What are jackpot online slots
Briefly, progressive online slots are also commonly known as jackpot slots, because they offer you a prize (jackpot) that grows every time someone makes a bet, until someone wins the whole sum. Then, the progressive jackpot returns to its initial value and starts accumulating again.
The jackpot will grow based on a small percentage of your action in that particular machine. Most jackpot online slot machines are combined with other online slots so that the jackpot grows faster, although there are still some online games that are autonomous.
The best way to think about jackpot slot machines is that they are the equivalent of the famous lottery game. This means that although the chances of winning are not that high, the prizes are incredibly big. Just like in the jackpot slots, in the lottery the size of the prize grows from draft to draft until the lucky one wins the lottery and therefore wins a jackpot.
You will know you are playing a progressive online slot when you see a prominent jackpot measurer showing you how big the prize is at that moment.
Jackpots
Jackpots
How to play jackpot slots
Let’s start by saying that jackpot progressive online slots have lower chances for the player when compared to other types of slots, meaning that the return percentage is lower.
The return percentage is a value that estimates the average value that will be returned to the player in long term wins, based on the actual chances of winning and the value of the prizes at stake. On the other hand, the house advantage estimates how much the player will lose with each bet.
The bigger the return percentage, the best the game will be for the player. For example, an online slot machine with a 95% return percentage is clearly better for the player than an online slot machine whose return percentage is just 80%.
Generally speaking, there are two factors that influence the fact that progressive jackpot slot machines have a lower return percentage. The first one is simple: a percentage of each bet is deviated in order to grow the size of the big jackpot and that amount comes directly from the return percentage.
The second factor is slightly more complicated. A big percentage of the game's return percentage is based on the jackpot payment. This means that if a game has a return percentage of 95%, 5% of that value will be actually the jackpot.
In conclusion, the most economical choice for the players is generally the classic slot machine and not the progressive slot machine. On the other hand, the prizes of the progressive slot machines are considerably higher.
You will find three different types of progressive slot machines:
Standalone or autonomous slot machines
An independent progressive slot machine is one where the jackpot can only be won on that machine. But playing on that machine counts towards increasing the jackpot. The jackpot size on a standalone game is almost always smaller than the jackpot on other types of machines.
Locally linked slot machines
A progressive local area network is a network of machines in the same casino, usually all within walking distance of each other. These jackpots are bigger than you would see in a standalone progressive jackpot, but not as big as you would see with a wide area progressive jackpot.
Global progressive slot machines
A wide area or global progressive jackpot is similar to what you see at Megabucks. Several machines in various locations feed the jackpot. These are the biggest progressive jackpots, because they are the largest networks of slots with the most money going in. Therefore, this format of game has the biggest payouts.
The best odds for the player can be found on the independent progressive slots, because the jackpot is smaller. In fact, the smaller the jackpot, the better the odds in a slot game.
How to play Jackpot slots
Typically, Jackpots for slots and other games of chance are the highest payout you can receive on a play. Now, these are the cases of Jackpots with a fixed value. However, in progressive slots, like we explained before, these games offer Jackpots that grow, progressively and indefinitely, until they are awarded to one lucky player.
So, if you want to qualify for a Progressive Jackpot, find out about the rules and make sure your bets are eligible. Start playing, wait for the necessary bonus round or symbols, and cross your fingers!
How it works
A Progressive Jackpot is a common prize accessible to several players of the same slot, the same casino or a network of casinos. Each time a player plays on a progressive slot, a small percentage of their wager feeds into their respective Jackpot. This means that the more bets placed on that slot, the bigger the Jackpot.
The prize progressively increases until one player wins it. The amount accumulated up to that point is handed over to the lucky player and the Jackpot is reduced to an initial base amount. This base amount will start to grow again as new bets are placed. At a given time, the accumulated amount will again be given to a lucky player. And so on.
Symbols and bonuses
In a typical progressive slot you will find wild symbols, scatters, free spins and bonus rounds. There are slot machines with exclusive symbols for activating the Progressive Jackpot. Other slots use scatter to activate the bonus round, which allows you to play for the long-awaited massive prize pool.
Strategy
Truth be told, there is no strategy that can guarantee you a Progressive Jackpot, as these prizes are distributed completely randomly, based on the RNG (Random Number Generator). However, it is important to know what the requirements are to win the Jackpot for each different casino game.
On some slots, only maximum bets are eligible for the Progressive Jackpot. However, remember that, in many cases, the biggest payouts are still within your reach, even if you bet with little money. Proof of this is the case of the Finnish player who, in 2013, won a Jackpot of almost 18 million euros, by betting just 25 cents on the Mega Fortune progressive slot!
We also recommend that you choose the progressive slot that you know how to play well. Please note that Progressive Jackpot slots often have lower payout rates than other games. Furthermore, Jackpots can inflate the RTP percentages of these slots.
Now that you know all there is to know about progressive slot machines, go on and chase that jackpot!
