Progressive Jackpot Slots Facts and Tips
Progressive Slots
Progressive slots have jackpots that grow as more money is played in them. Each spin that pays increments the total jackpot size as indicated by the jackpot meter. Once a player wins the jackpot, the meter resets itself to the minimum jackpot size.
A progressive jackpot may be limited to one slot only or present in many connected machines. Each play in any of these machines adds to the collective jackpot. Needless to say, these linked progressives have bigger jackpots than standalone progressives.
A jackpot is never due to pay out. But we can generalize on how often a slot machine pays based on payback percentage. Suppose a progressive dollar slot has a $200,000 jackpot. If the payback percentage is 90%, the house keeps 10% and out of that, 1% may be set aside for the jackpot, then the odds are 20,000,000 to 1. If the slot gets 100 million spins each year, it can pay off the jackpot about 5 times within that period. That's assuming that many people can hit it in 12 months and the jackpot grows that big each time.
Should You Play Progressive Slots?
Being a slot player, you should make up your mind whether or not to play progressive slots. As with everything else, there are pros and cons involved depending on why you are playing.
If you play slots just for fun and to have a shot at a spectacular 6+ digit jackpot, then the progressives are for you. A jackpot win is rare but it does happen. On the other hand, if you are less ambitious and just want to play and win in slots consistently, the regular slots with fixed jackpots are preferable.
A few key points with progressives:
- Play those slots that have reached a very high jackpot level already. Should you invest a great deal of money in your quest for that elusive prize, a big win will cover your losses.
- Bet the maximum number of coins. Always. If not, you only contribute to a jackpot that you are ineligible to win.
- Bring your IDs when you plan to play slots. If you do win a jackpot, a casino offer will need to verify your identity and eligibility to win. Bring your birth certificate also prove you are not under-age.
- Be prepared to win less often. Progressive slots have to set aside a percentage of their collected money to the jackpot. This means the smaller prizes have to be paid less frequently. So the machine will seem cold.
- Be prepared to invest a lot of money. You will need to fund your jackpot budget and it won't be small if you're serious about it.
- Don't have a fistfight with anyone over progressive slots. There are many others around. Slots is about having fun more than anything. Don't spoil it or let anyone else spoil it through greed.