Progressive jackpots have taken the excitement of casino gaming, especially slot machines, to a whole new level. Because the possibility of winning a huge amount of money is something that appeals to novice and pro players alike. Understanding how progressive jackpots work, the best strategies to maximize your chances of winning, and the most popular progressive jackpot games can give you a leg up when you hit the casino floor or dive into the world of online slots. 

In this short yet comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about progressive jackpots, how to hit a life-changing payout, and some tips and strategies to help you increase your chances of winning.

What Is a Progressive Jackpot?

A progressive jackpot, as its name sounds, is a type of jackpot that progresses over time! In other words, as players place bets on a specific game or slot machine, a portion of every bet contributes to the growing jackpot, and the amount of the possible prize increases. While you may find a classic slot machine with a progressive jackpot, this is an evolutionary feature that differentiates video and classic slots. 

Unlike traditional jackpots, which pay out a fixed amount, progressive jackpots increase with every single wager. The more players that play the game, the higher the jackpot can climb. 

The Mechanics of Progressive Jackpot Slots

As mentioned above, each time a player makes a bet, a small portion of it goes toward growing the jackpot. The growth continues until a lucky player hits the winning combination, triggering the jackpot and winning it all. The concept and process of progressive jackpots remain the same regardless of whether you play an online slot game or a video slot machine at a physical casino. 

What makes progressive jackpots so exciting and popular is the idea that the prize can grow exponentially, especially in games with networked progressive jackpots, where multiple machines are linked together at a single casino or even across multiple casinos. 

This means that some jackpots can reach millions of dollars!

It’s important to note that typically, special terms and conditions are applied to progressive jackpot games. For instance, you may need to bet the maximum amount to be eligible for the progressive jackpot prize. If you bet less than the maximum, you may still win, but you will only be eligible for regular payouts according to the machine paylines. If you are new to slot machines, read my easy-to-understand slot guide to learn how to play slots and correctly read the paylines. 

Pros 

Huge Payouts: Progressive jackpot slots promise potential life-changing prizes, which can grow to millions of dollars over time as more players contribute to the prize pool by their wagers. 

Exciting Gameplay: The allure of the growing jackpot coupled with enticing graphics, bonus features, and free spins keeps players engaged and motivated for hours. 

Wide Accessibility: Progressive jackpot slots are available in both online and land-based casinos, making them accessible to players worldwide. The easy access nature of these games with the possibility of big wins makes them insanely popular, especially among online casino gamblers. 

Chance for Big Wins on Small Bets: Many progressive jackpot slots have very low minimum betting limits and denominations, allowing players to bet small for a chance to win big. This means even those on a tight budget can have a chance to win big. 

Variety of Themes: There are numerous progressive jackpot slots, each with different themes and gameplay features. This allows players to find a game that suits their tastes and preferences, as the number of choices is unlimited. 

Cons

Lower Odds of Winning: While the jackpots can be massive, the odds of winning a progressive jackpot are typically very low. The more players contributing to the jackpot, the harder it becomes to hit the winning combination.

Higher Stakes: Some progressive jackpot slots require players to make the maximum bet to be eligible for the jackpot. This can be a significant disadvantage for those with a limited bankroll.

Frequent Smaller Payouts: Progressive slots tend to have smaller payouts compared to non-progressive machines. The focus on the jackpot can mean less frequent wins or smaller amounts for regular spins.

Fixed Jackpots vs. Progressive Jackpots

Most classic slot machines come with fixed jackpots, allowing players to win up to a preset amount of prizes according to the paylines and number of winning combinations.

The key difference between a progressive jackpot and a fixed jackpot is how the prize grows.

• Progressive jackpots grow exponentially over time, with each wager adding to the jackpot prize pool until a lucky winner hits it. This means the jackpot can increase to staggering amounts, sometimes even surpassing millions.
• Fixed jackpots, on the other hand, are set amounts that do not change at all. The prize remains constant, no matter how many players play and place their bets.

When it comes to RTP or Return to Player rate, fixed jackpots promise slightly higher payouts, as no portion of the bet is going to the jackpot fund. These slot games have low to medium volatility due to their more predictable and consistent payout structure. This means you can expect smaller but more frequent wins while playing fixed jackpot slots.

Progressive jackpots, on the other hand, offer slightly lower RTPs because part of each wager is allocated to the growing jackpot fund. Progressive jackpot slots are high volatility machines. They pay out huge amounts of money but less frequently.

Online Progressive Jackpot Games

Most people tend to think that progressive machines are only found at local and land-based casinos. This is not true. Thanks to the leading casino gaming software providers, modern video slot machines feature single and networked progressive jackpots with staggering possible prizes. There are online slot games with crazy progressive jackpot amounts that you can never ever find at physical slot halls. For example, one of the biggest progressive jackpot wins was reported on Aug 19, 2024, when a lucky bettor turned a $200 bet into $6.45 million by hitting the crazy online progressive jackpot at BetMGM casino in New Jersey, marking the largest jackpot win in US online casino history. 

Best Progressive Jackpots to Play Online

While choosing the best slot games to play depends more on your personal preferences, bankroll, gambling skills, and risk tolerance, the best slot machines have high RTP, lower house edge, and provide an overall satisfying gaming experience. 

How to Win Progressive Jackpots: 6 Tips to Maximize Winnings

While the odds of hitting a progressive jackpot are low and you really need a lot of luck to hit that life-changing payout, to maximize your winnings from progressive jackpot slot machines, leverage the power of the following strategies:

Play the max: Many progressive jackpots require you to wager the maximum bet to qualify for the jackpot. If you play lower than that, you might not be eligible for the huge prize. Even if this is not the case, betting the maximum is a strategy to ensure all paylines are covered and your chances of winning are boosted. 

Choose the right game: While all progressive jackpots are known to belong to high-volatility machines, not all games are the same. Some slots have smaller jackpots but more frequent payouts, while others have enormous jackpots that are hit very rarely. So, choose the game that best suits your gambling needs.

Practice bankroll management: Progressive jackpots often require a longer playtime to increase the chances of hitting the jackpot as well as higher denominations and betting limits. It means you need a solid bankroll and should properly manage it to avoid big losses. Manage your bankroll and always gamble responsibly. 

Always choose the highest RTP: Progressive jackpots have slightly lower RTPs than classic slots. Still, you should always choose the slot with the highest RTP among the progressive jackpot machines. 

Claim your free spins: Welcome bonuses, free spins, and reload bonuses are the best way to extend your playing time at progressive slots without risking your money. 

Understand the T&C: Progressive jackpots come with specific rules, such as eligibility for the jackpot, if you must hit certain conditions (like completing a bonus round), or the commission that the house deducts from your winnings before you can claim the jackpot. Make sure to read the full terms before placing your bets.

Last Few Words

Progressive jackpots are insanely popular among novice and pro casino players due to their alluring features such as eye-catching graphics, varying themes, bonus features, and, most importantly, the possibility to win a life-changing prize with a small-sized bet.

While the odds are low, the next-level excitement, bonus features, possibility of huge wins, and accessibility keep players engaged for hours and make them come back to our world-class slot library for fresh progressive jackpot slots every day!

Grab your phone, hit the Zopodabet slot library, choose a popular progressive slot, claim your welcome bonus, and spin the reels to win big.

FAQ

What is a progressive jackpot? 

A jackpot that increases every time someone plays the linked slot machines without winning it.  A small portion of each wager contributes to the growing prize pool.

How do I win a progressive jackpot?

There is no guarantee to win a jackpot. However, if you manage your bankroll effectively, choose the machine with high RTP, and bet the max, you can increase your chances of winning. 

Are progressive slots harder to win on?

Generally, yes. The odds of winning a progressive jackpot is low. Still, the potential reward is huge, which is why progressive slots remain popular.

Are online progressive slots rigged?

No. Legitimate online casinos use random number generators (RNGs) to ensure fair play on all slot machines, including progressives.  The odds are always against the player, but the game is fair.