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Progressive slots offer players the chance to win a life-changing amount in one spin. Playing progressive slots is the same as playing any other slot game, with the added potential to win a massive amount. Available at top casino sites and land-based casinos, they have become a staple for slots players all over the world.

Online casinos often share jackpots, meaning any spin on that game at any online casino contributes to the jackpot. With popular online slots like Mega Moolah and Gladiator paying out jackpots in the millions, it's easy to see why slots players keep coming back for their shot at a huge prize.

What Are Progressive Slots and How Do They Work?

For the most part, progressive slot machines online work the same way as other online slots. When it comes to the basics of how to play progressive slots, you simply spin the reels and try to match up the symbols on a payline. Each combination will pay out a fixed amount. What makes progressive slots different from the regular ones is the jackpot and how that accumulates over time.

As the name suggests, progressive slots with jackpots aren't fixed. They increase according to the number of games played. A fraction of each new bet will be added to the big prize. By lining up the highest paying symbol, the player will win the entire amount if triggered in the progressive online slot machines. In some cases, the big prize can only be won in a bonus round. Some progressive slot machines may require a certain stake to make the spin eligible for the progressive jackpot. Once the big prize is won, the pot resets to a predetermined amount.

Standalone Progressives

Standalone online progressive slot machines are perhaps the simplest kind of progressive jackpot slots. As the name suggests, these are standalone slots. In other words, they aren't connected to a network or other slot machines. It works like any other conventional slot, but with one significant difference. Standalone progressive slot machines take a fraction of the bet to build up the jackpot. Of course, the prize isn't exactly comparable to other progressive slot variations.

You could have 10 slot machines in a row, all the same game. With standalone progressive jackpots, each machine will have its own jackpot which can only be won at that machine, whereas a local progressive jackpot could be won at any of the 10 machines as they are all connected to the same network.

Local Progressives

A local progressive jackpot only takes the stakes from bets made at a single casino. To make it easier, let's assume that casino A and casino B have the same progressive slot machine. Despite being the exact same game, the jackpot will vary from one to the other. That's because only bets made at casino A will count towards its progressive jackpot. Likewise, only bets made at casino B will count towards their jackpot.

Wide Area Network Progressives

Wide area network progressive jackpots take bets from different casinos placed at one specific slot. If casinos A, B, C and D all offer the same progressive jackpot slot, then all stakes will go towards the same prize pool. This also means that players at casinos A, B, C and D will all be competing for the same jackpot. Naturally, these slots offer the biggest prizes available online and are generally known as the best online progressive slots to play.

Most Popular Online Progressive Jackpot Slot Games

• Mega Moolah - This popular online progressive jackpot slot by Microgaming often offers the biggest online progressive jackpot. The jackpot game is triggered randomly, with increased chances when placing the maximum bet. Players get the chance to spin a wheel, which will point to a sector. It can land on Mini, Minor, Major or the millionaire Mega jackpot. Naturally, Mega Moolah also has fixed winning combinations like any other regular slot. Due to its popularity, Mega Moolah's online progressive jackpot tends to grow rapidly.
• Mega Fortune - This slot by NetEnt also held the record for the biggest progressive jackpot ever seen before, for those playing progressive slots. Its bonus round is triggered by lining up three or more bonus symbols. Players get the chance to spin the Wheel of Fortune. This game has three different circles. Landing on a number results in an instant win, but not the big prize. By lining up three arrows on the three circles, players win the mega jackpot.
• Hall of Gods - Another popular progressive slot game by NetEnt, Hall of Gods draws inspiration from Nordic mythology. The bonus round is triggered by lining up three Bonus symbols. Players need to break shields, lined up in a 5x3 format. Once three of the same symbols are matched, the bonus game ends. Players need to line up three Mega Jackpot symbols to scoop the big prize in this progressive online slot game.
• Jackpot Giant - Unlike the other games in this list, Jackpot Giant by Playtech has a regular bonus round. It's a simple game in which players have to pick a volcano, which will then reveal the prize. How do you play (and win) this progressive slot? Players win the progressive jackpot by lining up five Wild symbols.

Biggest Progressive Jackpot Slot Wins

Mega Moolah holds the current record for the biggest progressive jackpot slot win. The progressive slot machine by Microgaming holds three of the top five spots on the list. Mega Fortune holds the other two spots in this list. The NetEnt slot held the top two spots until 2015, when Mega Moolah beat the record.

The biggest online progressive jackpot ever paid went to an anonymous player on 28 September 2018. Grand Mondial Casino hosted the win. There are no details available about the winner, not even their nationality, have been revealed. Their prize was a sizeable €18,915,721. This win surpassed the previous record, which also belonged to Mega Moolah.

On October 6, 2015, Jonathon Heywood, from the UK, won a £13,312,882 progressive jackpot at Betway. Heywood's record was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records. At the time, his prize translated to €17,879,645.12, which narrowly beat the previous biggest jackpot. Heywood's prize is now down to third in the list. An anonymous Canadian player hit the Mega Moolah jackpot and won $20,057,734 at Zodiac Casino, which translates to roughly €18,2 million.

Mega Fortune holds the other two spots for best online progressive slot wins. The record for the biggest online jackpot ever paid belonged to the NetEnt progressive slot until 2015. On September 23, 2011, a Norwegian player won €11,735,446 at Betsson Casino. On January 20, 2013, another lucky winner hit the Mega Fortune Progressive Jackpot. An anonymous player from Finland won €17,860,868 at Paf Casino.

Progressive slots are the best way to win big at online casinos. With rapid growing jackpots, prizes are often in the seven figures. And, as we can see here, they can even grow into the eight figures. It's no understatement to say that winning at a progressive slot can change your life. Now that you know how to play progressive slots, don’t you think it’s time to try for yourself? Choose from our progressive slot list and start now!