If you’re new to the online casino world, you might be wondering what progressive slots are. In a nutshell, these are online slot games that offer a chance to win a jackpot prize which grows in value over time. Many players love progressive slots because they provide an opportunity to win a potentially huge prize pot – often into the millions – as well as being fun to play, of course.
In this blog we’ll explain more about progressive slots and how they work, and introduce some of the most popular types of progressive games. We’ll also answer one of our most-asked questions, which is how to win in progressive slots.
What Are Progressive Slots?
Progressive slots are called ‘progressive’ because the jackpot prizes on offer are always increasing, or progressing. The jackpot prize is usually offered in addition to other fixed prizes in the game – so there’s still a chance to win some money, even if you’re not lucky enough to win the jackpot.
The progressive jackpot value is usually displayed in real time on the screen, so that players can see it increasing. At some point the pot will randomly drop – it could be on a standard spin, or as part of a bonus round. The fun is not knowing when the pot will drop, and as they say, you’ve got to be in it to win it!
How do progressive slot machines work?
In progressive slots, there is a jackpot prize that increases over time. Here’s how it works: a small percentage of each player’s bet goes towards the jackpot. The more people that play, the bigger the prize pot grows. Sometimes the jackpot is raised across different casinos and games, meaning that the potential prize can become very big. For example, Red Tiger has Daily Jackpot games, where around 3% of each player’s bet helps to fund the jackpot.
Some jackpots drop daily, whereas others can build up for weeks or even close to a month before dropping. If you’re lucky enough for the jackpot to drop on one of your spins, you could be the winner of a potentially huge prize. Once someone wins the jackpot, the process starts again. Don’t worry - it won’t start from zero - the starting jackpot is often very generous, to encourage people to join in.
How do you identify which slot machines are progressive?
Finding progressive slots couldn’t be easier. Most online casinos (like Slingo) have a dedicated section for them on their website – although you might find that they’re called ‘Jackpot Slots’ or ‘Daily Jackpots’ rather than progressive slots.
Some slots also have the word ‘jackpot’ in the title, or abbreviations like ‘JPK’, which stands for the Jackpot King network of progressive slots.
An easy way to identify a jackpot slot is that they usually have the current jackpot value displayed on the game icon. This also means that you can choose a game with a jackpot that appeals to you – and remember, it’s only going to increase.
Or you could check out blog articles about the best progressive slot games to play, read reviews, or check out forums to see which slots people are enjoying.
Popular Types of Progressive Jackpots
There are a few different types of progressive jackpots to try. From standalone jackpots to timed jackpots and more, we explain all in the sections below.
Standalone Progressive Jackpots
Standalone progressive jackpots are those which only accumulate when people play a specific game. This is different to many other progressive jackpots, which are linked across multiple games. Standalone progressives offer a smaller jackpot prize than other games in this category - but the odds of winning it are usually higher.
Local Progressive Jackpots
This type of jackpot links a number of different online slot games within the same online casino. It’s a great way to build a sense of community within the casino, and since multiple games are linked the prize pot can grow large.
Network Progressive Slots
This category of progressive slots is the most popular, since it has the potential to award the biggest wins. These games are linked across multiple slots and casinos, and the increased number of players means that the jackpot is able to grow very big.
Timed Jackpots
These jackpots are guaranteed to pay out before a set date and time. For example, there are lots of daily jackpots to choose from, which usually have to drop before midnight that day. There will be a countdown timer showing you how long is left until the big drop, and if you’re playing at the right time you could be in luck!
How to win in progressive slot games?
The truth is that like with all online games, there’s no strategy or technique that can guarantee you a win. All outcomes in slots and jackpot games are completely random, and use a complex algorithm called a Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure that outcomes cannot be predicted.
But that’s part of the fun of it, right? The thrill of playing for the chance to scoop a big win is what makes it exciting – and even if you’re not lucky enough to win, hopefully you still have a great time playing the game.
Although there are no winning strategies to share, we do have some advice to ensure that you have a positive gaming experience:
Always gamble responsibly
This is a biggie! We want all our players to have fun while playing responsibly. That means never spending more than you can afford to lose, and sticking to your time and budget limits.
Don’t just chase the big jackpots
It can be tempting to focus only on the progressive jackpot slots with the biggest prizes. But remember – the more people that play for a jackpot, the smaller your chances of winning it. You might also enjoy playing games with a smaller jackpot, which you may have a better chance of winning.
Progressive Slot Games at Slingo
We couldn’t quite fit our recommendations for progressive slot games into this blog, so we’ve written another one. Check it out for our favourite progressive slots at Slingo. From King Kong Cashpots JK to Fishin Frenzy JPK and more, there’s plenty to choose from!
Play Progressive Slots at Slingo
Join us today for a fantastic gaming experience in a safe and secure environment. With exclusive offers for our members and new surprises every day, Slingo is the place to be for all the freshest games and promotions. Sign up now and play progressive jackpot slots at Slingo. Always gamble responsibly, and never spend more than you can afford to lose.
