Why Progressive Slot Jackpots Are Every Casino Player's Dream

You have most likely already noticed that the best online casinos all differentiate between old school slots and jackpot ones — but as all slot machines, by technical definition, do have jackpots, you might reasonably ask: what's the difference?

The answer is simple: fixed slot machines offer a maximum payout. Progressive jackpots, on the other hand, can increase to astronomical levels as the top prize increases with each spin placed on the machine. Like the lottery, money just keeps accumulating until one lucky player wins the progressive jackpot. This is especially true at the best paying casinos Michigan, where these slots see thousands of players every day in hopes of a life-changing win.

How Do Progressive Casino Slot Machines Function?

Progressive jackpots usually take a small fraction of every bet in order to build up the pot. This growing amount is normally called the "ticker" and is typically distributed across several slots simultaneously. For example, if several players play Arabian Nights at the same time, they contribute to — and compete for — the same jackpot.

Now and then, a jackpot is shared across different progressive slot machines. All of the Marvel Slots, for instance, are connected — i.e., players at both The Avengers and Iron Man 3 are contributing towards one progressive jackpot. While this does increase the potential jackpot, it lowers the individual winning chances slightly.

How to Win a Progressive Slot Jackpot?

There are a few standard ways in which progressive slot jackpots are won:

Random Trigger: A jackpot can be triggered after any spin, regardless of what the result is.
Specific Symbol Combination: Like in standard jackpots, players can win by getting a specific amount or combination of symbols — like in Geisha Wonders when consecutive star symbols hit.
Bonus Games: Some jackpots are awarded through bonus games, such as landing on the center of the wheel in Mega Fortune's bonus game.

What You Ought To Know Before Chasing a Jackpot

As significant as the payout math is the minimal requirement you have to satisfy:

Minimum Bet: So that you will qualify for progressive slot jackpot, you will be required to bet at least a set minimum amount.
Jackpot Ticker: These usually compensate frequent players with larger odds, so ensure you check out the game rules before spinning.

The best slots employ Random Number Generators (RNGs), which decide the fate of each spin and provide fair and random payouts.

How Large Can Progressive Jackpots Grow?

The largest progressive jackpot ever recorded was secured by an anonymous player on an Android device in September, when they put up a $0.75 bet on Mega Moolah and hit the jackpot within just 50 spins — earning themselves a mind-boggling $18.9 million.

Mega Moolah had already reached another enormous payout in October when British soldier Jon Heywood turned a $0.25 bet into an eye-popping $17.9 million. The victory earned the game a Guinness World Record for the "Highest Jackpot Payout from an Online Slot Machine" and cemented its status.

Earlier, a record was also held by an anonymous Finnish player who had won $17.4 million on Mega Fortune. Elsewhere, a Betfred punter had won around $5.8 million on his Beach Life progressive slot, and an Aberdeenshire fisherman in 2013 had won the UK's record slot jackpot of $6.1 million on Hall of Gods.

How Can I Find a Progressive Jackpot?

Progressive slot machines are unavailable to players in all jurisdictions due to regulatory restrictions. Players in Michigan, however, are able to access a vast number of progressive slots legally since online casino sites have been licensed and regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to enable full compliance with local legislation.

Types of Progressive Jackpots

There are 3 main types of progressive jackpots:

Standalone: A stand-alone slot machine that is not connected to another. It has a set progressive jackpot built up only through bets on the machine.
Local: A group of machines in one casino. The jackpot grows from a few games in the same building or venue.
Wide-Area: Connected slots that are spread across multiple casinos. These jackpots are very high, but winning odds are much lower because so many people are competing for the same jackpot at the same time.