Progressive jackpot slot machines are machines in which, for every bet
placed, a small proportion is added to a jackpot fund. The fund grows
until one lucky player hits the jackpot. Usually, multiple machines are
linked together, and even multiple casinos, to form a progressive jackpot
that grows more quickly because several players contribute to the jackpot
at the same time.
The accumulated money is shown on a meter and in
most games only players who bet the maximum number of credits per spin
are eligible to win the progressive jackpot. The jackpot is awarded to
the player that obtains the winning combination with the highest payout.
When a player hits the jackpot, the meter resets to the minimum level.
There are two kinds of progressive jackpots: primary
and secondary. A primary jackpot is the top prize offered when a player
gets a specific winning combination. Generally, it is showed on a screen
above the group of machines and it increases with each coin played.
Secondary jackpots appear on a smaller screen bellow
the primary jackpot and grow apportionately to the number of coins played.
These jackpots are not as large as primary jackpots and are hit more frequently.
Some of the most popular progressive games are:
Wheel of Fortune: available in
four denominations: $0,25, $0,50, $1 and $5. After every win, the dollar
version jackpot resets to $1 million and the quarters version to $200,000.
For many players, this is the most popular progressive slot machine.
Nickel Deluxe: a 5-cent slot machine
that requires 5 coins played to hit the jackpot. The jackpot is reset
to $250,000 after every win.
Megabucks: is a dollar coin slot
machine and players must play three coins to hit the jackpot. The jackpot
is reset to $7,000,000 after every win.
Quarter Deluxe: it requires two
50-cent coins played to hit the jackpot. The minimum jackpot level is
$200,000.
