Mega Joker slot review

What the Mega Joker slot is

Mega Joker is NetEnt's take on the classic fruit machine. NetEnt was founded in 1996 in Stockholm and has been part of Evolution since December 2020. The game keeps the look of a pub machine, with three reels and fruit symbols, but adds a two-stage structure that's unusual among online slots.

Our checked data doesn't confirm a release date, so we leave it out. For more classic designs, see our classic 3-reel slots and the full slots hub.

How the features work in Mega Joker

The base game

The base game plays on a 3 × 3 grid with five paylines. There's no wild symbol to complete lines. The Joker instead pays a mystery prize when it lands, so its value isn't fixed in advance.

Collect or move to Supermeter

After any base game win you face a choice: collect the win to your balance, or move it into Supermeter mode. Supermeter plays on a second set of reels with a higher paytable, and the moved win stays in play there rather than going to your balance. How and when play returns to the base game is set out in the help screen.

The progressive jackpot

Mega Joker carries a progressive jackpot that can be won at random, but only on base game spins. Supermeter spins don't qualify for it. There are no free spins at all, so the jackpot and the Supermeter are the game's only special features. The PokerListings Mega Joker guide (opens in a new tab) describes the same two-stage set-up.

Mega Joker RTP: why 99% is a ceiling, not a promise

Mega Joker is often described as a 99% RTP slot, but our checked data is specific: up to 99% at the top stake, using Supermeter. Play at a lower stake, or collect wins instead of moving them to Supermeter, and the return is lower. Our data doesn't give those lower figures, so check the help screen at your casino, which must show the game's rules and return information under the Commission's RTS 3 standard on game descriptions (opens in a new tab).

Only the first row is a published figure for this game; the others show how much each point matters. Even the best case isn't a way to make money: at 99%, the game still keeps £1 of every £100 staked on average. Our page asking whether bigger stakes improve slot RTP explains why Mega Joker is one of the rare games where the answer depends on how you play.

The top stake in the UK version is limited by the stake caps: £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over, £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds. Check how the game sets its stakes in the help screen.

The Supermeter decision in Mega Joker

The collect-or-continue choice is what makes Mega Joker different. Taking a win to Supermeter keeps it in play on reels with bigger prizes. Collecting banks it. The published maximum RTP assumes Supermeter is used at the top stake, so the choice affects your long-run cost.

Moving a win into Supermeter means staking it again, so you can lose it. Decide in advance how you'll handle wins rather than choosing in the heat of the moment. This isn't a gamble feature in the usual sense, but the same idea applies: risking a win adds variance. Our gamble feature page covers that topic.

Mega Joker's progressive jackpot explained

A progressive jackpot grows as players stake and resets after it's won. Part of the game's RTP goes into funding it, so the return from regular wins is lower than the headline figure suggests. Our checked data doesn't say how much of Mega Joker's RTP sits in the jackpot, so we don't put a number on it.

Two points matter. First, the jackpot is won at random, so no pattern or timing helps. Second, it can only land on base game spins, so time in Supermeter doesn't add jackpot chances. The Gambling Commission's RTS 9 rules for progressive jackpot systems (opens in a new tab) set requirements for how these jackpots are run and displayed. For the maths, read progressive jackpot maths and how jackpots are paid out.

Playing Mega Joker on a £20 budget

Because the RTP changes with how you play, a single cost figure would be misleading. At the best case of 99%, staking £20 once through costs 20p on average. At lower stakes or without Supermeter it costs more, though our data doesn't give the exact figure. High volatility means the result of any £20 session is mostly luck.

• Small stakes: more spins from £20, but the published 99% doesn't apply, so the cost per pound staked is higher.
• Top stake: the best published return, but far fewer spins, and each loss is larger.
• Either way: the jackpot is rare and random; don't raise your stake to chase it.

How to play Mega Joker online

1. Register at a UK-licensed casino and verify your age and identity.
2. Open Mega Joker and read the help screen, especially the RTP at each stake.
3. Choose your stake in the base game.
4. Spin manually; autoplay isn't permitted on UK slots.
5. After a win, choose whether to collect it or move it to Supermeter.
6. In Supermeter, play the transferred amount on the second reels, then return to the base game.
7. Remember the progressive jackpot can only be won on base game spins.
8. Track the net spend shown on screen and stop at your limit.

UK rules and Mega Joker

Mega Joker counts as an online slot, so the UK slot stake limits apply: £5 per game cycle for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. The Gambling Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) defines a game cycle as running from the start of a game until all money staked is lost or all winnings are made available to you. How the UK version fits Supermeter play within those rules is explained in its help screen.

The design rules apply too: at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no autoplay, no turbo or slam-stop, and no celebrating a return equal to or below your stake. See our game design rules page for detail.

Slots like Mega Joker

Fire Joker is the nearest in feel, a three-reel joker game with five lines. Blood Suckers is a NetEnt game with a high listed RTP that doesn't depend on stake choices. See our fruit slots and jackpot slots for more.

Where to play Mega Joker: partner offers

Our checked data doesn't confirm which partners stock Mega Joker, so check the game lobby. These welcome offers are slot offers on named or selected games, not on Mega Joker. 18+ and terms apply.

• PlayOJO: first deposit £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each; no wagering, so any winnings are cash. For new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland, via the designated offer link only, and not with any other offer.
• Coral: deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on selected games. Accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days; no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
• Ladbrokes: deposit and spend £10 or more on slots for 50 free spins a day for the first 10 days, 500 at most, at 10p on selected games. Claim each day by 23:59; use within 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both operated by LC International Limited, so you might not be able to join both as a new customer. Our page on whether you can win a jackpot with free spins is worth reading before using spins on jackpot games.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.