Mega Moolah is the most popular progressive jackpot released by Microgaming. It has paid out $1.45bn in winnings over 18 years, earning it the nickname “Millionaire Maker”. In 2018, the pokie hit Guinness World Records, giving away over $18.9 million.
There are 4 accumulative jackpots in the game. The biggest one starts at $2 million and has turned hundreds of players around the world into dollar millionaires. According to Microgaming, the average jackpot frequency is 9 weeks.
History and Developer
The history of Mega Moolah began in 2006. From the first months, the game became a symbol of great opportunities and a new word in the world of accumulative jackpots. At that time, the idea of creating a pokie in which the main prize was accumulated through the bets of players from all over the world was innovative. Microgaming was the first to realise this concept in Mega Moolah.
The emergence of the progressive jackpot was a turning point in the history of the entire gambling industry. The success of the British provider inspired developers to create other progressive games. But Mega Moolah still holds a leading position, attracting the attention of those who dream of a big win.
Main Characteristics
The classic pokie offers 5 reels and 25 fixed paylines. Their number can not be changed. Events unfold against the background of the savannah, which is inhabited by representatives of African fauna.
The volatility level of Mega Moolah is low. This means that winnings are frequent, but the amounts are relatively small. The return to player (RTP) percentage is 93.42%. Moreover, 88.12% refers to the main game, and the remaining 5.3% is the contribution to the progressive jackpots. The minimum bet is 0.25, and the maximum is 6.25 credits per spin.
| Provider | Microgaming |
| Release date | 2016 |
| Subject matter | African savannah |
| Playing field | 5×3 |
| Number of drums | 5 |
| Paylines | 25 |
| Volatility level | Low |
| Rate of return (RTP) | 93.42% |
| Minimum rate | 0.25 credit. |
| Maximum rate | 6.25 credits. |
| Progressive jackpots | 4 (Mini, Minor, Major, Mega) |
| Average jackpot amount | $6 694 281 |
| Wild Symbol | Lion (substitutes for other symbols) |
| Scatter Symbol | Shaman (activates freespins) |
| Number of freespins | 15 (with 3x win multiplier) |
| Maximum winnings in the game | 1,955x the freespin bet |
Theme and Design
Mega Moolah is inspired by the African safari and its inhabitants. The game takes the user to the wilderness where lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, antelopes and giraffes reign supreme. The adventure is accompanied by authentic sounds: the roar of the lion, the trumpet sounds of elephants and the stomping of herbivorous animals. The graphics seem a bit outdated, but the cartoonish pictures charm you from the very first seconds of the game.
Representatives of the African savannah are chosen as the main symbols. The lion is a wild symbol that expands on the whole reel. If he participates in a prize combination, the payout is doubled. A combination of three or more lions increases the starting bet by 600 times.
The shaman plays the role of a scatter symbol, which triggers a round of free spins. Other symbols – zebra, giraffe, antelope, buffalo and elephant – also represent typical inhabitants of the savannah. Each of them has its own payout values. Apart from the animals, there are standard card symbols from tens to aces:
| Symbol | Quantity on line | Payout (bet multiplier) |
| Lion (Wild). | 2, 3, 4, 5 | 0.6x, 5x, 60x, 600x |
| Elephant | 2, 3, 4, 5 | 0.24x, 2x, 10x, 30x |
| buffalo | 2, 3, 4, 5 | 0.16x, 1.6x, 6x, 24x |
| Giraffe | 3, 4, 5 | 1.2x, 5x, 20x |
| Zebra | 3, 4, 5 | 0.8x, 4x, 16x |
| Antelope | 3, 4, 5 | 0.4x, 2x, 10x |
| Shaman (Scatter) | 3, 4, 5 | 3x, 20x, 100x |
| Card symbols (A, K) | 3, 4, 5 | 0.2x, 0.6x, 2x. |
| Card symbols (Q, J) | 3, 4, 5 | 0.1x, 0.4x, 1.5x |
| Card Symbols (10) | 3, 4, 5 | 0.08x, 0.3x, 1x |
Mega Moolah has managed to retain its popularity thanks to its successful combination of visual elements, sounds and exciting bonus features. The pleasant visuals and good chances of winning the jackpot continue to attract players who are willing to take risks for big money.
How the Progressive Jackpot Works
The way the jackpot works in Mega Moolah is to accumulate money from bets made by players. Part of the money from each spin goes into the jackpot pool, which continues to grow until one of the players wins.
The progressive jackpot is triggered randomly at any moment of the draw, regardless of the bet size. In the bonus round you need to spin the wheel divided into segments. Each of them corresponds to one of four prize funds:
- Minor – from $100;
- Major – from $10,000;
- Mega – from $2,000,000.
An interesting feature of Mega Moolah is that players can win the jackpot even with the smallest bet.
Biggest Winning Stories
The game has made more than 70 players millionaires since its inception. In 2018, a jackpot of €18,915,872 was won, confirming Mega Moolah’s status as one of the best progressive jackpot pokies. One of the biggest wins was recorded in April 2021 when a user from Belgium ripped off €19,430,723, setting a new record.
Game Process
The main thing about Mega Moolah is the simple gameplay. The draw begins by selecting the bet size, which ranges from 0.25 to 6.25 credits per spin. Despite the moderate variance, the win rate is high – about one win for every two to three spins (46.36%).
Auto Play
Autoplay mode is a convenient feature that allows you to set up automatic spinning of the reels without pressing the “Spin” button. In the game you can adjust the number of automatic spins – from 10 to 100 spins in a row. There are also additional settings, such as stopping in case of winning or reducing the bankroll to a certain value.
Autoplay is suitable for those who prefer a relaxed style of play or want to give the pokie a chance to play a few rounds on its own. The function is also useful for testing betting strategies, during which important patterns can be identified:
- The frequency of occurrence of certain symbols;
- The regularity of making combinations;
- Number of betting multipliers.
Mega Moolah is a popular pokie with simple gameplay and big prizes. Progressive jackpots and a large bet range attract beginners and professionals. From the minuses – only outdated graphics and a small selection of bonuses. But the game is still interesting for those who are looking for a chance to win big money.