If you love progressive slot machines. No information available Best non-progressive slots casinos. 100% up to €1,000 + 200 free spins Free Spins. One of the best-known progressive jackpots is Mega Moolah, which offers players the change to win three progressive jackpots linked to five different slots. The jackpots include the major offering the highest payout, the minor which is in the middle and the mini jackpot rewarding a lesser jackpot prize than the minor and the major. Hitting the Jackpot with Progressive Slot Machines. The best payouts with progressive games come with using the maximum bet amount as your wager. This follows the idea that maximum wins require maximum stakes. Many people prefer to play on slots where the minimum bet is as low as $1 or even 25 cents but it can be a blow to win $1000 dollars. The following is a list of 7 of the best progressive slot machines in the world today. First on the list is IGT Interactive's Megabucks. The first wide-area progressive machine to become available, Megabucks is still in very wide use. The Megabucks is a dollar slot game, with $3 bets required to qualify for the maximum jackpot. Slots can be fun and exciting, but the dream of winning a six- or even seven-figure jackpot is the real reason most people play. Because they give you a chance to make that dream come true, offering up huge jackpots that grow with every spin, progressive jackpot slots have become the most popular games at casinos across the US, online and off.

Progressive slots (and video poker games) offer jackpots that increase every time someone makes a bet up until someone wins. At that point, the progressive jackpot resets to its starting value and starts accumulating again.

The amount that the jackpot rises is based on a tiny percentage of your action on the machine. Most progressive slot machines are now pooled with other machines so that the jackpot goes up fast, although some games are still standalone progressives.

The best way to think about progressive slots is that they’re the slot machine equivalent of a lottery game. The odds of winning are long, but the prizes are huge. In most lotteries, the size of the prize increases from drawing to drawing until someone wins the lottery.

You’ll know you’re playing a progressive jackpot game because it will feature a prominent jackpot meter showing the size of the jackpot. This is also sometimes called a “jackpot ticker,” because it ticks upward as players on the network lose bets into the machines on that network.

This post features 10 of the most interesting facts I could find about progressive slot machines.

1 – Megabucks Is the Biggest Slot Machine Jackpot

Megabucks is IGT’s most famous progressive slot machine. It’s a state-wide game run in Nevada, and it’s the main reason the state doesn’t have an actual lottery. Who needs a lottery when you can just play the Megabucks slot machine?

Megabucks isn’t new either, the games have been available now for a couple of decades. Several people have won millions of dollars over the history of the game.

To play Megabucks, you must wager $3. It’s a dollar machine with a three-coin maximum bet. If you don’t place the maximum bet, you’re not eligible for the jackpot.

In Nevada, at least 750 different slot machines in over 125 different casinos pool those tiny contributions to grow that $10 million jackpot faster than you’d think is possible.

The odds of winning Megabucks is similar to that of winning the lottery, 50 million to 1. And like the lottery, winners get paid in the form of an annuity that pays annual installments over the next 25 years.

If you go with the cash option, you can settle for 60% of the prize amount as just plain cash. It’s hard to deny that Megabucks is the most interesting progressive jackpot game in the United States.

2 – Megabucks Has a Curse Associated With It

Some gamblers believe that if you win Megabucks, you have a greater than usual probability of dying young.

This legend of the “Megabucks curse” stems from the death of Cynthia Jay-Brennan, a cocktail waitress who won $35 million Megabucks only to be paralyzed in a car wreck. Jay-Brennan’s sister died in the wreck, which was caused by a drunk driver.

Most of the other tales of woe related to Megabucks are nothing more than urban legends, though.

It’s the opinion of this blogger that the wreck was just “one of those things,” and Cynthia Jay-Brennan has my sympathy.

3 – Progressive Jackpots Can Put the Odds in the Players’ Favor

Any game with a progressive jackpot can offer a player a positive expectation bet if the jackpot is large enough.

The trouble with slot machines is that no one knows exactly what the payback percentage for the game is, so it’s impossible to determine what the size of the jackpot would have to be.

But in other games with progressive jackpots, like video poker, you can compute the break-even point for the game and only play after the jackpot has exceeded that point.

The optimal strategy for playing such a game changes based on the size of that jackpot, too.

4 – Some Progressive Games Get Attached by Advantage Player Teams

An advantage player is a gambler who only gambles when he has an edge over the casino. The classic example of an advantage gambler is a card counter in blackjack.

But we already discussed how a gambler could have an advantage at a progressive slot machine game.

They play as a team until someone on the team wins the progressive jackpot, and the team then splits the profits. Some casinos don’t mind this type of advantage play much, because even though the players have an edge, the jackpot comes mostly from players’ contributions to the game over time.

Other casinos have policies forbidding team play and will back off or bar such players.

5 – Slot Machines With Progressive Jackpots Have Worse Odds

You measure the casino’s advantage with a slot machine by looking at the payback percentage, or return to player percentage, for the game. This is the flip side of the house edge.

The payback percentage estimates an average amount that will be returned to the player in winnings over the long run based on the odds of winning and the prize amounts. The house edge estimates how much the player will lose on each bet.

The higher the payback percentage is, the better the game is for the player. For example, a slot machine game with a 98% payback percentage is better than a slot machine game with an 88% payback percentage.

Generally, there are two factors that ensure the progressive jackpot games have a lower payback percentage.

• The first is simple to understand. A percentage of each bet is diverted toward increasing the size of the jackpot. That amount comes directly from the payback percentage of the game.
• The second is only slightly harder to understand. A large percentage of the game’s payback percentage is based on the payout from the jackpot. If a game has a 95% payback percentage, 5% of that might be made up of the jackpot.

But with a game where you only have a 1 in 50 million or even 1 in 10 million chance of seeing that jackpot, the payback percentage before that jackpot gets hit will necessarily be lower than that 95%.

The more economical choice for slot players is always the flat-top slot machine, not the progressive slot machine.

6 – Mega Moolah Is Probably the Best Progressive Jackpot Online

Mega Moolah is an online-only progressive slot machine game with five reels and 25 paylines. The game’s symbols and sound effects have an African theme, with elephants and zebras.

In the decade since Microgaming launched Mega Moolah, no other online slot machine game has produced as many millionaires.

The prizes for Mega Moolah have ranged from $5 million to $13 million. That $13 million was the biggest online jackpot win in history, too.

7 – You Usually Can’t Win the Progressive Jackpot Unless You Play Max Coins

Most slot machines have a denomination and a maximum number of coins you can wager. Most of the time, you can bet less than the minimum without any kind of adverse effects.

But progressive slots, like video poker games, are an exception.

If you don’t bet the maximum number of coins, you’re usually ineligible to win the progressive jackpot.

This doesn’t make much of a practical difference, since the probability of winning a progressive jackpot is practically zero anyway. Once the probability of an event gets small enough, it might as well be zero.

8 – Some Online Casinos ONLY Offer Progressive Jackpots

One online casino, Slotland, offers a minimal number of games, but they all share the same progressive jackpot. You can’t play there from the United States, but it’s probably just as well. The casino has some misleading practices, especially in terms of how their video poker and blackjack games work.

When a casino offers a video blackjack or video poker game, they’re implying that those games follow the same probabilities you’d see if they were using a deck of playing cards.

If you’re okay with that, it might be okay to play there, but the most interesting thing about that casino is that all the games tie into the one big jackpot.

9 – A Standalone Progressive Offers Better Odds

You’ll find three different kinds of progressive slot machines:

1. Standalone progressives
2. Local area progressives
3. Wide area progressives

A standalone progressive slot machine is one where the jackpot can only be won on that machine. But playing on that machine counts toward raising the jackpot. The size of the jackpot on a standalone game is almost always smaller than the jackpot on other kinds of machines.

A local area progressive network is a network of machines in the same casino, usually all within a short distance of each other. These jackpots are bigger than what you’d see on a standalone progressive, but not as big as you’ll see with a wide area progressive jackpot.

A wide area progressive jackpot is similar to what you see with Megabucks. Multiple machines in multiple locations feed the jackpot. This game has the biggest prizes.

The best odds for the player can be found at the standalone progressive slots, because the jackpot is smaller. In fact, the lower the jackpot, the better the odds are in general with a slot machine game.

10 – You Can Win the Progressive Even With Your Slots Club Card Inserted

There’s a popular myth/urban legend that you can’t win the top jackpot on a slot machine if you’re playing with the slots club card inserted. This isn’t true.

The random number generator running these machines isn’t aware of whether you’re playing with your slots club card inserted or not. It’s impossible for it to have such an effect on your gaming experience.

Conclusion

Progressive slot machines can be a lot of fun as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into. Generally, I recommend avoiding them for games with lower jackpots, but certain players prefer to play for big, life-changing prizes.

If that’s your cup of tea, be my guest. What kinds of facts about progressive slots do you know that I haven’t covered here? Leave a comment and let me know.

The first progressive jackpot slot launched in March 1986 and was created by International Game Technology is known as IGT. Megabucks video slot featured a progressive jackpot that differed from other jackpots in the sense that instead of offering a fixed jackpot prize, its jackpot was linked and contributed to by a percentage of players wager.

The major fascination with the progressive jackpot was due to IGT’s announcement, the developer would fund the first million dollars to set the jackpot into motion, and by February 1987, the first jackpot winner, Reno cashed in a jackpot prize worth $4,988,842.17.

Being named the “biggest progressive jackpot” in the world is a title, many online software developers compete for, and currently, the two main contenders are Microgaming and NetEnt.

Best Progressive Slot Machines To Play

Microgaming launched its signature progressive jackpot slot titled Mega Moolah in December 2006, and during its steady climb from one million to five and a half without any winnings along the way, the first lucky winner was awarded $5.5 million in April 2008.

NetEnt released Mega Fortune in January 2009, the first winner of the mega jackpot bagged an extraordinary win worth €4.3 million, while the second winner won €3.9 million, yet the progressive jackpot first to astonish the world & enter the Guinness World Record was in January 2013 when a student from Finland claimed €17.8 million!

Best Progressive Jackpot Slots

Progressive Jackpots the Millionaire Makers

There are several types of progressive jackpots including standalone progressives, in-house progressive jackpots known online as local progressives and wide area progressive jackpots also referred to as linked progressive jackpots.

Progressive jackpots wins are something every player have fantasized about, its life-altering and a single spin can transform a casual player into a multi-millionaire. The difference between a jackpot and a progressive jackpot is major, fixed jackpots offer players the prize indicated in the paytable while progressive jackpots increase every time the slot is played, should the progressive jackpot be won the minimum jackpot prize instantly re-sets to its minimum guaranteed predetermined value.

Every online and land-based slot machine operates via a computerised algorithm called a random number generator referred to as the RNG, which determines the result of every spin and at the same time guarantees that every result is completely random. Playing a progressive jackpot very much depends on the progressive jackpot rules indicated in the paytable section. Most progressive jackpots state that the main jackpot prize can only be triggered via a maximum bet, but at the same time this hugely differs from one slot to the next. The first step towards winning a progressive jackpot is to ensure you are familiarised with the requirements, since should you be lucky enough to spin in the required combination it would be dramatic to only win a part of the jackpot should your selected bet not adhere to the conditions.

Types of Progressive Jackpots

The two main types of progressive jackpots offered at online casinos are local and pooled jackpots. Local progressive jackpots are exclusive to players at the casino, only wagers made by members contribute to the always increasing jackpot, and it can only be won at that casino. Local progressive increase slower than linked progressive jackpot and often don’t reach the same massive payouts in the same time-period.

Linked progressive jackpots are shared amongst several online casinos and players at all the participating casinos contributes to the same jackpot/s, while the progressive prize can be won by a member of any one of the participating casinos. The benefit of selecting to wager on a linked progressive jackpot is that the contributions from thousands of online players ensure that the top prize increase much quicker and that it always reaches multi-millions.

Video Slots Featuring Multiple Progressive Jackpots

One of the best-known progressive jackpots is Mega Moolah, which offers players the change to win three progressive jackpots linked to five different slots. The jackpots include the major offering the highest payout, the minor which is in the middle and the mini jackpot rewarding a lesser jackpot prize than the minor and the major.

Mega Fortune created by NetEnt also features three different progressive jackpots with the highest payout offered by the mega, a lesser payout by the major and the smallest of the three is the rapid progressive jackpot.

Unique Progressive Jackpots

NetEnt created, Cosmic Fortune slot is quite unique in that it offers avalanche style play with a total of five jackpots, consisting of a mixture of fixed and progressive jackpots.

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Playtech’s progressive jackpot titled Everybody’s Jackpot is an eight payline slot and in remaining true to its name the winner of the progressive jackpot shares a percentage of the prize with players who wagered in the past 24 hours. The winner receives 70% of the progressive jackpot prize, while the remaining 30% is distributed to the most recent participants.

Top Progressive Jackpots by Award-Winning Software Developers

Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune are the best known for their frequent multi-million payouts, although online players have an enormous variety to choose from, and therefore we list some of the most popular jackpots created by premier online software providers.

NetEnt: Mega Fortune, Arabian Nights, Hall of Gods, Mega Fortune Dreams, Cosmic Fortune

Microgaming: Major Millions, Mega Moolah, King Cashalot, Tunzamunni, Major Millions

Playtech: Jackpot Giant, Gold Rally, Beach Life, Gladiator, Age of the Gods, Funky Fruits

Yggdrasil: Joker Millions, Empire Fortune, Holmes & the Stolen Stones

Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by NetEnt

The biggest progressive payouts awarded by NetEnt’s progressive jackpots include €7,820,888 awarded by Hall of Gods on the 18th of April 2015, €8,835,872 won on Arabian Nights in November 2012, and Mega Fortune’s mega jackpot has awarded a lucky player with €8,577,104 in November 2015, €11,735,446 in September 2011 and its biggest payout yet was €17,860,868 on the 20th of January 2013.

Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by Microgaming

Mega Moolah is not only the biggest progressive jackpot part of the Microgaming platform it has also recently surpassed its biggest competitor when it awarded the biggest progressive payout on a slot on the 28th of September 2018 when the luckiest player in the world won €18,915,721. Other massive payouts by Mega Moolah also includes £13,212,882 in October 2015, $11,633,898 in November 2016 and $10,423,223 in April 2016.

Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by Playtech Slots

Playtech’s signature progressive jackpot is Beach Life which awarded its biggest payout to date in February 2012 when an anonymous winning cash in a prize worth $5,219,723, other high payouts also includes £3,780,736 in July 2015 as well as $4,248,570 in December 2009. Other high payouts awarded by Playtech slots include £3,917,927 in January 2016 via Jackpot Giant, and Gold Rally awarded £3,917,927 in November 2013.

Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by Yggdrasil Gaming Slots

Yggdrasil Gaming is a newcomer in the world of progressive jackpots games, although the developer has accumulated quite a list of big winners in recent years. The highest rewarding jackpot is Joker Millions, which have rewarded a €5,196,319 on the 4th of July 2017, €3,475,894 in October 2017, €3,201,285 in December 2016, and €2,881,257 in July 2016.

Mega Moolah vs Mega Fortune Progressive Jackpots

Mega Fortune is inspired by a wealthy theme. It represents the flamboyant lifestyle that awaits the winner of its mega jackpot across twenty-five paylines and five reels. While the background displays an evening-sky enjoyed on an island, lounge music sets the mood. The theme related symbols all drenched in gold and diamonds includes golden rings, silver and gold cufflinks, designer watches, cognac & cigars, limousines and a stack of cash kept orderly via a gold dollar designed money clip.

Ten different bet levels are available to select from, while the coin value starts from a minimum of $0.01 up to $0.50. Packed with bonus features, Mega Fortune enhances winning chances via wild yachts paying maximums worth up to 10,000 coins, champagne scatters releasing free spins and bonus wheels unlocking the door to the jackpot bonus round. The main attraction is the three progressive jackpots displayed directly above the reels, which includes the rapid, major and the mega jackpots.

Mega Moolah is inspired by the freedom of nature, it’s twenty-five paylines transport players to the wild where a purple monkey throws the bonus, and for the lucky winner, he predicts a life of riches. Apart from four progressive jackpots, Mega Moolah also features an array of fantastic bonus boosters including the wild lion replacing all symbols to increase combination winnings. The monkey represents the scatter, and during the free spins bonus round all payouts are tripled.

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Once the jackpot bonus round activated a window appears over the main game, and the player gets the chance to spin the wheel. The colour the bonus wheel halts on determines which of the progressive jackpots are won, the mini activates on red, the minor jackpot triggers on orange, the major n yellow and the mega jackpot pays out should the wheel land on the paw prints on the grey area.