John Price
pro gambler/drinker
- Sep 19, 2008
- 388,966
- 32,134
In the context of slot machines, a "progressive" refers to a type of jackpot that increases in value every time the game is played but the jackpot is not won. Here's how it works:
Progressive Slots
- Progressive Jackpot: A progressive slot machine features a jackpot that grows progressively with each bet placed on the machine. A portion of each bet contributes to the jackpot, causing it to increase over time until a lucky player wins it.
- Linked Machines: Progressive jackpots can be linked across multiple machines, either within a single casino or across multiple casinos. This means that multiple players are contributing to the same jackpot pool, which can lead to very large payouts.
- Types of Progressive Slots:
- Standalone Progressive: The jackpot is only fed by bets placed on a single machine. These jackpots tend to be smaller.
- In-House Progressive: Multiple machines within the same casino contribute to a shared jackpot. This can result in larger payouts.
- Wide-Area Progressive: Machines in different casinos, often across a region or even multiple states, contribute to a single jackpot. These are the largest jackpots and can reach millions of dollars.
- Winning the Jackpot: Typically, the progressive jackpot is won by hitting a specific combination of symbols on a maximum bet. In some cases, there might be special bonus games or features that trigger the jackpot.
- Reset After Win: Once a progressive jackpot is won, it resets to a predetermined minimum value and begins to grow again as more bets are placed.
Key Points About Progressive Slots:
- Higher Payouts: The main attraction of progressive slots is the potential for huge payouts. Some of the largest slot machine jackpots in history have been won on progressive slots.
- Higher Volatility: Because a portion of each bet goes toward the jackpot, payouts for other combinations may be smaller compared to non-progressive slots. This can make the game more volatile.
- Max Bet Requirement: To be eligible for the progressive jackpot, players often need to bet the maximum amount allowed on the machine. This makes playing progressive slots potentially more expensive than other types.
