Welcome to Online Casino Gamester: Progressive Slots
Progressive slots machines’ number one feature is the prize money. They offer a jackpot that is significantly larger than those jackpots that are linked to traditional slots because they are built and set up that way. In some cases, you can easily find Progressive Jackpots that total an amount to change a lifestyle drastically: and in that I mean, they will literally make you a millionaire overnight. The slot machine fantasy that includes striking rich in one poignant moment inherently will stem from a Progressive Slot since traditionals’ jackpots cannot offer the drippingly large amounts that Progressives can. The responsible gambler knows that his chances of hitting that golden ticket are the same as winning the state lottery, but it certainly shouldn’t stop anyone from playing. After all, who has this much fun playing the lottery?
Progressives are set up to support one another, and in doing so, they build a large joint jackpot from which someone will eventually win. As traditional slot machines keep any money that is not paid back out to gamblers in winnings, progressives’ are programmed a little differently. For each bet that is placed into the machine, a small amount is set aside before anything else and put into the Jackpot. This happens for each of the machines that may be linked into the circuit. It is not at all uncommon to find single progressive machines; all that means is that for that one machines, one fraction of your bets are going directly into the Jackpot. The minimum payout distribution rules still apply, but it does include the inevitability that at some point, some lucky duck will hit that growing, growing, growing jackpot. Many progressive machines are linked together, and you’ll notice that their Jackpots are drastically larger than single progressives. But as there are more machines linked, the jackpot may be larger, but there are far more people competing for that big win. Also, typically in order to win the grand prize, the gambler will have to have played the max bet on all active lines. They certainly aren’t going to make it easy for you.
There are three different types of progressive slot machines:
1. The Stand Alone Progressive Machine- this machine is the individual machine. There are no other machines either contributing to the pot, nor taking from it in the form of wins. Stand Alones rarely have a minimum jackpot advertised, as the jackpot is based solely on the percentage of bets placed into the machine. Stand Alones will have a meter on the front or top of the machine keeping track of the jackpot. Payouts are comparable to standard machines, and only adjusted for the jackpot situation. Again, because this machine is by itself, the grand prize will probably be less than linked machines, but still significantly more than traditionals.
2. Proprietary or In-House Progressives- these are linked machines that are all within a single casino, be it on land or online. The machines are all the same game, or similarly themed games and all operated by and owned by the casino. If the casino has more than one property, it is possible that the linked machines may span a few locations, but mostly are localized to one establishment. These hit more often than the Wide Area Progressives, but offer larger jackpots that Single Progressives.
3. Wide Area Progressives- these are the big’uns, baby. When you see advertisements for multi-million dollar jackpots, be assured that they’re coming from a Wide Area Progressive. The machines and games are linked into one large network that spans not only locations, but unrelated casinos as well. The machines are owned and operated by third parties, set up in casinos, and contracts/agreements are drawn as to how profits are shared. For example, the slot machine company IGT has a variety of games like Quartermania, MegaBucks and others that operate out of different casinos but linked to the same Jackpot. Because of the costs in maintaining and running the large gaming operations associated with Wide Area Progressives, payout percentages may be lower on these games; that is, until you hit that Jackpot.
Online slots are a terrific game for any gambler, keep it in mind that progressives aren’t somewhere you should bank all your money. Instead it is recommended to take a portion of your bets and put them towards the chance at a Jackpot, but do not invest all your chances in the possibility. Responsible playing is still of the utmost importance, and if winning consistently in other games, you’ll always have a flow of money to put towards progressives. Odds are better with Stand Alones, or Propritaries. No matter what you do, the more you know, the more you win!