Most casino players will have heard of “progressive slot machines” or “progressive jackpot slots” but might not be entirely sure what they are, least of all know to win them. The names “fixed jackpot” and “non-progressive jackpots” are often tossed around too, just to add to the confusion.
More importantly, you’re probably wondering where to find jackpot slots and how you can actually win them!
Don’t worry – we’ve got all the answers here so that you’ll soon know your progressive slot machine from your regular slot machine game. Plus we’ll tell you how progressive jackpots work and what to do if you want to win one.
Do All Slot Machines Have Jackpots?
Most casino games don’t have a jackpot at all, they’re simply known as regular slots. But many slot machines and the occasional video poker game do have jackpots. The types of jackpots these games offer can be either regular fixed jackpots or progressive jackpots.
Fixed Jackpots
While many slots games don’t have jackpots, some regular slot machine games include a jackpot, which is considered a fixed jackpot, (also known as a static jackpot). These types of slots games are often referred to as “non-progressive jackpot slots” and the amount of money that can be won on fixed jackpots does not change.
The prize money on a fixed, non-progressive jackpot stays the same regardless of how many players play the slot or how often the jackpot is won. In other words, it’s a jackpot that does not grow. Many slot machines offered by casino operators have fixed jackpots where huge amounts can be won, like the Cleopatra MegaJackpots, Atlantis MegaWays™ or 5 Treasures slots.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpot slots machines, also known as jackpot slots, change and increase with every bet players make on that slot game. When players play progressive slots, a small portion of each bet they make goes into the jackpot pool so it is always increasing until a lucky player wins it at random and receives a big jackpot payout. When this happens the progressive jackpot resets and starts to accumulate again. Progressive jackpots can grow to the hundreds of thousands of dollars, even into the millions, making winners very, very happy indeed!
Difference Between Fixed Jackpots and a Progressive Slot Machine
There are quite a few differences between progressive jackpots and non-progressive fixed jackpots. As already mentioned, the amount a player can win on a regular jackpot is fixed and doesn’t increase or decrease. However, what is awarded will vary depending on how much a player has wagered on the winning bet.
Fixed jackpots work by awarding a jackpot for certain winning combinations, with the winnings based on how much the player staked on the winning bet multiplied by the number of jackpot credits applicable for that winning combination. For example, a fixed jackpot may pay out 500x the wager so if the bet placed was $10, the jackpot payout would be 500 x $10, making a $5,000 jackpot win.
Another difference is that non-progressive jackpot slots can be cheaper to play as the maximum bet is not required in order to have a chance at winning a jackpot. Even the minimum bet will qualify for a fixed jackpot, although the win will be lower than when higher wagers are staked.
In progressive jackpot games, slot players often need to place the maximum bet to have a chance of winning the progressive jackpot.
It should be said that winning the top jackpot on a progressive jackpot game is less likely than winning a non-progressive jackpot prize on other slot machines, as the odds of winning are lower. But the progressive jackpot amount is often higher so progressive jackpot games give players the chance to win millions.
Another distinction between a progressive jackpot slot and regular fixed jackpot slots is that players from many online casinos all around the world will be playing the same progressive slots games and contributing to the jackpot’s prize pool, increasing it with each bet. Basically, anyone playing on an online slot machine game with a progressive jackpot is capable of winning it.
What are the Different Progressive Jackpots?
There are a number of types of progressive jackpots and it can be good to understand what’s what so you know how much to expect each online slot machine to pay out for a jackpot win.
Standalone Progressive Jackpot
Standalone progressive slots are normally linked to one slot machine only and are generally found in land-based casinos. Only bets made on that actual game or device will contribute to the progressive jackpot of that game.
Local Progressive Jackpot
Local progressives, otherwise known as inhouse progressive jackpots, are where the same jackpot is linked in one type of game or multiple machines in the same casino. Examples include some video slots as well as video poker games like Caribbean Stud poker.
Global or Network Progressive
Also known as a wide area progressive jackpot, this type is the most commonly found progressive jackpot. With this type of jackpot slots, the same jackpot is offered on multiple slot machines across multiple casinos. Everyone playing on the same game contributes to the jackpot which can be won by players playing the same progressive jackpot in any online casino.
How Can Players Win a Progressive Jackpot?
As the odds of winning a progressive jackpot is purely random, there’s no sure way to guarantee a windfall. There are a few things to keep in mind order to improve your chances of a progressive slot win.
Firstly, smaller slot games jackpots tend to pay out more often than larger ones. So if you’re just hoping for a big win but don’t need it to be a ridiculously lifechanging amount, you may have more luck on slot games with smaller, but still significant, jackpots.
Most progressive slot games require the maximum bet to be placed in order to qualify for the jackpot prize, should it hit. So be sure you’re betting the max number of coins if you want to be in it to win it.
Another tip is to use casino bonuses when playing progressive games. This way you’re not only playing towards meeting the bonus’s wagering requirements, but risking bonus money instead of your own may make it more enticing to bet higher amounts in order to have a chance to win millions.
Is It Possible to Know When a Progressive Jackpot Will Go Off?
It’s not possible to know when a progressive jackpot win will happen because progressive jackpots hit purely at random. Online casinos use a random number generator program to determine the outcome of their casino games, which is technology used industry-wide to trigger a random result using a series of computerized numbers.
Fixed jackpots on the other hand will trigger a win when certain winning combinations are formed, for example when a player lines up five of the same symbol on a specific payline during a special bonus feature.
How Much Can I Win on a Progressive Slots Jackpot?
Dream big and it could be possible! Amounts right into the millions can and have been won on progressive slots – many times! Many players have won life-changing amounts simply by playing progressive slots at an online casino. Previously won progressive jackpots paid out in excess of $20 million dollars!
To find the biggest jackpot on offer at the time, some players like to use an online jackpot tracker.
How Often Do Progressive Slot Machines Pay Out Jackpots?
Some jackpots go off on progressive slots quite frequently, for lower amounts, while others tend to go off less often, but with much more in the pot to win.
Is It Better to Play Progressive Jackpot Slots or a Regular Slot Machine?
It really depends on how much you’re hoping to win and how much you’re willing to wager. As mentioned before, players often need to bet the maximum stake on progressive slots to qualify to win the progressive jackpot, so some players may prefer to stick to other types of slot machines and not bet as high.
The RTP (Return to Player payout rate) can be lower on slots with a progressive jackpot so unless you’re placing the max bet and aiming for the top jackpot, you might be better off on casino games with fixed jackpots as these have a lower house edge and better return to player payout rate.
If, of course, you have the time and budget to aim for winning a progressive jackpot, slots games like MegaJackpots Cleopatra or MegaJackpots Golden Goddess are great options to try for some of the biggest progressive jackpot wins online.
Progressive Jackpots at PlayStar
Looking to win progressive jackpots in online slots? PlayStar has some of the biggest and best jackpot slots this side of Las Vegas, including local progressive slots and progressive slot games. Simply visit our slots page and choose a jackpot slot game that suits your play style. Your next big win might just be around the corner!
