About Progressive Jackpot Slots
Progressive jackpot slots are by far one of the most popular casino games. Why? Because you can win millions without spending a fortune.
The most popular jackpot games online are available at dozens of casinos across the globe. Not only is it easy to enjoy these incredible games anywhere, but you also have your pick of great casinos to play at.
Thousands of players from around the world can play the same progressive jackpot slot and contribute to the prize pool at the same time. Take a look at our jackpot tracker above and watch the prizes skyrocket right before your eyes.
Of course, even the most colossal progressive jackpots don’t grow forever. Eventually, one lucky player manages to win big, and it could be you! If you need a little inspiration to get started, you can browse our list of the largest progressive slot jackpots, or have a look at the biggest jackpot wins of all time.
Below you can see combined progressive jackpot stats for all the jackpots we’re currently tracking.
Tips to Win Progressive Slot Machines
The outcome of a progressive jackpot slot is determined by a Random Number Generator so unfortunately, there is no secret strategy that will increase the odds of winning. However, it’s worth keeping an eye on the prize pots for different slots and avoiding those that have been won recently. We’ve also gathered our expert’s top five tips on how to play progressive slots.
1 of 5
When you play any casino game the best tip is to decide on a budget before you begin.
Then stick to it. You don’t want to risk betting money you don’t have.
2
Bet enough to be eligible for the jackpot
Some progressive jackpots have a minimum bet to be able to qualify for the jackpot.
Make sure you bet enough – but still within your budget – to be eligible.
3
Decide what you’re going for
The way you bet will change depending on whether you’re playing for one big win or several smaller wins, so decide what type of win you want before you place a bet. Sometimes it might be more lucrative to go for the smaller wins – and win several times.
Know which game to play and how to play it. Find out which jackpot is about to drop
and make sure you know the rules of the slot game. You don’t want to spend your cash on
a slot machine that just paid out the biggest win.
5
Determine the volatility of slots
Basically, understand the risk involved in playing the specific game. Volatility is
about when you’re expected to win, and how often.
The odds of winning a progressive jackpot
The chance of winning the jackpot depends on
which slot you’re playing. To calculate the odds of
winning, you will have to look at how many reels the slot game has and how many
symbols are on each reel. You will also need to take into account how the
progressive jackpot is triggered.
Keep in mind that all progressive slot games rely on a random number generator, but by
calculating these three things, you could get an understanding of the odds of winning the
jackpot.
How are progressive jackpots paid?
While many large jackpots are paid in annual instalments, spread out over a
decade or more, some prizes including Microgaming’s Mega
Moolah jackpot will be paid promptly in one lump sum.
If you happen to win a smaller sum, you can expect your winnings to be credited to your
casino account instantly. Yet progressive jackpot winners who secure a record-shattering
prize are more likely to be paid by courier, bank transfer, or in person within a matter
of days. Don’t be surprised if the casino asks you to pose with a novelty-sized check.
The Biggest Jackpot Wins of All Time
When you play a progressive jackpot slot online, the aim is to hit that big jackpot win. There have been several of these over the years. Below you can see the biggest jackpot wins of all time and some fun facts.
- The top-paying progressive jackpot is Mega Moolah
- There was a slot machine in Las Vegas that didn’t hit for over 20 years
- Mega Moolah is often referred to as the “Million Maker”
- One of the biggest winners played on mobile when he won the jackpot
Different types of Jackpots
When you play at real money casinos you might come across four different types of
jackpots. Each of these types will help determine the size and frequency of the jackpot payout as well as
which players contribute to the prize pot.
Progressive Jackpot FAQs
What are progressive slots? Progressive slots are like normal slot games but with one massive difference, there's a huge jackpot up for grabs. You can win millions on one spin of the reels and it's this giant jackpot potential that makes progressive slots such a hit with players at both land-based and online casinos.
How do progressive jackpots work? All progressive jackpot slots work in a similar way to one another. Every time any player clicks ‘spin', a percentage of their stake goes into the jackpot pool. The progressive jackpot carries on growing, getting bigger and bigger, until one lucky player wins it.
How you actually win the jackpot can vary from game to game but most slots have a special Jackpot Bonus Game where your progressive jackpot win will be revealed.
How do you play a slot machine? Playing progressive slots is identical to playing normal, non-jackpot slots. All you have to do is select how many lines you want to bet on, what your bet will be and then spin the reels.
Jackpot Bonus Games also work like most other bonus games and you will usually have to spin a wheel or ‘click and pick' to see what you've won.
Are they better than standard slot games? If you're looking to win big, then yes. Standard slots have the potential to payout tens of thousands of pounds in winnings but progressive jackpot slots regularly pay out over £5 million.
Progressive slots offer you the chance to win a life-changing amount of cash in a matter of seconds, whereas a standard slot only gives you the chance to win a maximum prize of up to 100,000x your bet.
What are the odds like? The odds of winning on a progressive slot are pretty much the same as the odds of winning the lottery but the big difference is that you have way more chances to hit a progressive slot jackpot.
That's because of the amount of spins you can take during a gaming session. Unlike the lottery where you buy a ticket (or maybe 10 if you're really serious), in a progressive slot you can fit hundreds of spins into an hour and that means hundreds of unique opportunities to pocket a fortune.
Which games are better or more popular? Without a doubt, the most popular online progressive slot game is Mega Moolah. The slot is made by the Microgaming software company and offers the largest jackpot in the world.
Microgaming and NetEnt software have a whole host of different jackpot slots and they're all well-known for paying out record breaking amounts of cash. If you look at the list of the biggest jackpot payouts above, you'll notice that all of them are produced by either NetEnt or Microgaming.
What are the biggest jackpots?
The Mega Moolah progressive slot has four jackpots attached to it and the biggest
one, the Mega jackpot, is the largest and has previously grown to over £13 million.
The Mega Fortune jackpot slot has 3 progressive jackpots. The largest one has previously
climbed as high as €17.8 million.
The Arabian Nights progressive slot from NetEnt has also be known to payout more than €8
million.
How often do progressive jackpots hit? It depends on the game. Some hit as frequently as weekly, while others could be less than once a year. Check our jackpot tracker at the top of the page to see how often the average hit is and whether a game is hot or cold.
How do I win at slot machines? There is no magic formula for winning a progressive slot jackpot, all you need is luck and determination.
Whenever you play any kind of slot game there is no guarantee of winning but with a progressive slot, when the win comes it could be really huge. Remember that the more spins you take, the more chances you'll have to scoop those millions for yourself!
Are there free progressive slots? Yes, but you won’t win any real money - the reward will likely be coins for further play. Still, free slots are a great way to try a game out before committing to it and betting your own hard-earned cash. Visit our free slots page to find the best games for you.
