What are Progressive Slot Machines?
Typical online casino slot games offer fixed prizes on certain paylines. Whereas this is quite a popular type of game, there’s another kind – slot games linked to a progressive jackpot. A progressive jackpot, as the name suggests, increases in its prize money. And when someone hits the jackpot by triggering a rare combination of symbols, they take home the full prize, and the jackpot resets.
A progressive jackpot accumulates funds from the players. Every player that spins the reel is contributing toward the jackpot. A fraction of every wager, no matter how small or big, is going to this pool. Over time, jackpots get inflated. This began in isolated slot machines when the casino scene was young.
Today, online game providers like Microgaming have perfected the art. It offers its jackpot games to a bunch of online casino platforms (but they don’t partner with just anybody; it needs to be a reputed online casino). All players playing this game on all of the casino platforms contribute toward the final jackpot!
Within months of someone winning a jackpot, such a progressive jackpot can easily accumulate millions of pounds, if not more.
Key Slots Terms Explained
Return to Player (RTP):
This is the percentage of all wagered money a slot machine is expected to pay back to players over time. Progressive slots often have RTPs slightly lower than regular slots, commonly around 88–94%.
Volatility:
Refers to how often and how big a slot pays out. Progressive slots are high volatility which means that big wins are possible, but they occur less frequently.
Seed Amount:
When a jackpot is won and resets, the provider usually sets a starting value known as the seed. This ensures the jackpot never resets to £0 and remains appealing.
Progressive Trigger:
This refers to the condition needed to win the jackpot. Sometimes it’s random, other times it requires landing specific symbols or combinations at max bet.
The Mechanics of Progressive Jackpots
Jackpots can often offer life-changing amounts of money. They can turn players into millionaires instantly. We’re sure you’ve heard of such stories.
The larger the linked network, the faster the prize money will increase, and the fatter the check can be for the ultimate winner. Multiple casinos linked to a jackpot slot lead to larger and larger prizes.
The game mechanics are often similar to typical casino games. But casinos often need to work around them to keep the house edge. You see, when someone wins a jackpot, the game provider will be emptying the treasury. That’s why casinos that offer any free spins or special bonuses on jackpot slot games tend to have a much higher wagering requirement.
Whereas it’s usual for casino games to carry a minimum wagering requirement of anywhere from 5-10x on the lower end to 40-60 on the higher end, the minimum for progressive jackpots is often 200x.
Winning a Jackpot
Winning a progressive jackpot is the thrill of a lifetime, but the odds are even lower compared to winning a typical slot game. It can be argued that a casino player only playing on typical reels will earn more or lose less compared to someone focusing on winning a jackpot. The overall RTP on a progressive jackpot is also lower because a portion of each bet has to go to the prize pool. This also increases the volatility of these games.
If you’re after more frequent, smaller wins, then it will suffice to stick to normal slot games. The paylines are more predictable, and the RTP can be expected to be more or less correct. The odds of hitting the jackpot in progressive jackpot slots are significantly lower compared to regular slots due to the nature of progressive jackpots. They even have higher volatility, which means wins can be significant but less frequent.
The Evolution of Progressive Slots
Progressive slot machines have come a long way since their early days in brick-and-mortar casinos. Originally, each machine was isolated, meaning only players at that specific slot could contribute to and win the growing jackpot. These standalone machines offered decent prizes, but nothing on the scale of what’s available today.
With the rise of digital infrastructure and the online casino boom, things changed dramatically.
Today, software providers have created linked jackpot networks, where hundreds of online casinos host the same progressive slot. This means that a single jackpot pool can collect wagers from thousands of players around the world simultaneously.
The result? Multi-million pound jackpots that can be won at any moment.
Types of Progressive Slot Machines
There are three primary types of progressive slots, each with different mechanics:
1. Standalone Progressives
These aren’t linked to any other machine. The jackpot is funded solely by players using that specific game. Though the prize pool grows slowly, it resets when won by someone at that machine.
2. Local or In-House Progressives
These are linked across multiple machines within a single casino or brand. For instance, all the progressive slots in a single online casino might contribute to a shared prize. The pool grows faster than standalone games and can still yield significant wins.
3. Wide-Area Progressives
The largest and most lucrative type, wide-area jackpots link machines across multiple casinos, often worldwide. These are the types most likely to hit seven-figure payouts, as they have the largest number of contributors.
Each type carries a different risk/reward ratio. While wide-area jackpots offer eye-watering wins, the odds are significantly lower due to the sheer number of players chasing the same prize.
FAQs
How are progressive jackpots funded?
Are progressive jackpots truly random?
Can I win a progressive jackpot playing minimum stakes?
Do jackpot amounts vary between casinos?
Why do progressive slots have higher wagering requirements for bonuses?
Wrapping Up
Progressive slots are a different kind of slot game. These life-changing prize pools, however, come with a catch – the odds are lower than normal slots (which are already quite low).
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