Divine Fortune, Wheel of Wishes, and Mega Moolah are among the most popular progressive jackpot slots on the planet. They are known for dropping life-altering jackpots, some of which have exceeded the $20 million mark. If you want to take down a massive progressive jackpot, look for games with proven payout histories.
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Apple, Euteller, Fastbanktransfer, Ideal, Mastercard, Neteller and 5 moreThe best progressive jackpot slots offer the chance to win millions of dollars in a single spin. We suggest focusing on top-performing games and choosing online progressive slots with a history of considerable payouts. Let’s check out the 10 most popular progressive jackpot games.
The best progressive jackpot slots can be categorized in many ways, including by jackpot size, RTP, volatility, and features like Cascading Reels, Free Spins, bonus Games, and Buy Bonus. To find the most suitable option for you, focus on the category that best suits your bankroll and playing style.
If you are seeking progressive jackpot slots with the highest RTP (or Return to Player), consider Divine Fortune, Mercy of the Gods, and Mega Joker. Make sure to check the game’s specs to ensure the published RTP is actually high. Shoot for 97% RTP and higher.
Divine Fortune, Mega Fortune Dreams, and Treasure Nile are some of our top progressive slots for beginners. In addition to huge win potential, these games feature basic mechanics along with low to medium volatility, which equates to more frequent (but smaller) payouts.
You don’t have to risk a lot of money for a chance to win an enormous progressive jackpot. Wheel of Wishes, Divine Fortune, and Age of the Gods are ideal for smaller budgets. Stake ranges for these games can start as low as just $0.10 per spin. Not only do lower stakes better suit smaller budgets, but they go a long way toward maximizing the length of a session while offering a shot at smaller side jackpots.
Divine Fortune, Ozwin’s Jackpots, and Holmes & the Stolen Stones are three prime examples of progressive jackpot slots that come with the most easily triggered bonus rounds. If you want to enjoy the most innovative features, try selecting games with Symbol Collection. Selecting games with Bonus Buy allows you to jump directly into a Bonus Round.
Progressive jackpot slots are real-money online slot machines that take a portion of each bet and add it to an ever-growing jackpot. Every time a player places a bet, the jackpot increases. Seeing how thousands of people can be playing the same progressive slot simultaneously across multiple online casinos, it’s easy to visualize how quickly these jackpots can grow as large as 7 or 8 figures.
A progressive jackpot typically starts with a seed amount. In other words, the operator or game provider starts the jackpot. For instance, Games Global seeds Mega Moolah jackpots with $2 million. The jackpot then grows as a percentage of each stake that contributes to the jackpot. Once the jackpot is won, the process starts over again.
There are two main types of progressive jackpots. With a local jackpot, the jackpot comes from just a single, stand-alone game. Then there are networked jackpots in which the jackpot is connected to multiple machines. These are the ones that can get really big.
You’ll find that many modern progressive jackpot slots offer multiple jackpots. In most cases, they are divided into Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega tiers. A lot of online progressive slots offer a low base RTP. This is mainly due to the contribution that each bet makes to the jackpot. Instead of that extra RTP being returned through gameplay, it goes toward the grand prize. It’s a bit like a tax.
Most progressive jackpots start with the game provider or casino operator seeding the jackpot. A small portion of each wager is then funneled into the jackpot, allowing it to continually grow. Once a lucky player wins the progressive jackpot, the process is repeated, starting with the addition of seed money. Please note that there are a few ways to trigger a jackpot:
Some jackpots are released randomly. You don’t have to correctly line up Symbols on a payline or know a secret handshake. It will simply drop out of nowhere and fall into your lap.
Some progressive jackpots require the player to land a specific set of Symbols. In many cases, the main progressive jackpot can only be won in a bonus round, such as a bonus pick ‘em game or free spins.
Must-drop jackpots are progressive jackpots that are guaranteed to pay out within a specific time frame or before they reach a particular value. This makes things a little more predictable. For example, a Daily Must-Drop will dispense its jackpot sometime that day. Likewise, an Hourly Must-Drop will pay out within the hour.
This is where several slots are connected to the same progressive jackpot. Mega Moolah is a good example. Thousands of players can be simultaneously playing it across hundreds or even thousands of online casinos across the globe. As such, the jackpot quickly and steadily increases.
The three main types of progressive jackpots are stand-alone, local, and network progressives. Network progressives typically offer the most significant potential payouts, while stand-alone progressives typically offer the smallest.
Stand-alone progressive jackpots are generated and paid out on a single slot machine. Almost all top online casinos offer stand-alone progressive jackpot slots. The jackpots are often measured in hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Local progressive jackpots are scaled-down versions of network jackpots. Instead of hundreds or thousands of machines being connected across multiple casinos, local progressives usually connect a few machines within a single venue. In other words, the progressive jackpot is only available at that particular casino.
Network progressives, or wide-area progressive jackpots, are jackpots that are shared across several online casinos. All players who play a network progressive slot contribute to the same jackpot. Some networks can have thousands of slots connected to them. Generally speaking, these jackpots grow the fastest and can get very big.
Mega Moolah, WowPot!, Mega Fortune, and Wheel of Wishes are among the most popular progressive jackpot slots of all time, and they have paid out some of the largest jackpots in history. We’re talking jackpot sizes in excess of $10 million. We suggest trying games like these if you want a shot at taking down a record-breaking jackpot.
The most common way to trigger a progressive jackpot is by landing the correct combination of Symbols on the reels. Access to the top prize is often only offered during a bonus round, but not always. These bonus rounds are usually triggered by landing Scatters or by using the Bonus Buy feature if available.
Another way to win a massive progressive jackpot is by sheer random luck. That’s right! Some progressive jackpots pay out randomly. It’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. An example of this is a Must-Drop Jackpot, which is guaranteed to payout within a certain amount of time.
If you want to improve your chances of winning big, choose slots with the loosest and most transparent trigger mechanics.
Choose the correct type of progressive jackpot: Your options are stand-alone, local network, or wide-area network.
Place your wager: Remember that many progressive jackpot slots require a minimum stake to qualify for the main jackpot. Some progressive slots increase your chances of winning if you place the maximum bet.
Play the base game: Each wager you stake on the base game contributes to the progressive jackpot. The idea is to trigger a bonus round by landing the required number of Scatters. You can trigger a bonus round by using the Buy Bonus feature, although this isn’t always an available option.
Trigger the jackpot: Some jackpots drop randomly, while others require you to land certain Symbols, like Bonus Symbols. Be sure to read the game’s information card to learn how to trigger that particular jackpot.
Jackpot reset: Once the progressive jackpot has been claimed, it’s reset to its seed value, and the hunt for your big win resumes.
If anything, progressive jackpot slots are worth playing just for the chance to win such a massive, life-changing payout. If you are more interested in winning more frequent but smaller payouts, then we suggest playing a fixed-jackpot slot with lower volatility.
Chance to win a life-changing sum of money
Exciting gameplay
Multiple jackpot tiers
A small bet has the potential to win a huge payout
Jackpot slots are available online and at land-based casinos
Lower RTPs on average
Higher volatility
It’s very rare to win a progressive jackpot
Some online progressive slots require a minimum stake size to qualify
It’s easy to overspend when you’re chasing such a huge prize
RTP and volatility directly affect how often and how much a progressive jackpot slot will pay out. For more frequent, but smaller wins, choose a low-volatility game. Highly volatile slots tend to pay out less frequently, but the wins are usually more significant.
RTP indicates the average overall return. The higher the RTP, the more money you can expect to win back on average over time. Remember that progressive jackpot slots typically have a lower RTP. This is because a portion of each bet goes into the progressive jackpot. Slightly reduced odds of winning are offset by the size of the potential payout.
You can find a full range of progressive jackpot slots at licensed online casinos in the United States. To ensure your progressive slot gaming is fair, safe, and ultimately fun, be sure to stick to reputable operators that are licensed by recognized state regulators, like:
Winning at progressive jackpot slots ultimately comes down to luck. No system or strategy has ever proven to be successful, even though they can be fun to experiment with. That said, there are a few things that you can do to help maximize your chances of winning and make the experience more enjoyable.
Set a budget: We suggest using the responsible gambling tools at your online casino to set daily, weekly, and monthly limits.
Only play at licensed casinos: Licensed casinos are required to adhere to the strictest standards and will pay you quickly if you win. Never play at an unlicensed online casino.
Understand the rules: Make sure to check the game’s information so that you understand how the features and mechanics work.
Test the game in demo mode: It’s a good idea to try the game for free in demo mode. This way, you don’t have to risk money while you are getting familiar with the flow and workings of the game.
Check certificates: Look for certifications from accredited testing agencies, like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, or BMM. This ensures that the games are licensed and fair.
Be patient: Winning a progressive jackpot is no easy task. You need to be patient and positive.
Winning at progressive jackpot slots ultimately comes down to luck. No system or strategy has ever proven to be successful, even though they can be fun to experiment with. That said, there are a few things that you can do to help maximize your chances of winning and make the experience more enjoyable.
Volatility score: Progressive jackpot slots like Divine Fortune offer lower volatility, which means smaller, but more frequent wins. Conversely, highly volatile slots provide less frequent but bigger average payouts.
Max jackpot potential: You want to know exactly what you stand to win. Try games like Mega Moolah, Divine Fortunes, and Mega Joker if you’re looking for the very biggest potential payouts.
RTP range: RTP is important because it reflects the amount of money you can reasonably expect to win back over a very long period of time. The higher the RTP, the more money you can expect to win on average. With an RTP of 96.64%, Mercy of the Gods is a great high-RTP option.
Bonus trigger difficulty: Simply put, some jackpots are more challenging to trigger than others. Beginners can stick to games with the loosest and most basic jackpot-triggering mechanics. WowPot! games fit the bill.
Provider reputation: Real money progressive slots from Games Global, NetEnt, Playtech, and other top providers tend to offer bigger jackpots. Games from these providers, like Mega Moolah and Divine Fortune, are known for high quality, innovative features, and engaging gameplay.
Game availability in the US: Seeing how this guide is focused on the American market, we want to make sure that the games we recommend, like Mega Fortune, are indeed widely available at American-based online casinos.
Big win potential
Modern progressive jackpot slots are loaded with exciting features
Multiple jackpot levels
Highly entertaining
Lower average RTP
Higher average volatility
What are the best progressive jackpot slots?
Our experts highly recommend Mega Moolah, the original, or any other game from the Mega Moolah franchise. These games continue to provide record-breaking wins. That said, WowPot! progressives have become massive, too.
How do progressive jackpot slots work?
These slot games work like regular online slot machines, except they take a small portion of every bet and add it to an ever-increasing prize pool. One lucky player can win this jackpot by landing the correct combination of Symbols on the reels or by sheer luck.
Can you win a progressive jackpot online in the US?
Yes! Most top online casinos in the United States offer plenty of progressive jackpot slots, many of which have been mentioned throughout this guide.
Are progressive jackpots random?
Of course, they are. These games use RNGs (Random Number Generators) to guarantee fair and unexpected outcomes.
What progressive slot has paid the biggest prize?
The biggest online progressive jackpot slot win ever recorded was worth approximately $43 million. It came from the Wheel of Wishes WowPot! slot in 2023. The biggest win at a land-based venue came in 2003 when a lucky slot jockey won $39.7 million on Mega Bucks at Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas.
Do you need max bet to trigger a progressive jackpot?
While access to some progressive jackpots requires a maximum bet, many progressives have paid out on minimum bets. It all depends on the specific game.
Progressive vs standard slots, which should I choose?
If you are focused on landing the biggest payouts, then progressive jackpot slots are the way to go. If you are focused on entertainment, then it really boils down to choosing the slot that offers your favorite theme, features, mechanics, RTP, and volatility.
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