Progressive Slots - Progressive Slot Machines

Over the past decade, both slot machine manufacturers have taken advantage of computers' ability to manage large amounts of information. The result has been a phenomenon that has become one of the most popular enhancements in today's slot machines: progressive jackpots.

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How Progressive Slot Jackpots Work

Several slot machines playing the same game are linked together through the Internet to a single computer. This computer keeps track of all the wins and losses on each game. The bets made by losing players on all these machines contribute to a huge collective jackpot. The lucky person whose machine comes up with the winning combination gets the entire jackpot.

With land-based casinos, a progressive slots network can encompass a large number of different casinos. Online progressive slots can accommodate nearly unlimited numbers of players, so the jackpots can rise to life-changing amounts of money.

But there's a trade-off with progressives, as the odds of winning are much higher, typically 1 in millions. Even so, it can be worth a few coins for a chance at a jackpot that can grow as high as $20 million. All it takes is one win to be financially secure, and it's certainly less complicated than the kind of gambling that stock brokers have played on Wall Street over the past few years!

That said, progressive slot machines aren't any more lucrative than other slots. That's because only one individual can win the progressive jackpot, whereas multiple players can win varying amounts playing their respective machines. In addition, many casinos require that players bet the maximum in order to be eligible for the progressive jackpot. The appeal of progressive jackpot slot machines is the excitement of watching the pot grow and the suspense of waiting to see who wins it. For many players, this entertainment is a major part of the satisfaction they get from playing the games.

Another truth about progressive jackpots is that there really isn't a definite strategy to win at these kinds of slots games. Intuitively it might seem that playing more frequently would increase one's chances of winning, but it's key to remember that all gambling is predicated on the odds of losing, not winning. The more you play, the more you lose in most cases.

Added to this is the reality that today's slot machines are truly games of chance thanks to random number generators. Some people play slots for months and win only modest amounts. Other people can go online, play for half an hour, and hit the jackpot. That's why they call it "gambling."

Possibly the best way to approach a strategy for playing progressive jackpot games is to choose a casino that offers customer bonuses, such as sign-up bonuses and customer loyalty programs. Using this "free" money to play can produce better odds of winning, since the player won't deplete his or her bankroll as quickly.

Biggest and Most Popular Progressive Slots

Despite the long odds against winning a progressive jackpot, they are still some of the most popular slots in both live and online casinos. That's because for such a small investment, players have a shot at winning hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars.

The largest and most popular progressive slot machines belong to IGT. The list includes the largest progressive machine ever – Megabucks. For just $3 dollars, Megabucks players have a shot at winning over $10 million dollars.

Other large U.S. progressives include Wheel of Fortune, eBay, Star Wars, Red Hot Jackpots, and the recent hit – Sex and the City.