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Progressive jackpot slots have continued to draw in the crowds at online casinos for the huge potential prizes on offer. By using a progressively increasing jackpot, which is sometimes combined across multiple slots, these games can offer scores that have not been possible in the past. But how do they work and are they worth playing?
What is a Progressive Jackpot?
There are two main types of jackpot that you'll see on modern online slots. The first is the traditional fixed jackpot, which is usually awarded for landing the most valuable symbols on the reels or by winning a bonus round. Fixed jackpots always remain the same, for example, 1,000x the stake.
Progressive jackpots, on the other hand, progressively increase with each bet that is made on the slot across the entire player pool. As qualifying bets are made, the jackpot keeps ticking up until someone eventually wins it.
How Do Progressive Jackpot Slots Work?
If you're new to the format, progressive jackpots can take a little bit of getting used to. Where does the jackpot prize come from and how is it won?
Where the Progressive Jackpot Comes From
For every qualifying spin made on a progressive jackpot slot, a small amount of the wager goes directly to the progressive jackpot prize pool. You'll need to stake a certain amount per spin to add to this prize pool and qualify to win the jackpot, such as $0.50 per spin. The minimum stake and amount taken for the jackpot varies depending on the game.
Why Do Progressive Jackpots Keep Growing?
With each spin from the collective player pool, which includes you and all other players, the progressive jackpot steadily grows. You can usually watch the jackpot counter increasing as you play to see where the total stands. The more players who are actively playing the game, the bigger the prize pool becomes, until someone eventually wins.
How the Jackpot Is Triggered
How exactly the jackpot is triggered depends on the game. Jackpots can be triggered in the usual ways, either by landing combos on the reels or via bonus games. In many cases, progressive jackpot slots are activated randomly as a completely separate element of the game, which can happen during any qualifying spin.
For example, 777 Deluxe, one of the main progressive jackpot games at SlotsLV, has a bonus round that is activated by landing three or more question mark symbols. The game flips to a single reel setup with eight possible prizes, and the top prize is the progressive jackpot.
In the progressive slot game Shopping Spree, which is available on the same online casino platform, the progressive jackpot is won by landing five Diamond symbols on the reels on a qualifying payline.
Networked Progressive Jackpots
Although the chances of winning the jackpot are slim, the sheer size of progressive jackpot prizes is what attracts a lot of players. To make the prizes even bigger, developers and online casino operators will often pool progressive jackpot slots in a network.
Networked progressive jackpots are shared across multiple machines, online slot games, and even across different casinos or sites. This leads to potentially lifechanging jackpot amounts that can run into the six-figure range.
Are Bigger Progressive Jackpots More Likely to Win?
Some players make the mistake of thinking that a larger progressive jackpot is more likely to hit. This is not true. In nearly all cases, whether it's a slot or a Keno progressive jackpot, the odds of winning remain the same even as the prize pool steadily increases. What changes is how much the prize is worth.
The only exception to this is Hot Drop jackpots, which are designed to drop before a certain time or prize pool is reached. In this case, the odds may change as the deadline approaches.
Check the information panel for your chosen progressive jackpot slot for specific details on the game's paytable, RTP, odds, and how the jackpot is triggered.
What Should Players Look for in a Progressive Slot?
Progressive jackpot slots have evolved into an entire category of their own, so there's plenty of choice out there for you to try. Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a game:
- Jackpot Mechanics – Take a look at how the jackpot works, how big it has grown, and how it is triggered. Look out for any qualifying conditions such as a minimum stake and make sure that you’re actually playing for the jackpot.
- RTP and Volatility – As with any slot, check the Return to Player (RTP) and volatility level. Progressive jackpot slots tend to be more volatile than normal slots because some of the overall prize money won is locked up in the jackpot.
- Overall Game Experience – You shouldn’t have to sacrifice design and playability just to shoot for a progressive jackpot. The gameplay of the slot should still be enjoyable and have all the features you would usually choose.
Progressive jackpot slots are an exciting way to play for potentially huge prizes, but you should always be aware of how the jackpot is won and any conditions. On top of that, play a slot you would enjoy anyway rather than just chasing the big drop.
