• How Do Slot Machine Jackpots Work Against
• Slot Machine Jackpot 2019
• Slot Machines How They Work
• Slot Machine Jackpot Odds
• How Casino Slot Machines Work

Look at the payout chart on a slot machine to determine how jackpots are paid. On many slot machines, the 5-coin bet pays out a higher percentage on the top fixed jackpot. For instance, a 1-coin bet might pay $200, a 2-coin bet might pay $400, a 3-coin bet might pay $600, and a 4-coin bet might pay $800. As slot machines can and often do stay in place on a casinos gaming floor for many years, one way that a casino owner or operator will ensure players have a good playing experience when any new slot machines are placed on their gaming floors is by increasing the pay-out percentages for a few days or weeks. How casino slot machines work for most players is that when you press the spin button the reels start spinning and you could win or lose. Over the years and through technological advancements slots have changed quite a bit, although the idea remains the same, the reels spin and stops in random positions, should three or more identical symbols form a combination then the player wins. Modern slot machines use a computer to generate random numbers, and these determine the outcomes of the game. The important thing to remember is that the results are truly random. The game doesn’t work on any kind of cyclical basis, and slot machine jackpots.

Walk into any land-based casino, and the first thing you will notice is slot machines with flashy lights on top displaying the jackpots. This is the same case for online casinos. The moment you launch into your account, your first glance will be the massive jackpots of certain slots. But what are jackpot tiers and how do they work.

What Are Progressive Slots?

Jackpot tiers in online slots are also referred to as progressive slots. It is the jackpot that progresses whenever a player makes a bet. A small portion of that bet is taken and added to the amount. If someone hits the jackpot, then the amount resets to a lower amount and then begins growing again.

Progressive slots come in different sizes with some amounting to a few euros while others can go to millions. They are available in different forms, each bringing different prizes and game rules. However, the most important thing is to understand how these machines work out and how different they are from regular slots. So let’s get started.

Types of Progressive Slots

Before any further ado, it is important we understand the types of multi jackpot tiers of slot machines. There are about five common types of these games:

1. Single-Level Progressives
2. Multi-level progressives
3. Wide-Area slots
4. Local Progressive Slots
5. Symbol-driven progressive
6. Bonus-drive jackpots

This was once the only type of jackpot tiers when slots were invented. A display meter on the top or sides of the machine could show one big amount that kept increasing whenever players wagered on the game. But to win this rising amount, gamers had to line up a combination of various symbols.

The single-level progressive pokies are quite rare in the gaming market, but you can find them in 3-reel or classic slots. One good example of a game with this jackpot type is Blazing 7s.

Symbol-Driven Progressives

This is the most common jackpot tier. Its concept is actually applied to all forms of progressives. In symbol-driven games, you need to line winning combinations to receive a payout. The number of symbols you need varies from one slot to the other. For instance, a 3-reel slot might require a combination of three of the jackpot triggering symbols while 5-reel video slot might need five of them. A good example of a symbol-driven slot is Golden Goddess Mega slots, which requires the player to land five wild symbols on an active payline.

Multi-Level Progressives

Most online progressive slots have multiple jackpots. It was first started by Aristocrat Technology, which featured the now common progressive levels Mini, Major, Minor, and Mega. Just from these names, you can know that mini jackpots are the smallest prize while mega contains the highest amount. The latter is difficult to hit while those with a few euros can be won often.

But Aristocrat’s system is not the only one in the market. There are other multi-level progressive slots that use other forms using precious stones like bronze and sapphire.

A great example of a multi-level progressive slot is Mega Moolah by Microgaming. It uses the Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand system.

Local Progressive Slots

This is also referred to as linked-progressives. It defines as jackpots found in only one casino, and that is linked to other games. If that amount is won, all the machines will reset. Normally, this jackpot-tier can go up to $100,000.

Wide-Area Slots

Unlike the local progressive slots, wide-area progressives (WAP), can be found in a bigger area and not just one casino. It is the most common type that links slots games from multiple casinos in one state.

WAPs accumulate funds over an unknown period of time after which it can sum up to $1 million and sometimes go over. One great example of wide-area progressive slots is the Megabucks slot, which is also one of the most lucrative games in the industry.

Bonus-Driven Progressives

Imagine jackpots that are triggered every time a bonus round is active. Well, this is what the bonus-driven slots entail. The jackpots in this type are awarded during bonus rounds. One way this can happen is through free spins, mini-games, or even a bonus wheel.

Different games come with different ways to earn the jackpots. Some might require the player to land specific winning combinations while others might need you to collect gold coins. So it varies from one game to the other.

How to Win in Jackpot Tier Online Slots

Winning online slots, whether they have fixed or progressive jackpots, is a hard task. It majorly depends on luck and few skills. Progressive jackpots slots are usually very lucrative than the fixed ones, the reason why players are crowding them. Due to their high demand and increased gameplay, the jackpots continue progressing higher and higher meaning the amount can sum to millions of dollars.

This, in turn, makes it even harder to win the amount. So what do you need to do to boost your chances of winning these jackpots? Are there any special skills you need to learn before play?

Well, no! Progressive slots, just like the regular ones, depend highly on luck. Some people will even tell you to play with the Maximum Bet if you want the best payouts, but there is no proof of this happening.

You might even lose more than you expected. However, Max Bet works only when you have a big bankroll to spend, and you are ready psychologically to lose risk and lose money. But if you emerge successfully, then you will bag in more than what you wagered on.

Another way you can possibly increase your chances for a progressive jackpot is by matching the required symbols. This can be special or mystery symbols but either way, landing them can result in a jackpot.

It is also a wise idea to focus on the mini and minor jackpots than the mega or grand amount. This is because mini jackpots are easier to obtain, and winning can occur often. However, the Mega jackpot occurs rarely and is very difficult to get.

Whichever strategy you choose to use to try and win the jackpot tiers, make sure to gamble safely and responsibly. This means you should plan a budget and stick to it through the game. Do not bet the maximum stake if you cannot afford and do not chase losses by wagering more or you might end up losing all your bankroll.

How Does Jackpot Tier Slots Work and What Are the Odds?

As said before, progressive slots work in a simple way. Whenever players place bets in the online slot, a small portion of that bet is taken and added to the jackpot. The more the players bet, the higher the jackpot gets.

So, what are the odds of winning in a progressive game? Well, as usual, the house always wins, and these games are not an exception. Multiple jackpots games are hooked to larger player networks. This means that the RTP will be quite lower than the standard or classic slots. For instance, if 10,000 players are competing for the same jackpot, then you have 100% random chances of winning, and your odds are 1/10,000.

However, if a few players play the game locally, then your odds increase. It is basically a numbers game, and you have to play smart. But you have to be aware that software developers provide these progressive pokies to many online casinos to increase the amount. Remember that they are also looking for some profits and where do you think they get them from?

Luckily, casino operators do not alter the winnings in progressive slots since they operate using a random number generator system. This makes sure that all payouts are true, honest, and fair to all players. So gamers should not doubt the massive amounts offered being messed up.

Most Popular Progressive Slots

So now that you are familiar with how these games work, what are some of the best and top progressive slots?

Mega Moolah: This is one of the best jackpot tier slots that has awarded millions of dollars to players. It is a video game developed by Microgaming and features multiple jackpots starting from mini, minor, to mega. Its prize can go all the way to $1 million.

Megabucks: Megabucks tops the list of any progressive jackpot slots. Its amount can start from $10 million and over. However, the game plays out in over 25 years, and its odds are between 1 and 50 million.

Wheel of Fortune: Based on the TV show, Wheel of Fortune is another slot machine that can award generously. Its big payout can start at $200,000.

Verdict

There you have it. By now, you know the types of progressive slots and how they work. These games can be very fun, but the odds are not that high. Many gamers play them, and each one of them is trying to win. Remember, the more the people play them, the higher the amount and difficulty in winning.

However, you should know what you are getting yourself into. If big wins are your thing, then you can try your luck. But if you are a beginner in them, then it is a sensible idea to go for lower or fixed jackpot slots.

The motto for most gamblers who come to Las Vegas on a lark is rather simple – go big or go home.

If you’re going to wager real American dollars on games of chance and skill, there’s no reason to take the conservative route. Bankroll management notwithstanding, the goal for any gambler in Sin City is to hit it big, win the jackpot, and walk away with more money than you know what to do with.

Of course, the vast majority of us who take these shots don’t mint themselves instant millionaires. Instead, the house’s inexorable edge and every gambling game’s inherent odds against the player combine to pour our money straight into the casino’s coffers.

For this reason, what happened at the Excalibur casino on March 21^st of 2003 when a random tourist from Los Angeles decided to hit the slots has become the stuff of Las Vegas legend.

On that day, an anonymous 25-year old gambler arrived in town to visit his family. With the annual “March Madness” college basketball tournament in full swing, the player figured they might as well get some action down on Duke, Arizona, and the rest of the sport’s heavyweights.

The young man’s uncle heard about the trip to Excalibur Hotel & Casino and offered his nephew a little sage advice from a Las Vegas local – play the Megabucks slot machine and see what happens.

And with a $10 million starting seed* – not to mention millions of tourists plunking down the requisite $3 per spin to give themselves a chance – the Megabucks jackpot had swelled to an astounding $39.7 million.

*Megabucks initially offered a $1 million starting seed, before increasing to $7 million in 1997, and $10 million in 2005

Thus, the visitor from L.A. found a Megabucks machine and took a seat with $100 in hand.

What happened next made history…

How Does the Megabucks Slot Machine Work?

First things first though… in case you’re unfamiliar with the Megabucks slot, here’s a quick crash course on the greatest progressive jackpot game of them all.

Casino game manufacturer International Game Technology (IGT) introduced its Megabucks slot way back in 1986. At the time, slot machine jackpots were static in nature, meaning each individual machine offered its own kitty based on how many coins had been previously deposited in between major payouts.

IGT had a revolutionary idea, however, so the company linked its various Megabucks machines all over the Silver State together. In other words, whenever a player in Reno, Mesquite, or anywhere in Nevada for that matter played one Megabucks machine, their coins contributed to the same jackpot total.

This wide area progressive jackpot concept proved to be an immediate hit with players, who loved to watch the meter continuously climb into the seven-figures.

And those meters did climb on a daily basis too, thanks to the Megabucks game’s enormous odds against on the topline jackpot.

Megabucks is a deceptively simple game, one which eschews the multiple paylines and expanded reels that make up the bulk of a casino’s slot inventory nowadays. For a maximum bet of $3, players send three reels spinning, each featuring traditional symbols like 7s, cherries, and BARs. To form winning combinations, players hope to hit three matching symbols along a single payline.

The game’s jackpot symbol is a golden “Megabucks Eagle” which depicts the slot’s distinctive logo. The only thing is, landing even one of these crucial symbols along the payline requires the player to beat odds of 1 in 368. Knowing this, the odds against spiking all three at once come to an astronomical 1 in 49,836,032 – or (1/368)³.

For this reason, the Megabucks progressive jackpot often goes unclaimed for extended stretches, many of which lasting more than a year. With so much time in between big winners, and so many players statewide tossing $3 per spin into the kitty, Megabucks jackpots soon became notorious for reaching epic proportions.

Before that fateful day in 2003, Megabucks players enjoyed an incredible run which saw the jackpot rise to a then record $27.5 million in 1998. That life-changing sum was won by a lucky slot spinner at Palace Station in November of 1998, but the record was eventually broken with a $34.9 million payout awarded to a cocktail waitress playing at the Desert Inn in January of 2000.

A little more than three years later, a new record was waiting to be set at the Excalibur.

$100 Flier Turns Into Life-Changing Record Jackpot Win

Starting out with only $100, the player from L.A. had just 33 spins to work with given the $3* price of play.

*Megabucks can be played for $1 or $2 spins, but the progressive jackpot is only awarded to players who opt for the max-bet of $3

Even so, as a press release issued by IGT later revealed, the player with a birthdate featuring three 7s seemed to have Lady Luck on his arm from the very start. Within the span of those 33 spins, the man watched as not one, not two, but three of the “Megabucks Eagle” symbols slowly spun and came to a rest alongside one another.

Just like that, the player had beaten odds of nearly 1 in 50 million to put nearly $40 million in his pocket.

Well, not all at once anyway. The winner elected to take $1.5 million installments over the course of 26 years – which means he’s still receiving seven-figure payouts annually to this day. In fact, the winner has another 10 years and $15 million remaining on his record-setting payment plan.

Although he chose to remain anonymous, the winner provided the following statement to IGT:

“I’m still stunned; it doesn’t seem real yet. But both of my parents are still working, so some of this money will be used to fund their retirement.”

Largest Megabucks Jackpot Ever – And By a Long Shot

John Sears – who served as vice president of IGT’s MegaJackpots program at the time – confirmed that the $39,713,982.25 payout smashed the previous record for largest slot machine jackpot ever awarded:

“This MegaJackpot is nearly $5 million more than the previous world record slot jackpot amount of $34.9 million – this one goes into The Guinness Book of Records.”

Check out the table below – featuring 10 real megabucks jackpot wins – to get a better sense of just how ridiculous the record-setting jackpot really is:

Megabucks Jackpot History (Wins of $10 Million or More)

How Do Slot Machine Jackpots Work Against

Competing Jackpot Hunters Lament Loss of Record-Setting Total

Within the slot machine gaming enthusiast community, learning that Megabucks’ massive jackpot had been won proved to be bittersweet indeed.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Sun conducted shortly after the news broke, Kim Wong from Kailua, Hawaii told the newspaper how she felt watching the meter reset back to $10 million:

Slot Machine Jackpot 2019

“I was here at lunchtime around 12:30 and it was still around $39.7 million. Then I came back around quarter after one and it was resetting. It was such a drag. It was a little more enticing with the $39 million up there, but I’m still playing.”

Judy Selasky from Lavonia, Michigan provided a similar story, telling the paper that even though a record payout was off the table, she and her husband would still play in hopes of a “lightning strikes twice” type of moment:

“I said, ‘Hurry up and get up to the room, so I can get downstairs. I figure if he won, there might be some magic here. I’m not a hog.”

Conclusion

Slot Machines How They Work

Slot Machine Jackpot Odds

In a city like Las Vegas which was founded on excess, setting the world record for slot machine jackpot winnings really is something special. And while we don’t know much about the software engineer from L.A. who did the deed, learning that a 25-year old tourist took the honors should give hope to every gambler who makes the sojourn to Sin City.

How Casino Slot Machines Work

More than 16 years have passed since the record-setting spin, and nobody has even come close to claiming such an incredible Megabucks jackpot over that span – which shows just how astonishing that memorable moment in March of 2003 really was.