The 10 Best Progressive Slots and How To Play Them

Progressive slots take a small cut of every bet placed by players spinning the game’s reels at an online casino or across a network that covers many casinos. They add this cut to the Jackpot prize, which anyone can win. This rapidly increasing total keeps rising until a lucky player hits the Jackpot and takes the big win home.

While you do get standalone progressive slots, it’s far more common at online casinos to have a group of games of the same title that share the same prize. Because these Progressives are linked together, more people get to play on them, ensuring the prizes rise higher and faster.

10 Best Progressive Slots Online

We’ve created a handy table for you to check out the biggest and best Progressive slots at the top online casinos in South Africa:

What Is the Difference Between Progressive and Regular Slots?

Progressive slots have variable prize amounts because the Jackpot keeps increasing until someone hits it. In contrast, regular slots have a fixed top prize amount that will be paid to the winner. 

How to Play Progressive Slots

After the reels spin, a random set of numbers is chosen, and if the right algorithm has occurred, the Jackpot will trigger. Progressive slots work in much the same way that regular ones do, but it pays (literally!) to know what you need to do to trigger the big prize:

Do you need to complete a bonus game?

Many Progressive slots online feature a special bonus game that gets triggered during base gameplay. This may be a prize wheel that needs to be spun to determine the size of your Jackpot, or you may need to choose cards from a selection that match a certain number of other cards to win the corresponding prize. 

Do you need to hit the right symbol combination? 

In certain Progressive games, you’ll need to line up a certain number of particular symbols on a designated payline. For instance, the big prize may activate if you line up 5 special symbols on the 4th payline. 

Do you need to place the maximum bet?

In certain Progressive slots, you’re only eligible for the Jackpot prize if you’re betting the max number of coins possible. This is not true of them all, however, so ensure you know what you need to do to win big.

Is the Jackpot awarded at random?

In these games, Jackpots can be awarded after any spin. You won’t have to play a special game, have the maximum bet in place, or hit certain symbols. 

Tips to Win Progressive Slot Machines

Progressive slots require different strategies than the ones you might be using to play regular reel games because they’re programmed differently. Remember these tips to help you get the most out of your gameplay:

Consider the Size of Your Bet

Don’t forget that not all Progressive slots have the maximum wager requirement to land their top prize. You don’t necessarily need to max bet to win a fortune! Never ever play any game without reading the Terms & Conditions and rules and making sure you know what’s needed from you to win.

Don’t Forget the Variance

Progressive slots tend to have low Return to Player rates and very high variance. This means that really big wins come less frequently, so bear this in mind when you’re playing. 

Set a Loss Limit

The nature of Progressive slots means that they often require long periods of gameplay before you see a win. This means it’s more than possible to go through your bankroll before you get your hands on the big prize. 

Avoid this eventuality by setting a loss limit. This will make it possible for you to enjoy playing responsibly without the stress of betting more than you can afford to lose and having to face all those consequences. 

What’s the Jackpot Prize Amount?

Make sure you know the minimum Progressive prize for the specific slot you’re interested in. Even if the highest prize is R5,000, playing after the Jackpot resets could land you a massive win. 

Focus on playing Progressive slots that have a Jackpot that’s at least 2x the minimum. A little bit of research will help you figure this out in no time, and it could really make a difference. 

What Is the Biggest Progressive Jackpot of All Time?

Microgaming’s Mega Moolah holds the record for the biggest Progressive slots payout on both desktop and mobile. In April 2021, an anonymous Belgium player scooped a whopping $22 million on Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah. That’s approximately R410.5 million!

Other types of online slots

As fun as progressive slots are, they’re not the only type of reel game available. Read on to find out what other lekker types of slots you can enjoy at the best online casinos in SA:

3D Slots

A new breed of online slots with exceptional HD visual effects, riveting soundtracks, and innovative storylines, the characters in 3D slots seem to leap out of the screen and symbols spin in stereoscopic angles.

Bonus Slots

An extra feature that’s commonly found in video slots of all kinds, bonus games usually activate when players land a specific set of symbols. They can be played on the same screen as the slot or unfold on a 2nd screen that players will automatically be rerouted to. 

Classic Slots

If you’re looking for very straightforward gameplay, classic slots are the closest in design to the original one-armed bandits of yesteryear. Frequently featuring brightly coloured fruit symbols, their payouts have definitely been updated and hold up to all the other slot types. 

Megaways Slots

What sets Megaways slots apart from other games is a mechanic called the Random Reel Modifier. This makes it possible for more symbols to appear on the reels, translating into more ways for you to win. 

Multi-Line Slots

In these games, the number of paylines ranges from 9 to, usually, roughly 100. The paylines are not simply horizontal with Multi-Line slots: they can be diagonal, V-shaped, vertical, or even zigzagged.