Slot machines a long way since the traditional 3-reel classics found in land-based casinos. Nowadays, most slots are video slots with 5 reels, bonus features, and sophisticated graphics and sound effects. Two popular modern slot innovations are progressive jackpots and mega jackpots. These jackpot slots offer life-changing prizes that keep on growing until someone hits the big win.
Progressive jackpots work
A progressive jackpot is a top prize that increases incrementally with every wager made. A small percentage of each bet fuels the rising jackpot until a lucky winner scores the loot.
- Standalone progressives– The jackpot grows from bets made on a single machine. These are often seen in brick-and-mortar casinos.
- Proprietary progressives– A jackpot shared across slots from a single provider. All slot contribute a piece of the action to the shared pot.
- Wide area progressives– Jackpots spread across slots located in multiple casinos. This allows the top prize to grow into the millions from many players’ bets.
The progressive jackpot is reset to a base value after each win. While some slots host modest progressives in the thousands, it’s not uncommon to see networked progressives reach the millionaire-making millions.
Mega jackpot slots
Mega jackpot slots are similar to wide area progressives in that the top prize is shared across a network of games. However, mega-jackpot games tend to start with a mega-sized base jackpot of $1 million or more. The jackpots increase from there, sometimes reaching dizzying eight-figure sums before a fortunate spin hits the grand prize. Mega jackpot slots also differ in that they usually have multiple tiers of smaller prizes. Matching certain symbols may unlock one of the lower-tiered jackpots in the tens of thousands of dollars. Everyone hopes to land the big mega jackpot, which is appropriately named. Some popular examples of mega jackpot slot series include Mega Moolah, Megabucks, and Mega Fortune.
Tips for winning progressive & mega jackpots
– Pay attention to the jackpot size. Focus your play on games with jackpots in the higher ranges for the best odds at life-altering wins.
- Always bet max. Most progressive and mega jackpot slots require betting the maximum number of coins per spin to qualify for the full jackpot payout.
- Take advantage of promotions. Sometimes online casinos offer special bonuses to attract players to their progressive slots.
- Remain patient. Landing a mega-sized progressive win involves luck. Don’t get discouraged – someone has to win eventually.
- Join at the right time. Avoid slots that were recently hit, as their jackpots will be reset lower. Look for games that are ripe to pay out.
- Consider session length. The longer your play period, the more chances you have at triggering the jackpot bonus round. Marathon play raises the odds.
While progressive jackpot wins rely largely on chance, there are small advantages to be gained from strategy. By focusing play on slots with jackpots in the 100k+ range, betting max lines, and playing frequently, a player tilts the odds in their favor as much as possible. Combining these approaches with sheer persistent play over time occasionally leads to the mother-lode jackpot every slot junkie dreams about.
