against a short stack pre-flop raiser.

When the stack sizes are shallow in tournaments, suited connectors are not so attractive. With a meagre 50 big blinds, players see their ability to leverage the implied odds reduced.

Opponents are more likely to shove or call aggressively, with barely any room for themselves to manoeuvre post-flop.

You need to know when not to three-bet to avoid unnecessary losses and stay competitive, whether playing a competitive tournament or cash games.

Misjudging Opponent Types and Situations

Players should never three-bet bluff suited connectors against calling stations. It is a common mistake, and you may pay dearly for it.

There is only a little chance of you getting them to fold which means you lose a key incentive for three-betting suited connectors.

Calling stations tend to call with hands that overpower suited connectors such as A♠5♠, K♠7♥ or J♠8♣ while increasing the likelihood of nasty coolers when you both hit trips or flushes.

The wise move would be to avoid bluffing calling stations. Try focusing on value-betting strong hands. You can fold your suited connectors or be passive in your play in these situations.

We have recently seen the pitfalls of misunderstanding hand strength at the top level with Chinese-New Zealander Sosia Jiang at the Triton Million.

The Kiwi ace held K♦Q♦ and pushed aggressively against chip leader Daniel Dvoress. The move backfired spectacularly. Dvoress had A♣K♣ which trumped her seemingly mouth-watering hand.

Her mistake is a cautionary tale about understanding the context around hand strength. Success in casinos online NZ often hinges on grasping the odds and knowing when to hold back or go all-in.

While K♦Q♦ is a strong hand in some situations, it loses its prowess against a tighter opening range or superior hands. Tournament dynamics played a critical role in Jiang’s case, but knowing when to fold premium hands can help reserve chips and extend longevity.

Against loose players, expand your range to exploit their tendency to overplay marginal hands. You need to narrow your range and focus on stronger holdings for tight players.

Suited connectors can be effective in both contexts, but you must be masterful and pay attention to the opponent’s tendencies.

Misusing Suited Connectors as Four-Bet Bluff Candidates

When choosing hands for four-bet bluffs, consider elements such as blocker effects, post-flop playability and implied odds.

Suited connectors usually don’t meet the critical criterion of blocker effects. They typically have negative blocker effects, blocking hands your opponent might fold such as K♠6♦ as opposed to strong hands they will continue with like K♠K♥.

Suited connectors have decent playability and implied odds, but the low SPR in four-bet pots kills these advantages. The wise move would be to prioritise hands with better blocker properties such as A♠5♠ for your four-bet bluffs.

Use suited connectors in situations where they can be more potent. Playing them in the wrong situation can yield diabolic results.

In a scenario where you bet with 8♠7♠ against a player who frequently continues with hands such as A♠K♠ or pocket queens, it will be nigh impossible for you to force a fold. Your post-flop playability will be compromised due to the limited SPR.

This is why it is crucial to understand the nuances of hand selection. Reserving suited connectors for spots where they can thrive is key. It ensures your strategy is robust and adaptable.

Dennis Sean McAndrew, who officially changed his name from Dennis Andrew Nikrasch, but also used at least half a dozen aliases during his lifetime, was the mastermind of the biggest slot machine cheating schemes in history. At the time of his death in 2010, he had the dubious distinction of being in the so-called ‘Black Book’, which lists individuals who are forever banned from casinos, in both Nevada and New Jersey.

In the late seventies and early eighties, when slot machines were electro-mechanical, McAndrew and his accomplices used distraction techniques to take impressions of keys used to open slot machines, fashioned new keys and, later, opened the machines and physically rigged the reels to winning jackpot combinations. Collectively, they stole a reported $25 million a year from Las Vegas casinos.

In 1983, McAndew began an eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to using a set of magnets and locksmith tools, dubbed the ‘Nikrasch device’, to illegally manipulate slot machines and defraud Las Vegas casinos. Following his release in 1991, McAndrew adopted more sophisticated methods to cope with the evolution of slot machines in the interim. They still involved opening slot machine cabinets but, rather than physically rigging reels, reprogramming Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. (EPROM) chips, without removing them from the machine and thereby invalidating security measures.

In 1998, McAndrew was convicted for a second time, for swindling over $6 million from various Las Vegas casinos, including nearly $2 million from the Luxor alone, between September 1996 and November 1997. He had also travelled to Atlantic City, with a view to fraudulently winning a $5 million slot jackpot, only to be foiled when the jackpot was won legimately beforehand. A search of his residence revealed an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of slot machines, microchips and other incriminating evidence. McAndrew was sentenced to a further seven-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, of which her served six.

Online slots are famous for coming in a wide range of genres. They’re played by such a vast number of people that studios need to create diverse games to appeal to everyone.

Because these instant win classics are so huge in the online bingo sector, they can have an impact on the wider entertainment industry. Slots have already helped the Western resurgence in the mainstream, and now they could have the same effect on the gangster genre.

Various Gangster Games at Online Bingo Sites

There’s something for everyone when it comes to instant win games in the online bingo market. However, from the list of new bingo releases, it’s clear that there’s a gangster resurgence on the cards. Mafia Gold is one of the top-listed slots among other popular titles like The Lost Boys and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, suggesting that there’s a big market out there for games in the genre.

Mafia Gold uses all the classic tropes of the genre, with the thumbnail designed to make players reminisce on iconic pictures like Goodfellas and The Godfather. There are a few other titles that use a similar theme as well, with Mafia Millions and The Stash being the standout offerings. With so many players interested in these titles, it could lead more film and television developers to consider bringing out new gangster content.

Online Casinos Brought Westerns Back

It wouldn’t be surprising to see this online bingo trend influence the wider entertainment industry, as the same thing has happened with other genres. Western-themed titles have always been at the heart of the thriving bingo sector, with options like Wild West Gold among the top options.

The popularity of Western slots may have inspired developers in film and television to create more offerings in the genre, and there have been a few successful titles in recent years. Yellowstone, for instance, is an example of a modern Western, and that has influenced other shows like Territory. Series such as Fallout and The Mandalorian have also featured elements from Westerns that have appealed to viewers.

What Are the Best Recent Gangster Offerings?

There have been a few gangster titles in recent years, suggesting that there could be a resurgence of the genre on the cards. Series could potentially be the way forward for gangster offerings, with The Gentlemen on Netflix receiving a positive response from fans and critics. The series will be back for a second season, and it’s likely to encourage other writers to play with similar themes.

The Penguin is another example of a series that has capitalised on the emerging trend of bringing the gangster genre to television screens. Colin Farrell earned plaudits for his depiction of the notorious Gotham City bad guy, and the HBO offering is likely to lead to future seasons as well.

With gangster themes becoming more prevalent in the slots market, it could lead to a knock-on effect across other areas of entertainment. It appears that this could already be happening, with a few popular new gangster series on streaming services.