Progressive Slot Machines

The first rule for playing a progressive machine (other than Mega Moolah) is to make the maximum bet. If you bet less than maximum you won’t be eligible for the prize! Imagine only betting one coin and getting the winning combination that pays a few hundred dollars when a couple of more coins would have given you a million dollars or more.

The only exception that I know of to still win a progessive jackpot and not having to bet the max is Mega Moolah progressive slot machines. You can bet pennies per line (125 coins) and still enter the bonus round where you will have the same chance as a nickel bettor of winning the prize! The difference is that someone betting .05 will have a five times better chance of getting to the bonus round. If your bankroll is small, bet 1.25, if you’ve got deep pockets, bet 6.25

How Progressive Slot Machines Work

Progressive jackpots start out at a certain set payout and the jackpot goes up a bit every time someone wagers on the game, and they just keep growing until some lucky player hits it. The payout percentage for regular line wins is lower on most progressives than on regular video slots, so they’re not the game to playing unless you are willing to lose a lot in hopes of getting a big win.

Playing Progessive Slot Machines Strategy

There are three good times for the average gambler to play a progressive slot machine beyond the occasional hit and run couple of spins. One would be to take a certain percentage of your session bankroll, say 10% and give it whirl - nothing ventured, nothing gained. It is a reasonable and responsible approach to playing a stakes game. Another is when you are at a profit and plan to cash out anyway once you get down to your original deposit amount. This can be seen as free chances at a major life-changing jackpot.

Online Progressive Slots Strategy

The third best time to play a progressive is with a good sign-up bonus from the casino. If the bonus is in the 100%+ range, you can make a modest deposit and basically double your chances! Playthrough requirements would be irrelevant if you won the big one, and if you lose your deposit and bonus you had a good run anyway, with twice as many opportunities. This strategy is best for Microgaming casinos or at an RTG where you have confirmed in writing that there is no max cash out provision attached to the bonus.

Just like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play; so by all means, give a progressive a spin or two now and then. I wouldn’t use my whole bankroll trying to win a progressive jackpot because they are usually in the hundreds of thousands or even millions for a reason (It takes quite a bit of luck to hit a jackpot). I would suggest players with a limited bankroll to play other slot machines like 3 reel slot machines or even most bonus video slots. Both types typically have better payouts.