THE BASICS OF A PROGRESSIVE SLOT MACHINE
Progressive slots have bonus features such as featured wilds, respins, free spins bonuses, bonus games, and a diverse array of themes. In fact, when you play progressive jackpot slots, you will spend most of your time landing base game combination wins as well as feature wins from bonus rounds. Moreover, whether you win or lose is entirely random, thanks to the random number generator (RNG).
However, there is a key feature that separates progressive slots into their own niche. That is, they come with a jackpot(s) feature separate from the rest of the game. These jackpots grow larger each time a player places real money bets, and with every bet, there is an equal chance as the last that a spin could produce a jackpot win.
In reality, the chances of landing the main jackpot on progressive slots are pretty low. That said, with millions of Euros or Dollars at stake, they are worthwhile because there is always the possibility that you could strike it rich. Think of it like playing the lottery. Although, you have a better chance of winning a life-changing win playing at a casino.
HOW PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS WORK
Progressive jackpots work by taking a small percentage of every bet and placing it in a single jackpot or sharing it between multiple jackpots. Somewhere on the progressive game, you will see a counter that shows the current level of the one or multiple progressive jackpots. The jackpots continue to grow with every bet and can grow to tens of millions in some cases. This continues until a lucky winner claims the jackpot. At this point, the jackpot resets back to its seed amount (covered by the developer).
As for how progressive jackpots trigger, this depends on the game/network. Some online slots with his type of jackpot will just trigger the jackpot randomly on any spin. In other slots, you might have to land a particular winning combination of symbols to trigger the jackpot win. Alternatively, the slot might randomly trigger a progressive jackpot game that gives you a chance to win one of the jackpots.
To create a random jackpot win, a progressive online slot uses an RNG that randomly decides it is time to drop in the win on an active player. Consequently, the player wins merely for spinning the reels. In short, it is pure luck and simply a case of being in the right place at the right time.
STANDARD VS. PROGRESSIVE SLOTS
If you have seen progressive jackpots in slots at a land-based casino in Las Vegas or at online casinos, you will know these give you the just to win some big bucks. In fact, the very reason these are some of the most popular casino games around is that players have the chance to win a progressive jackpot.
When it comes to looks, themes, graphics, animations and gameplay, progressive jackpot slots online have many of the same gameplay traits. However, there are a few key differences between the two, which have been outlined below.
- Higher Win Potential: Naturally, progressive slots have a higher win potential because of their high online casino jackpot payouts. Although they have a max win applied to their standard gameplay, it does not apply to the progressive jackpot feature.
- No Progressive Feature: Progressive slots are the host to 1 or multiple progressive online jackpots. Although, you may hear some players refer to the max win on standard game titles as winning the jackpot. However, this is not strictly correct in the world of iGaming terminology. It is simply maxing out the win potential.
- Lower Theoretical RTP: The theoretical return to player (RTP), when you play jackpot games online, is often lower. This is because a portion of each bet feeds the progressive jackpot meter.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF JACKPOTS
While progressive jackpots may look and play similarly, there are some differences to look out for. Some may have a standalone jackpot, others might have a shared jackpot with other jackpot games, and they will also differ in how they trigger the jackpots.
- Progressive Jackpots: Progressive slot jackpots never stop growing. Each time a casino player places a bet on the game title, a percentage of the bet contributes towards the progressive jackpot(s). That percentage does not change whether you play using the minimum or maximum bet. A good example is every bet placed on the Age of the Gods network contributes 0.99%. On Mega Moolah and WowPot networks, the percentage is 5.30%. When the jackpots pay, they reset to a seed amount. The Ultimate Power Jackpot on Age of the Gods seeds at € 100,000, while Mega Moolah resets at € 2 million.
- Non-Progressive Slots (Fixed) Jackpots: Playson Hold and Wins, as well as Microgaming Link & Wins ‘or’ Amazing Links, are perhaps the most popular fixed jackpot series. To win, you’ll need to trigger a feature, usually respins via collecting coins. For example, Playson’s popular Wolf Power Hold & Win title has ‘Grand’, ‘Major’, ‘Minor’ and ‘Mini’ fixed jackpots that pay 500x, 150x, 50x or 20x your spin bet, respectively. You can win the prized spin bet multipliers by landing ‘Grand’, ‘Major’, ‘Minor’ and ‘Mini’ symbols during a respins feature.
- Win via a Trigger: Triggered wins come with many different types of jackpot triggers. Some online slots require a spin to line up a symbol combination win on a certain pay line. Others will trigger the win via collecting symbols, via respins or through a bonus round. Also, you will find certain software providers stick to a certain bonus game. For instance, Microgaming progressive slots generally use a wheel of fortune or trial map.
- Random Wins: The Red Tiger Gaming casino brand is the perfect example of random progressive slot jackpot wins. As long as you are playing a game within the pooled network, the progressive jackpot could drop in on any spin out of the blue with no trigger required.
The Most Popular Progressive Jackpot Networks
As mentioned, a progressive jackpot network is pooled and therefore takes a small contribution from every bet placed on video slots on the network at every virtual casino it features. Therefore, a player playing the same progressive jackpot slot at Woo Casino in Canada contributes to the jackpot in the same way that a UK player does when enjoying a few spins at LeoVegas Casino. They both contribute to the same jackpot.
This pooled nature allows jackpots to grow to life-changing sums of money. We're not just talking millions, or even a few million, as some of these jackpots have paid €20 million.
Mega Moolah (Microgaming/Games Global)
Launched in 2006 as a standalone 5-reel, 25-pay line progressive video slot, Mega Moolah has since developed one of the biggest progressive jackpot networks boasting close to 20 titles, including a jackpot table game (Mega Moolah Roulette).
This network has 4 jackpots - the Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega. The latter is the attention-grabbing jackpot as it seeds at €1 million and is responsible for numerous 7 and even 8-figure payouts. Many of those have made their way into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest online jackpot payouts of all time.
Top Mega Moolah Jackpot Slots:
WowPot (Microgaming/Games Global)
Arguably the biggest competitor to the above jackpot, the WowPot also came from Microgaming. Like its older brother, the WowPot has been responsible for some of the biggest jackpots recorded online.
The WowPot differs from the Mega Moolah for one simple reason: it seeds at €2 million, double the €1 million of the former. Aside from that, it is very similar as it also has four progressive jackpots and online slot games featuring lucrative bonus features.
Life for the WowPot network began in 2020 with the launch of Wheel of Wishes, but since then, a conveyor belt of titles has since been added. It currently sits at about half the size of the Mega Moolah jackpot network with 9 titles.
Top WowPot Progressive Jackpot Slots:
- Sherlock & Moriarty: WowPot
- Book of Atem: WowPot
- Ancient Fortunes™: Poseidon WowPot Megaways
Age of the Gods (Playtech)
Playtech's Age of the Gods is one of the best progressive jackpots around, and for many, it is better than both the WowPot and Mega Moolah. That is subjective, but those fighting the corner of AOTG like the diversity afforded.
You can compete for the AOTG Ultimate Power jackpot and the smaller Power, Extra Power, and Super Power jackpots across video slots, live casino games, a live slot, and a virtual Spin-a-Win game.
Another reason for the popularity of this network is the frequency it usually pays out. While the jackpots are often smaller in comparison to the two aforementioned jackpot networks, on average, you do not have to wait nearly as long for a winner to get lucky.
Top Age of the Gods Jackpot Casino Games:
- Age of the Gods
- Age of the Gods: God of Storms Live
- Age of the Gods: North Ways of Thunder
Other Popular Progressive Jackpot Networks
A progressive jackpot network to keep an eye out for is the Dream Drop Jackpot from Relax Gaming. This developer never hangs around when it comes to slot development, and since launching the Dream Drop in 2022, the company has released close to 20 casino games featuring the Dream Drop.
This progressive jackpot works differently from those mentioned above. It boasts five jackpots, the Rapid, Midi, Maxi, Major, and Mega. Every second time the latter pays, its 'Must-Win' level increases by €500k. This continues until that level reaches €10 million.
Other Jackpot Networks of note:
- Jackpot King (BluePrint Gaming)
- MegaJackpots
Most Popular Standalone Progressive Slots
A standalone progressive slot does what it says on the tin. Rather than many jackpot slot games contributing to a prize pool, this is a standalone title that has a local shared jackpot. Only spins on that title will contribute to the jackpot.
Of course, it still means that other players contribute to a prize pool when they play, while in many cases, this standalone jackpot extends to all instances of the games at other casinos around the world. Each is hoping that within the next few spins, they can claim the mega prize built up with the help of thousands/millions of others.
Below are just some of the best standalone progressive jackpot video slots:
- Hall of Gods
- Mega Fortune
- Jackpot Giant
- Gladiator
- Major Millions
- King Cashalot
- Aztec's Millions
- Everybody's Jackpot (slot version)
THE BIGGEST JACKPOT WINS
Microgaming’s Mega Moolah is the long-time reigning champion of progressive online jackpots. It is in the Guinness Records for the highest progressive slots payouts in casino history. In the past two years, Mega Moolah titles have paid out huge progressive jackpot slot wins totaling close to €100 million.
Within those wins are a €19,430,723.60 Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah win in April 2021 and an €18,915,872.81 win on the Mega Moolah (original) progressive slot game. Before that, the long-time Guinness Book of Records win was a Mega Moolah slot machine payout of €17,886,199.18 windfall paid to a mobile player in October 2015. In 2023 alone, the Mega jackpot paid out twice in the first few months totaling close to €20 million, and there are still 7 months to go til the end of the year.
The only progressive jackpot slots online to come close to Mega Moolah is the WowPot network’s Book of Atem. In April 2021, it paid out twice, the first of which was a stunning £15,183,085 jackpot prize. Since then, it has paid out a further three times, the biggest of which was a £14,131,495 win. And, the WowPot is now going to become the Guinness Book of Records holder as the current jackpot sits at £25 million. How big it will grow before it is won is anybody's guess, but it will become the largest slot jackpot ever won when it does.
The same network has also dropped 3 other million Euro wins since it came online in February 2021. Outside of Microgaming’s jackpot networks, the Age of the Gods progressive jackpot is extremely popular. It pays €500,000 wins at an average rate of around 35 days.
As for the highest-paying stand-alone progressive slots, Jackpot Giant by Playtech dished out €10,710,470 in 2018. As for its average payout, it pays around €6 million 2 to 3 times per year.
TIPS TO WIN PROGRESSIVE SLOT MACHINES
The best way to give yourself a chance to win millions is to only play progressive slots. However, this also means you cannot play using bonus money because most casinos exclude these games from bonus money bets. Aside from this, here are the best progressive slots tips:
- Understand the Game Rules: If you want the best chance to win the grand prize on a progressive jackpot slot game, you first need to understand how the game plays. How do you trigger/win the progressive jackpot? Are there additional features you should know about? To get an idea, you can read the rules or, better yet, play free progressive slots before risking your money. You cannot win the jackpot (except in free chips), but you can get a feel for the slot games.
- Knowing when to play: Playing progressive jackpot slot machines immediately after the jackpot drops, in general, is not the best time to play. The number of times progressive slots pay out the highest jackpot win twice in a short space of time is extremely rare. That said, last year, there were two WowPot progressive jackpot wins at two different online casino brands in the space of a week. The best way to know when a jackpot has recently paid out is to use an online jackpot tracker.
- Play progressive slots networks: Some people prefer to play on progressive slots that are part of a pooled network. Why? Because the network pools together the contributions from multiple game titles. The more money being pumped into the jackpot, the theory is the faster it will pay, the odds of winning increase, and the higher the jackpot pays will be. Red Tiger Gaming’s hourly, daily and big jackpot slots, Mega Moolah (Microgaming), WowPot (Microgaming), Jackpot King (Blueprint) and Age of the Gods (Playtech) record the most jackpot wins online, and that’s because each network has between 10 and up to 25 games.
- Play on multi-jackpot games: Some of the best progressive jackpots, for example, Mega Moolah, have four jackpots. On average, its Mega’, ‘Major’, ‘Minor’ and ‘Mini’ progressive jackpots drop every 40 days, 20 hours, 1 minute and 20 seconds with an average win of €4.7 million, €114,000, €844 and €110, respectively. That means every 1 minute, there is a chance you could win the ‘Mini’ progressive slots feature.
Although the above tips will aid your chances, never play online progressive jackpot games expecting to win. As with all other casino games, there is no way to improve your odds of winning, as the results are determined by an RNG.
Also, never play with money you cannot afford to lose. All casino games are for entertainment with a chance of winning money and not meant as a way to make money - the casinos have a house edge, which always puts you at a disadvantage.
HOW ARE PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS PAID?
If you land a million Euros/Dollars win playing progressive slots, the software provider will pay you your win. You can choose a lump sum payment, which could incur taxes, or you can set up a payment plan. The payment plan option delivers winnings in monthly, quarterly, six monthly or yearly installments. The choice is down to your personal preference. Consequently, jackpot wins bypass the casino’s maximum withdrawal limits.
As for lower wins, whether the game developer or the casino pays you, it is down to the size of your win. Generally speaking, if you win €-£-$10,000 or above, you can request the software provider to pay. For any amount below this, the casino will credit your balance. Most online casinos’ maximum monthly withdrawal limit is above €-£-$10,000.
To clarify, progressive jackpot slots online do not pay out in bonus money. Therefore, there are never wagering requirements attached, nor should there be. The money is yours to keep, withdraw, or play more games at the casino as you see fit.
PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about progressive slots:
How can I win playing progressive slots?
Progressive slots play out in the same way as other similar online casino game titles that do not have a jackpot feature. These games come with free spins, bonus rounds, and other special features where you’ll land nearly all your wins. Aside from this, to land a big jackpot win, you have to be in it to win it. The odds of winning are slim, so treat it as similar to playing the lottery, except in most cases, you have a higher chance of winning big playing at the casino.
Are fixed jackpots or progressive slots more lucrative?
In almost all cases, progressive slots are more lucrative in terms of the size of the jackpot win because it is always far larger. However, non-progressive games are perhaps the more lucrative in the short term because the RTPs are generally higher, and you stand a higher chance of hitting the featured fixed multipliers.
How does a progressive slots jackpot work?
The jackpot takes a percentage of your bet to contribute to the jackpot feature. With every bet made, whether at the same casino or another, the counter will continue to rise. That means the more popular the game is, the more players are there betting real money, and thus, the higher the jackpot payout will become. Most jackpots do not have a maximum amount they can reach as well, which means there is the possibility of huge jackpot wins.
How often do most progressive jackpots drop in a win?
There are several factors to consider. Some online casino game titles like Mega Moolah come with four jackpots. One of the Mega Moolah counters is the ‘mini’, which pays out every 20 seconds, while the top counter, ‘Major’, displays millions of Euros or Dollars and pays out a millionaire’s windfall every 30 to 40 days. This is because it is a networked jackpot system with multiple slots. On the other hand, standalone versions pay out their big wins far less often. This is usually around two or three times per year.
Can I play demo versions of progressive slots for free?
Yes. Almost all progressive slots come with a demo version with free demo money used. Online casinos offer these demos to give players a chance to play and learn casino games before committing real money.
How can I claim a casino bonus to play progressive jackpot games?
Most online casino brands exclude jackpot game titles from their bonus money bets. To be sure, check the casino’s bonus T&Cs.
Where can I play progressive jackpot slots?
Most of the best online casinos will feature the best progressive jackpot slots. Some will give you access to networks such as the Mega Moolah, Age of the Gods, WowPot, MegaJackpots, Dream Drop, Jackpot King, or others. On top of that, multiple casinos will also feature standalone progressive slots from Microgaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, Red Tiger Gaming, and many other developers.
