Progressive Slots

Progressive slot machines provide jackpots that are oftentimes larger than normal. Sometimes, they are big enough that they can change a life.

An Overview

Any slot player walking into a casino has likely dreamed of making it big with a life-changing jackpot that could place them on Easy Street for the rest of their days. Consider the thrill of hitting the winning symbols and the dream of spending all that jackpot money.

While the odds of hitting a life-changing jackpot may be slim, you have to try the progressive machines to have a chance. Since you are already aware of the risks and have the expectations, why not give it a shot? There are many progressive machines available at sites like Bovada Casino, and some offer better odds than others. It is important to understand the basics of progressive jackpot machines before you play.

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When we talk about a progressive machine, we are referring to a group of slot machines linked together by a network. A percentage of the total money played on these machines contributes to a collective jackpot. This means the jackpot continues to increase as more people play, until a lucky player hits the winning combination.

Because a percentage of the coins played goes toward the progressive jackpot, the base game's payback percentage is often lower than on standard machines. This is particularly the case for machines that provide life-changing jackpot opportunities.

Not all progressive machines are the same. There are three main types of progressive machines available.

The Stand Alone Progressive

The Stand Alone Progressive machine is not linked to any other jackpot. It features a meter on the front that shows the current jackpot amount. While the payback is sometimes similar to other slot machines of the same denomination, the distribution is different to allow for a varying top prize.

Local Progressives

Local Progressives, also known as In-House Progressives, involve a group of machines linked together within a single casino or a group of casinos owned by the same operator. The jackpot can be won on any of the linked machines. These jackpots can grow significantly larger than Stand Alone machines but usually do not reach the massive levels of wide-area networks.

Wide Area Network Progressives

Wide Area Network Progressives are linked across many different casinos, sometimes across an entire state or country. These machines offer the largest jackpots, often reaching millions of dollars, because thousands of players contribute to the prize pool simultaneously. However, the odds of winning these massive jackpots are much lower, and the payback percentage on the base game is typically the lowest of all slot types.