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What Is a Progressive Slot Machine, and How to Win on Them?

Read this OddsChecker guide about the progressive slots, how they work and how you can win on them. Claim exclusive offers and win at casino slots with no deposit bonuses or free spins no deposit!
Jan 2 2025, 11:30am | 12 min read

New and long-term casino bettors may be wondering, what are progressive slot machines? Use this Oddschecker guide to learn more about this common online slot bonus.

Contents

  1. Introduction to flat top and progressive jackpots
  2. All you need to know about progressive slots
  3. How do progressive slot machines work?
  4. How do you know which slot machines are progressive?
  5. The best progressive slot machines
  6. Progressive slot machine strategy
  7. Progressive jackpot slot machines pros and cons
  8. Biggest progressive jackpot wins
  9. FAQs: progressive slot machines

Introduction to Flat Top and Progressive Jackpots  

What is a progressive slot machine? Progressive slot machines have increasing jackpots each time a player spins the reels. For each spin, the game adds to the jackpot pool. This increases until a player wins the overall prize amount.

After a player receives the jackpot prize, the progressive jackpot feature begins again and runs until another player wins. Usually, these slots start with a base jackpot, and this builds each time a bettor plays the game.

In-person casinos have used the progressive slot jackpot function for decades. However, online casinos now use the feature for modern slot games and sometimes even for video poker. Today, slot games also offer various progressive prizes, including multi-network reward pools.

New and experienced bettors looking to learn more about progressive machines can use our 'what is a progressive slot machine guide’ to identify these games.

All You Need to Know About Progressive Slots  

Progressive jackpot slot machines have been available since the 1980s. The first-ever known game to have a progressive jackpot prize pool was Megabucks, created by IGT.

Originally, in-person casinos offered jackpot slot games. Here, bettors would pay to enter the jackpot game for a chance to win. If a player did not win the bonus, their stake would be added to the prize pool.

However, the development of online casino betting since the 1990s has seen the number of progressive slot machines increase. As a result, players now have thousands of slot games they can play for jackpot prizes on desktop and mobile apps.

Generally, when you load a progressive game’s landing screen, you will see the prize amount in bold and bright colors via the jackpot meter. This shows you how much is on offer for the current jackpot pool.

Currently, progressive games are slightly different from more traditional slots as they provide a jackpot prize. In contrast, this kind of bonus is not available in non-progressive games.

With so many progressive games available at online casino sites, bettors have more choices than ever before. Players can now head to their preferred sites and make a monetary deposit to start playing progressive games.

Usually, players will have to play at real-money casinos and wager a minimum amount to be eligible for a progressive bonus. To help you with this process, head to our expert money pages for guides on how to deposit, withdraw and play slots for real money.

How Do Progressive Slot Machines Work?

The win amount of a slot machine progressive jackpot depends on how frequently bettors play the game. A higher player engagement through real-money play and free spins means a greater jackpot amount, as bets add to the overall prize fund.

Sometimes there is no upper limit to the jackpot amount, but certain slots and game developers will input a maximum winnings cap or a prize range. However, some slot game providers will offer different categories of prizes. These include minor, major and mega prizes, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars.

One of the most famous slots with tiered jackpot levels is Mega Moolah. This popular Microgaming slot has four progressive levels with set amounts for winning players.

Also, players will have to meet the slot’s set minimum wagering requirements to unlock a progressive jackpot. The game will then take a percentage of your stake and add it to the jackpot prize pool. However, the game generally only takes small contributions from your stake, often a percentage in the very low single figures.

Then, you can try to win the progressive jackpot by spinning the reels and landing on specific symbols. Alternatively, bettors might have to spin a jackpot wheel in a themed spin-off game or match wild symbols. Every progressive slot provider offers a different way to unlock the jackpot.

However, there is no exact way to win the jackpot through skill, as the winner is determined by a random number generator (RNG).

Similar to the lottery, the RNG selects a number completely at random. This number will be set when a jackpot payout is received. Due to the random nature of progressive jackpots, there are no set rules for how to win on progressive slot machines.

How Do You Know Which Slot Machines Are Progressive? 

Sometimes, figuring out what is a progressive slot machine and what is not can be confusing for new bettors. However, there are some clear signs on slot machines to identify progressive games.

First, some games will state that there is a slot machine progressive jackpot option via online subscription. Online casinos often provide a short overview of the slot game to give bettors a quick guide on the key themes, bonuses and gameplay features. Here, you can view bonus details, such as whether a game has a progressive prize.

Second, you can usually filter slot games by their bonuses and features at online casinos. Many casino lobby platforms offer a filter section where you can tick your preferences for gameplay and bonuses. Use this to identify which betting site games offer progressive prize pools.

Some slots have a similar word to ‘progressive’ to indicate that they offer a progressive prize. For instance, games such as IGT’s Fortune Coin or Cash Eruption show that an additional jackpot prize is on offer. Try to locate trigger words in game titles, such as ‘jackpot’, ‘progressive’, ‘mega’ or similar.

However, such information isn’t always clear. As a result, you may have to check the game’s description or settings to double-check whether or not it has a progressive feature.

Overall, online and mobile slots have completely different game rules, features, themes and gameplay. Head to our other casino guide chapters for further guidance on how to identify your preferred slot games and discover more about different slot bonuses.

Types of Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpot slot machines may seem similar as they offer prize pool rewards. However, many different types of progressive casino games exist, such as standalone progressives, linked progressive games and network progressives.

The progressive jackpot reward option began with a simple standalone option in the Megabucks in-person slot. This prize pool was limited to just one slot game and the jackpot would reset once somebody won it.

However, the expansion of online casino betting allowed iGaming developers to offer jackpots across multiple games. Similarly, online casinos and brands sometimes offer massive progressive jackpots that span across different sites and slots.

Ultimately, it’s important to know the difference between different progressive slot jackpots. You can pick the games and prize pool sizes that suit your gaming preferences and bankroll with this information. Also, you can use information about different jackpot rewards to form an effective progressive slot strategy.

Discover the need-to-know details and differences between the various slot machine progressive jackpot options here:

  • Standalone progressive jackpots: A jackpot that is specific to a single game or slot. It has no links to other ‘networks’ and is often smaller in size, but a player can have higher odds of winning.
  • Linked progressive games: A shared jackpot between multiple slot games. The collective prize pot grows each time a player bets on a single game. Linked progressives often have higher numbers due to multiple pools combining.
  • Network progressive slots: Also called ‘wide-area’ jackpots, these progressive pools are linked to multiple casinos or game providers. These progressives gather a pool from many different games and usually create the biggest prize fund.
  • Timed jackpots: Some games offer a timed jackpot, such as a daily or weekly reward. Here, players can try to win the prize pot at a certain time of day.

The Best Progressive Slot Machines  

At present, the best progressive slot machines stand out above their competitors for several reasons.

Some games have a variety of jackpot prizes, rather than one overall pool. These slots offer different bonus levels for varying stakes. For example, Divine Fortune has a minor, mega and major jackpot offer, which provides different payouts for smaller or larger stakes.

Also, some online slots have different ways for players to try to win the jackpot reward. These options include matching wild symbols on particular reels, matching symbols in spin-off bonus games, and spinning special jackpot wheels.

Wolf Gold is a slot game from Playtech that offers the jackpot wheel function. The game randomly launches the wheel feature during the base play. Then, bettors can spin to win one of the four tiered jackpot prizes.

Progressive slots have some similar and different features. However, the best way to see if a game suits your requirements is to test it. Currently, you can try many progressive slots at social casinos. Explore free-to-play slots at these sites to see what option is best for your betting needs.

Below, you can view a list of progressive slot machines that have a jackpot feature. In addition, you can discover more about these slots and other games in our slot reviews section:

  • Sweet Bonanza
  • Hypernova Megaways
  • Almighty Buffalo

Progressive Slot Machine Strategy  

When you feel comfortable that you know what a progressive slot machine is and how to use it, you can consider using one or two betting strategies.

Unlike other online casino games and sports betting, however, a progressive game strategy is harder to implement. The RNG system means that the element of luck is always in play for jackpot-style games. Essentially, they are similar in setup to a lottery system, where a bettor purchases a ticket in the hope of finding winning numbers.

Nonetheless, you can still commit to a progressive slot machine strategy to make knowledgeable and considered decisions. Ultimately, sticking to one or two of the tactics listed below can limit spontaneous and poorly thought-out gambling decisions for progressive jackpot games:

  1. Don’t always go for the huge jackpots: Many bettors look at the largest jackpot prizes and try to commit to winning larger rewards. However, small, standalone progressives often have a lower payout rate with more frequent prizes available.
  2. Look at the minimum wagering requirements: Generally, slot games have minimum bet amounts to unlock the jackpot reward. Always view the slots’ settings and paytable before playing for real money.
  3. Set a bankroll: Before betting, review your bankroll and set a limit on how much you can spend. Avoid committing too much money or time chasing a slots jackpot on progressive games and stick to your budget.
  4. Learn the game rules: Players can become familiar with a progressive slot’s rules by checking the settings. Also, you can view the rules on how to unlock the jackpot and any key symbols that contribute to the jackpot. Try the free-to-play demo versions before playing slots for real money to understand the game.

Progressive Jackpot Slot Machines Pros and Cons  

Overall, there are several pros and cons to playing progressive machines online.

Some of the positives include potentially substantial prizes for low stakes. Also, slot creators often include creative bonus games to add an interactive element to progressive jackpots.

However, there are also downsides. For instance, progressive jackpots rely on the RNG function, which adds a large element of luck to winning the prize pool. Also, the RTP (Return to Player) amount can vary hugely between slot games.

Before you commit to playing a game for real money, balance the pros and cons to judge whether a progressive slot is right for you. Below, you can view some of the pros and cons of slot machine progressive jackpot games:

ProsCons
Regular five to six-figure jackpots are available.Wagering requirements can be high to unlock progressive jackpot games.
Engaging bonus games and themed symbols are used in jackpot gameplay.Larger jackpots are paid out less frequently.
Linked and network progressive slots offer a social gaming experience.The RNG system leaves a large element of chance to win.

Biggest Progressive Jackpot Wins 

Plenty of significant jackpot wins have taken place since progressive slots came into operation in the 1980s. One of the largest-ever in-person wins came from the pioneering Megabucks IGT game in 2003 when a player won over $39m.

Moreover, the growing size of huge jackpot pools at online casinos has led to increasing win sizes in the 21st century. Some of the most recent progressive jackpot wins have climbed into eight-figure sums, while Mega Moolah has produced several sizable payouts in recent years.

Here are some of the largest online progressive jackpot payouts to date: 

Slot GamePrize AmountYear Won
WowPot Mega£42,149,1802023
Mega Moolah$20,057,7342019
Mega Moolah€19,429,3582021
Mega Moolah€18,915,7212018
WowPot Mega£15,183,0852021

FAQs: Progressive Slot Machines 

What triggers a progressive jackpot? 

Players can win a progressive jackpot by matching symbols on the reels or by winning a bonus game. The ways to win the jackpot will be different depending on the slot, its gameplay and themes. Also, all progressive jackpot rewards are determined by the RNG. As a result, there is an element of luck involved in winning a progressive slot jackpot.

What is the difference between a progressive and a regular slot machine? 

Ultimately, the only difference between progressive and non-progressive slots is the potential jackpot prize. Many slots have similar themes, gameplay features and bonuses. However, progressive casino games offer bonus prize pools.

How does the progressive aspect work on slot machines? 

Online slots with progressive features will have a jackpot pool. This grows each time a bettor spins the reels as a percentage of their stake is added to the pool. The prize amount will keep rising until someone wins. Many games have a base amount that the jackpot grows from, whereas others start from zero.

How often do progressive slots pay out? 

Slot machines will have different payout rates for progressive jackpots. Generally, the higher the amount, the lower the odds you have of winning the prize pool. However, there is no set payout rate in progressive slots. Games rely on the RNG system to offer rewards, which means that there is a strong element of chance when it comes to winning a progressive prize. 

Other Slots Guide Chapters   

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