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This works perfectly well because of a little tricky nuance: the more players are playing the same progressive slot machine online, the more contributors to the jackpot there will be. As for the betting options, you’ll basically find online slots with progressive jackpots offering much less flexible odds than a regular fixed jackpot game has. Progressive Jackpot Slots List of progressive slots you can play for free on our website Play jackpot slots online! Best Casino Affiliate; 2016, 2017, 2019.

If you have ever seen an advertisement for a casino that had huge amounts (often in the millions) offered as top payouts you have probably seen games with a progressive jackpot. Keep reading to learn what a progressive jackpot is, how they work, different types of progressives, and where you can find them.

What Are Progressive Jackpots?

Progressive jackpots are amounts offered as the top payouts for particular casino games that continue climbing until a player wins. They are available on a wide range of games, but the most common ones are tied to slot machines.

They tend to run from thousands of dollars all the way up to millions of dollars. Progressive jackpot games are available at online casinos as well as in land-based casinos.

Most progressive jackpot games require maximum wagers to be eligible for the jackpot amount. So if you hit whatever the required combination or hand is to win the progressive but haven’t wagered the correct amount you won’t win the progressive.

This would have to be one of the absolute worst feelings in the world so make sure you both understand the minimum wagering requirements to be eligible for the progressive and are always betting at that level or higher when you play on a progressive game.

The most common example of this is a video poker game with a progressive jackpot. On most machines, you have to wager five coins to unlock the top payouts. So if you are playing a quarter video poker machine the total bet at five coins would be $1.25 per hand.

If you bet less than this and hit the top paying hand you will only win the amount listed for your number of coins, not the progressive jackpot. If you aren’t comfortable betting as much, you should play for a lower amount per coin.

You may be able to play the same video poker game in a nickel machine, making your bet .25 for a five-coin wager. Many slot machines have the same ability to play for a lower amount per line.

How Progressive Jackpots Work

Progressive jackpots build over time until a player wins them, then they reset to a predetermined level and start building again. The way they build is by taking a percentage of every bet made on the game the progressive jackpot is associated with and adding it to the jackpot amount.

Here’s a fictitious example so you can see exactly how a progressive jackpot works. The example uses numbers that are easy to compute for the purpose of this page. These numbers are not necessarily representative of a real-life progressive game but are an accurate representation of the mechanics.

We’ll use a slot machine with an attached progressive jackpot as an example. The slot machine takes 10% of every wager and places it in the progressive jackpot amount. After the jackpot is won the amount is reset to $100,000. The reset amount is generally accumulated from the contributions to the overall progressive jackpot.

In this example, 1% is used to fund the next reset amount and 9% goes straight to the progressive amount until $100,000 is accumulated in the reset account. Once the $100,000 is accumulated the entire 10% is used for the climbing jackpot. Another way this can be handled is the casino or software provider, whoever is running the progressive, fronts the $100,000 and the 10% goes toward that until it is taken care of.

Then the progressive will continue growing. There are a few other ways the reset amount can be handled, but the important thing to know is the seed amount is taken from the wagers on the game just like the progressive amount.

Continuing with our example, you are playing for a total cost per spin of $2.50. In this case .25 of each spin is contributed to the progressive jackpot amount and $2.25 is handled just like it is on a non-progressive machine. The other pay outs and the profit from the machine are taken from this second amount.

A common misunderstanding is the belief that the casinos are taking a huge cut of the progressive jackpots. The casinos tend to make more money on large progressive jackpot machines, but not because they are getting a cut of the jackpot. Generally, they pay out 100% of the jackpot between the jackpot amount and the reset amount.

The reason they can make more profit on the largest progressive jackpot games is because of the extra players who are trying to hit the big win. The media coverage picks up when jackpots get high and it increases the number of players. The additional profit comes from the second amount ($2.25) in our example.

For example, if the machine in our example is set to pay out 90% over time, the casino will make 22.5 (twenty two and a half) cents per bet. So here is the complete breakdown of a $2.50 wager on the slot machine in question.

What are the Differences Between a Local and Wide Area Progressive Jackpot

From a player’s perspective, there really isn’t a big difference between a local progressive jackpot and a wide area progressive jackpot. A wide area progressive jackpot is also sometimes called a linked jackpot and some progressives are called a bank. The wide area jackpot tends to build faster because there are more players, but the mechanics of how the jackpots build are the same.

A wide area progressive jackpot is one shared across games, usually slot machines, across a range of properties. For example, you might find the same progressive slot machine games in numerous land-based casinos or in online casinos running the same software platform. If they are part of a wide area progressive they each feed into the same jackpot and payout from the same jackpot pool.

When there are hundreds or even thousands of players playing the same machines at the same time the progressive amount is bound to go up faster than local progressives.

A local progressive jackpot is one that is usually tied to a single game. An example that many players have seen of a local progressive is a progressive game of Caribbean Stud poker. The progressive is usually only tied to the individual game or group of the particular games at the particular casino.

In other words, if the casino has three tables offering Caribbean Stud, all three will more than likely share the same progressive, but no games outside of them will contribute. Note that the three games do not have to share the same jackpot. They can have three separate progressive jackpots.

You will also run into a bank of slot machines in land-based casinos that share a progressive jackpot. These machines don’t share a jackpot with any slots not included in the bank of machines.

If you are wondering where the line is drawn between local and wide area progressive games, in my mind if the game is linked to games offered at other casinos, either land-based or online, it is a wide area. If it is tied to a single game or a group of games in the same casino it is a local progressive.

Of course, it does go back to the first part of this section in the fact it doesn’t really matter for players. All that matters is how big the jackpot is and what you have to do to qualify for it.

What Types of Games Can Have Progressive Jackpots?

The most common types of games that have progressive jackpots are slot machines. While the slots that are most likely to have progressives are the newer video slots with multiple pay lines, often with bonus rounds and other features, progressives can be found on all types of machines.

I’ve seen progressives on just about any type of slot machines that you can think of, including three reel machines. I have also seen progressive jackpots tied to video poker machines and table games.

Though it really goes beyond the scope of this page, when you consider playing a video poker game with a progressive jackpot compare the paytable of the progressive machine and a non-progressive one. The progressive video poker game is almost always a worse paytable than the non-progressive one.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play the progressive machine, because sometimes the progressive amount will get high enough that it is actually a profitable game to play.

An actual example of this that I have seen many times is Jacks or Better. The best Jacks or Better machines are called 9 / 6 machines, offering 9 coin payouts for a full house and 6 coin payouts for a flush. The progressive jacks or better games tend to only pay 8 coins for a full house and 5 coins for a flush.

Common table games with progressive jackpots include Caribbean Stud Poker, roulette and Let it Ride. Theoretically, just about any table game can be tied to a progressive jackpot. Most of the ones that have progressives have them tied to a side bet.

A common example is a $1 side bet. It’s up to each player whether he or she places the progressive jackpot side bet. I have even seen more than one table game tied to the same progressive jackpot.

For example, a casino could have their Caribbean Stud and Let it Ride progressives together. This can create higher jackpots faster as more people are contributing to the jackpots.

Are There Progressive Jackpots Online and Off?

You’ll find great progressive jackpot games both online and at land-based casinos. Anything the casinos can do to get more people to play they will usually do and huge progressive jackpots help get players in the door or in the virtual door.

So as long as progressive jackpots continue helping the casino make money you will continue to find them at all different kinds of casinos.

Popular Progressive Jackpot Games

Here is a table with some of the most popular progressive jackpot games both online and off. The amounts continue to climb and reset, so the popularity of these games goes up and down with the amount of the top payouts.

These are just a few of the hundreds of possible progressive jackpots so if you don’t see any you like, just take a quick look around at your favorite casino. You are sure to find plenty of other options.

Should I Play Progressive Jackpot Games?

This is a question that only you can answer. There are progressive jackpots that are life changing amounts, but the odds of ever winning one are so high that millions of players will never hit one in their life. But many players view all of their gambling as entertainment expense and don’t really count on winning anything in the long run.

If you have the money to play with and can view your gambling as an entertainment expense, then, by all means, try to hit a big progressive jackpot. As a side note, there is nothing wrong with either gambling as an entertainment expense or gambling while trying to find an advantage against the casino. I am not judging either way, just covering as much of the subject as I can.

Many casual casino players will play a few casino games instead of going out to eat or taking in a movie. If you were going to spend a couple hundred on a night out, why not use it instead to take your chances at your favorite slot machine or table game? Even if you play the games with the highest house edge you will occasionally leave a winner.

You can also find progressive jackpots that get so high that they can be played with a statistical edge over the casinos in the long run. I mentioned this when discussing video poker above and it is an in-depth topic that can’t be covered in full here, but it is possible and when you find these situations on a game you enjoy you should take advantage of them and play.

Millions of people continue to play real money casino games despite the fact that the odds are stacked against them. There are a couple of reasons why, and the simplest among them is that it’s fun. One of the most important, though, is that certain casino games feature prizes that can change your life in a heartbeat.

I’m talking about progressive jackpots, of course. Unlike regular jackpots that are fixed and always worth the same number of coins, the progressive jackpots constantly grow. A chunk of every wager placed on the game is added to the pool, and once a player hits the jackpot, he wins everything.

The best thing about progressive jackpots is that many developers actually share the same game between many online casinos, so the jackpots rise with lightning speed. We’ve seen them reach millions in the past, and you can often hit them with a couple of bucks.

If that’s what you’re looking for when playing online, you’ve come to the right place. I have prepared a list of the best progressive jackpots at online casinos in 2020. Most of the games are slots, but there are other options as well. Enjoy, and good luck!

Food Fight – Best Progressive Slot for USA Players

• Theme: Food
• Game Category: Slots
• Developer: Real Time Gaming
• Casino: Bovada Casino

US players don’t have access to many real money online casinos, and naturally, their pick of games with progressive jackpots is restricted compared to the rest of the word. And yet, there are some excellent titles available. The one that I like the most is Food Fight, developed by Real Time Gaming and available at Bovada Casino.

The gameplay is rather simple and features standard symbols, as well as wilds and scatters. To win the progressive jackpot, you must hit five chocolate puddings on an active payline. Another condition is to use max stakes, so have that in mind when playing Food Fight.

The grand prize often reaches six or even seven figures, so this slot is perfect for jackpot hunters. On top of that, it comes with a decent 95% RTP, which is significantly higher than other titles of this type and one of the main reasons I included Food Fight to my list of the best progressive jackpots at online casinos in 2020.

If you want to try it out, feel free to use the button below and join Bovada Casino now. You will find a couple more progressive jackpots there, too.

Diamond Super 7’s – Live Blackjack Progressive Jackpot

• Theme: (none)
• Game Category: Blackjack
• Developer: Visionary Gaming
• Casino: BetOnline Casino

My second suggestion is for those of you who like to play blackjack. BetOnline’s live casino offers one of the best progressive jackpots in 2020 called Diamond Super 7’s. If you hit 21 with three 7s of diamonds on the blackjack tables, you win the progressive jackpot.

The good news is that there are smaller prizes like $1,000 for 21 with three red sevens and $100 for 21 any three sevens. It’s a nice way to add more thrill to blackjack, which is an awesome game but can be monotonous at times.

The BetOnline Live Casino’s jackpot often goes over the $100,000 mark, which is a good reason to give it a shot.

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Mega Moolah – Biggest Progressive Jackpot Online

• Theme: African Safari
• Game Category: Slots
• Developer: Microgaming
• Casino: Betway Casino

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Let’s face it, no list of the best progressive jackpots at online casinos would be full without Microgaming’s blockbuster Mega Moolah. And not only in 2020, but in pretty much any other year.

This is the game that has awarded some of the most insane jackpots in the history of online casinos. There have been multiple occasions of people that became millionaires overnight, and we’ve even seen the $20 million mark crossed.

The main reason is the shared jackpot and the fact that Mega Moolah is offered by many casinos on the web. My favorite one is Betway Casino, so I recommend you try it out and enjoy other real money jackpots as well.

Caribbean Stud – Progressive Jackpot for Casino Poker

• Theme: (none)
• Game Category: Casino Poker
• Developer: Real Time Gaming
• Casino: El Royale

Fans of casino poker games don’t have many online progressive jackpots to go after, but El Royale Casino offers that opportunity. I’ve picked Caribbean Stud Poker for my recommended options, but you could also try Caribbean Hold’em Poker.

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Both games have a progressive jackpot that often reaches six figures. That can’t compare with some of the slots on the web, but it’s still a huge reward. The best news is that El Royale Casino also accepts American players, so you can hit the tables right away from the USA.

Major Millions – Best Classic Slot with Progressive Jackpot

• Theme: Classic
• Game Category: Slots
• Developer: Microgaming
• Casino: Spin Casino

If you’ve been playing real money casino games online for long enough, you certainly saw Major Millions over the years. It’s one of the most popular slots with progressive jackpot out there. Microgaming has released a couple of other versions because of the title’s success, but the vanilla game is still available in many places, and Spin Casino is one of the best.

The slot was designed to accommodate players that prefer simple gameplay with only a handful of paylines and not many extra features. If that’s what you like, you should certainly try Major Millions.

I almost forgot to mention that the progressive jackpot often reaches $500,000 or more.

Gold Rush Gus – Best Progressive Jackpot for Australians

• Theme: Gold Rush
• Game Category: Slots
• Developer: In-House
• Casino: Joe Fortune Casino

The online gambling laws in Australia are specific, and the players have access to few casinos. Since I know that we have readers from the country, I decided to share my pick for the best progressive jackpot online for Australians.

Joe Fortune Casino’s Gold Rush Gus is my pick, as this is an excellent slot that features nice side games, smooth graphics, and a huge prize.

Since it was developed by the same company that is behind Bovada Casino, players from other countries can try Gold Rush Gus, too.

If you are from Australia, though, Joe Fortune Casino is the place for you.

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Wings of Ra – Progressive Jackpot With High RTP

• Theme: Ancient Egypt
• Game Category: Slots
• Developer: Red Tiger
• Casino: Slots Million Casino

If you are looking for the progressive jackpot slot with the highest payout in 2020 in terms of RTP, Wings of Ra is my favorite option. The game will return about 96% of all wagers in the form of prizes, which is much better than almost any other slot that includes a progressive jackpot.

That means that you can play for a long time without losing most of your money, which is a real danger when it comes to similar games.

Wings of Ra also features nice graphics and a free spins feature that provides more opportunities to win. The overall quality of the slot is excellent, which is why you can find it in many places. I believe that Slots Millions Casino is the top choice because it features thousands of other titles if you get bored with this one.

More Tips on Progressive Jackpots

Now that I’ve shared my picks for the best progressive jackpots at online casinos in 2020, let me give you a couple of quick tips for playing such games. The first one is to always check the conditions required to win the big prize. In some cases, only the max wagers count, and that’s important to know.

You should also stick to reliable casinos that have the intention to actually pay if you the jackpot. Any of the online casinos mentioned above meet that criteria. You can also check our list of trusted casinos online for more examples.