Unlock Your Fortune with Progressive Jackpots!

To say the progressive jackpot is very popular in gambling would be an understatement, as many players dream of clearing these gigantic winnings. A progressive jackpot offers a higher win potential. In the following guide by NetEnt Games, we will take you through all things progressive jackpots. These jackpots vary a lot in terms of value and total participant count, and you can find them in different types of games, where they can be triggered in several ways. However, progressive jackpots all have one thing in common: a small part of the bet from each player who is playing the game is taken to make the jackpot grow as a collective.

What is a Progressive Jackpot?

A jackpot is a big win and progressive means that it grows over time. This accumulation continues until a lucky player triggers it. Everyone who plays the corresponding casino game contributes to the growth of the progressive jackpot. From each stake that players make, a small part is added to the pool.

Progressive jackpots exist in many types of gambling. Lotteries in particular work on this principle, but games such as poker, video poker or blackjack can also have one of these jackpots. Most often, we find progressive jackpots in slot games.

For online casinos, progressive slot games are by far the most popular.

NetEnt’s slot machines with the biggest jackpots

NetEnt is an international award-winning game developer with a long history of creating progressive online slots. Here are the slots that have already paid out millions.

Mega Fortune

With a single payout of 17.86 million, this progressive jackpot slot has secured a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Luxuriously themed, it is no wonder this slot is breaking records.

Hall of the Gods

A very popular jackpot slot by NetEnt is Hall of the Gods. On average, this slot, which focuses on Norse mythology, has the potential to pay out around 5.7 million.

Arabian Nights

Inspired by the stories contained in the 1001 Arabian Nights, this slot offers an adventure on the hot Middle Eastern sands. Since it is based on stories revolving around riches, it is no wonder it paid out a whopping 2.75 million to one lucky player.

What are the types of Progressive Jackpots?

Progressive jackpots can be divided into several types. It is mainly a question of which players participate in the growth of the jackpot with their stakes.

Progressive Jackpot

A fraction of the wagers is kept from each player who plays a progressive online slot or other game of chance with an accumulating jackpot in order to make the jackpot grow. There are even progressive jackpots that include different slots.

Jackpots in a network

In the case of jackpots in a network, players at multiple casinos become part of a collective network that helps the jackpot to grow. This can take place across multiple countries as well. This jackpot is triggered randomly by playing any slot from the network.

Jackpots in a certain casino

They are also called local jackpots. Here, players increase the jackpot of one or more games in a single casino with a portion of their bets. Accordingly, only players from this casino can win the jackpot.

Fixed Jackpot

A fixed jackpot is not progressive, but it is nevertheless typically offered at gambling sites. With a fixed jackpot, the value is already defined in advance. In slot machines, for example, you will regularly find fixed jackpots that amount to a certain part of the stake.

What does the progressive jackpot cycle look like?

A progressive jackpot always has a cycle. This usually consists of three stages that always repeat in the same order:

• The casino or the software provider stocks the jackpot with a basic amount.
• The jackpot grows through parts of the players’ stakes.
• The jackpot is triggered, paid out to the player and reset to the basic amount.

Sometimes, the jackpot starts at zero. However, this is extremely rare. An empty jackpot isn’t attractive, so there is usually a varying basic amount to which the jackpot is reset.

What are the win mechanics of a Progressive Jackpot?

Whether you win the jackpot, or not, depends on pure chance. However, there are differences in the way it is triggered. These differences exist to make the game as exciting as possible. The jackpot is always triggered by an algorithm based on a random number generator (RNG), which also dictates the probabilities of regular winnings in online gambling. RNG ensures that all players have an equal and fair chance of winning the pot. Here are some of the different ways in which such a game mechanic can work.

Random Triggering

To trigger the jackpot, you don’t need to do more than play the corresponding slot. With every spin, you participate with a chance of winning.

Winning by certain symbol combinations

Some jackpots work in such a way that they are triggered when a specific winning combination lands. For example, you may have to fill a specific payline with scatter or wild symbols to hit the jackpot.

Jackpot Bonus Game

To add to the entertainment and thrill, some online slots allow you to win the jackpot in a bonus round. To trigger this, certain conditions must be met. In many online slots, you can see a bonus game featuring coin symbols. Depending on the extent to which the gaming grid is filled with coins, one triggers the main prize or smaller jackpots.

Triggering at a certain amount or after a certain time

There are so-called must-drop jackpots that are hit when a certain amount is reached or after a certain time. Even though all players have the same chances here, the trend we usually witness is more and more players place bets near the end of the jackpot period.

Are there any strategies to win a Progressive Jackpot?

Even though many players wish this were the case, unfortunately, there are no secret tricks to increase the chance of hitting the jackpot. The NetEnt progressive slot jackpots are among the largest in the world, but they are also triggered purely by chance. Nevertheless, there are some tips that we can give you when playing for progressive jackpots. Here are the 3 most important ones:

Tip 1: Make sure that you have a chance to win the progressive jackpot with your stake.

Did you know that there are online slots where you only can trigger the jackpot with the highest possible bet? Therefore, take a close look at the game description and find out what stake is required for the jackpot. Remember, often, only the highest bet is eligible for the jackpot.

Tip 2: Keep an eye on your bankroll

Effective bankroll management is essential for gambling. This will not increase your chances of winning, but it will give you the opportunity to keep your losses in check. Be aware of the budget you have available and never risk more than you can afford to lose.

Tip 3: Pay attention to the volatility

As a rule of thumb, the chance of winning the jackpot decreases with the size of the prize. The more players that participate towards a particular progressive jackpot slot and thus contributing to the growth of the jackpot, the lower the chance for each individual to win it. Therefore, the possibility of hitting a million-dollar jackpot can be one in several million.

Summary

For many players, progressive jackpots are the highlight of casino games. Slots in particular offer the opportunity to win enormous amounts of money. Jackpots bring added excitement for the player, however, only a few players hit a jackpot and the odds of winning are relatively low.

FAQ on Progressive Jackpots