What Are Progressive Slots and How Do They Work?

Slots are undoubtedly the most popular and most-played casino games worldwide. These are easy to learn, as there are no confusing rules, but the gameplay is simple, and these are exciting to play. However, another significant appeal of slots is the huge jackpots they pay. However, not all slot games are created in the same way, and here we discuss a particular type of slot – the progressive slots. These are so much more thrilling than regular slot games, as the progressive slot jackpots are life-changing amounts that make all the difference. Thus, here we discuss progressive slots, how progressive slots work, and other relevant info that could help you improve your chances of winning a progressive slot jackpot.

What Are Progressive Slots? Work Process

Progressive slot games are growing in popularity due to their progressive jackpots. The main appeal is the progressive jackpot that becomes larger with every consecutive bet made. The progressive jackpot can grow in various ways, from bets made on a single slot game to bets made on several slot games in the same casino. There are other ways that the progressive slots build the progressive jackpots, but we’ll discuss these below.

The gameplay at progressive slots is the same as with classical slots: you make your bet, spin the reels, and wait for the outcome. However, progressive slots do come with higher bet amounts that you need to place to enter the race for the progressive jackpot. If you don’t put the max bet amount, you can still play the slot game, but you won’t be eligible to play for the progressive jackpot.

Credit: Spin Casino

The progressive slot games have the same base gameplay as classic slots, with pay lines and paytable, but these include several ways to trigger a jackpot, like:

• Jackpot Wheel – the jackpot wheel mode displays different slots that point to a fixed point, and when the wheel stops, you win the prize where the pointer lands. Similar designs can include squares or tiles where a pointer lands, revealing a prize. You enter the jackpot wheel by matching the required bonus symbols or by landing on specific symbols during the base game. The Mega Moolah progressive slot awards entrance into the bonus mode at random intervals.
• Collecting Symbols – this is a popular way of winning a jackpot prize, as you need to collect a predetermined number of symbols, usually when you play the base game. It includes playing the game and collecting symbols that will trigger the jackpot round or will award you a jackpot prize. One example is the Hall of Gods progressive slot, where the symbols in the reels become shields, and you need to hit a shield to win a prize.
• Matching Symbols – this is the most traditional way to win a jackpot, and it includes matching specific symbols on the reels. Unlike the classic slots, where you need to match particular pay lines, the progressive slots come with specific requirements and a higher bet amount you need to place. One example is the Gold Bell Ringer progressive slot, where you stand to win a massive 1000x payout if you get the gold bell symbol across all 9 spaces on the reels.

Progressive Slots Vs. Regular Slots

Progressive slots differ from regular slots in one main twist – these have a constantly growing jackpot. In regular slot games, the jackpot is a fixed amount, and the wins are capped at a set amount. On the other hand, in progressive slots, a portion of each bet made in the game goes towards a jackpot, and the jackpot amount increases and can reach staggering amounts. When the progressive jackpot is paid out, the slot resets to a predetermined minimal amount.

Types of Progressive Slots

The progressive slots differ in the ways the progressive jackpot is accumulated. There are three different types:

• Standalone Progressive Slots – in these games, the progressive jackpot amount is calculated as a percentage of all bets that are placed on a single slot game. The standalone progressive slots are most often found in land-based casinos where the progressive jackpot is the result of the bets played on a single slot machine
• Local Progressive Slots – the local progressive slots collect the progressive jackpot amount from several slot games. An example is the same slot played at an online casino, where multiple players can play the slot game at the same time. The progressive jackpot gets calculated from the bets that are placed on all the slot games
• Wide Area/Network Progressive Slots – these are progressive slot games that are connected to a central server and operated over a network. A large number of people, sometimes even thousands of people, can play the same slot game at the same time but at different online casinos, in various locations, and even in multiple countries, and still, the set percentage of their bets contributes to a single progressive jackpot amount. The best example of a network progressive slot is the Mega Moolah slot game

Progressive Slots Bets, T&Cs, and Fairness

The bets you can place at progressive slots usually come with higher minimum and maximum limits. You can play with a lower bet, but it is often not enough for your bet to qualify for the progressive jackpot, and you’ll play it like any other regular slot game where you match the pay lines and win your prize accordingly.

To enter the race for the progressive jackpot, it is mandatory to pay the higher bet amounts. It is the rule because a percentage of the bet amount goes to the house as a house edge, and a percentage goes toward the jackpot amount.

These also come with the usual terms and conditions as regular slots. It means you have to put higher wagers, and the free spins bonuses are usually not eligible for playing for the progressive jackpot prize.

Progressive jackpots, like any other slot game, are run by mathematical algorithms that ensure a fair and random outcome. These are called random number generators, or RNGs, and they work by randomizing the symbols that are required to win and displaying a different result with each spin. To know if the progressive slot game at your chosen online casino is genuinely random, check their T&Cs page and their license. It should clearly state that they use RNGs that are regulated by a reputable body like the eCOGRA.

Popular Online Progressive Slots

Today, there are thousands of online slots and games available at online casinos, and many of them are progressive jackpot slots. We gathered the top most popular online progressive slots you can play at trusted online casinos:

Notable Progressive Slots Wins

The probability of winning depends on the ways that trigger the jackpot, and these vary from 1 in 50 million to 1 in 60 million. The chances of winning a progressive slot game are truly stacked against you, but still, many progressive jackpot winners have beaten the odds. Here are some of the most famous progressive jackpot wins in recent years:

How to Win a Progressive Jackpot

Winning a progressive jackpot is a highly improbable event, as the probabilities are incredible, but still, these events occur almost daily. If you wonder what the winners know and you don’t, please read the following slot tips that can help you maximize your chance of winning an online progressive jackpot:

• Create a jackpot budget and stick to it – set a budget for progressive slots you are prepared to lose if luck does not turn your way
• Play patiently – don’t be tempted by the massive jackpot and bet the maximum amount every time. Instead, be patient and play wisely so you can play as many jackpot games as possible
• Be ready for winning and losing streaks – it is expected to win and lose, so be prepared for this, and never chase what you’ve lost in the hopes of covering your losses.
• Employ a progressive jackpot slot strategy – choose specific games at set times and try to guess the mechanics behind the outcomes

Credit: Slots Empire

FAQs

Are progressive slots legal?

Yes, progressive slots are legal in countries where online gambling and games of luck are legal.

Can I win a progressive slot with one spin?

It is possible to win a progressive slot with one spin, especially if luck is on your side and you hit the “nail on the head” by triggering the progressive jackpot. However, please note that you have about 1 in 50 to 60 million chances to do this.

How often do progressive slots payout?

Progressive slots payout at random intervals, as these are run by RNGs that ensure constant random outcomes. Different progressive slots have different payout rates, and the rule of thumb is that the higher the jackpot amount, the lower the winning odds, and the rarer the payout is.

Can I use a free spin bonus to play a progressive slot game online?

Online casinos provide free spin bonuses, but these are almost never eligible to be used on progressive slots. If you do use a free spin bonus to play a progressive slot, you will most likely not be able to play for the progressive jackpot, as the free spin bonus is usually lower than the required bet to enter the jackpot pool.

What’s the biggest-ever jackpot won at online progressive slots?

So far, the biggest jackpot paid out by a progressive online slot game is the wowPot Mega slot jackpot that was won in December 2023, to a staggering amount of £42,149,180 to an undisclosed winner from Europe.

Where can I find progressive slot games online?

You can find progressive slot games online at many online casinos, and we recommend some of the trusted online platforms we’ve reviewed, like Slots Empire, Jackpot City, Wazamba, 20Bet, Nomini, Casinia, 888Casino, Spin Casino, etc.