A Beginner's Guide to Progressive Slot Machine in 2025

Quick Answer

The best way I can describe a progressive jackpot is to think of it as a tip jar in a coffee shop. Every day, customers come into the shop to buy their coffee and cake and pop €5 in the tip jar. This jar fills up and up, until one staff member is randomly chosen to win all of the tips. Obviously, the losing employees would be pretty disappointed, but I’m sure the winner would be celebrating their winning money with a nice steak dinner. The main appeal of a progressive jackpot is the ‘what if’. What if I were the one to win the jackpot?

The game itself is simple. Place the minimum bet required and cross your fingers. There is no way to beat the system, no way to outsmart the other players. My suggestion? The more bets you place, the higher your chances of winning.

What Is a Progressive Slot Machine?

A progressive jackpot works similarly to any other jackpot, as you’ll recognise the familiar reels, paylines, symbols and bonus features. Yes, you did read the right, some progressive slots even have bonus features! This can include wilds, free spins, multipliers, and even themed bonus rounds. To play, you will need to place the minimum bet required, which will be outlined in the information section of the game. You can place as many bets as you want, and you don’t need to stick to the minimum deposit limit either. On the screen, you will see the jackpot grow as each player contributes to the jackpot until someone eventually wins it.

Once the jackpot has been won, the jackpot will reset to a base value, also known as the “seed”. Get it? Because the seed will grow? Pretty funny, right? This seed is completely dependent on the game, but is usually an impressive amount. For example, the popular slot game Mega Moolah always resets to €1 million!

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Types of Progressive Slots

There are three types of progressive slots, each with its own rules and differing likelihoods of being won. Let’s take a look:

Standalone Progressive Slot. Different players can contribute to the jackpot, but only on one machine. The odds of winning are generally better than in networked progressive slots but they rarely reach mouth-watering jackpots.
Local Progressive Slots. Machines are linked within the same casino, so players can use different machines to build the jackpot. The contribution of players simultaneously adding to the jackpot can create big wins, but not quite reaching the levels of Wide-Area slots.
Wide-Area Progressive Slots. The most dazzling of all the progressive slots, this is where you can win some impressive jackpots. The machines are linked across multiple casinos, possibly even globally, allowing more people to contribute. While they have the lowest odds of dropping, these jackpots have been some of the biggest in history, reaching tens of millions.

What Are Some Popular Progressive Slot Games in Ireland?

It seems Ireland has a great taste in their progressive slot games, take a look at the top three most played:

1. Mega Moolah by Games Global

It is hardly surprising that this 2015 Guinness World Record winner makes it to the top of the list, especially when the highest win on this game was €17,880,900! Not every win will reach this level, but it is still a promising and enjoyable game.

2. WowPot! by Alchemy Gaming

This is a fun twist to the progressive slot scene, as you can play multiple games that all contribute to the jackpot. The games include Wheel of Wishes, Book of Atem, Sister of Oz, African Legends and many more. There really is something for everyone here!

3. Mega Fortunes by NetEnt

It is not surprising to see NetEnt in here, as they consistently produce very popular games. Hall of Gods and Arabian Nights, also by NetEnt, are popular games in the progressive slot genre. I recommend trying your luck on any of these games.

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Volatility and RTP in Progressive Slots

As with many games, RTP (Return to Player) and volatility are important factors to consider as they can alter your whole game experience. The RTP looks at the percentage of prizes that will be returned to a player. The RTP% in progressive slots is usually lower than in other slot games because a proportion of each bet goes towards the jackpot. To look at it mathematically, 96% is considered a good percentage in a normal slot game but progressive jackpots usually sit around 88-94%.

Volatility looks at categorising the risk level of the game. Progressive games are usually high volatility, meaning the payouts are less frequent but can reach mighty numbers. If this isn’t your jam, you can always find low-medium volatility level games that will offer small payouts regularly. If you’ve never played a progressive slot game before, I recommend opting for a low or medium volatility game first so you can get a feel for them before upping the risk.

Our Experts Verdict

We have a few tips and tricks to help you navigate your way around the world of progressive slots.

Licence and regulations. Before you begin playing any game, remember that safety comes first! The game needs to be regulated by a reputable authority. This information can usually be found on the terms and conditions page of any online casino. These casinos are going to ensure your fairness and security as you play.
Bet the right amount. As I previously mentioned, there is a set minimum amount you will need to bet to qualify for the jackpot. Make sure you know this amount before you begin. It is usually mentioned in the game description.
Choose the right game for you. There are a lot of factors to consider before you play. From more trivial factors like theme or bonus features, to more detrimental factors like RTP%, house edge and volatility. Make sure you are happy with your game before you start spinning.
Time your play. There is no way to predict when the win will come, but some players will keep track of when the last jackpot was previously won. Once players have grown the jackpot to above the average amount, that’s when they’ll scoop in with their betting. Everyone has their way of playing, just remember that your intention to play should always be to have fun.
Set limits and stick to them. Responsible playing is always the way forward. If your limit is €50 to spend over 2 hours, make sure you don’t surpass that. Online casinos have a lot of great tools to help you with these boundaries, including deposit limits and time limits.

References

FAQs

Are progressive slots legal to play in Ireland?

Yes, progressive slots are legal to play in Ireland if they are on a licensed and regulated online casino under the Irish Gambling Control or EU licensing. It is always worth checking before you start playing.

Do I have to place the maximum bet?

Most of the time, you will need to place the maximum bet outlined to qualify for the jackpot prize. This is specific to each game, and can usually be found in the game description.

Are progressive slots easy to win?

Like all casino games, there is no perfect recipe to generate wins as they are based on luck. Progressive jackpots, especially those with high volatility, are arguably harder to win than other slot games. If you want some wins coming your way, I recommend sticking with low-medium volatility games with an RTP% of over 90%.

Online Slots Expert

Kolade Adegoke

Online Slots Expert

Having been in the industry for the past 7 years, Kolade specialises in online slots and now spends most of his time playing and writing slot reviews.

Expert on:

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Fact Checked By Rebecca Mackay