I can bet on the fact that everyone who has played progressive slots has many times wished they could cart away with the massive jackpot provided by the one-armed bandit. Quite a number of casino patrons have it in good faith that they have a fair chance at leaving with the great prizes of the slot machine only if they could just find a way of getting it.
In this article, I’ll explain what progressive slots are and what triggers the jackpot of progressive slot games. Now, let us understand what progressive slots are.
Progressive Slots – What are They?
Progressive slots are slot games that have a growing jackpot pay-out. Whenever people spin the slot reels, a little part of their wagers is added to the potential jackpot prize amount. The more punters spin the reels, the more the jackpot prize grows in size.
You should understand that a progressive slot game doesn’t necessarily take out of the bets played on a single machine. As we find in the local area network (LAN) progressive slots, it takes from many machines. For example, in a casino ground, a specific slot game can gather bets from all the machines around, which can total anywhere from £100,000 to £1,000,000.
It gets even more attractive with wide area network (WAN) progressive slot games. WAN progressives have their software connected via a central server where players from around the globe can spin the reels on that particular game. The jackpot prize here can grow as large as £10 million as a large number of bettors are playing the game.
The jackpot prize that LAN and WAN progressives share is the same. If a player hits the highest possible jackpot prizes, whether on the casino floor or online, the jackpot prize returns to the minimum amount. This minimum amount is dependent on the software provider and can start from £10,000 to £1,000,000.
Another aspect of jackpot slots that you should understand is the wagering requirement. For a chance at hitting the jackpot, slot games have a credit denomination or maximum bet amount per spin – this is known as the wagering requirement.
If a player doesn’t meet this requirement, they can still enjoy any bonus features the slot has, such as multipliers and free spins. But let’s be real here – if you don’t aim for the largest prize, what’s the point of playing progressive jackpot slots? Progressives are known to have lower RTP rates than regular slots, so they can make up for the huge jackpot prizes.
What Triggers the Jackpot of Progressives?
There are different progressive slot games, and they usually have different ways by which players can hit their jackpots. However, there are some common methods of winning. I’ll discuss the most popular three triggers.
- Matching Symbols: This is the most traditional way of winning jackpots – match certain reel symbols. While this makes you think that all you have to do is to match the highest-paying symbols on a 1×3 slot game that has one pay line, it is not as easy as that. This is a progressive slot – the music is a bit different here. Getting matching symbols used to be the most common method to trigger jackpots. And while it is true that some classic-themed games still use it, slots have evolved, and you need more than just matching symbols.
- Collecting a set number of Symbols: There is another way you can win the coveted jackpot prize, and that is by collecting corresponding symbols. This method usually involves a mini-game where you can collect different objects. The symbols for one of the prizes are hidden behind those objects. If you can collect three of the specified symbols, the game comes to an end, and you get to win one of the available jackpot prizes.
- Jackpot Wheel: The jackpot wheel mode happens to be one of the most thrilling methods you can use to win the ultimate prize of progressive slot games. A regular jackpot comprises a central pointer and numerous slots. You spin the wheel and when it stops, whatever prize is on the slot that the pointer lands on is what you win. You must understand, however, that landing the highest possible jackpot can be quite difficult, as there is only one slot on a wheel of many slots that contains the major prize. Thankfully, there are some games whose wheels are filled with the other jackpot prizes, with one of them having the highest prize. One such game is the popular Mega Moolah. And of course, the more people play, the more the different prizes increase. To enter the jackpot wheel mode usually requires you to match bonus symbols while playing the base game.
Conclusion
From this article, you have learned that progressive slot games are simply slot games that have their jackpot prize growing as more players place bets. And you also learned three of the most popular ways to trigger the jackpot of progressives – matching symbols, collecting symbols, and jackpot wheels.