A progressive jackpot is a jackpot that continues to grow until a lucky player wins it. Each bet in that game is added to the progressive jackpot until a single one runs off with the entire pot, which can be in the hundreds of thousands.
When we talk about progressive jackpot, we mean within the casino the slot machines that have a progressive jackpot. By the way, these slots work in the same way as other slot machines, except that the biggest prize, or jackpot, keeps increasing, instead of staying at the same level throughout the game and from game to game.
Progressive jackpots can be found at land-based casinos, as well as at online casinos. The combined jackpot win from these slot machines is far higher than winnings that could be paid out from a single jackpot slot game alone.
You may be wondering how so much money can accumulate to add up to such a large amount. It is done in such a way that a percentage of each player’s bet goes into the jackpot pool. For each spin from each player, the jackpot increases.
The amount by which the jackpot is increased with each individual bet is determined by the casino. The casino must also set aside part of the profit from the jackpot machine and add it to the jackpot pool. For a slot machine where the house wins by, for example, 6%, the contribution to the jackpot could be 1% (one sixth of the expected profit).
If you imagine many casinos with thousands of players playing the same jackpot game, it is immediately easier to understand how the total jackpot can be such a large amount.
Types of progressive jackpots
Single progression
Single-progressive jackpot slot machines are slot games that have no connection to other slot machines. Every time a player makes a bet on the slot machine, a percentage is taken and put into the jackpot pool.
The progressive jackpot on these slots is smaller than the jackpots on linked slots as they only accumulate the jackpot from the players on that specific slot. Here the jackpot is therefore smaller, typically a few thousand, but conversely the chance of winning is also greater.
Local progression
Local progressive jackpot slot machines – also called in-house progressive – are slot games that are connected to other slot games in the same casino. The progressive jackpots on these slots are higher than on the single ones, but not as high on machines that are progressive over a larger area. The jackpot wins are therefore in a medium-high rent, i.e. several thousand or tens of thousands, and again there is a greater chance of winning a jackpot in this rent than there is in a slot game with progression in a larger area.
Progression to a greater extent
If the slot game’s jackpot is progressive in a larger area, it can give the really big wins.
It can be the exact same game, or the progressive jackpot can be generated from a series of games. The games will typically belong to a third-party operator, and the casinos where they are played then share a percentage of the revenue.
The progressive jackpots from these slot games can even be extremely high, while the chance of winning them, on the other hand, is very low.
How to play progressive jackpot slots
You play a progressive jackpot slot game just like you play any other slot game; however, with a few exceptions.
For example, you can often see that the slot game has some kind of jackpot meter, which shows the current value of the progressive jackpot. As you play, you can therefore see that the jackpot is constantly increasing. At many online casinos, you can see a list of the available slot games with progressive jackpots, as well as how high their respective jackpots are.
In addition to a jackpot meter showing the value of the jackpot, you will also be able to see the winning combination needed to win the jackpot. For example, you may need to have 5 gold stars on an active payline to win.
When a player wins the jackpot, the jackpot meter is reset to its pre-programmed bottom level and the whole process starts over.
Qualification
The game itself in progressive jackpot slots is exactly like in other slot games. You choose your bet and coin value yourself. However, in most slot games with a progressive jackpot, you must play with the maximum bet in order to qualify to win the jackpot.
Make sure you’ve studied the rules of the game, as there’s hardly any worse scenario than hitting the jackpot and then finding out you didn’t qualify to win it! You can always find the rules of the game in the payment form, often marked in the game area with an ‘i’ or a question mark.
The record for progressive jackpots
Many people over the years have hit life-changing wins through slot games with progressive jackpots. On October 6, 2015, it happened to an English soldier named Jonathon Heywood. He tried a few single spins in the slot game Mega Moolah, where he deposited a very modest amount. Suddenly his life was completely changed, in a spin where with a bet of 25 cents he won no less than 17,879,645 Euros.
Jonathon is currently listed as a record holder in the Guinness Books of Records, for having won the largest jackpot in modern times.
Progressive jackpots in other types of games
Progressive jackpots are usually associated with slot machines. Nevertheless, many other games, also in the casino at Mr Green, can offer side wins in the form of progressive jackpots.
Caribbean Stud Poker is an example of this, as a ‘side bet’ is often offered here, which typically requires the equivalent of one euro to be placed in the box for the progressive bet. The jackpot is triggered the moment a player gets the highest possible hand, The payout is usually 10% of the progressive jackpot for a straight flush, and 100% if the player has a royal flush.
Progressive jackpots can also be seen in video poker and blackjack, as a ‘side-bet’. In progressive blackjack, a certain percentage of the jackpot pool is paid out to hands with special combinations, such as four aces of a suit.
Slot machines with progressive jackpot
All slot machines at Mr Green have top prizes of thousands and tens of thousands. In stark contrast, the progressive jackpot slot games have potential winnings in the hundreds of thousands. Here you see a few of our popular slot titles:
Royal Gems from Red Tiger
In addition to a ‘mini-jackpot’, you will find the daily jackpot in Royal Gems, which is around DKK 13,000. The equally progressive Mega Jackpot in Royal Gems will make you around 300,000 kroner richer!
In Royal gems you will meet lots of beautiful, sparkling jewels that make up the symbols. This slot has no paylines and instead you win when the symbols land in groups which are formed horizontally and vertically.
If groups of symbols cover the entire screen, all wins are doubled. A gold crown acts as a Wild that can change all symbols in a group to give you higher winnings.
Even if you should not win one of the three impressive jackpots, there are still plenty of good wins in Royal Gems.
Mercy of the Gods
Mercy of the Gods is a slot game from NetEnt where you relive ancient Egypt. All the symbols are beautiful renderings of the gods and archetypal icons from the fantastic realm.
In Mercy of Gods you will find Re-spins with double Wild symbols, a special bonus round with extra spins – and a fantastic pro jackpot.
You need three or more bonus symbols to trigger the bonus round, in which you have the chance to win the jackpot. There is a smaller jackpot in the bonus round in addition to the big Mega Jackpot, which is progressive.
Great Rhino
A slot machine with a disturbance meter meets you in this great slot game from the game provider Pragmatic Play. The main character of the game, the rhinoceros, can be a bit restless, and the volatility meter indicates the volatility of the game.
There is a lot of activity on the savanna, and as many as two progressive jackpots in Great Rhino. In addition to great wins on the great symbols, there is an exciting bonus game in the form of Super-spin.
In Superspin, all symbols with the rhinoceros will stay on the reels, and the number at the end of the Super-spin determines your win – it can be one of the two jackpots!