Illinois sportsbook and casino customers are immersed in a world of gambling terminology. With new terms constantly emerging, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest jargon and slang if you’re not in the know.
Yet, certain terms have stood the test of time in the industry, with some dating back over a century. The term “jackpot” is a prime example, deeply ingrained in gambling culture and even commonly used by those who do not gamble. The origins of “jackpot” can be traced back to the late 1800s.
Jackpot owes its origins to poker
The term “jackpot” was first noted in 1881 in connection to poker games, as per the Online Etymology Dictionary. Some poker games had a rule where players needed to have at least a pair of jacks or better to win. If no player had a qualifying hand, additional rounds of betting took place until someone met the requirement. This could result in pots growing significantly in size, as multiple rounds of betting went by without anyone achieving a hand of jacks or better.
Originally, “jackpot” was written with a hyphen, as stated by the Online Etymology Dictionary.
The standard Draw-Poker game is typically spiced up by Jack-Pots that occur occasionally, either after a set number of deals, when all players decline to continue, or when the dealer has the buck marker. During a Jack-Pot, all players contribute an equal amount to the pot and receive a hand. The pot can only be won by a player holding a hand worth at least a pair of jacks. If no player has a qualifying hand, the deal moves on and each player adds a small amount to the pot.
Jacks or Better is a popular game in the gambling industry, commonly found on video poker machines. In this modern version of Jacks or Better, players place a bet and are dealt five cards. Players then choose which cards to keep and which to replace. After receiving replacement cards, players win if they have a pair of jacks or a higher-ranking hand.
The evolution of the term jackpot
The original definition of “jackpot” remained in use for approximately 50 years before fading away from modern gambling practices.
During the early 1900s, the term “jackpot” briefly associated with organized crime rings. Between 1902 and an unspecified time, “jackpot” was a word for “trouble” in the criminal underworld. Eventually, it fell out of use as it was replaced by big wins in the following decades. By 1932, “jackpot” had evolved to mean a large prize or victory, especially from a slot machine.
Current uses of the word jackpot
In modern times, the term “jackpot” is commonly understood to have a single definition:
- A substantial amount of money awarded in a game or lottery, typically increasing until claimed.
Winning means hitting the jackpot.
At an Illinois casino, there are two types of jackpots you may encounter when playing slot machines: local and progressive. Local jackpots are built from the money being inserted into a particular machine or group of machines, resulting in smaller payouts compared to progressive jackpots.
Progressive jackpots grow as money is collected from a wide network of machines, including all machines of a specific title in a particular region or group of casinos. These are the jackpots with enormous prize amounts.
Can you win a jackpot at an Illinois casino?
Illinois offers a variety of games with substantial jackpots, including the Illinois Lottery which features popular multi-state games such as Powerball and Mega Millions that boast the largest jackpot prizes.
Additionally, Illinois boasts a variety of casinos featuring slot machines, each offering jackpots of different amounts. The state is also welcoming new and upcoming casinos like The Temporary at American Place, Hard Rock Casino Rockford: An Opening Act, and the soon-to-open Golden Nugget Danville.
There are various options available for those seeking an Illinois jackpot, but remember to play responsibly.
