If you’re looking to win a jackpot that could change your life, then progressive slots are the game to play. Let’s face it—you’ll never win several hundred thousand playing blackjack or roulette. The payouts just aren’t high enough.
Shared online progressives: You will often see jackpots shared between different slot games online. An example is the IGT ‘MegaJackpots’ slots. A multi-million prize pool is shared between games including Monopoly, Cleopatra, Siberian Storm, and more. The biggest prizes catch your eye and make the headlines when they are won. There are specific jackpots that may be of interest and the casinos that offer them. Progressive slots usually have a higher house edge than the average fixed jackpot games. Players ignore the odds and losing sessions, if it gives them a chance to get a life-changing jackpot. This page will go over the best online casinos for progressive slots.
The purpose of this page is to provide an explanation of what progressive slots are, how they work, and why you might be interested in playing them. $100 no deposit bonus codes. Popular slot machines. We’ve also included descriptions of some of the more popular progressive jackpots available both online and in traditional brick-and-mortar casinos.
What Is a Progressive Slot, and How Does It Work?
On most slot machines, the jackpot is a fixed amount, but on a progressive game, the jackpot rises as players put coins in the machine and spin the wheels. A tiny percentage of each coin played is used to “feed” the jackpot. There are three types of progressive slot machine games.
Standalone Progressives
A standalone progressive slot machine has a jackpot ticker on the game, but only bets placed on that specific machine feed the jackpot. This was, at one time, the only kind of progressive slot machine game available, but most progressives feature multiple machines that are linked together. Still, so many standalone machines were manufactured that these games are still easily found in casinos throughout the world. Usually the jackpot on the games will be under $10,000.
Local Progressives
Local progressives were the next step in the evolution of this type of game, and they’re still commonly found. These games feature jackpots within a specific casino that are linked. This network can include as few as a dozen or so machines, or it can include a hundred machines—it just depends on the casino. Usually the jackpots available on these games are under $1,000,000, and often they’re under $100,000.
Wide Area Network Progressives
These are some of the most popular casino games on the market today. A wide area network jackpot links slot machines from multiple casinos in the same state. This allows the jackpot to accumulate into astronomical sums of money, often over $1 million and sometimes even over $10 million. The most well-known brand of wide area network progressives are the Megabucks games from IGT, which is the most successful slot machine design company in the world.
How Do You Win a Progressive Jackpot?
No strategy or system can increase your chances of winning a progressive jackpot on a slot machine game. The odds of winning are similar to the odds of winning the lottery, although you get many more chances of winning per hour with a slot machine game than you would get playing a lottery game.
An important thing to keep in mind about progressive jackpots is that they don’t become “due”. The chances of winning are astronomically small no matter how large the jackpot has gotten. It’s possible for a jackpot to grow large enough that a bet on a particular slots game will be a positive expectation bet, but it’s not a practical opportunity to win. A 1 in a million shot is still a 1 in a million shot, even if the jackpot is up to $2 million.
Online Progressive Jackpots
With the rise of online casinos, progressive jackpots on the Internet have become just as popular as the games in actual land-based casinos. Microgaming is one Internet casino provider which has established its fame and reputation based largely on its large assortment of fun, colorful, and relatively loose progressive jackpot games.
Online progressives work just like their land-based cousins. Every wager you make on your computer feeds a tiny amount into the progressive jackpot for that game. Since lots of players are now gambling from the comfort of their homes, these jackpots can become just as large and life-changing as the progressives in Vegas or Atlantic City.
Most Popular Progressive Games
Megabucks is one of the most popular progressive networks available. The probability of winning this jackpot has been estimated at 1 in 50 million. The amounts won on this machine vary from $10 million into the hundreds of millions. Like many lottery games, Megabucks is paid out as an annuity over 25 years.
Wheel of Fortune is a popular brand of slot machine, and it’s available in multiple denominations. One of the most common versions is the quarter version, which has a starting jackpot of $200,000. The jackpot on this game has gotten close to $2 million in the past, but it’s usually won when it’s still under $1 million.
The dollar version of Wheel of Fortune progressives starts with a $1 million jackpot. It’s not unusual for the game to reach $5 million or more, and it’s almost reach $10 million on occasion. Like Megabucks, this jackpot is paid out as an annuity over time.
Elvis isn’t just the king of rock and roll. He’s also a symbol of classic Vegas, so it’s entirely appropriate that he has a progressive slot machine network named after him. The game starts with a $100,000 jackpot, and it costs 25 cents per spin. Keep in mind that to be eligible for the jackpot, you have to make the max bet, which is 3 coins, or 75 cents. We don’t recommend playing progressive slots without making the max bet, because you usually won’t be eligible for the top prize unless you do.
Mega Moolah is an online-only progressive jackpot available at Internet casinos powered by Microgaming software. Multiple games feature the brand name, and the jackpots and betting limits vary. This progressive network features some of the largest jackpots online, often reaching $1 million or more.
Progressive slots can be life-changing since the jackpot continues to grow until won. Not all progressive jackpots dish out millions though. You can play slots with multiple jackpots with prizes in the hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands.
Finding the right progressive slots to play is no easy task. With thousands of games to choose from, many non-progressive prizes match or even beat the progressive ones.
This page covers everything you need to know to get the best from progressive slot machines in Michigan. You will find information about online slots with progressive jackpots as well as linked progressives in live casinos. Examples of the best games with jackpots, plus how to take advantage of bonus deals and promotions.
Online casinos with progressive jackpot slots
Different types of progressive slots
Progressive jackpots come in many sizes. There are also different ways to link them between games. Here are some of the types of jackpot you will find:
- Individual slots: Some jackpots are for a single instance of a slot. They tend to be smaller, and can only be won via a single cabinet or one game at each online casino.
- Shared progressives: Jackpots are often shared between several similar slots within a casino. Some examples are Dragon Link or Lightning Link. You will find them sharing a single ‘Grand’ jackpot within a bank of games.
- Wide area progressives: The biggest jackpots are shared between multiple casinos. For example, the MegaBucks prize pool is shared between multiple casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Shared online progressives: You will often see jackpots shared between different slot games online. An example is the IGT ‘MegaJackpots’ slots. A multi-million prize pool is shared between games including Monopoly, Cleopatra, Siberian Storm, and more.
The biggest prizes catch your eye and make the headlines when they are won. You will often see slots with more than four progressives. A common way of organizing them is with names like Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini. Some slots have fixed bonuses for the smaller jackpots, with only the biggest ones progressively increasing.
There are minor variations too. Some jackpots are programmed so they ‘must pay by’ a specified amount. Konamislots frequently use this system. The biggest difference between jackpots is not how they work, it is how they are won too.
How to win progressive slots
Creators of slots are always dreaming up fresh new ways to award jackpots. On older reel slots, lining up the top symbols (sometimes on a specified win-line) is enough to trigger a jackpot. Other games use scatters, bonus games, wheel spin features, picks bonus features – or even pay their biggest prizes completely at random.
Here is an example of each type of jackpot:
- Scatters: Quick Hit slots use special logo symbols to award progressive jackpots. The top prize comes when you get nine Quick Hit symbols anywhere in view on the same spin. You need to bet the max (which varies between casinos) to get this progressive.
- Random jackpots: Online MegaJackpots slots from IGT award jackpots in two ways. You can line up the special logo symbols on a specific central win-line. After any spin, this jackpot can drop at random. You can win it at any bet size.
- Picks bonus: This is a common way to award the top prizes. One example is 88 Fortunes slots. If the pot above the reels closes, you get to pick tiles. Each one reveals a jackpot-linked Fu Bat baby character. You keep picking until you match three, then you are awarded the prize.
- Bonus games: This is the most varied way of awarding jackpots. Slot makers come up with new break out games all the time. Lightning Link slots recently added a new format. If you get six special cash symbols, you get to respin until you fail to add more three times. Small jackpots can be won by hitting special balls. If you fill all 15 spots on the reels, you will win the biggest ‘Grand’ progressive.
- Wheel spin jackpots: Buffalo Grand has a huge jackpot, along with smaller ones. You need to bet max to have a shot at winning the biggest prize. This comes via a bonus wheel. Some jackpots have a ‘bonus spin’ sign. This lets you spin a second wheel with a multiplier. After you win a jackpot you spin the main wheel again. This continues until you get free spins.
Best online casinos with progressive jackpots in Michigan
Michigan will soon be home to the biggest and best online casinos. You can play thousands of slots via casino apps or browser-based web casinos. You can find a few progressive slots online that are normally available in live casinos. You will also find new progressive jackpots available exclusively online.
Each online casino in Michigan is licensed through a live venue. Here are three of the best brands for players seeking progressive jackpots.
- Bet MGM Casino: The MGM Grand in Detroit contains many of the biggest progressive jackpot slots. Their app, a partnership with GVC, will bring many of those jackpots online. BetMGM is a single app that offers sports betting, casino games, and poker from one account. You can check out the games for free with $25 in free play just for signing up, no deposit is required.
- FanDuel Casino: Better known for its daily fantasy sports and sportsbook, FanDuel has partnered with Motor City to open an online casino in Michigan. This includes progressive jackpots from multiple slot producers. Check out the online-only titles fromNetEnt, alongside games from WMS and Bally.
- DraftKings Casino: This giant sports betting brand has partnered with the Bay Mills Indian Community, owners of the Bay Mills Casino and Resort. As well as online sports betting, DraftKings offers an online casino which includes 50+ slots.
Online slots with progressive jackpots
Most online casinos overlay the prizes for jackpot slots on the tiled graphics you find in the lobby. You will find a big spread. Prizes range from four figures to seven figures. Many of the games will not be recognizable for players that are new to online casinos. They were created exclusively for online play and are not found in live casinos.
Here are some popular progressive slots you will find online that highlight the depth of the gameplay and themes available to you:
Progressive Slot Machines Winners
- Divine Fortune: This Greek myths slot from NetEnt has amazing graphics and some interesting gameplay. You get falling wilds and expanding wilds to connect multiple mythical creatures including Medusa and the Minotaur. The big, five-figure progressive is won by getting rows of golden shield bonus symbols on the reels. There are three levels of jackpots to win. The biggest prize is awarded for filling all three reels.
- China Shores: Konami uses their ‘range’ progressives in many popular online slots. These show a range of prizes, for example, $1,000 to $3,000. The player must hit the jackpot before it the top figure. This adds some strategy to your choice of slot. If two similar games show a jackpot close to the upper limit, and one is not close, then you should play the highest. These prizes can be won at any bet level, with an increased shot at winning the more you bet.
- Cleopatra MegaJackpots: When IGT created the iconic Cleopatra slot, video slot games were new. This game was an instant hit and remains a classic to this day. You can now find Cleopatra online. One variation is linked to a $1 million+ MegaJackpots prize pool. You can win the same prize on several other classic IGT titles. The big prize can drop at random, or you can line up five of the special MegaJackpots symbols across the middle win-line.
Casino bonuses and progressive jackpots
Not all casinos allow you to win progressive jackpots with bonus funds. The problem is that you will often not know which ones until you check out the small print.
As well as bonus terms that explicitly exclude jackpots, you should look for caps on the amount you can win. For example, if a casino caps wins from a no deposit bonus offer at $100 and does not have a carve-out for progressive jackpots, you cannot benefit from hitting the big prizes. In this case, a better strategy is to use the bonus on a lower volatility game, clear your funds, and then enjoy the jackpot slots with this extra money.
A different approach used by some online casinos is to exclude jackpot slots from contributing to your bonus playthrough requirements. This does not stop you from playing them. Any wagers you place simply count as zero towards clearing your bonus.
Here are the types of bonus that can be used to win progressive jackpots at some casinos:
- No deposit bonuses: Many Michigan online casinos give you bonuses simply for signing up. There is no need to deposit. These are smaller bonuses, in the $10 to $35 You will need to meet the play-through requirement of each casino before your funds can be cashed out. Casinos with frequent no deposit offers include Golden Nugget Casino and DraftKings Casino.
- Matched welcome bonuses: This type of bonus incentivizes you to deposit. You get a 100% match of between $250 and $1500, depending on the casino. Some casinos allow you to make multiple smaller deposits. Play-through is weighted, with slots (including progressives) usually counting at 100%.
- No-lose first day: This type of bonus is ideal for playing progressive slots. You deposit and simply play with your own money. The casinos will refund you up to $200 in bonus credits if you lose. Those bonus credits have terms (including play-through) attached. Casinos with risk free type offers include FanDuel Casino and DraftKings Casino.
Progressive Slot Machine online, free
Free spins promotions, loyalty rewards, reload bonuses, and leaderboards can also be enjoyed in conjunction with progressive slots. As with the welcome bonus offers, you should always read the terms and conditions before you play.
Big win potential with no progressive slots
There are many non-progressive slots that can pay amounts equal to the bigger progressive jackpot games. If you search through the fine print in the rules of many games, you will find things like ‘250,000’ coin top prize per spin.
Slots with bonus features, free spins that feature wilds, multiplier symbols, and picks-games can all award big prizes.