jackpot
Quick Summary
A jackpot is the highest prize in a game or contest, often a large sum of money accumulated from unwon prizes. It can also refer to an impressive, unexpected success or reward. In gambling, a jackpot is the total of bets at stake at one time, also called a pool or pot.123
The term originated from poker, where a pair of jacks was required to start betting, and the pot was the accumulated bets. Slot machines, a type of gambling device, often feature the word "jackpot" as a potential winning symbol. Modern slot machines can link multiple machines to create a shared "super jackpot" that can reach extremely large amounts.24
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