Top Prize

The maximum amount a player can win on any one spin at a slot machine.

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The top prize is synonymous with the primary jackpot. Whatever win amount is the maximum prize offered by a slot machine is the "top prize". The top prize is usually shows prominently somewhere on a slot machine, often at the very right top corner of the pay table.

On 3-reel classic slot machines, players need to play the maximum coin size (coin amount, not coin denomination) to win the top prize. So if you have a machine where you can play between 1 and 5 coins, you'll need to bet the maximum 5-coin wager to qualify for the top jackpot prize.

On video slots, players need to bet on the maximum payline amount to qualify for the top prize. So if you are playing a slot machine with 9 pay lines, you'll need to bet on all 9 paylines to qualify for the top prize. If you don't bet the maximum payline amount, then you won't win the jackpot, even if you hit the winning jackpot combination.

The top prize on a progressive jackpot slot machine is not fixed, and it will increase until the jackpot is hit. In this case, you'll see the jackpot amount increasing with regularity over the time you spend watching or playing the slot machine.

Many players look at the top prize before deciding which machine to play. The chance of hitting a really big primary jackpot is an allure to just about every slot machine player -- though other factors besides the top prize might sway some players.