Progressive Slots – List of best Progressive Jackpot Slot Machines games
The first progressive jackpot slot launched in March 1986 and was created by International Game Technology is known as IGT. Megabucks video slot featured a progressive jackpot that differed from other jackpots in the sense that instead of offering a fixed jackpot prize, its jackpot was linked and contributed to by a percentage of players wager.
The major fascination with the progressive jackpot was due to IGT’s announcement, the developer would fund the first million dollars to set the jackpot into motion, and by February 1987, the first jackpot winner, Reno cashed in a jackpot prize worth $4,988,842.17.
Being named the “biggest progressive jackpot” in the world is a title, many online software developers compete for, and currently, the two main contenders are Microgaming and NetEnt.
Microgaming launched its signature progressive jackpot slot titled Mega Moolah in December 2006, and during its steady climb from one million to five and a half without any winnings along the way, the first lucky winner was awarded $5.5 million in April 2008.
NetEnt released Mega Fortune in January 2009, the first winner of the mega jackpot bagged an extraordinary win worth €4.3 million, while the second winner won €3.9 million, yet the progressive jackpot first to astonish the world & enter the Guinness World Record was in January 2013 when a student from Finland claimed €17.8 million!
Best Progressive Jackpot Slots
Progressive Jackpots the Millionaire Makers
There are several types of progressive jackpots including standalone progressives, in-house progressive jackpots known online as local progressives and wide area progressive jackpots also referred to as linked progressive jackpots.
Progressive jackpots wins are something every player have fantasized about, its life-altering and a single spin can transform a casual player into a multi-millionaire. The difference between a jackpot and a progressive jackpot is major, fixed jackpots offer players the prize indicated in the paytable while progressive jackpots increase every time the slot is played, should the progressive jackpot be won the minimum jackpot prize instantly re-sets to its minimum guaranteed predetermined value.
Every online and land-based slot machine operates via a computerised algorithm called a random number generator referred to as the RNG, which determines the result of every spin and at the same time guarantees that every result is completely random. Playing a progressive jackpot very much depends on the progressive jackpot rules indicated in the paytable section. Most progressive jackpots state that the main jackpot prize can only be triggered via a maximum bet, but at the same time this hugely differs from one slot to the next. The first step towards winning a progressive jackpot is to ensure you are familiarised with the requirements, since should you be lucky enough to spin in the required combination it would be dramatic to only win a part of the jackpot should your selected bet not adhere to the conditions.
Types of Progressive Jackpots
The two main types of progressive jackpots offered at online casinos are local and pooled jackpots. Local progressive jackpots are exclusive to players at the casino, only wagers made by members contribute to the always increasing jackpot, and it can only be won at that casino. Local progressive increase slower than linked progressive jackpot and often don’t reach the same massive payouts in the same time-period.
Linked progressive jackpots are shared amongst several online casinos and players at all the participating casinos contributes to the same jackpot/s, while the progressive prize can be won by a member of any one of the participating casinos. The benefit of selecting to wager on a linked progressive jackpot is that the contributions from thousands of online players ensure that the top prize increase much quicker and that it always reaches multi-millions.
Video Slots Featuring Multiple Progressive Jackpots
One of the best-known progressive jackpots is Mega Moolah, which offers players the change to win three progressive jackpots linked to five different slots. The jackpots include the major offering the highest payout, the minor which is in the middle and the mini jackpot rewarding a lesser jackpot prize than the minor and the major.
Mega Fortune created by NetEnt also features three different progressive jackpots with the highest payout offered by the mega, a lesser payout by the major and the smallest of the three is the rapid progressive jackpot.
Unique Progressive Jackpots
NetEnt created, Cosmic Fortune slot is quite unique in that it offers avalanche style play with a total of five jackpots, consisting of a mixture of fixed and progressive jackpots.
Playtech’s progressive jackpot titled Everybody’s Jackpot is an eight payline slot and in remaining true to its name the winner of the progressive jackpot shares a percentage of the prize with players who wagered in the past 24 hours. The winner receives 70% of the progressive jackpot prize, while the remaining 30% is distributed to the most recent participants.
Top Progressive Jackpots by Award-Winning Software Developers
Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune are the best known for their frequent multi-million payouts, although online players have an enormous variety to choose from, and therefore we list some of the most popular jackpots created by premier online software providers.
NetEnt: Mega Fortune, Arabian Nights, Hall of Gods, Mega Fortune Dreams, Cosmic Fortune
Microgaming: Major Millions, Mega Moolah, King Cashalot, Tunzamunni, Major Millions
Playtech: Jackpot Giant, Gold Rally, Beach Life, Gladiator, Age of the Gods, Funky Fruits
Yggdrasil: Joker Millions, Empire Fortune, Holmes & the Stolen Stones
Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by NetEnt
The biggest progressive payouts awarded by NetEnt’s progressive jackpots include €7,820,888 awarded by Hall of Gods on the 18th of April 2015, €8,835,872 won on Arabian Nights in November 2012, and Mega Fortune’s mega jackpot has awarded a lucky player with €8,577,104 in November 2015, €11,735,446 in September 2011 and its biggest payout yet was €17,860,868 on the 20th of January 2013.
Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by Microgaming
Mega Moolah is not only the biggest progressive jackpot part of the Microgaming platform it has also recently surpassed its biggest competitor when it awarded the biggest progressive payout on a slot on the 28th of September 2018 when the luckiest player in the world won €18,915,721. Other massive payouts by Mega Moolah also includes £13,212,882 in October 2015, $11,633,898 in November 2016 and $10,423,223 in April 2016.
Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by Playtech Slots
Playtech’s signature progressive jackpot is Beach Life which awarded its biggest payout to date in February 2012 when an anonymous winning cash in a prize worth $5,219,723, other high payouts also includes £3,780,736 in July 2015 as well as $4,248,570 in December 2009. Other high payouts awarded by Playtech slots include £3,917,927 in January 2016 via Jackpot Giant, and Gold Rally awarded £3,917,927 in November 2013.
Biggest Progressive Jackpot Payouts by Yggdrasil Gaming Slots
Yggdrasil Gaming is a newcomer in the world of progressive jackpots games, although the developer has accumulated quite a list of big winners in recent years. The highest rewarding jackpot is Joker Millions, which have rewarded a €5,196,319 on the 4th of July 2017, €3,475,894 in October 2017, €3,201,285 in December 2016, and €2,881,257 in July 2016.
Mega Moolah vs Mega Fortune Progressive Jackpots
Mega Fortune is inspired by a wealthy theme. It represents the flamboyant lifestyle that awaits the winner of its mega jackpot across twenty-five paylines and five reels. While the background displays an evening-sky enjoyed on an island, lounge music sets the mood. The theme related symbols all drenched in gold and diamonds includes golden rings, silver and gold cufflinks, designer watches, cognac & cigars, limousines and a stack of cash kept orderly via a gold dollar designed money clip.
Ten different bet levels are available to select from, while the coin value starts from a minimum of $0.01 up to $0.50. Packed with bonus features, Mega Fortune enhances winning chances via wild yachts paying maximums worth up to 10,000 coins, champagne scatters releasing free spins and bonus wheels unlocking the door to the jackpot bonus round. The main attraction is the three progressive jackpots displayed directly above the reels, which includes the rapid, major and the mega jackpots.
Mega Moolah is inspired by the freedom of nature, it’s twenty-five paylines transport players to the wild where a purple monkey throws the bonus, and for the lucky winner, he predicts a life of riches. Apart from four progressive jackpots, Mega Moolah also features an array of fantastic bonus boosters including the wild lion replacing all symbols to increase combination winnings. The monkey represents the scatter, and during the free spins bonus round all payouts are tripled.
Once the jackpot bonus round activated a window appears over the main game, and the player gets the chance to spin the wheel. The colour the bonus wheel halts on determines which of the progressive jackpots are won, the mini activates on red, the minor jackpot triggers on orange, the major n yellow and the mega jackpot pays out should the wheel land on the paw prints on the grey area.