Progressive Jackpot Slots
Progressive slots, highly enjoyable and potentially profitable, are a major draw on a casino floor. However, their popularity soars even higher online due to the vast array of options available.
Progressive online slots, like their counterparts in land-based casinos, are capable of producing impressive winnings, with the potential to reach an astonishing $1 million or beyond. Apart from these life-changing jackpots, there are various other types of progressive slots available, which may offer smaller prizes but have a greater likelihood of triggering wins more frequently.
No matter what happens, the primary appeal of progressive slots is the possibility of winning a significant sum without placing a huge bet. Although the chances of claiming that life-changing prize may be slim, similar to the lottery, there is still a Powerball jackpot winner every week.
If you have doubts about whether jackpot slots are right for you, continue reading. This extensive guide offers all the essential information to help you make an informed decision. It includes details on how online progressive slots work, the odds involved, recommended games to play, and more. Moreover, we will address any misunderstandings related to this subject.
Top places to play progressive slots online
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Best progressive slots you can play online
You can usually find progressive jackpot slots in a specific section online, along with other important categories like table games, various types of slots, and live dealer games. Most websites display the real-time jackpot amounts on a meter located at the bottom of the game icon.
Below are the essential technical specifications of the top five progressive slots available in US online casinos:
Melon Madness
Melon Madness is a thrilling slot game available exclusively at Entain–MGM brands like BetMGM Casino and Bwin/PartyCasino. With its five reels and medium volatility, players can enjoy adjustable paylines up to 30. The game boasts a succulent theme and a solid return-to-player rate of 95.04%, ensuring an uncomplicated gaming experience. Exciting features such as wilds, scatters, free spins, and five randomly awarded jackpot prizes add to the excitement. To have a chance at winning the jackpot, players must wager with the maximum bet. At the time of our review, the jackpot stood at around $2 million and growing.
Road to Riches Gold Pots
Road to Riches Gold Pots is an exciting new addition to SG’s popular Rainbow Riches series, with an Irish theme. Developed by Barcrest, this progressive slot seamlessly integrates into the mega drop jackpot system, ensuring constant thrills. Players can look forward to three must-hit-by jackpots – minor, major, and epic – that are randomly triggered, promising an unforgettable gaming adventure.
Unlike Melon Madness, this game’s jackpot prizes do not reach the multimillion-dollar range. Nevertheless, they drop frequently. Moreover, players have the opportunity to utilize two bonus features, such as the Pots of Gold Super Bonus, which allows them to win a payout of up to 5,000 times their initial bet.
You can find Road to Riches Gold Pots at various casinos like DraftKings Casino, Gold Nugget Casino, Hard Rock Casino NJ, and Mohegan Sun Casino. This exciting jackpot slot offers an impressive RTP of 96.4%.
Mercy of the Gods
In their game Mercy of the Gods, NetEnt has challenged the conventional by merging high RTP and progressive jackpots. Serving as a follow-up to the widely acclaimed Divine Fortune, this game exemplifies NetEnt’s capability to deviate from the customary archetype.
In the game Mercy of the Gods, players have the opportunity to win two fixed jackpots and a progressive jackpot that can reach a six-figure amount. To qualify for the minor, major, or mega jackpot, players need to complete one, two, or three rows of bonus coins. This chance only arises during the free spins round, which is activated when three Golden Heart symbols appear on the reels.
You can find Mercy of the Gods on various legal US casino sites, including Caesars Casino and BetRivers Casino.
Cleopatra Mega Jackpots
Cleopatra Mega Jackpots, created by IGT, is a sequel to a beloved slot game that has stood the test of time. This exhilarating slot, inspired by ancient Egypt, offers five reels and 20 paylines, and is connected to the MegaJackpot network that also includes Siberian Storm and Isle O’Plenty.
With an abundance of features, the game offers a chance to earn a whopping 180 free spins accompanied by 6x multipliers. To claim the impressive six-digit progressive jackpot, one must skillfully align five MegaJackpot symbols across the rotating reels.
Book of Myth
At BetMGM Casino, you have the option to play both the demo and real money versions of Book of Myth. This game is created by Spadegaming, a software provider from Asia. It features a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines. Like other games in this series, it includes a free spins bonus round where a randomly chosen symbol expands to become a wild symbol throughout the sequence. The top non-progressive prize is 5,000x, but the progressive jackpot is even more impressive, with the chance to be won randomly after any spin. Typically, the progressive prizes range from $1 million to $2 million.
If you seek an exhilarating experience, explore the leading casinos that provide incredible sign-up bonuses. Additionally, we suggest trying your luck on any of these highly recommended progressive jackpot slots.
Progressive jackpots only available at retail casinos
Visitors have the chance to win massive jackpots on progressive slot machines at the following three casinos, spanning from the Las Vegas Strip to Atlantic City. It is important to mention that some games are exclusively available at physical locations and have not been modified for online gaming.
- SG Gaming has developed a popular slot machine called “Wizard of Oz: Over the Rainbow.” This game, available at several MGM Grand properties, consists of five reels and 30 paylines. Players can enjoy two bonus rounds and a balloon mystery feature, which triggers the progressive jackpot in a designated region.
- The Megabucks slot machine is renowned in the gambling industry across the United States for its incredible capacity to offer enormous jackpots. Ever since its launch by IGT in 1986, it has captivated players and bestowed some of the most substantial prizes ever witnessed in Las Vegas. To participate in the progressive jackpot, players must wager a minimum of $3 (equivalent to one coin). After each jackpot win, it resets to an initial sum of $10 million.
- The Mystical Unicorn, a cherished vintage slot game developed by WMS, is now here. This G+ Deluxe masterpiece has captivated players worldwide, becoming incredibly popular. Featuring a five-by-four grid layout, it offers an exhilarating free spins bonus game and the chance to win two must-hit-by progressive jackpots.
How progressive slots work
The maximum payout on standard real money slot machines occurs when the payline is filled with the highest-value symbols, as stated in the paytable. The fixed jackpot prize can range from 500 times to 50,000 times the initial bet, depending on the game and provider.
A progressive slot machine is a special type of slot that features both a fixed and a variable jackpot. In this slot, a small fraction of every player’s wager adds to the progressive pool. When a player hits the jackpot, it resets to its original amount and starts accumulating again.
While jackpots are usually determined randomly in the majority of games, certain games necessitate specific events to take place, such as obtaining a specific combination of symbols on the reels.
Progressives usually display a prominent jackpot meter on the interface, showing the prize’s increasing rate.
To make up for their substantial jackpots, progressive slots usually come with a greater house advantage, leading to an average player return (RTP) of around 93%.
In order to be eligible for the main prize in most games, it is typically required to place the highest possible bet. While certain progressive games can be played with varying bet amounts, the likelihood of coming across them increases when betting larger sums.
What are the odds of winning a progressive jackpot?
The likelihood of winning a progressive jackpot usually varies between one in 50 to 60 million. However, this probability can change due to several factors, including the slot’s RTP, volatility, trigger mechanism, and the number of reels/symbols.
The probability of winning can change depending on the size of the bet and the specific kind of progressive jackpot. In “must win by” progressive jackpots, the chances of hitting the jackpot rise as the prize pool approaches a predetermined target.
The size of a progressive jackpot directly impacts the chances of winning it. Smaller jackpots are more likely to be won frequently, whereas larger jackpots are won less frequently.
In the majority of modern progressive games, the amount you bet does not affect your chances of hitting the jackpot. Nonetheless, in older games found in physical casinos, placing higher bets can increase the odds of winning the jackpot. Conversely, when you make larger bets, the overall return to player (RTP) also rises. Consequently, this enhances your chances of winning the jackpot since the more time you invest in playing, the higher the probability of hitting the jackpot.
Can you ever have an advantage playing a progressive slot?
It is very difficult to determine a positive EV point in non-capped progressive slots due to the lack of information on winning odds for each jackpot. However, when it comes to must-hit-by slots with mystery jackpots, it is possible to mathematically calculate the positive EV because the game is required to pay the jackpot at a predetermined value.
Types of progressive jackpot slots
The main types of slot machines with progressive jackpots are primarily divided into three categories, depending on whether the jackpot is connected to a single machine or multiple machines.
- A Standalone jackpot, as its name suggests, is limited to a single slot game. These prizes increase in value only when players wager on that specific game, making them the smallest among the three progressive categories. However, they offer a greater likelihood of frequent payouts.
- Local progressives, also referred to as proprietary progressives, are usually connected to other games in a casino and add to a measured top jackpot. In the realm of online casinos, local progressives may be limited to a specific game or a group of slots from the same software provider.
- Network progressive slots are a type of slot machine that are connected across multiple casinos, offering the chance to win the highest potential jackpot prizes. It is not surprising that these slots are highly sought-after and popular, given the opportunity to win enormous amounts of money.
Biggest jackpots
| Slot | Casino | Jackpot Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Megabucks | Excalibur Casino | $39 million |
| Megabucks | Desert Inn Casino | $34.9 million |
| Megabucks | Palace Station Casino | $27.5 million |
| Megabucks | Caesar?s Palace | $21.3 million |
| Megabucks | Cannery Hotel Casino | $21.1 million |
How are jackpots paid?
Casinos use different approaches to manage jackpot payouts. Normally, prizes of up to $25,000 can be acquired as a lump sum, either through a check or in cash. Nevertheless, for bigger jackpots, certain casinos provide the option of receiving the payment in multiple installments distributed over several months.
Online casinos offer the choice to receive jackpots as a lump sum payment, although additional verification checks may be required before you can withdraw your winnings.
Progressive slot earnings are subject to federal taxes, and in some cases, state taxes may also apply. When preparing your tax return with the IRS, it is essential to be aware of the local rules and regulations regarding taxation on gambling profits. If your jackpot winnings surpass $5,000, numerous casinos will promptly deduct 25% of the total amount.
Tips for playing progressive slot machines
Although progressive slot machines do not offer any means to enhance the frequency of the jackpot or improve your chances of winning, there are various steps you can take to maximize your likelihood of securing the grand prize.
- To have a shot at winning the jackpot on specific progressive slots, it is crucial to wager the highest possible amount or at least employ the maximum coin value. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that this action does not genuinely enhance your chances of hitting the jackpot; it merely guarantees your eligibility to vie for it.
- When choosing a game with a high RTP, it is crucial to remember that the RTP is calculated over multiple spins and may not always precisely forecast the game’s payout. Nevertheless, it is advisable to prioritize progressive games with higher RTPs, particularly if there is a substantial disparity in payout rates between the two games under consideration.
- To gain a better understanding of the gameplay, including the frequency of regular wins, payout sizes, and other relevant details, we recommend trying out the slot in demo mode.
Are progressive slots due to hit?
Many casino players hold a mistaken belief known as the “hot and cold” theory. This theory suggests that a jackpot is more likely to occur if it hasn’t happened in a while, but this notion is completely untrue. Due to the implementation of random number generators in modern slot machines, it is impossible to predict when a jackpot will be awarded. Each spin is entirely independent and has no connection to the previous one. It is important to mention, however, that must-hit progressives operate under different rules, as they have a predetermined maximum limit that cannot be exceeded.
Can you play on a phone?
Most of the current online progressive jackpot slots are designed using HTML5 technology, allowing them to be compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones, and tablets. Players can enjoy the same gaming experience on these devices as they would on a computer browser, with the chance to win the same jackpot prizes.