The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Spin and Gos and Jackpot SNGs

p(text-lg). Lottery Sit & Gos (LSNGs), also known as Spins or Jackpot Sit and Gos, have revolutionized the online poker landscape with a format that brings together poker’s competitive spirit and the thrilling randomness of a lottery draw for top prize.

Introduced over a decade ago, this format quickly gained popularity among online poker players, offering an intense, quick-paced game that can transform a small buy-in into life-changing payouts — sometimes reaching up to $1 million — in just minutes.

Spins have universal appeal, drawing in both casual and professional poker players with the excitement of prize pool multipliers and the chance to win big without the prolonged commitment of traditional poker tournaments.

LSNGs are now a staple across the online poker world. From the US to Europe, on both regulated and unregulated sites, sweepstakes poker platforms, social poker apps, and even private club apps, this format can be found in nearly every corner of the online poker space.

They go by various names across poker sites — Winamax, the format’s originator, calls them Expressos; PokerStars popularized them as Spin & Go, often shortened to Spins; 888poker/WSOP offers them as Blast; and iPoker brands them as Twister. Whatever the name, this format has been around for more than a decade and shows no signs of fading. Since its inception, the format has created numerous millionaires.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the mechanics of these games, highlight the best platforms offering LSNGs, and dive into the history, market comparison, and must-know insights to help you find the best place to play and maximize your experience in this format.

How Lottery Sit & Gos Work

Lottery or Jackpot Sit & Gos are designed to be fast-structure tournaments, usually winner-takes-all No-Limit Hold’em and played three-handed, where players start with shallow stacks and games last mere minutes. Unlike traditional sit and gos, there is no table selection; players are only given the buy-in option and they are automatically taken to the table when all players have joined.

The key element that sets LSNGs apart is the prize pool. At the start of the game, a random prize “multiplier” is chosen, and players might be fighting over a prize two times the buy-in, but sometimes it will be hundreds, even thousands, of times bigger. It is this enticement of a big prize for a small cost that has made the format so popular among players.

The game has some similarities to house-banked casino games. The operator takes on some short-term liability, as the payouts are independent, randomized events. Rather than a “rake”, the operator’s cut is an effective rake based on its pay table—which is how video poker is priced.

The payout structure is fixed in a pay table with predetermined probabilities, with the top jackpot hitting usually only one time in 1 million or more spins.

Here’s how the format generally works:

• Buy-ins and Accessibility: Spins generally offer a variety of buy-in levels, making them accessible to players with different bankrolls. It is ideal for players who want a quick game with the potential for big wins. Whether they have a few minutes or an entire session, the format is accessible and easy to jump into.
• Short-Handed Play: Usually, LSNGs are three-handed, which makes for a fast, dynamic experience where the game can end in minutes.
• Fast-Paced Structure: Spins are designed for quick play, typically with a hyper-turbo blind structure, meaning blinds increase rapidly between two to three minutes.
• Jackpot Appeal: The jackpot element is what sets Spins apart. Each game offers a shot at a potentially life-changing prize, which draws in both casual players looking for a fun experience and seasoned pros aiming to hit a big win.
• Unique Payout Structure: Spins use a fixed payout table with set probabilities for each prize pool multiplier. The top jackpot, which can be massive, is rare — typically hitting only once in a million games — while smaller multipliers appear more frequently to maintain a balanced payout structure.

Where to Play

Spins are widely available across regulated online poker rooms in the US, Ontario, the global dot-com market (including the UK), and European segregated markets. For US states outside of regulated markets, there’s sweepstakes online poker options giving a chance to win real cash prizes.

Here we will guide you in choosing the best option, no matter where you are located.

Regulated US States

If you are in a US state where online poker is legal, like Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Nevada, you’ll find several options available: PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP, BetRivers, and DraftKings. In Nevada, however, WSOP is currently the only active operator.

PokerStars USA: Spin & Go

While PokerStars didn’t invent the Lottery Sit & Go format, its Spin & Go tournaments have set the standard, influencing other operators to adopt similar formats and even the same name. As one of the earliest adopters of the format, PokerStars offers Spin & Go tournaments in all regulated US states where it operates, including New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

In the US, PokerStars’ Spin & Go format follows the industry norm: hyper-turbo speed, a winner-takes-all structure, and random prize pool multipliers revealed at the start of each game. However, unlike in some global markets, the prize structure in the US is less top-heavy for the majority of the buy-ins except the newly added 50 cent. Players can win prize pools from 2x to 2000x their buy-in except for $0.50 where the top multiplier is a whopping 1 million. Games start at 500 chips and blinds increasing every three minutes.

PokerStars USA currently offers five buy-in levels — $0.50, $1, $5, $10, and $25 — with a 7% rake. These games are exclusive to the No-Limit Hold’em variant. During major tournaments or special promotions, PokerStars also introduces lower-stakes options, such as 25-cent buy-in, with top prizes reaching between $2,000 and $500,000.

• Format Name: Spin & Go
• Buy-in Range: $0.50 to $25
• Rake: 7%
• Multiplier: 2x — 1,000,000x
• Top Prize Range: $2000 to $500,000
• Starting Stack: 500
• US States: NJ, MI and PA

BetMGM Poker US: Spins

BetMGM, which runs on PartyPoker’s software in the US, offers its version of lottery-style sit & go tournaments called Spins. Like PokerStars’ Spin & Go, BetMGM’s Spins are three-handed, hyper-turbo games with a randomly determined prize pool at the start.

The multipliers range from 2x to a maximum of 2000x. Buy-ins range from $1 to $50, with a 7% rake across all levels.

Players start with 500 chips, and blinds increase every three minutes. BetMGM’s Spins are available in all regulated US states where it operates, including New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

• Format Name: Spins
• Buy-in Range: $1 to $50
• Rake: 7%
• Multiplier: 2x — 2000x
• Top Prize Range: $2000 to $100,000
• Starting Stack: 500
• US States: NJ, MI and PA

WSOP Online: Blast

The WSOP Online Blast format brings a unique twist to the standard Lottery Sit & Go structure. While it maintains the typical three-handed, hyper-turbo setup with a random prize pool multiplier, Blast games adjust the starting stack, blind structure, and prize distribution based on the multiplier assigned at the game’s start.

The higher the multiplier, the deeper the structure: for a 2x or 3x multiplier, players start with a 300-chip stack, while 5x games have 500 chips, and 100x or more games offer a 1000-chip starting stack. Blind levels increase more slowly in games with higher multipliers.

WSOP Blast offers a wide range of buy-ins, beginning as low as $0.10 in Pennsylvania and $0.30 in other states, with a maximum of $50 in New Jersey, Nevada, and Michigan. The format also features a jackpot multiplier of up to 10,000x, making prizes as high as $500,000 possible.

Originally, Blast launched with four players per game and an all-in countdown timer to speed things up, but it has since shifted to a three-player format without the timer. Rake varies with the buy-in, starting at 10% at lower levels and dropping to 6.77% at higher tiers.

• Format Name: Blast
• Buy-in Range: $0.30 to $50
• Rake: 6.77% – 10%
• Multiplier: 2x — 10,000x
• Top Prize Range: $3000 to $500,000
• Starting Stack: 300 – 1000
• US States: NV, NJ, MI, PA

DraftKings: Electric Poker

DraftKings’ Electric Poker is the latest addition to the Spins landscape and marks the company’s first venture into peer-to-peer real money online poker.

Available in Michigan and Pennsylvania, Electric Poker offers buy-ins from $1 to $25 with a 7% rake. The format brings a unique twist with its “Electric Mode,” a feature similar to the original WSOP Blast with an all-in countdown timer. This countdown activates between six to twelve minutes in, depending on the multiplier, and forces all players all-in until a winner is determined.

Electric Poker follows a top-heavy payout structure, with multipliers from 2x to 10,000x and jackpots ranging from $1,000 up to $250,000. It is currently the only LSNG game in the US with an all-in timer feature.

Players start with 500 chips, but unlike the standard three-minute blinds, blinds increase every two minutes, creating an even faster-paced experience.

• Format Name: Electric Poker
• Buy-in Range: $1 to $25
• Rake: 7%
• Multiplier: 2x — 10,000x
• Top Prize Range: $1000 to $250,000
• Starting Stack: 500
• US States: MI & PA

BetRivers: SNG Select

BetRivers’ SNG Select offers one of the most innovative takes on lottery-style or jackpot sit and go tournaments in the industry. What sets it apart is its hybrid structure, combining elements of traditional SNGs, called “Classic,” with a lottery-style variant known as “Cub3d.”

This hybrid format offers players a choice between two game modes: Classic, which features a standard sit-and-go structure with fixed prizes, and Cub3d, a lottery-style game where prizes are randomized. Both formats share the same player pool, providing flexibility for participants.

Classic games are available with buy-ins ranging from $0.90 to $22.50, while Cub3d offers the same range, plus an exclusive $0.25 option tailored for the LSNG format. One of the unique features of Cub3d is its mystery prize element—prizes are determined at the start of the game but kept hidden until the tournament concludes.

Cub3d also introduces “Glitch Prizes,” which are random consolation rewards for players who finish in 2nd or 3rd place. These prizes, ranging from 0.25x to 100x the buy-in, are funded by 10% of Cub3d buy-ins and occur rarely. This innovation comes at a slightly higher cost, with Cub3d buy-ins priced about 10% more than Classic games.

But apart from these innovations, Cub3d retains the core attributes of LSNGs, with players starting with 500 chips in a 3-handed hyper-turbo structure where the prize pool is determined randomly.

The rake structure varies between the two modes. Classic games charge slightly higher fees, ranging from 6.67% to 6%, while Cub3d’s rake is more competitive, between 4% and 6%.

Currently, SNG Select is exclusive to BetRivers Poker in Pennsylvania.

• Format Name: SNG Select
• Buy-ins Range: $0.25 to $25
• Rake: 4% to 6.67%
• Multiplier: 2x to 1500x
• Top Prize Range: $375 to $37,500
• Starting Stack: 500
• US States: PA

Other US States

For those US online poker players where the game is not regulated, then they can try out sweepstakes poker sites. Currently, there are only two sweepstakes online poker rooms that offer Spins or Jackpot SNGs: Clubs Poker and Global Poker.

Clubs Poker: Spin & Go

Clubs Poker is one of the newest entries to online poker world and yet despite being a relatively new comer, it features its own variation of jackpot sit and go tournaments, which it calls Spin n’ Go.

These come in five different buy-ins: 0.25 to 10, with all games denominated in Sweeps Coins (SC) — operator’s virtual currency that can be redeemed for real money prizes.

Unlike regulated sites’ Spins offering, Clubs Poker’ version has much less variance in the payout as it maximize at 300 times the buy-in. This means the top prize range from 75 SC to 3000 SC.

There is also slight difference in the starting stack, with players receiving 750 chips and blinds go up every 3 minutes. It is usually winner-take-all but pays more places, if the multiplier randomly assigned is higher.

Clubs Poker is open to nearly all of the US states with the exception of a few such as Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, Michigan, Montana and Washington.

• Format Name: Spin n’ Go
• Buy-in Range: SC 0.25 to 10
• Multiplier: 2x — 300x
• Top Prize Range: SC 75 to 3000
• Starting Stack: 750
• US States: Nearly all

Global Poker: Jackpot Sit and Go

Global Poker offers its own version of jackpot-style SNGs to US players as a sweepstakes-based social poker room.

These games are available at four buy-in levels: SC 0.50, 1, 5, and 10. Unlike some platforms, Global Poker’s multipliers are capped at 200x for the top jackpot, with a 2x minimum prize pool multiplier.

Each game is three-handed, hyper-turbo, and follows a winner-takes-all structure. The exception is when the top jackpot (200x) is hit: in these cases, the winner takes 75%, the runner-up 15%, and the third-place player still earns 10% of the prize pool.

• Format Name: Jackpot Sit & Go
• Buy-in Range: SC 0.50 to 10
• Multiplier: 2x — 200x
• Top Prize Range: SC 100 to 2000
• Starting Stack: 500
• US States: Nearly all

Ontario

In the regulated Ontario online poker market, all four major networks — GGPoker, PokerStars, BetMGM, and 888poker — offer lottery sit and go games.

GGPoker/WSOP: Spin & Gold

GGPoker is known for adding unique twists to established poker formats, and its approach to LSNGs with Spin & Gold is no exception. While the core structure remains familiar — three-handed, fast-paced tournaments with randomly determined prize pools at the start, and typically a winner-take-all format — GGPoker introduces a variety of innovative features that set it apart.

One standout addition is the “2x insurance” option, allowing players to place an even-money side bet with the operator. If a player opts for the buy-in with insurance and the multiplier hits 2x, they will receive their buy-in back.

Another unique offering is the chess-inspired ELO rating system, a skill-based ranking mechanism. Players earn points for wins, boosting their rating, while losses result in point deductions, giving players a competitive edge to track their performance over time.

The tournament structure itself varies based on the assigned multiplier. Higher multipliers provide players with deeper stacks and slower blind levels while lower multipliers come with shallow stacks and faster blind levels.

Spin & Gold games in Ontario are available at five different buy-ins, ranging from CAD $0.25 to $50. Impressively, even the $5 buy-in offers a top prize pool of $1 million, supported by a staggering 200,000x multiplier—the highest in the market.

While the rake is set at 7% across all buy-ins — slightly above average — it aligns with rates seen at other operators.

• Format Name: Spin & Gold
• Buy-in Range: CAD $0.25 to $50
• Rake: 7%
• Multiplier: 2x — 200,000x
• Top Prize Range: CAD $10,000 to $1,000,000
• Starting Stack: 300-1000

888poker: Blast

888poker, one of the most established names in online poker, naturally includes a jackpot sit and go offering in its lineup, aptly named Blast. In Ontario, Blast is available at five different buy-in levels, starting as low as $0.10—the most affordable entry point in the market. Other buy-ins include CAD $1, $5 (featuring a massive $1 million top prize pool), $10, and $20.

The game follows a familiar format seen across the industry: 3-handed, fast-paced tournaments with a prize pool randomly determined at the start of the game. However, 888poker puts its own spin on the structure by varying the gameplay speed and payouts depending on the multiplier. For instance, a 2x or 3x multiplier starts players with 300 chips, and blinds increase every one to two minutes. Higher multipliers, such as 100x or more, grant players 1000 chips and slower blind increases every five minutes, creating deeper gameplay.

Rake is higher compared to other operators, with a 10% charge at the lowest $0.10 buy-in and 7.70% for the top-tier $20 games.

• Format Name: Blast
• Buy-in Range: CAD $0.10 to $20
• Rake: 7.70% to 10%
• Multiplier: 2x — 200,000x
• Top Prize Range: CAD $1,000 to $1,000,000
• Starting Stack: 300-1000

PokerStars: Spin & Go

PokerStars’ iconic Spin & Go format remains a popular choice for players in Ontario, offering more flexibility in buy-ins compared to its US counterpart. In the regulated Ontario market, Spin & Go tournaments are available at eight different buy-in levels, starting at just CAD $0.50 and going up to CAD $100.

The top prize pool for the CAD $100 buy-in is $1 million, while other buy-ins feature a maximum multiplier of 10,000x. The CAD $0.50 entry which is a Power Path Step 1, offers a special top prize pool of $500,000, making it an appealing option for players seeking a low-cost chance at a massive win.

The rake structure is competitive, ranging from 8% at the lower buy-ins to 5% for the CAD $100 tier.

As with other iterations, PokerStars’ Spin & Go tournaments follow the familiar three-handed, hyper-turbo structure with randomized prize pools revealed at the start of each game.

• Format Name: Spin & Go
• Buy-in Range: $0.50 to $100
• Rake: 5% to 8%
• Multiplier: 2x — 200,000x
• Top Prize Range: $10,000 to $1,000,000
• Starting Stack: 500

BetMGM/PartyPoker/Bwin: Spins

BetMGM (also PartyPoker and Bwin) brings its Spins product to Ontario, offering four buy-ins tailored to a variety of player preferences: CAD $1, $5, $10, and $50. The games feature a top multiplier of 12,000x.

The CAD $50 buy-in has a top prize pool of $500,000 one of the more attractive jackpot options available at this price point in the market. As with most lottery sit-and-go formats, players compete in fast-paced, three-handed games where the prize pool is determined randomly at the start.

The rake is consistent across all buy-ins, set at 7%, aligning with industry norms and providing players with a competitive offering in the Ontario market.

• Format Name: Spins
• Buy-in Range: CAD $1 to $50
• Rake: 7%
• Multiplier: 2x — 12,000x
• Top Prize Range: CAD $10,000 to $500,000
• Starting Stack: 500

Dot-Com

The global dot-com market is flooded with Spin offerings, with nearly every major operator featuring this format, including PokerStars, PartyPoker, iPoker, Unibet, 888poker, and GGPoker.

PokerStars: Spin & Go

PokerStars’ Spin & Go stands as one of the premier LSNG offerings in the global dot-com market, boasting a wide variety of buy-in options. With at least a dozen choices, players can enter games starting at just $0.25 and going up to $1000—the highest buy-in for this format available anywhere. Notably, five of these buy-ins feature a top payout of $1 million to the winner.

Adding to its appeal, PokerStars offers a range of Spin & Go variations tailored to different player interests. These include exclusive Spins tied to the iconic Sunday Million, Power Path Step 1 for $0.50, and special editions during major tournament series such as SCOOP or WCOOP. Additionally, the operator provides unique variations like Flash Hold’em, a faster-paced version of Spins, Max Hold’em, with innovative twists, and even Omaha Spins, catering to fans of the four-card variant.

Multipliers typically range from 2x to 12,000x for most buy-ins, with some special editions offering a staggering 200,000x multiplier. Rake is competitive, varying between 5% and 8%, depending on the buy-in level. True to the LSNG format, PokerStars’ Spin & Go tournaments are three-handed, hyper-turbo games, with randomized prize pools revealed at the start. Each player begins with a 500-chip starting stack.

GGPoker: Spin & Gold

GGPoker’s Spin & Gold offers a diverse range of buy-ins, starting from just 25 cents and going up to $200. This format includes several unique features, such as an insurance option, a chess-inspired ELO rating system, challenges, and a dynamic structure that adapts based on the multiplier.

In addition to the standard 3-handed format, GGPoker also offers 6-handed games for lower and mid-range buy-ins. Many of these games feature a top payout of $1 million.

The blinds and starting stack vary depending on the multiplier, and the rake is consistently set at 7% across all buy-ins.

PartyPoker: Spins Overdrive

PartyPoker’s Spins Overdrive brings a racing-themed twist to the jackpot SNG format, offering eight buy-in levels ranging from $0.25 to $100. Among these, the $5 and $100 buy-ins provide a chance to win a top prize of $1 million. The remaining buy-ins feature a maximum multiplier of 12,000x.

A standout feature of Spins Overdrive is its dynamic structure, which adapts to the size of the prize pool. Higher multipliers result in deeper, more strategic gameplay. Payout structures are also dynamic: lower multipliers follow a winner-takes-all format, mid-tier multipliers award prizes to the top two players, and for multipliers of 25x or greater, all three players are guaranteed a share of the prize.

Adding further uniqueness, Spins Overdrive uses decimal multipliers instead of fixed values. Players might encounter multipliers like 2.65x, 4.73x, 38.75x, or even 114.25x.

The rake is competitive, with a 5% fee for higher buy-ins and 8% for lower-stakes games. PartyPoker no longer offers the Ultra variant, a faster-paced version of Spins.

WPT Global: Global Spins

WPT Global, a newcomer to the online poker scene, has introduced its own take on the lottery sit and go format with Global Spins. The game adopts the structure of other lottery sit and go games prevalent in the industry, featuring a three-handed, fast-paced format where prize pools are randomly determined at the start of each tournament. Prizes range from 2x to thousands of times the buy-in.

What sets Global Spins apart is its progressive jackpot feature. A portion of each game contributes to a growing jackpot, which continues to build until a player hits the highest multiplier.

While WPTG’s spins maintain the established format, they come with a distinctive twist — a progressive jackpot element that grows until a player hits the highest multiplier.

The format is available across six buy-ins: $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100, with each buy-in tied to its own jackpot. The rake is set at an effective 7% for all games, with an additional 1% added to the jackpot pool.

888poker: Blast

Since its debut nearly a decade ago, 888poker’s Blast has undergone several transformations. Initially launched as a 4-handed format with a 1500-chip starting stack, a fast-paced structure, and a unique all-in countdown timer, it has since shifted to align with the standard industry model.

Today, Blast features a 3-handed format with varying starting stacks and blind structures, and the countdown timer has been removed.

The game offers nine different buy-in levels, ranging from $0.10 to $100, making it particularly appealing to micro- and low-stakes players. Notably, two buy-in levels include a top prize pool of $1 million — the $1 buy-in (a rarity in the industry for such a high jackpot) and the $100 buy-in.

Rake is on the higher side, starting at 10% for lower buy-ins and dropping to approximately 6.13% for the higher stakes.

Unibet: HexaPro

Unibet may have been a late entrant to the Spins scene, launching HexaPro in 2018, but it quickly became a trendsetter. By introducing low-variance payouts, the format influenced several operators to adopt similar structures.

HexaPro is available across seven standard buy-ins, ranging from €1 to €25, alongside two High Roller editions priced at €50 and €100. The game also includes an Extreme variant, which features a faster-paced structure, shallower starting stacks, and unique payouts, including a rare 1x multiplier.

Rake is uniformly set at 6.853%, providing a consistent fee structure across all buy-ins.

Southern Europe

Nearly every operator in the segregated Southern European market offers Spins or jackpot sit and gos. This includes French operator Winamax, the originator of the format, as well as PokerStars, PartyPoker, Unibet, 888poker, and iPoker.

Winamax: Expresso

Winamax is the originator of the lottery sit and go format, laying the groundwork for what has become a mainstay in online poker. As the pioneer, Winamax continues to offer some of the best structures and buy-in options available in the Southern European market.

Players can choose from ten buy-ins, starting at €0.25 and going up to €250. Impressively, eight of these buy-ins feature a top jackpot prize pool of €1 million. For those seeking a quicker pace, the operator also offers Expresso Nitro, a streamlined version with a 300-chip starting stack and blinds increasing every minute, compared to the standard 500-chip stack and slower blind levels.

The rake is set at 7% across most levels, with a slightly higher rate of 8% for the €0.25 and €0.50 buy-ins.

Since its launch over a decade ago, Expresso has become synonymous with massive payouts, having awarded over 100 €1 million jackpots.

Spins in Live Format

The Spins format has traditionally been exclusive to online platforms, with no operator attempting a live version—until now. In 2024, PokerStars broke new ground by trialing a live version of Spins at EPT Barcelona. Following its success, the operator is set to host the Spin & Go Live Championship at EPT Prague this December.

The live version takes inspiration from the online format, featuring a fast-paced structure and randomized prize pools, while incorporating unique elements tailored for live play.

The debut championship will feature 81 players, including online qualifiers, PokerStars ambassadors, and influencers, competing for a $25,000 first-place prize from a total prize pool of $100,000. Additional mystery prizes will be distributed during Rounds 2 and 3, with $50,000 reserved for the top three players.

LSNGs Variants

Faster Variants: Nitro, Flash, and Extreme

Lottery spins also come in turbo-paced variants, offering an even faster gameplay experience. Operators like PokerStars, Winamax, and Unibet feature these quicker versions, which retain the essence of regular Spins but with reduced starting stacks of 300 chips (instead of the usual 500) and blinds that increase every minute.

The core structure remains unchanged: three-handed, winner-takes-all, on-demand sit-and-gos with randomized prize pools at the start of the game. Payout structures and rake percentages are the same as their standard counterparts.

• PokerStars: Branded as Flash Hold’em, this variant is available across nine buy-ins, ranging from $0.25 to $1000, providing a Flash option for each regular buy-in tier.
• Winamax: Known as Nitro, this version is offered at all regular buy-ins, from €0.25 to €250.
• Unibet: Dubbed HexaPro Extreme, it caters to buy-ins between €0.20 and €20.

PartyPoker previously offered a faster variant called Ultra but discontinued it in 2023.

Omaha Spins

While most Spins in the industry are offered in the No-Limit Hold’em format, two operators—PokerStars and Winamax—cater to four-card enthusiasts with Omaha Spins.

PokerStars’ Spin & Go Omaha is exclusive to the dot-com market, while Winamax offers its version to players in France and Spain. Both operators provide similar buy-in ranges, with PokerStars offering five tiers from $1 to $25, and Winamax covering a comparable spectrum.

PokerStars’ Spin & Go Omaha comes in five different buy-ins ranging from $1 to $25 while Winamax offers a similar buy-in range.

The format mirrors the standard No-Limit Hold’em Spins, featuring 3-handed gameplay, winner-takes-all payouts, and randomized prize pools. The key difference lies in the ruleset, as these games are played under Pot-Limit Omaha rules.

The Evolution of Lottery Spins

Jackpot sit & gos, commonly referred to as “Spins” today, owe much of their popularity to PokerStars, but the format originated as “Expressos” on Winamax in 2013. From these humble beginnings, the format has become a staple of online poker, rapidly spreading across the globe.

As mentioned above, lottery Spins are available in nearly every market—Asian, Europe, Latin American, and North America including both regulated and unregulated US markets. Sweepstakes poker sites, private social poker apps, and even free-to-play platforms like Zynga Poker have embraced the format.

Surprisingly, the core concept has changed very little over the years: three-handed, hyper-turbo tournaments with randomized prize pools where the winner takes all. While there have been tweaks to rake structures, buy-ins, and top prize pools, the basic formula has remained intact.

In the early years, operators experimented with variations. PartyPoker introduced a bounty variant called Sit & Go Hero, 888poker added a countdown timer feature, and the now-defunct MPN integrated progressive jackpots. However, many operators eventually returned to the original format, refining the structure and payouts instead.

The debut of Unibet’s HexaPro in 2018 sparked another evolution, inspiring several operators to adopt less top-heavy payout structures. PokerStars, Winamax, Unibet France, PartyPoker, and iPoker all followed suit, reducing pay table variance to make the games more appealing to a wider audience.

In recent years, operators have introduced even faster variants of the format. Some, like Unibet and DraftKings, have even developed standalone platforms dedicated exclusively to lottery sit & go offerings, showcasing the enduring appeal and adaptability of this format.

Spins Millionaires

Over the past decade, Spins have emerged as one of the most popular formats in online poker, with billions of games hosted across multiple platforms. PokerStars alone has facilitated nearly 2 billion Spin & Go tournaments across its global markets.

The format has also produced dozens of millionaires over the years. At Winamax, the jackpot has been hit over 100 times, typically awarding €800,000 as the first-place prize—just 20% shy of a true millionaire status.

PokerStars, however, stands out as the leader in creating actual millionaires, with nearly 50 players having won at least $1 million in a single Spin & Go. Other operators, including 888poker, have also joined the exclusive club of producing million-dollar winners.

In its 11-year history, Spins have awarded hundreds of massive jackpot prizes and turned around 50 players into instant millionaires—all from a single game.

FAQ

What are Spin and Gos or Jackpot SNGs?

Spin and Gos, also known as Jackpot Sit & Gos or Lottery Sit & Gos (LSNGs), are three-handed, fast-paced poker tournaments with a randomly determined prize pool. The unique format combines poker strategy with a lottery-like jackpot element.

How do LSNGs work?

These games use a hyper-turbo structure where players start with shallow stacks. The prize pool is determined randomly at the start, offering multipliers ranging from 2x to massive jackpots.

Why are Spins popular?

Spin and Gos appeal to both casual and professional players due to their fast gameplay, potential for life-changing payouts, and minimal time commitment compared to traditional poker tournaments.

Where did Spin and Gos originate?

Spin and Gos originated on Winamax in 2013, where they were branded as Expressos. PokerStars popularized the format under the name Spin & Go.

What is the typical buy-in range for Spin and Gos?

Buy-ins typically range from as low as $0.25 to $1000, depending on the platform and market. Many operators also offer low-stakes games for casual players.

How do prize multipliers work in LSNGs?

At the start of each game, a random prize multiplier is drawn, determining the total prize pool. Common multipliers range from 2x to 200,000x the buy-in, with the largest jackpots being rare.

What variants of Jackpot SNGs are available?

Variants include faster-paced versions like Nitro, Flash, or Extreme, as well as Pot-Limit Omaha Spins. Some platforms also offer unique twists like progressive jackpots or dynamic blind structures.

What platforms offer LSNGs in the US?

Operators like PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP, and DraftKings offer Spin and Gos in regulated US markets. Sweepstakes-based platforms like Global Poker also feature similar games.

Which platform has the highest potential jackpot?

PokerStars’ Spin & Go offers multipliers up to 200,000x, with some buy-ins featuring a top prize of $1 million or more.

How fast are Jackpot SNG games?

Games typically last just a few minutes, with hyper-turbo blind structures increasing every two to three minutes.

Are Jackpot SNGs winner-takes-all?

Most Spin and Go tournaments follow a winner-takes-all format, but some platforms share payouts for higher multipliers, rewarding all three participants.

What is the rake for spin and gos?

Rake varies by platform and buy-in level, typically ranging from 5% to 10%.

Can I play spin and gos in Michigan?

Yes, the platforms PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP, and DraftKings offer spins in Michigan.

Can I play spin and gos in New Jersey?

Yes, PokerStars, BetMGM, and WSOP provide Spin and Go games in New Jersey.

Can I play spin and gos in Pennsylvania?

Yes, Spin and Gos are available on every PA online poker site — PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP, DraftKings and BetRivers Poker all have a version of the variant.

Can I play spin and gos in Nevada?

Yes, but WSOP is currently the only operator offering Spin and Go games in Nevada.

Can you play spin and gos in Ontario?

Yes, platforms like GGPoker, PokerStars, and BetMGM offer Spin and Go-style games in the regulated Ontario market.

How are live spin and gos different?

Live versions, trialed at PokerStars events, feature a fast-paced structure similar to online games but include unique elements tailored for live play, such as mystery prizes.

What are glitch prizes in spin and gos?

BetRivers’ SNG Select feature Glitch Prizes, which are consolation rewards for players who finish in 2nd or 3rd place.

How common are the top jackpot multipliers?

Top jackpot multipliers are extremely rare, often hitting only once in a million games or more.

What buy-ins are available for beginners?

Many platforms offer low buy-ins starting at $0.25, making Spin and Gos accessible to new or casual players.

How do progressive jackpots work in spin and gos?

Global Poker has progressive jackpots, which accumulate over time. A portion of each buy-in contributes to a growing prize pool, which is awarded when the top multiplier hits.

Can you play spin and gos on sweepstakes sites?

Yes, platforms like Global Poker and Clubs Poker offer Spin and Go-style games using sweepstakes models, allowing players to win real money prizes.