Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots are jackpots which increase slightly with every game played - usually a slot or video poker machine. Basically, multiple machines are linked together to form one big progressive jackpot that grows as more players contribute to the jackpot. Progressive jackpots are hugely popular in both land-based and online casinos.
Progressive Jackpot Meters
A progressive jackpot's total monetary value is displayed on a meter and generally speaking, the entire amount can only be won by winning the combination with the highest payoff such as five of the most valuable slot machine symbols (lemons, cherries etc.), or a royal flush at a video poker game. When a player wins the jackpot, the jackpot is reset to a preset minimum level which can be in the millions.
Jackpot Sizes
The values of progressive jackpots progress (increase) slightly with every play on a linked machine. The casino - or "the house" - sets the amount that the jackpot advances. For example, on a machine where the house advantage is 5%, the jackpot contribution may be 1%, one fifth of the casino's predicted profit. The casino contributes some of this profit from a linked machine to the progressive jackpot because players are attracted to the potentially huge winnings and the novelty of the constantly changing meters which are typically displayed on large, flashy displays. All this motivates more players to play the game.
Qualifying
All wagers, whether they're max credit bets or not, contribute to a progressive jackpot. But usually only players who wager the maximum number of credits per play qualify to win the progressive jackpot. The result is such that a game which requires a 10 credit wager to qualify for the progressive jackpot will tend to have the progressive jackpot rise to higher levels - relative to its break-even level - than a game that requires only a 5 credit wager to qualify.
Break-Even Point
In some games like video poker for instance, it's possible to compute an optimal playing strategy based on each payoff's frequency versus the odds of hitting that payoff. Since the jackpot of a progressive video poker game is always increasing, it can eventually reach a break-even point where the machine becomes a positive expectation bet for the player. When a progressive jackpot is less than the break-even point, there's a negative expected value - or house edge - for all players. A video poker player can turn a profit in the long run with an optimal strategy, though this "long run" (potentially several tens of thousands of plays) is usually longer than most players realize.
Advantage Play
Because other players are always contributing to progressive jackpots, even "advantage" gamblers who only play when the progressive jackpot provides them with a positive expectation situation still generate income for the casino. The player actually has an advantage over the house in this situation, but the casino's still making a profit because the bulk of the progressive jackpot has been bought & paid for by the jackpot contributions from the other gamblers.
In land-based casinos, some gamblers are known to organize teams of players to play machines where the progressive jackpots produce a positive expectation scenario. However, these teams will often dislodge regular players, rendering the machines unavailable at their most exciting times. These team members typically operate in shifts and use cell phones to call teammates to replace them when they need to take a break. Some casinos implement "no team play" policies and even eject players suspected of playing in these teams. Team play is not something online casinos need contend with (yet).
Other Progressive Jackpot Games
Progressive jackpots are available with a variety of games in addition to slots & video poker. Some poker games include a progressive bad beat jackpot. And Caribbean stud poker often has a progressive jackpot available. As well, some online casinos offer versions of blackjack, roulette, and other casino games with progressive jackpots.
Add bookmark to 
Design homepage at -
