Progressive jackpot games are among the most popular online casino games. Progressive games are exciting and enticing due to the huge payouts which often exceed a million dollars. A progressive jackpot game is a series of linked casino games with a communal jackpot that increases each time the game is played. So, several players playing at different online casinos, on linked jackpot machines are playing for the same jackpot and increasing that jackpot each time they play.

Most online casinos offer several types of these progressive jackpots. The most popular are the slot machines, but there are also progressive versions of blackjack, roulette, video poker, bingo and more. We’ll be discussing a few specific games below.

HOW DO YOU WIN?

As a general rule of thumb, you need the best possible arrangement to claim the jackpot. If you’re playing a table game, you’ll need the very best hand (a poker game would require a royal flush) or if it’s a slot machine, all the best symbols must line up just right. Slot machines and Video poker usually require you to bet maximum credits to qualify, while most table games require a separate jackpot wager (usually a $1.)

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

The jackpot size and your chances of winning that jackpot are unique to each game. Some of the ‘mega slots’ have jackpots that reach millions. Most of the table games stay in the 10’s to 100’s of thousands (not too shabby!) The amounts of these progressive jackpots are tracked on the websites of most online casinos. We feature several ‘tickers’ on the SharkVegasStrip home page that keep up to date payouts on some of these popular games. You’ll find detailed descriptions of those featured games below.

ADVANTAGE PLAY

Advantage players who only play when the progressive jackpot provides them with a positive expectation situation still generate revenue for the casino. This is a unique situation where the player has an advantage over the house, yet the casino is still making a profit from the player. This situation occurs because the bulk of the progressive jackpot has been bought and paid for by the other players' contributions to the jackpot.

Savvy gamblers sometimes organize teams of players to play machines where the progressive jackpots generate a positive expectation situation. Such teams often displace ordinary players, making the machines unavailable just when they are at their most interesting. Team members will often have cell phones and work in shifts, calling another teammate to replace them when they're ready for a break. Some casinos have a policy of "no team play", and will eject players suspected of playing in such teams.