Progressive Jackpots: Our Expert Guide to Jackpot Slots

Progressive jackpot slots are by far the most popular casino games in the world. The possibility to make smaller bets for a chance to win huge payouts is an opportunity that plenty of players can’t pass on, hence why millions of players try their luck at hitting progressive jackpots every day.

Whether you’re playing at a land-based casino or with an online operator, jackpots come in many different shapes and sizes. In this guide, we’ve explained what jackpots are, their variations, how they work, and how they can be won. Whether you’re an experienced slot player or a newbie, we’re sure you’ll learn something helpful by reading this page.

How Progressive Slot Machines Work

The idea behind progressive slots is that a special jackpot grows as a game is played and doesn’t stop growing until the prize is claimed. The jackpot builds by taking a portion of wagers placed on the game, so the more players that are playing it, the higher the reward grows. These games therefore act similarly to a progressive draw lottery game, such as the Powerball or Mega Millions. If nobody wins the top prize, the jackpot keeps growing. The jackpot amount is usually displayed on a meter that is clearly available to those participating in the game.

There is no standard jackpot mechanism; rather, jackpots all operate differently. Some might require players to wager the top bet to qualify to win, while others might award additional jackpot tickets the longer you play. Some games such as the Mega Moolah slot will grow as players at all online casinos stocking the game play it, so jackpots will frequently build to the multi-million dollar range. In any case, once a jackpot is won, the pot amount will reset to a predetermined amount which tends to be based on the size and popularity of a game.

Local Progressive Jackpots

Local progressive jackpots operate by assigning a jackpot to a selected number of slots at a single location. Sometimes, this jackpot may only be won by playing one game, though some casinos will use local jackpots for a number of different titles. As more games contribute to the pot, the prize tends to grow much faster.

This is the most common form of jackpot and can be found at both land-based and online casinos. In particular, Las Vegas casinos are well-known for their iconic local progressive jackpots such as the Wheel of Fortune slots. However, while these are common, they don’t offer the largest of all progressive jackpots.

Linked Progressive Jackpots

The difference between linked and local progressive slots is that linked jackpots build throughout multiple casinos. Jackpot meters are connected to one central server and build the more that players across these participating sites wager on the game. Linked jackpots are often for one game or titles from a particular software developer.

Because a larger pool of players can help grow these jackpots, they tend to offer higher prizes than local jackpots. It’s common for linked jackpots to offer millions of dollars, with the land-based Megabucks slot being a prime example of a generous ‘millionaire-maker’ jackpot game.

For now, the only states offering legal online progressive jackpots that can be played for real money are:

• New Jersey
• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

Standalone Progressive Slots

As the name suggests, standalone progressive slots utilize jackpots that build independently the more players wager on a single machine. These were among the first kinds of jackpot slots to hit the market, and nowadays, these are mostly found on video poker, money wheel, or roulette jackpot games. Due to the fact that jackpots can only be built by one player at a time, standalone jackpots tend to be much smaller than other kinds of jackpots.

Can I Play Free Slot Jackpot Games?

Although it would be nice to be able to win the jackpot on a progressive slot without making any investment, this is unfortunately not possible. That being said, you can still play free versions of jackpot slot games to test the game and its features before playing for real money. All of our trusted casino brands allow players to try out the slots for free before playing for real money. Visit the sites in order to play the demo mode.

You won’t have to look far to play some demos for the most popular real money progressive online jackpot games. We have reviewed plenty of these top games and in each case included free-play versions. Below, you can find a list of the most popular and fair progressive slot games.

In the above table, we’ve listed a number of interesting features to each popular slot that are worth considering before you choose to play slots for real money. In addition to the jackpots on offer, the games also include exciting free spins rounds and have been designed by top developers. While you won’t be able to win jackpots in free versions, the bonus features can be tested in demo rounds. Keep in mind that you will only be able to play paid versions of these games if you live in a state with legalized online casino gambling.

Are There Other Jackpot Game Types?

If you’re not interested in video slots but are still on the market to try for a huge jackpot win, you’ll be glad to know that there are several other games that offer jackpots. These can include video poker games such as Caribbean Stud, and virtual table games such as blackjack and roulette. Like progressive jackpot slots, these games may be awarded randomly to lucky players who meet the entry requirements or may be able to be entered consciously through side bets.

How to Win Progressive Slot Jackpots

If you’re looking for a guaranteed way to win progressive jackpots, you’re not going to have much luck. Any site offering advice on how to win a jackpot is probably untrustworthy, as there really is no way to tell if your slot will win, nor anyway way to influence a game to payout. Just like the lottery, the odds of winning are quite low and it all comes down to luck.

Trustworthy online casinos have been regulated to ensure that games payout at random and can’t be manipulated. That being said, there are ways to ensure that you’re qualified to win jackpots. In some cases, games will require you to bet a minimum amount to be eligible for wins. This is why you should always read the rules of the game you’re playing.

Jackpot Slot Tips

While there are no ways to manipulate games so the payout in your favor, there are still a number of things to keep in mind that will ensure your time playing progressive jackpot slots is better. Below, we’ve listed some of our top tips to boost your online gambling experience.

• Stick to a Budget – Before you start playing, set a realistic budget and stick to it. The nature of online games of chance is that they are hard to win and are geared in favor of the house. Gamble for fun, not for income.
• Test Games First – Don’t wager real money on games that you don’t yet understand or know if you like. Take a moment to test free demo versions of games so you know if it’s worth investing your time and money in.
• Only Play at Licensed Casinos – Safety, fairness, and security must come first. These can only be guaranteed if you’re playing at legal and licensed online casinos. Licensing ensures that sites have met regulations that guarantee game fairness, fast payout, and ethical business practices.
• Make Minimum Qualifying Bet – Some progressive jackpots require you to make minimum qualifying bets in order to be in the running to win the big reward. This might be the maximum possible bet in some cases, so may be out of your budget. Always check these rules before wagering.
• Check RTP – The Return to Player (RTP) can easily be translated into the fairness of a game. The higher this number is, the higher the theoretical amount that is returned to players as winnings, so always choose high RTP games.

While following these jackpot tips won’t guarantee that you’ll strike it lucky and take home the major reward, it will guarantee that you’ve got the fairest shot to win. Due to the chance-based nature of these games, the best thing you can do is make sure that you’re at least in it to win it.

Biggest Progressive Online Jackpot Wins of All Time

As the global online casino industry grows, so too do the progressive jackpots. Over the past decade, we’ve seen some of the largest wins in progressive slots online. Of these, the largest ever jackpot was won at the Paf online casino in Finland on the Mega Fortune slot by NetEnt. This was a staggering $20.8 million dollar win, and is more than double the amount of the next largest win.

As the above table shows, the jackpots have been won on several different games. Once these progressive jackpots have been won, the grand prize will be reset to a set amount and once again build the more that players invest in the games. For those who win, the amount may be paid straight away or in installments depending on how much is won. Winners may need to be verified first, although they will usually have the option to stay Anonymous.

Conclusion: Try The Best Jackpot Slots

As this guide has explored, there are many different kinds of progressive jackpot slots to be enjoyed. If you’re located in a state with legal online casino gambling, you can enjoy some top real money slots from top providers. Before you do, though, make sure you test the rules and features of each game by playing their free demos.

Frequently Asked Questions About Progressive Jackpots

Do you still have any queries about online progressive jackpots? Below, we’ve answered some common questions about these slot variants that we may not have explored in the sections above. By reading this, you can make sure that you have all the knowledge necessary before starting your online slot play.