Progressive Jackpot Games: How They Work and Why They’re So Popular

Progressive jackpot games, especially slots, are gaining increasingly popular worldwide. With it offering life changing sums of money in a single spin

17:21 25 March 2025

Progressive jackpot games, especially slots, are gaining increasingly popular worldwide. With it offering life changing sums of money in a single spin, it’s no wonder why people are flocking towards these games in hopes of improving their lives. Because of this popularity, casinos are taking advantage by putting more jackpot games in their repertoire. But with all that said, how do they work, and why are they so popular?

What are Progressive Jackpot Games?

Progressive jackpot games have one different aspect in them and it’s the feature that allows the jackpot to get bigger and bigger every time they are played. This will accumulate until one lucky winner wins it all. Unlike standard games that you can win with fixed prizes, progressive jackpot games can grow into thousands and even millions. 

The thing about these games, too, is that they are usually linked to a single network. Whether playing online or on land-based casinos like FanDuel Casino PA, California, New York, or Texas, you contribute to the same prize pools as other players as long as a single casino operates the games. 

This interconnectedness is what allows progressive jackpot games to accumulate sums of money. These games offer jackpot prizes as well as smaller regular prizes. While hitting the jackpot is extremely rare, people who play the game can still win smaller prizes. 

How Progressive Jackpot Games Work

Now that you know the general gist of progressive jackpot games, we’ll discuss how they work internally. We already know that the jackpot gets bigger, but some requirements must be met to win it.

Usually, a player must meet specific requirements to get a chance to get the jackpot. Usually, it’s in the form of wagering the highest amount of money required or landing a specific combination of symbols, which is common in slots. 

In some cases, players don’t have to do anything and no matter how big or small their bets are, they always have a chance to get the jackpot. Some games require you to get to the bonus stage and must complete it to get a chance to play for the jackpot. Of course, these vary from game to game.

Once the jackpot is won, it resets to a predetermined value known as the “seed.” The seed size varies from game to game, but it’s usually substantial enough to entice players to play the game. In Mega Moolah, for example, the prize goes back to a million after the jackpot has been claimed. Other games start at lower, but they will accumulate quickly because of their popularity.

The frequency and the chances to win the jackpot also vary from game to game. Some games payout frequently but with smaller jackpots, while others are rarer in true jackpot fashion. Knowing this can help you pick which type of games suits you best.

Type of Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpot games come in different types, each with its rules for winning the jackpot. Understanding the key difference is essential if you’re looking for a progressive jackpot game that suits your style of play. 

Standalone Progressive Jackpot

These jackpots are confined to a single machine. The prize only grows depending on the number of people who play that specific machine. While the jackpot grows slowly and smaller, these machines generally have better odds of winning.

Local Progressive Jackpot

These games are linked between several machines in a single casino or within a group of casinos in a specific area. These jackpots build much faster than standalone machines because more people contribute to the pool. Though they are still smaller than the next type of jackpot game, the prize to be won is still significant. However, the chances of winning the jackpot are also significantly smaller than standalone jackpots.

Wide-Area Progressive Jackpot

These are the largest and most lucrative types of jackpot games out there. They’re usually connected across multiple casinos in a much wider area and sometimes, even worldwide, allowing the jackpot to grow at a ludicrous rate and amount. They are also responsible for the biggest wins in casino history, with payouts ranging in the millions. Of course, this makes their odds of winning extremely low, but the rewards are usually life-changing.

The Allure of Progressive Jackpot Games

Gambling, especially the chase for progressive jackpots, taps into a deep-seated psychological drive in many individuals, and this is very true for players. For some, it’s not the prize they seek but the bragging rights. The lower the chances of winning are, the more pride they see in it. 

And this allure is no mere accident. Casinos employ real-time updates, vivid graphics, and immersive sound effects to enhance the emotional effect of their casino games, especially progressive jackpot games. Such experiences are hard to replicate, and the casinos do it best.

Final Words

Progressive jackpot games continue to captivate players worldwide due to their potential life-changing prizes. With their unique structure different from other casino games, they provide a more immersive and fun experience, not to mention the sums. While hitting the jackpot might be slim, the thrill of the chase will always be there, making the game more popular.