Non Progressive Slot Machines
- Some of the best free slot machine games without downloading or registration to play for fun include More Chili, Wheel Of Fortune, Centurion, Fireball, Wizard of Oz, Monopoly. Free slots are a broad category of online games that are available to gamers at no real cash cost.
- Progressive Slots; Progressive slots look exactly the same as any other slot machines; the difference is the mechanism of the jackpot formation. With every spin a small fraction of every player’s bet is deducted and added into the central “pot”. The money is accumulated there until some lucky guy hits the jackpot.
- Enchanted Kingdom. 5-reel 30-payline Fantasy slot with cartoon graphics, designed around Mega Progressive Jackpots up to $200,000 Heidi and Hannahs Bier Haus. This 6-reel, 50 Payline slot has a Bavarian tavern aesthetic and ways to get up to 100 Free Spins with lucky Scatter lands.
Many slot machines and video poker machines feature a progressive jackpot. The jackpot increases by a small predetermined amount each time the game is played. Often multiple machines are pooled or linked together to form a larger progressive jackpot which grows more quickly because more non-winning plays can be counted toward it. Progressive Slots. Progressive slots and slot machines have a jackpot that increases incrementally as players play the game. These can be standalone machines, where the jackpot increases on just that one machine, or they can be networks of machines, where the jackpot increases across the entire network.
Home > Online Casinos > Casino Articles > 7 Best Progressive Slot Machines
Progressive slot machines were introduced to the gaming market in 1986 by American slot machine manufacturer, International Gaming Technology (IGT). Until then, a slot machine payout would be limited to the amount set by the casino.
The progressive angle allowed the total available jackpot to increase with every bet contributed by a player, minus the amount taken by the casino to preserve the house edge.
But because the original progressive slots were still limited to one machine at a time, payouts remained modest compared to what they would become.
What revolutionized progressive slot play and the gaming industry as a whole was the networking of progressive machines. There are two types of progressive networks – local and wide-area.
Local area progressives provide larger potential jackpots than the original stand-alone machine because the contributions of all machines on the network add to the payout potential of one machine. However, because the local-area network may only contain up to a hundred machines, payouts usually do not exceed $100 000.
Big slot play these days requires wide-area progressive networks. As you have guessed, wide-area progressive machines are linked to a much greater number of machines, which include machines from other casinos across the state and sometimes across the country. For gamblers playing in states with a rich gaming culture, like Nevada or Pennsylvania, this means high jackpot potential, indeed!
To date, the largest progressive jackpot payout (and therefore the largest payout in slots history) took place at the Las Vegas Excalibur, on March 21, 2003. The largest in Las Vegas history, a software engineer spent $100 on IGT's Megabucks and won a total of $39 710 896.36, beating odds of 16.7 million against.
The following is a list of 7 of the best progressive slot machines in the world today.
1. Megabucks
First on the list is IGT Interactive's Megabucks. The first wide-area progressive machine to become available, Megabucks is still in very wide use. The Megabucks is a dollar slot game, with $3 bets required to qualify for the maximum jackpot. The jackpot base amount is $10 million, and once the progressive payout is made the machine is reset to the base.
The Megabucks has been the machine on record for some of the largest payouts in slot gaming history, including the aforementioned, number one ranked $39 million. As of this date, the latest Megabucks jackpot was hit on March 22, 2016 at the Gold Dust West Casino in Elko, Nevada, paying over $12.5 million. Between 1994 through 2009, Megabucks paid out a total of $1,239,830,000 in winnings, an annual average of $77 489 375. Winners have a choice between taking the entire payout in one sum or having it distributed over a 25-year period in annual installments.
Be aware that Megabucks gaming is available solely in Nevada. However, visitors to Nevada will have no problem finding a Megabucks machine to try their luck on. There are many dozens of casinos in and around the Las Vegas and Reno areas that employ Megabucks machines. According to a2zlasvegas website, Megabucks jackpot hits have been averaging 1 a year for the past few years, with the most number of jackpots topping 3 per year. However, with winnings consistently worth well over $10 million, Megabucks continues to attract the crowds.
2. Wheel of Fortune Slots
Fans of the famous game show will feel at home with the Wheel of Fortune. Atop the machine is the iconic 'Wheel' which is spun with every press of the button, accompanied with the game show theme music.
Produced by IGT, Wheel of Fortune games come with options of 25c, $1 and $5 betting levels. Wheel of Fortune Quarter requires 3 coins, or 75c bets, to qualify for jackpot hits. After a hit, the jackpot level is reset to $200 000. Of the Wheel of Fortune variations, the 25c version pays out smallest but more often, averaging the past several years at least one jackpot payout per month. A few of which paying over $1 million.
The Wheel of Fortune Dollar is a dollar slot that requires a $2 bet to qualify for the jackpot. Winners may also choose to receive payouts in 25 annual installments. The base is set at $1 million and the machine is reset to the base upon a jackpot hit. As of this date, the latest Wheel of Fortune $1 jackpot was hit on June 9, 2016 at the upscale Red Rock Casino and Spa in Las Vegas for $ 1,240,398.97.
Best Progressive Slot Machines
Though these jackpots are considerably smaller than its Megabucks cousin, Wheel of Fortune Dollar does pay out more often. According to a2zlasvegas website, over the past two years there have been 17 jackpot payouts, all worth well over $1 million. Still enough jackpot to have made it worthwhile!
Wheel of Fortune Five Dollar is a $5 slot machine that requires two coins, or $10 bets, to qualify for the jackpot. After a jackpot hit the base is reset to $1 million. Winners have the option to receive payouts in annual installments.
Of the Wheel of Fortune slot franchise, and not unsurprisingly, the Five Dollar pays out least often, with jackpots ranging from one to no more than a handful per year, over the past 15 years. However, payouts are typically well over $1 million, while a few have exceeded $3 million.
3. Saturday Night Live Slots
Saturday Night Live by Bally Gaming is one of the Bally's more popular slots, due largely to the variations between versions of the game and the potential for high bonuses and networked progressive jackpots. Typically, the jackpot will start at $10 000 on individual machines and proceed. However, some machines are linked to local or wide-area networks increasing the payout potential considerably.
Examples on variations include The Church Lady, which offers a Canned Ham and Church Hat bonus play. Another version is Wayne's World that has a Guitar feature that provides up to 15 times the bet's value and an Offer feature that can multiply your bet's value by 1000. Thus, the potential for huge jackpot payouts.
4. Sex and the City Slots
IGT's Sex and the City slots have been a big hit in Vegas, perhaps partly due to the popular TV show from which it derives its name and brand. These slots have acquired a reputation for attracting single women, perhaps because of the show's audience and identity. It will help to be a big fan of the show to get most enjoyment from the play experience. Because of this, Sex and the City's manufacturer – IGT – went all out to create a very visually appealing machine with all the show's themes and icons a fan would expect.
Another reason may be the fact they are technically penny slots, and so a play can cost much less than the other progressive slot games mentioned in this list. Sex and the City slots are also 4 in 1 games, offering a lot of variation in play. However, for maximum play experience, it is required to play all four screens at once. Since each play per screen is 50c a maximum play is $2, which is getting up into maximum progressive wide-area slot play.
The game offers nine bonus rounds where a player may enhance winnings. Each round is represented by a particular character from the show with show-themed scenarios, like Mr. Big or shopping for shoes. Fans of the series won't want to miss this one.
5. Millionaire 777s
Millionaire 777s have the reputation for providing more frequent payouts, with a chance to win $1 million every 107 spins. The base jackpot is $1 million and is returned to that after a jackpot hit. The most recent jackpot hit occurred April 8, 2015 at the California Hotel and Casino, for $1,168,555.17.
6. Powerbucks
Powerbucks is a wide-area linked progressive slot game that links machines in Nevada with machines in South Dakota and New Jersey.
As of this date, the most recent Powerbucks jackpot was hit June 2, 2015, at Orleans Hotel and Casino, for just over $1.35 million.
7. Quartermania
Quartermania is a progressive slot game that is linked within a wide-area system to casinos in Nevada and New Jersey. It can be found within a few dozen casinos in and around Las Vegas. Quartermania is a game that allows for more frequent play due to lower required bets but can still provide a whopping payout. The highest payout is over $178 000 and the most recent was on April 4, 2016 at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.
Conclusion
Wide-area progressive slots have gained the reputation of providing life-changing payouts and are typically well over $1 million. For this reason, the area around linked progressive machines tends to be one of the busiest in a casino, electric with the lights and sounds of the bells and the anticipation of extravagant winnings. If you decide to play a progressive slot you will notice the winnings potential increase in large, brightly lit numbers on the front. This adds to the excitement of progressive slot machine play.
Of course, also adding to the excitement is the knowledge that you, as the player, are not only competing against the odds set by the random number generator that exists inside each machine, but also against other players. Since there can be many thousands of machines connected to a wide-area network, including systems that extend both through-out and across state lines, you could be playing simultaneously with many thousands of players – all going for the same jackpot. In odds terms, the mathematical probability of hitting the jackpot is roughly 1 in 49 836 032, calculated in 1999 by Jack Robison.
One thing however, to be aware of is the minimum required bet. Most progressive machines require a minimum bet for each play in order for the player to qualify for the maximum jackpot. For example, if the minimum bet is a $2 coin and you play a $1 coin, and win, your bet did not qualify you for the available progressive jackpot. The result is you may still have a nice payout – say, $5000 – even if the potential payout was in the millions.
As you can imagine this could be quite a shock if you thought you were playing for the maximum jackpot. Don't worry though. Each machine should clearly state what the minimum bet is in order to qualify for the progressive jackpot. If you cannot find the information on the front of the machine, check the machine's 'Help' menu. Failing that, ask an attendant to show you where the minimum bet is located in writing. I do not recommend asking a fellow player as they may also be misled.
Progressive slots over wide-area networks offer the responsible gambler yet another thrill in his or her casino gameplay. As ever, budget aside a reasonable and affordable bankroll, monitor the time spent and you can spend an enjoyable hour or so always one bet away from making gaming history and going home truly rich.
If you a fan of the ever growing gambling trend, the times are changing, thelingo is changing, and slot machine mastery is changing!
There are so many different terms to winning today in casinos, often itleaves players breathless with wonder. Have you ever walked into a casino andnot understood the difference between a casino jackpot win? Orhave you ever just wondered what the difference is between a jackpot and aprogressive jackpot?
Let us give you some insight on the progressivejackpots.
WHAT IS A PROGRESSIVE SLOT JACKPOT?
Winning slots in a casino sometimes seems like a piece ofcake, while other times it seems that you have to develop a mastery ofthe slot machine.
There is some really good insider information that you may find helpful onprogressive slots. Progressive jackpot slots are theonly slot game that regularly offers millions of dollars plus jackpots.
The whole idea to progressive slot machines is that apercentage of each bet placed would add to the jackpot prize. Thus, every betplayed would be added to the previous bets, making the jackpot grow. Everytime you spin the reel, or push the reel button, a percentage of your bet isadded to the jackpot, causing the jackpot to grow, and grow and grow. Theproblem with progressive jackpots is that they have a lowerpayout percentage than a standard slot machine jackpot.
PLAYING TIPS TO WIN PROGRESSIVE SLOT MACHINES
When playing progressive slot machines the best pay out isalways with the max bet allowed. This means, if the game says that the max betis 3 coins, you should play 3 coins. This is because when you win slots,you only win the maximum jackpot if you bet the max bet. If you do not play maxbet, your win could only be a third of what it should or could have been.
Most people like to play $1.00 or .25 slots. What could be worse thanbetting a half dollar on a one dollar slot and only winning $1000.00 when youcould have won the progressive jackpot of 100000.00!
If you like to play land based casinos, make sure that all the coins haveregistered and been accounted for before spinning your reel. Playing online isa little easier; just be sure to always hit the max bet option.
Some wonder if progressive slots are worth the money. The main thing to takeinto consideration is to know your budget. Progressivejackpots tend to have a lower payout record than other slotmachines. If you have a certain amount of money you are playing with,only play a portion towards progressive slots. This will helpyou keep some money to play other slot machines if your luckis not with you on the progressive slot machines with higherpay out odds.
Once a progressive jackpot is won, the meter usually resetsitself to the base jackpot amount. Most legitimate casinoswill give you information on when the last progressive jackpottook place, and for how much the win was for. CheckSlotland homepage for details.
WHERE TO FIND PROGRESSIVE SLOTS
Slot machines in casinos are making changes every day. Atone time, casinos were just pure walk in, walk out. Now you can take a spinfrom the privacy of your own home. Legitimate online casinosare becoming more and more popular. Not only can you find your favoriteslot machine in a regular casino, you can wander cyber spaceand find many of the same games online.
Whether you're looking for primary jackpots, secondary jackpots orprogressive slot jackpots, online casinos give you thepleasure of playing whenever you want. Linked progressive jackpots are nowcommon to both online and offline casinos.
LAST THOUGHTS ON SLOT GAMING
Non Progressive Slot Machines Free Play
Playing at the casino can be fun, relaxing and relatively pain free. Youjust need to keep a few things in mind when doing so. Always know your limit.Playing slot machines should always be for entertainment only,not intended to use as an income. If you want to play progressive slotmachines, remember that you can give them a spin, but don't chase arainbow that is not guaranteed to win.