Stand-alone and linked progressives

There are basically two types of progressive slots at land-based casinos across the US:

Stand-alone progressives
Linked progressives

Slots are not the only online casino games that come with progressive jackpots. Game providers have attached such jackpots to online casino games such as table games, card games, and video pokers. Some examples for non-slot jackpot games are Progressive Cyberstud Poker, Roulette Royale, Jackpot Deuces, and Caribbean Stud Poker. Every online and land-based slot machine operates via a computerised algorithm called a random number generator referred to as the RNG, which determines the result of every spin and at the same time guarantees that every result is completely random. Playing a progressive jackpot very much depends on the progressive jackpot rules indicated in. Progressive jackpot slots and online progressive slot machines are the latest trend in the world of online casino and are certainly an upgrade on the physical slot machines that you would see in a land-based casino. What is a progressive slot? Every online and land-based slot machine operates via a computerised algorithm called a random number generator referred to as the RNG, which determines the result of every spin and at the same time guarantees that every result is completely random. Playing a progressive jackpot very much depends on the progressive jackpot rules indicated in.

Stand-alone progressives are single slot machines with a progressive jackpot.

A piece of every dollar put in the machine goes into a progressive jackpot that is contained on that machine. That means only money put in that specific machine goes into that jackpot and only someone playing on that machine can win that jackpot.

Linked progressives are different in that they have a jackpot linked from among multiple machines.

There are area linked progressives that feature multiple slot machines over a defined area feeding into the same single progressive jackpot. The area might include the same slots or group of slots in a single casino or group of casinos.

A piece of every dollar put into these slots goes into a single progressive jackpot that all these slots link to. That means only money put in these slots goes into that jackpot, and only someone playing one of these slots can win it.

Then, there are network-wide linked progressives that feature multiple slot machines over a wide network feeding into the same single progressive jackpot. Network-wide progressives offer the biggest progressive jackpots around.

The network will include the same slots or group of slots at a group of casinos in the same state, group of states or all across the country.

Once again, a piece of every dollar put into these slots goes into a single progressive jackpot. However, more slots over a wider network means more players, more dollars and bigger jackpots. Of course, the same basic jackpot principles apply, meaning only someone playing one of the slots in the network can win the jackpot.

Online stand alone and linked progressives

You’ll also find the stand-alone and linked progressive jackpot slots at online casinos across the US.

Stand-alone online progressives are single online slot games with a progressive jackpot. As with land-based slots, only money that goes into the online slot goes toward the jackpot, and only someone playing that slot can win it.

Linked online progressives feature multiple slots at a single online casino or group of online casinos feeding into the same progressive jackpot. Where the law allows and interstate agreements are in place, these online casinos may even be in different states all feeding into the same progressive jackpot. Once again, the same basic jackpot principles apply.

Popular online progressive jackpot slots in the US

Here’s a look at the five most popular online progressive jackpot slots and linked-progressive slot series in the country:

Divine Fortune

Divine Fortune is at more real money US casinos than any other progressive jackpot slot.

It’s a three-row and five-reel Greek mythology-themed NetEnt-designed slot. Players can win the jackpot via the Jackpot Bonus Game, triggered when you land three or more bonus symbols. Fill the screen with bonus symbols in the Jackpot Bonus Game, and the progressive jackpot is yours.

Divine Fortune is known to have paid out some of the biggest jackpots in US online casino history. In fact, Divine Fortune has awarded more than $3 million in progressive jackpot wins in New Jersey casinos in 2020 alone.

That includes the following five $200,000-plus wins at NJ online casinos:

$278,802.58 on March 15, 2020, at SugarHouse Online Casino.
$271,476.08 on June 9, 2020, at Golden Nugget Online Casino.
$268,223.23 on June 20, 2020, at Hard Rock Online Casino.
$257,594.00 on Jan. 18, 2020, at Resorts Online Casino.
$230,552.72 on March 31, 2020, at Hard Rock Online Casino.

The Divine Fortune progressive jackpot was worth over $250,000 on the Borgata/BetMGM/PartyCasino NJ online casino network in mid-2020. Plus, it was once again over $140,000 at Golden Nugget Online Casino and over $120,000 at SugarHouse Online Casino and Betfair Online Casino in New Jersey in mid-2020.

A 40-year-old Lititz, Pennsylvania, man also hit the Divine Fortune progressive jackpot at PlaySugarHouse.com in PA in March 2020, winning $278,430.23. That marked the thirteenth Divine Fortune jackpot at PlaySugarHouse.com in Pennsylvania since its launch in the summer of 2019.

The Divine Fortune progressive jackpot at the BetRivers network in PA was up close to $75,000 in mid-2020.

Mercy of the Gods

Mercy of the Gods is NetEnt’s progressive jackpot slot follow-up to Divine Fortune and is available at a variety of online casinos across the US.

It’s also a three-row and five-reel slot, but Mercy of the Gods features an ancient Egyptian theme.

The jackpot can be won in the Gift of Wealth Bonus Game, triggered when you land three golden heart bonus symbols. Fill the screen with golden heart bonus symbols in the bonus game, and the progressive jackpot is yours.

Players have hit three six-figure jackpots on Mercy of the Gods online in New Jersey:

$293,839.47 on Feb. 27, 2020, at BetMGM Online Casino.
$137,351.07 on June 16, 2020, at Borgata Online Casino.
$131,285.60 on March 27, 2020, at Borgata Online Casino.

The Mercy of the Gods progressive jackpot was also over six figures on the Borgata/BetMGM/PartyCasino NJ online casino network in mid-2020. It was over $40,000 at Golden Nugget Online Casino.

The Mercy of the Gods progressive jackpot on the PlaySugarHouse/BetRivers network in PA was close to $45,000 in mid-2020.

Cleopatra mega jackpots

Cleopatra is an IGT-designed progressive jackpot slot featuring a familiar ancient Egyptian theme. It’s a standard three-row and five-reel slot that is available at a host of online casinos across the US.

You can win the jackpot in the Cleopatra Bonus game, triggered when you land three or more sphinx symbols. The Cleopatra Bonus game includes 15 free spins to start. Land the five Cleopatra symbols during your spins, and the progressive jackpot is yours.

Cleopatra is responsible for awarding one of the largest progressive jackpot win at an online casino in the US. It was a $373,500 jackpot at BetMGM in New Jersey on Feb. 13, 2020.

The Big One

The Borgata/BetMGM/PartyCasino NJ online casino network runs a linked progressive jackpot on a series of nine WIN Studios slots. The casinos call it The Big One. The Big One progressive jackpot can climb to over $330,000.

The Big One linked slots include:

MGM Grand Millions
Loot’EnKhamun
Biker Pigs
Going Nuts

Progressive Online Slot Machine