What Are Progressive Jackpots?
Progressive jackpots are available at lotteries, slots, and other casino games that offer a cumulative jackpot prize. Online casinos have various progressive slots, each providing different ways to win a jackpot.
The prize pool of a progressive jackpot might accumulate into a four-or-five-figure standalone jackpot, while a local jackpot for 88 Fortunes or MGM Grand Millions could reach six and seven figures.
We’ll examine how to win progressive jackpots at slots and other online casino games, the odds of winning, and more.
HOW PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS WORK
A progressive jackpot offers prizes at slots, lotteries, and even blackjack and roulette. Players contribute a small percentage of their wagers to progressive jackpots that build upon seed money set by the casino or lottery.
The casino may also work with a game supplier to establish random number generators (RNGs) that reflect the chances of winning a progressive jackpot.
Players may need to bet the maximum stake or trigger a bonus round to win a prize. Other ways of winning at progressive slots may include a randomly triggered prize or activating special symbols on a particular payline.
Some progressive slots offer smaller prizes (Mini, Minor, and Major), and a Grand or Mega prize.
THE CHANCES BEHIND PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
The chances of winning at progressive slots may vary by game rules or factors such as bet amounts, return-to-player (RTP) percentages, and RNGs.
For example, the base game for MGM Grand Millions has an RTP of 91.81%. The jackpot contribution/RTP is 3.004%. A random event determines the odds of winning the 'Big One.'
Triggering the progressive jackpot game at MGM Grand Millions causes five differently valued jackpots to appear by color on a wheel. After clicking the SPIN button, a player wins the respective jackpot.
The Big One gets organized by a ‘current instance pool’ with a separate pot for a ‘reserve pool.’ The five prizes have an initial seed between $40 and $1 million, different contribution rates (between 0.015% and 1.25%), and an equal probability of winning.
While players can trigger any jackpot randomly across all bets, the chances of winning increase with more wagers. Players can also win multiple prizes simultaneously based on the spins awarded per the jackpot screen. The odds of winning are relative to the jackpot RTP of 3.004%.
The RTP of any slot (including progressives) represents the chances of winning over millions of spins.
HOW TO WIN PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
There are several different ways to win an accumulating jackpot at slots, some of which may overlap.
For the top prize, you might have to wager the maximum bet and trigger a specific payline.
MAXIMUM STAKES
Some progressive slots require players to wager the maximum amount for any chance at a jackpot. One progressive slot might allow players to win multiple prizes, while another may offer only the biggest jackpot from a max bet.
As a standard slot at most online casinos, the Black Diamond series from Everi requires max bets for Minor and Major progressive prizes.
BONUS ROUNDS
Some progressive slots require players to activate a bonus game for a chance at the jackpot. Divine Fortune is one of the most popular casino games at online casinos, and it requires a randomly triggered bonus game to give you a chance at the progressive jackpot.
Three or more bonus symbols trigger a Jackpot Bonus. While Minor and Major jackpots award a fixed jackpot, filling three rows with bonus symbols awards players a Mega progressive jackpot.
RANDOM WINS
Most progressive slots offer random wins, which includes the largest jackpot payout. For the progressive jackpot slot game Diamond Cash: Almighty Wolf, six or more Diamond symbols anywhere on the screen trigger a Diamond Cash™ Jackpot Feature.
There are four jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major, and a Grand Jackpot. Filling up the screen with Diamonds on the Jackpot Feature awards the largest jackpot payout—triggered randomly.
MGM Grand Millions offers another style of random win jackpots. Players can trigger the Big One Jackpot anytime in the main game or from in-game features.
SYMBOL COMBOS
A progressive jackpot slot that requires a winning combination of symbols is often random. In Almighty Buffalo Megaways Jackpot Royale, four Jackpot Royale symbols in the top reels activate the Jackpot Royale Bonus. Players get access to the Jackpot Royale System on any game or wager.
Fifteen or more Jackpot Royale symbols trigger a Wheel King feature, which provides access to a progressive jackpot. As the jackpot increases, players get better chances of winning.
As another example, the MegaJackpots Progressive in MegaJackpots Wolf Run requires 20 MegaJackpots symbols in all reel positions. There’s also a “Second Chance” opportunity, accumulating from every spin that doesn't award a jackpot.
The odds of winning the MegaJackpots Progressive increase with higher bets, creating a progressive slot game that offers a unique blend of triggering a progressive jackpot based on symbol combos.
THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR
All slot machines contain a random number generator (RNG). Software providers may reflect their RNGs through payouts, Scatters, Wilds, Free Spins, and multipliers.
Slots under the Megaways moniker from Big Time Gaming offer another example of how an RNG works by randomizing how many symbols appear on each reel per spin.
For example, the six-reel Bonanza slot game offers up to 117,649 ways to win on every spin in the main game. DraftKings includes Bonanza among their 105 New Jersey Single Level Progressive Jackpots—triggered anytime at random.
Any progressive slot offers an RNG that reflects its volatility and RTP. RNGs at progressive slots represent how a software provider uses creativity for an exciting user experience.
Check the terms and conditions on progressive jackpots to see if they mention RNGs for how their games payout for a random prize.
JACKPOTS THAT ARE MUST-DROP
Must-drop progressive slots might come with a deadline for their jackpots. Online casinos and software providers can also set a particular jackpot amount for progressive games.
DraftKings offers a category for ‘Must Hit By’ Jackpots. Players can opt in and make a designated contribution ($0.25). Jackpots may get triggered by an independent RNG or a player's contribution that raises the pool to or past a set amount ($20,000) for dozens of linked games.
If all of this sounds foreign to you, you might need to brush up on the basics—see our guide on how to play online slots for more info.
TYPES OF PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOT GAMES
Just like there are different ways of winning progressive jackpots, there are also various types. Here are the main categories of online progressive jackpots and those at brick-and-mortar casinos.
LOCAL JACKPOTS
Local jackpots offer the same prize pool to players at a casino across multiple machines.
The same jackpot may be available at multiple casinos, such as BetMGM, Borgata, and PartyCasino. However, players contribute a small percentage to an in-house or local jackpot.
STANDALONE JACKPOT SLOTS
Standalone jackpot slots offer progressives with less competition and fewer players.
The jackpot is only available at one slot machine. These slots typically offer the lowest payouts for any progressive slot game.
NETWORK PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS
Network progressive slots offer the same prize pool to players at various casinos from different companies. These slot networks generally offer a significant jackpot amount with a maximum number of players.
For example, Wheel of Fortune-themed slots offer the same progressive jackpots at the Caesars Palace Online Casino and DraftKings for over $1.4 million.
RTP FOR PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
The RTP averages for progressive jackpots work similarly to slot machines or table games. Games with lower RTPs pay out less frequently with higher payouts, while games with higher RTPs may pay out more often but in smaller amounts.
At over $4.5 million, the MGM Grand Millions—part of the 'Big Series' of slots—offers one of the highest payouts in the online casino industry. However, its extremely low RTP for the main jackpot means there could be more than a one in 100 million chance of winning it.
In contrast, Double Jackpot Gems offers an RTP of 96%. Players must wager a max bet across nine paylines to win any progressive jackpot. There’s a decent chance of winning one or more jackpots with a top payout of about $12,000.
POPULAR PROGRESSIVE SLOTS
- 88 Fortunes Jackpot Festival
- Black Diamond/Double Jackpot Gems
- Cleopatra
- Diamond Cash Mighty Buffalo
- Divine Fortune
- MegaJackpots Wolf Run
- Mercy of Gods
- MGM Grand Millions
- Thunder Cash Sizzling Hot
- Wheel of Fortune Triple Gold Gold Spin
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING AND PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS
There’s a Responsible Gaming (RG) section at every online casino, with valuable resources for how to avoid problem gambling. Here are a few responsible gambling techniques for playing progressive jackpot slots.
PROPER BANKROLL MANAGEMENT
Proper bankroll management is essential when gambling online. Players should set daily, weekly, or monthly budgets while sticking to about 1% to 5% of their bankroll for every bet.
While some progressive jackpots require max bets, stick to your budget and never gamble with what you can’t afford to lose.
TOOLS FOR RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
Online casinos offer RG sections on the platforms and mobile apps. Tools for responsible gambling include setting limits on deposits, spending, and gaming sessions.
Players can contact customer support for help with setting limits, which are directly available via an account dashboard.
There’s also a self-exclusion protocol for players to set longer breaks, while taking a timeout for a brief cool-off period is also available.
OUR BEST PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT TIPS
Only a few tips can help players improve their chances of winning a progressive jackpot.
For smaller bankrolls, we recommend aiming for progressive jackpots at high RTP games. Players who can afford the risk can try their luck at lower RTP games to win top jackpots worth five, six, and even seven figures.
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PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS FAQS
Do you have any additional questions about progressive jackpot slots? We've got you covered with a list of frequently asked questions below.
WHAT TRIGGERS A PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT?
Progressive jackpots get triggered by random number generators (RNGs) built into slot machines. Some progressive slots may require max bets or players to trigger a bonus game to win one or more jackpots.
ARE PROGRESSIVE SLOTS WORTH IT?
Some progressive slot games might offer better chances of winning the lottery. Depending on your appetite for risk, progressive slots can be lucrative even for smaller bankrolls, especially at games with high RTPs.
HOW ARE PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS PAID OUT?
Progressive jackpot payouts depend on standalone, local, or network prize pools. Players contribute a small percentage of every individual wager—and the more players, the higher the top jackpot. Some casinos may pay out their jackpots based on annual installments.
HOW DO YOU WIN ON PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS?
You can win at progressive jackpot slots by activating a bonus game or triggering a jackpot randomly.
WHAT IS THE LARGEST PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT PAYOUT?
MGM offers the largest progressive jackpot payout of over $4.5 million in the online casino industry for their 'Big Series.' Slots include MGM Grand Millions, Book of Myths, Fruit Blaster, and Spin Bandit.