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When Do Progressive Jackpot Slots Hit? – How Often They Pay Out, Which Games to Play, and More

Last Updated October 18, 2023 10:07 am PDT
Progressive jackpot symbolism and imagery
  • How often do progressive jackpots hit? The answer depends on what slot machine you’re playing.
  • Hot drop jackpots tell you when they will be won, which makes them easily the best option.
  • Winning a progressive jackpot is purely luck, meaning no strategy or tip will help you.

Are progressive jackpot slot odds just too high to consider? Even the most intrepid player will ask themselves that question at some point.

But there’s no point in denying that we would all love to drop that big one at some point in our lives. Whether that’s down to the audacious amount of cash involved or simply the sheer ecstasy of the win comes down to the person.

But how often do progressive jackpots hit? After all, casinos would be foolish to just hand them out. Join me as I break down this question, which we all wondered about before becoming an expert on the topic.

How Progressive Jackpots Work in a Nutshell

Land based progressive jackpot machines

You probably already know how slots with progressive jackpots work. If not, you should be able to pick up the nuts and bolts in just a couple of minutes.

While I’d love to sit here and type away concerning all you need to know about progressives, it’s not what you have come here for. But just in case you’re not sure, let’s briefly skim over the important stuff. 

First, progressive jackpot slot odds come in various shapes and sizes. You can win minor jackpots of around 2x your bet all the way up to millions of dollars that are way beyond.

So, that’s potentially a decent return and/or enough “F You money” to keep you going for a long time.

As for how they operate, this does depend on the type of game. Some will pay a lucky punter out when a random number generator (RPG) picks them out. Others will award the top prize for landing a predetermined number of symbols in a row.

For the most part, progressives work on a shared network across different games. But this is not always the case.

Some games only payout to those spinning on that title, whether land-based or online. Furthermore, some games will require punters to play at the top stake applicable before allowing them a shot at the big haul.

Both land-based and online slot games with progressive jackpots are very popular with those chasing big wins. The major reason for this is that they can pay out astronomical sums to anyone playing the game.

In 2003, $38.7m was won on the Megabucks Jackpot slot and remains the largest sum ever received from a progressive.

How often do progressive jackpots hit? See for yourself by playing slots with progressive jackpots!

The Odds of Winning Progressive Slots Jackpots

So, what are the odds of winning a progressive slot machine? Well, it depends on the game.

Your chances improve slightly if you play at the best rated online casinos, but there is no way of sneaking in a shortcut here.

Of course, you’re not here for the short answer. You want to know your odds of hitting the jackpot on a slot machine right now. And that’s absolutely fine.

In fact, it’s something that many enthusiasts will ask at some point in their journey from slot machine rookie to king of the one-armed bandits. 

Progressive slot odds, where dropping a life-changing jackpot is concerned, can range from one in 50 million to approximately one in 600 million.

Considering that your odds of dying in an unprovoked shark attack are one in 7 million if you are an American that lives nowhere near the coast, this should give you a better understanding of just how difficult it is to nail one. 

You might not like what you hear, but luck is the driving factor when it comes to your odds of winning a jackpot on a slot machine.

As for a progressive jackpot of tens of millions? The odds speak for themselves. But minor to medium jackpots ranging from $10 to $1000 will not be as difficult to land. 

The Best Ways to Win Progressive Jackpots

Slot machines lined up in a casino

How often do progressive jackpots hit? Well, they never hit if you aren’t playing!

You’ve got to be in it to win it.  Don’t you hate that old saying? Yup, me too. Still, just because it’s as hacky as a Carlos Mencia punchline does not make it any less true.

Your best shot of winning a progressive jackpot at the most base level is to play one. In the same way your chances of becoming a doctor improve every time you show up for biochemistry class.

If you’re not playing big win slots, you won’t be winning any time soon.

Like snake-oil salesmen, some shady souls are selling tips for improving your odds of winning progressive slots jackpots. While I do not doubt that you are smart enough to see these reprobates for what they are, they wouldn’t exist if no one was buying into their crap.

If there are ways to bring progressive slot odds down, why would they be sharing them? However, it’s worth reminding you that some jackpots are easier to win than others.

For instance, hot drops jackpot slots come with guaranteed payouts. You can potentially land one of three prizes: the Hourly, Daily, and Super jackpots.

The Super jackpot prize can reach upwards of $300,000. In addition to these types of prizes, there are many other progressive slots jackpots up for grabs across several games.

In fact, more and more sites are latching on to the demand for these games, which means that even classic titles are being re-released with a progressive slant.

As Wayne Gretzky would say, the odds of winning a progressive slot machine are zero percent if you aren’t playing. If you’re looking for some inspiration, the biggest slot machine wins ever should do the trick.

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Can We Determine When Progressive Slots Drop?

Traditional slots with money

When do progressive jackpot slots hit? If I knew, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you right now.

No, I’d be cashing in progressive jackpots left and right. That should tell you everything you need to know about progressive slot machines.

It’s the sad truth here, as I’m sure you were hoping to find the secret to this type of slot machine and cash in. That said, I wouldn’t completely shy away from playing them. These casino games offer tremendous upside, and all it takes is one big win to change your life.

Your odds of winning a progressive slot machine are not great, but they aren’t zero.

Progressive slots are mostly dropped at random, which means your next spin could be the one. The only real thing we have to go off of here is the window that hot drop jackpots will be won.

If you see the timer running low or the Super Jackpot is about to drop, it’s a good idea to start spinning. As for non-hot drops, you’ll just have to get lucky.

While you ponder if progressive slots are for you, why not brush up on your general slots knowledge by reading our dedicated online slot machines guide?

What Are the Best Progressive Jackpot Slots?

There’s a good chance you came across this post right before you were about to start playing some slot machines. In that case, allow me to provide you with three great games that have progressive jackpots.

If you couldn’t tell by now, hot drop jackpot slots are the way to go. I’ve provided you with two great hot drops above.

777 Deluxe has five reels, three rows, and 10 paylines. It also has a bonus game that can be very rewarding, in addition to the hot drop jackpots.

Bovada’s A Night With Cleo slot machine is incredibly popular. If you’re looking for adult slots to play, I’d say this is the best one.

Not into hot drop jackpots? Head over to DuckyLuck Casino to play Battle with Rome. Most progressive slots have lower RTPs, but this one stays strong at 96.68%. DuckyLuck also has a phenomenal welcome bonus, which comes with a 500% deposit boost and 150 free spins.

When do progressive jackpot slots pay out? Play the best progressive slot games to find out!

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Other Progressive Slot Questions

  • How Much Would You Need to Spend to Win a Progressive Jackpot?
  • Are Progressive Jackpots Rigged?
  • Can You Make Money Playing Progressive Slots Online?
  • What Are the Best Strategies for Winning on Progressive Jackpots?

“How often do progressive jackpots hit?” is likely one of many questions you have regarding the topic. There’s a good chance the questions above came across your mind as well, so I’ll do my best in answering those before I wrap things up.

It’s important to read the game information for any slot machine, progressive jackpot or not. This can tell you if you need to wager a certain amount in order to qualify for the big prize. Some machines require a max wager, while others accept the minimum.

Many people will say that a slot machine is rigged after they don’t win. What they fail to understand is that not everyone is going to hit the major jackpot.

It’s a very rare event in the first place, so don’t set yourself up for a disappointing night of gambling.

For those of you wondering if you can make money playing progressive slots online, the answer is you absolutely can. That’s kind of the whole point of playing slot machines, isn’t it?

Unfortunately, winning progressive jackpots is not something you can do willingly. There aren’t any proven strategies to win, but it is important that you play responsibly. Set your limits and stick to them, and you should be fine.

If you found this post helpful, I’d also recommend the following tips for how to find hot slots!

7 Tips for Finding Hot Slots at Your Favorite Casino

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Footnotes:

Anthony Haage
Anthony Haage Author

Anthony is a sports writer for GamblingSites.com covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more. He also covers other various topics such as entertainment, general sports betting tips, and more.

His favorite teams are the Chicago Bears, Bulls, Cubs, and Blackhawks. He also will be a temporary fan of any team if it means winning him bets.

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