Slots Progressive Jackpots Explained

Progressive jackpots can be one of the most exciting aspects of online slots and casinos. Hitting a progressive jackpot is a feeling of sheer ecstasy. It’ is like the casino version of winning the lottery; the amounts that can be won are life changing.

But if you are new to online casinos and slots, you might be hearing this term for the first time. It’s a fairly easy concept to learn and once you have a grasp, you will understand why it is one of the most desired outcomes in an online casino.

What is a Progressive Jackpot?

That’s the million-dollar question. Sometimes, literally.

A progressive jackpot is a prize that will increase in value every time the game is played. With each spin of the online slot, the value increases until the jackpot is won. Once someone hits the sweet spot and wins the jackpot, it just resets to its original number. Then, the process starts all over again.

With online slots, a portion of your wager goes towards that jackpot every time you play. It’s tantalizing as the number goes up and up until the levy breaks, and out pours a humongous prize. That’s why it’s called a progressive jackpot – the amount progresses up and up until it pays out. Most games will have the total of the jackpot somewhere near the top of the screen.

Although it’s not universally true across the board, the typical standard is that in order to win the progressive jackpot, you need to wager the maximum amount of coins per spin – whatever that is for that game.

So, what’s all the hype about? Simple, there are some games that have doled out up to $20 million for their progressive jackpots. While these jackpots were not really common in casinos until the middle of the 1980’s, when the online casino craze hit about a decade later, the concept of the progressive jackpot really took off. It is one of the main features that attracts players to specific games.

What are the Types of Progressive Jackpots?

There are three main types of progressive jackpots that you should know about before you get into the action. The first is a fairly common progressive jackpot known as the in-house format. This is where a casino will group together a slew of games and all of the bets from these games will go into one big pot. Any player that plays any of these games can win the progressive jackpot.

This usually occurs when the casino owns all of these games. This is also where you have the best chance to win one of those million-dollar-plus progressive jackpots. It makes sense: the more games that there are in the pool, the more players are playing them and the bigger the prize.

Then there is the jackpot that is known as a wide-area format. This means that there are a few games involved, but the catch is that they are in different casinos. Again, all it does is cast a wider net of players to collect wagers from in order to make the jackpot even larger.

Finally, there is a format called stand-alone. This is the type that is common online where the jackpot is only based on that one game. As you play the online slot or the specific game, you’ll see the numbers creep up with every spin. This is unrelated to the action from any other game. At some point, some lucky person will cash in and the jackpot will be reset.

How do you Win a Progressive Jackpot?

You are probably wondering how you would go about winning a progressive jackpot. If only there was a surefire method to do that. We would all retire to St. Kitts and lounge on the beach all day.

The reality is that we’re still gambling, which means that lots of luck is involved. What is fun about this type of game is that you can still get your normal wins, while looking to hit that epic home run.

All slot machines, whether you are playing online or in a land-based casino, are run by a Random Number Generator. Therefore, focus on the “random” aspect of it and realize that sometimes it simply is not your day and sometimes you’ve been blessed.

So if you’re looking for that genie in a bottle that leads you to endless riches, it does not exist. That means there is no known strategy on how to win a progressive jackpot. It’s merely a reward for those who commit to playing.

What is Return-to-Player Percentage?

If you’re new to online slots, it’s a good idea to understand the math. While some people have their theories or myths as to how slots pay out, the reality is that they work on a mathematical system, which is often referred to as the Return-To-Player percentage (RTP).

There are some games that offer in the high-90% range in terms of their RTP. There are some that are much lower than that. If you do your research, you can find out which games have the highest RTP. Then, you figure out which one you would like devote most of your bankroll to on that day.

Do you Know the Rules for Progressive Jackpots?

While there is no clear-cut strategy to winning a progressive jackpot, there is one piece of advice that will help: know the rules. While it might be a bit tedious, quickly check the terms and conditions for the online slot game you are playing to know the stipulations.

Often, the main aspect you are looking for is how many coins you have to bet to be eligible for the progressive jackpot. It also matters how much you have to bet per spin to qualify. Some machines will say that you are worthy for the win regardless of how much you bet. Others will indicate that you need to be playing the max per spin to be eligible for the progressive jackpot.

Check the rules before you play to make sure you qualify. It will save you from frustration down the line.

Progressive Jackpots in the Casino

Although slots are mostly associated with progressive jackpots, there are different types of games in which you can play and still be in line for a progressive jackpot. It started out with slots but it is a popular attraction, so you’ll see all sorts of casino games rolling them out now. For example, different forms of poker might give you the opportunity at a big payday.

You can also find that Caribbean Stud Poker has a progressive jackpot (while wagering the maximum amount to have a chance to win the jackpot). There can also be a Keno option as a way to play for progressive jackpots, similarly betting the maximum amount to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot. You can also find progressive jackpots in blackjack, roulette, and other table games offered online.

The blackjack option is an interesting one as that can be won by getting dealt a certain combination of cards. The amount that you can win is often set by the combination of cards that you are dealt. For the most part, progressive slots coming from online casinos pay the most. What you will see from a game like blackjack will usually pale in comparison to the epic paydays of progressive jackpots in online slots, but it’s still nice to have.

As well, keep an eye on your email inbox as some places will let you know when a progressive jackpot is getting higher and higher. That tends to be a good call to action to let you know that now is a good time to make a play.

Play Responsibly

Remember that progressive jackpots pay out very rarely, so there’s no need to go overboard on a quest to collect. If they paid out all the time, the casino would go broke. Of course, it’s tempting to keep on playing with the hope that you are the lucky one that eventually wins. While that might be the case, remember to play within your means. Start off with a set amount of money that fits your budget and stick to it as you play. Look at it as a form of entertainment that will last you a while as you keep on spinning. And if you hit the progressive jackpot, that is the ultimate cherry on top.

Go for the Win!

Betting on progressive jackpots adds another element of excitement to an already entertaining experience. Whether you are playing slots, blackjack, roulette or any other game online, a progressive jackpot raises the stakes to a new level.

As long as you play to your bankroll and don’t go overboard, you’ll have a thrilling experience while keeping your eye on that alluring big prize. But stick to your budget, have some fun and you just might be able to experience one of these magical moments when a progressive jackpot comes your way.