Progressive jackpot slots offer the chance to win life-changing amounts of money from a small bet. As players wager, the top prize increases until some lucky winner snags the jackpot. With potential payouts in the millions, it's no wonder these games are so popular.

Which Are the Best Jackpot Slots in 2024? #

Here are the best progressive jackpot games to play right now:

What are Progressive Slots and How do they Work? #

• Progressive slot machines are one-of-a-kind casino games that award special jackpots to players.

• In short, progressives function similarly to other slot games.

  • You choose your wager amount, press the Spin button, and get paid if you match symbols on active win lines in a winning pattern.

  • You may also trigger bonuses like free spins.

• Jackpots in the base slot game are fixed. So if you hit a 5,000-coin jackpot when betting $1 per spin, you'll collect $5,000.

• However, a progressive jackpot increases based on the number of players contributing to the prize pool.

  • The more people play, the bigger the jackpot grows.

  • A small percentage of each wager feeds the jackpot when you play a progressive game. It may be as little as 1% of the total bet. But you could contribute up to 4% of your stake to the jackpot.

• Often, you'll only qualify for the top jackpot by betting the maximum amount.

  • Generally, the more you wager, the better your odds of hitting the progressive.

• You can win a progressive jackpot randomly or by activating a special bonus round.

  • This may involve matching hidden symbols or spinning a prize wheel. Even if you trigger the bonus, you could still walk away empty-handed.

• Once someone hits the jackpot, the prize resets. For major progressives, the jackpot resets to a minimum amount.

• Many progressive slots have three or four tiered jackpots that reset to different levels.

  • For example, a slot may have a small 'Mini' jackpot that starts at $10 and a giant 'Mega' jackpot that begins at $1 million after someone wins it.

• Keep in mind: no deposit casino bonuses won't let you win progressive jackpots. For this, you may want to claim a real money deposit bonus.

Most Popular Online Progressive Jackpot Slots #

• Progressive slots are hugely popular with US online casino players, given the potential for massive payouts.

• Online progressive slots are relatively new in the US, but some of the most popular games like Pharaohs Fortune free online slot or Jungle Monkeys slot game, regularly pay out five and six-figure jackpots.

• Jackpots always grow until someone wins them. So it's key to watch the jackpot tickers in the casino lobby, which display current totals.

Standalone Progressives #

• The simplest type is a standalone progressive.

  • This is a single slot machine not connected to other games. The jackpot grows with every bet on that one machine only.

• As you'd expect, a standalone progressive jackpot is typically smaller than prizes linked across multiple machines.

• Some legal online casinos in the US feature exclusive progressive slots.

  • These can only be played at that casino and have a single top jackpot.

Local Progressives #

• Local progressive slots, also called “in-house progressives” or “proprietary progressives,” are linked within one casino.

  • A land-based casino may connect a dozen or more games, all feeding the same progressive jackpot.

  • To win the biggest prize, you must play on-site at that casino.

• Legal online casinos in the US offer their own local progressives.

  • They may link several games from one software provider into a shared jackpot.

Wide Area Progressives #

• Wide area progressive slots offer the largest prizes.

  • These special slots are played across multiple casinos, sometimes even in different states.

• The jackpot meter connects to a central server, regardless of which state you play from.

• Wide area progressives are now available online in the US too.

  • You can play linked jackpot games on the same title at regulated casinos in states where online gambling is legal.

• Online progressives in the US are still dwarfed by land-based jackpots. But as more states legalize online gambling, the top prizes continue growing.

Largest Progressive Slot Jackpot Wins #

• Progressive slots have awarded enormous prizes for decades. The biggest land-based jackpots dwarf those won at online casinos in the US.

• The all-time highest progressive jackpot was $39,710,826, won in 2003 by a software engineer.

  • He hit the massive payout playing IGT's Megabucks slot at the Excalibur in Las Vegas.

• Before that win, a local waitress claimed $34.9 million at the Desert Inn in 2000.

  • She won the Megabucks jackpot on the same game.

• Megabucks broke records again in 1998 when a 67-year-old retiree won $27.5 million on a $300 spin at Palace Station casino.

  • Remarkably, he had already won $680,000 on a different progressive slot at the same casino years earlier.

• You can also play and win online progressive jackpots in select regulated US states.

  • Most networks like IGT pay prizes in one lump sum. IGT offers online progressives in the US on games like Cleopatra Mega Jackpots and Isle of Plenty.

• Although not yet legal in the US, Microgaming progressives have awarded massive online payouts over the years.

  • Their jackpot network has paid out over $1 billion in prizes on millions of wins.

• Microgaming holds the online jackpot record for their game Mega Moolah.

  • Back in 2018, Mega Moolah paid out $22,229,366 online. The winner received the full amount in one payment, typical for Microgaming.

• Before that, NetEnt's Mega Fortune broke the online jackpot record at $20.75 million in 2018.

  • The biggest Mega Jackpot win stands at $20.75 million from 2018.

• NetEnt's Divine Fortune progressive is available in some US states.

  • Pennsylvania online casinos have awarded Divine Fortune jackpots over $250,000. One PA player won $376,893 in 2019.

Progressive Slot Developers #

• Most major slot developers have created progressive jackpot games. Some make slots for land-based and online casinos, while others focus solely on online.

• IGT (International Game Technology) is a US company that develops slots for offline and online casinos. They created Megabucks, which awarded the largest slot jackpot in history.

  • Megabucks has produced dozens of millionaires and paid out over $600 million. IGT also offers popular online MegaJackpots like Siberian Storm and Cleopatra.

• Microgaming operates one of the world's largest online slot jackpot networks.

  • Their games like Mega Moolah and Mega Moolah Isis are played across hundreds of sites outside the US. Mega Moolah holds the online jackpot record.

• NetEnt created record-setting progressives like Divine Fortune and Mega Fortune. Their slots are available in regulated US states like New Jersey.

• Bally powers some of the biggest Vegas progressives.

  • Their Millionaire 777s slot resets to $1 million after the jackpot hits.

• Bally's popular land-based progressives are adapted for online play too.

  • Hot Shot Progressive and Blazing Sevens Hot Shot Progressive mimic the casino versions.

• Playtech operates progressives outside the US.

  • They previously offered Marvel Jackpots before developing games like Age of the Gods with tiered mystery jackpots.

Mobile Progressive Slots & Apps #

• Progressive jackpots aren't limited to online and land-based players.

• You can access progressive slots on smartphones and tablets too.

• Regulated US online casinos offer progressives optimized for mobile devices.

  • Make deposits through the mobile cashier and play the same great progressives as online.

• Often, mobile jackpots are linked across all participating casinos. Getting started is easy:

  • Download the casino's native app to play at our recommended sites.

  • Or log in and play directly through your mobile browser.

• Here at High Roller Gambling USA, we review quality mobile casinos with plenty of real money progressive slots.

Who Pays Out Progressive Jackpot Wins? #

• Progressive slots pay out various prizes of differing sizes:

  • Typically, the casino pays lower jackpot wins.

  • But for massive wide-area jackpots, the slot manufacturer usually pays out.

• When you win a Vegas progressive, you'll get paid in one of two ways:

  • First, collect part of the win immediately.

  • Then you have 1-2 months to claim the remainder. You can take the full payout at once or in annual installments over 25-30 years.

• Lifetime payouts give annual payments over a 25-30 year timeframe, depending on the developer. IGT and Bally both spread payments over 25 years.

• With a one-time lump sum, you get the entire win in a single payment, but the amount is smaller.

• For US players, progressive jackpot wins are taxable income:

  • If you pay US taxes, you must report wins to the IRS.

  • However, some countries have US tax waivers, allowing tourists to keep the full amount.

  • Jackpots over $1,200 must be declared on a W-2G form at the casino. If you don't provide a Social Security number, the casino deducts 28% automatically.

  • For jackpots over $5,000, the win is added to your yearly income, potentially pushing you into a higher tax bracket around 40%.

Progressive Slots - Max Bets & Terms #

• All eligible bets contribute a percentage to the progressive jackpot, usually 1-4% of your wager. You must play for real money to qualify for the jackpot.

• Many progressives require max betting to win the top prize.

  • But some give you better jackpot odds for higher bets.

• When you bet, you're buying random "tickets" for a chance at the jackpot.

  • The more you wager, the more tickets you obtain.

• Triggering a bonus round doesn't guarantee a jackpot.

  • That's why some of the biggest progressives have bonus games before awarding the top prize.

• When playing online, always check the terms & conditions first:

  • Some casinos may delay jackpot payouts for days or weeks.

  • Make sure the casino pays large wins by bank transfer, not into your casino account.

  • You may need to provide ID and payment info before withdrawals.

Are Progressive Slots Fair? #

• All video progressive slots use random number generators (RNGs) to ensure fair outcomes.

  • On each spin, the RNG determines the reel stops randomly. You win payouts by matching symbols on active paylines.

• Progressive jackpots also use RNGs.

  • You can win randomly or by completing a bonus round.

• Reputable developers thoroughly test their RNGs during game creation and auditing.

• When you play at a licensed, regulated online casino recommended here, you can trust the progressive slots are fair:

  • State gaming commissions require independent testing of all slots and RNGs.

  • Casinos and developers undergo regular audits to confirm fairness too.

• Only join top-rated sites licensed in your state.

  • They hold recognized gaming licenses and feature slots from trustworthy progressive jackpot manufacturers.