Progressive jackpots are well known in Canada’s online casinos to offer the biggest prizes of any slots. They are often multi-million dollar considerations, giving you the chance to play for life-changing amounts of money.
If you fancy taking a punt at hitting one of these mega prize payouts, then this article is for you. Our Progressive Jackpot Guide gives you insight into how progressives work, and the different ones that you’ll find in real money online casinos, the best strategies to unlock the big money rounds, and the best sites to play at.
We can’t promise you’ll spring the vault on Mega Moolah but we can give you a helping hand in increasing your chances of reaching dreamland!
BEST JACKPOT CASINOS
Before we start here is our list of the very best Canadian casinos where you can play progressive jackpot slots online and win multi million dollar jackpots.
$88 Free - No Deposit
Up To $1,500 Bonuses
Play Mega Moolah Jackpot
Win Over $1,000,000
Payout Rate: 96.6%
Up To $1,000 Bonuses
And 100 Free Spins
Payout Rate: 96.02%
$2,500 Welcome Pack
And 250 Free Spins
Payout Rate: 95.71%
Up to $1,600 Bonuses
On First Four Deposits
Payout Rate: 93.56%
Up To $1,000 Bonuses
On First Three Deposits
Payout Rate: 96.02%
PLAY PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS ONLINE
HOW DO PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS WORK?
They are called progressive jackpots because the jackpot keeps getting bigger and bigger. This is different from fixed jackpots that you might see on some games. For instance, a slot might have a jackpot prize, and that’s the biggest amount you can win. When it comes to progressive jackpots, though, there is no limit to how big the prize can be, and as long as its not won, it just keeps on growing.
How does it work?
There are different methods, but the most popular and well-known one is a series of inter-connected slots and a prize pool. Each time a player places a bet on one of these games, they are contributing to the rising jackpot no matter where they are. These slots can be connected across casinos, and with so many people playing, the jackpots rise fast. And often you’ll find progressive jackpots running into millions of dollars.
A classic example of a pooled jackpot is Microgaming’s Mega Moolah – everyone across the world who is staking money on Mega Moolah is contributing to that jackpot amount which is why it is continually rising at a fast rate.
You need to follow the rules, such as abiding by the minimum bet, but if you do, then you are always in with a chance and you could be walking away with the prize of a lifetime.
PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT PRIZES
When you look at the progressive jackpot values displayed on a game at your favourite online casino then you’ll notice the ticker displaying the amount is constantly moving upwards as more players wager on the games.
This is the headline prize amount.
However, within each slot you play, you’ll then see that there are often different levels of jackpots, too. For instance, you might see a progressive jackpot game with a mini jackpot and a major jackpot. Again, this is the model for Microgaming’s famous Mega Moolah slot.
Mega Moolah Progressive Jackpot by Microgaming
The advantage of having different tiers of jackpots is that you can play for a big money prize without having to bet the maximum, which is usually the case when you want to play for the top prize – remember this as its an important hint when playing big progressives: the biggest prizes require the maximum bets.
But if you do want to reach for the starts and you are prepared to bet big then the rewards can be sensational:
One of the biggest recorded wins on a progressive jackpot game was $20,057,734 in January 2019 on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah. Microgaming has paid out millions on the Mega Moolah series, with players winning big on the popular slot.
NETWORK VS IN HOUSE VS STANDALONE PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
Despite seeing loads of progressive jackpots, have you ever wondered how they are all connected?
It might be easy to think that it’s just one online casino in Canada with the huge bankroll to offer its players, but there are actually numerous progressives from different game suppliers and at different casino sites.
So here’s a quick glance at what they are and how they work.
NETWORK PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
These are the ones you want to look out for as they serve up the massive, life-changing sums. The progressive jackpots are connected together across various online casinos. There is an independent operator responsible for the main game behind the scenes, but the casinos are all linked. With hundreds and hundreds of players depositing and playing at each of them, you can expect a big prize.
The best examples are NetEnt’s Mega Fortune Dreams and Mega Fortune Dreams and Microgaming’s Mega Moolah Jackpot Series.
IN-HOUSE PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
These prizes are linked together by a series of games within one casino. Although not as big as network progressives, you’ve got a better chance of winning them because not as many players are playing for each one. Typically the odds of unlocking the prize are therefore greater.
STAND ALONE PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
This is a slot that’s not connected to other slots. Instead it’s a progressive within just ONE game. You will find these at offline casinos where there is a row of games, each with it’s own jackpot. The only way to win that prize is to play on that specific machine. And only players spinning on that machine can contribute to that prize.
TIPS TO WINNING PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
Progressive jackpots are high-stakes games, and if you want to play for them, to win a huge prize, you want to make sure you are doing it the right way. You can take a few simple steps next time you’re playing at your favorite online casino in Canada.
- Play for the high stakes. If you’re gunning for the progressive jackpot, you must already be aware that you need to spend big to win big. And that’s the case when you’re playing slots.
- Check the rules. Because to qualify for winning the big sums, you need to meet deposit requirements. Have a look at the how-to win pages on these slots, and make sure you’re fully aware before you play.
- Try and trigger those bonus rounds. This is a great tip for playing any slot but even more so on progressive jackpot slots as you can use the features to ramp up the wins and further increase your chance of triggering the jackpot.
BEST PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SLOTS
With lots of progressive jackpot slots to choose from, it can be tough to know where to start. See below for some of the best ones available for you right now. You can play them at any of the sites in our new online casino list.
MEGA MOOLAH BY MICROGAMING
One of Microgaming’s most popular slots, Mega Moolah transports you to Africa with its setting while introducing you to cute animal characters. Though it’s not just the bonus features and animals which make it such a great slot, it’s the mini, minor, and major jackpot you can play for via the Progressive Jackpot Wheel.
MEGA FORTUNE BY NETENT
It could just be because ‘mega’ is in the name that gaming developers make them their progressive jackpot slots, but that’s nothing to complain about. NetEnt’s offering presents all things luxury across the reels on a simple setup of five reels and 25 paylines. But despite the classic yachts, cigars, and diamond-encrusted watches, it’s the free spins and bonus rounds that help you play for one of the three progressive jackpots, which you’ll see constantly increasing at the top of the reels.
Mega Fortune Jackpot Slot Game by NetEnt
DAILY DROP JACKPOTS BY RED TIGER GAMING
Red Tiger Gaming knows how to keep players enthralled. Rather than just the typical slots with progressive jackpots, the Daily Drops must pay out before the daily deadline. You can play different slots that are part of the Daily Drop to gain tickets for your chance to win a huge prize.
ODDS OF WINNING A PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT
There’s a reason why progressive jackpots are often compared to the lottery – they’re almost just as hard to win. The odds of winning on a progressive jackpot slot is a million to one. But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Just like people win the lottery, there are lots of players who have won progressive jackpots, too.
Even better, by playing on slots, you can still win other prizes along the way. One thing to watch out for is keeping tabs on the jackpot amount. Some players watch the number of the total rising, thinking it’s due to pay out, like an old fruit machine in a bar. That’s not the case; you could win at any time.
BIGGEST EVER PROGRESSIVE WINS
When it comes to winning the biggest progressive jackpots, Microgaming is in the limelight as it’s given away the most and had the most winners. In fact, it’s paid out over $1 billion in progressive jackpot prizes in its time.
But first, let’s start with NetEnt’s Mega Fortune and call the game out for paying out €17,861,813! That’s quite a haul for one lucky player!
Now back to Microgaming and its Mega Moolah Mega slot, which is responsible for paying out some of the biggest wins in the business. The linked technology behind the jackpot means the prizes really are out of this world, and even better, they can be triggered at random during the bonus round.
BIGGEST MEGA MOOLAH WINS EVER!
- October 2015 – £13,212,882– one of the most interesting wins as the winner waived anonymity. Jon Heywood, a UK soldier who took a shot with just 25p and walked away with the win of a lifetime.
- September 2018 – €18,915,721.
- January 30 2019 – $20,057,734.
- August 2020 – €14,679,069.
TABLE GAME PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS
It’s easy to think that progressive jackpots are only available on slots, but that’s not the case. There are also some fantastic table games to enjoy, too.
Fortune Pai Gow Poker – this version lets you place a side bet before each hand to qualify for the progressive jackpot. Win with the best hand possible, and you could be in with a chance of taking the jackpot.
Progressive 3-card poker – again, make a side bet before each hand and win a mini-royal flush to win the jackpot. Note that the flush needs to be in spades.
It’s not all poker, though; you can also play for progressive jackpots on:
- Progressive Blazing 7s blackjack
- Progressive Ultimate Texas hold’em
- Caribbean stud poker
- Progressive Roulette
NetEnt’s Carribean Stud Poker With a $1,000,000 Progressive Jackpot
FAQs
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How can you tell if a slot machine is progressive?
Progressive jackpot slots are easy to spot because the current jackpot value will be displayed with the game logo if it’s online, or on top of the machine if it’s in a real casino. Progressive jackpots increase in value all the time as a small part of every dollar wagered by players contributes to the jackpot pool. The jackpot value continues to rise until the payout is triggered, then the game will re-set at the seed value. On most progressives, the increase in the prize value is displayed in real time with the numbers ticking over constantly.
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Which are the biggest progressive jackpot slots?
The biggest progressive jackpot slots online are Mega Moolah by Microgaming and Mega Fortune and Mega Fortune Dreams by NetEnt. All three of these games are seeded at $1,000,000 so the jackpot will never be paid out at a figure below this amount. In most cases it will be much higher, sometimes exceeding $10,000,000 in value. These games are available at almost all online casinos in Canada. At sites like Zodiac Casino you can even get a free plays on Mega Moolah with your first deposit.
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Are progressive slots rigged?
No, progressive slots are not rigged. As long as you are playing games supplied by licensed software suppliers like Microgaming then the slots will have been fully tested and audited to ensure that the outcome of every spin is completely random. To be sure that you are playing safe and secure slots, only play at licensed, legal casinos like the ones listed here.
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Can I play progressive slots for free?
You can play progressive slots for free, but remember that when you do, you cannot win the progressive jackpot prizes. Instead you can only win play money. It is fun to play these games in demo mode to understand how they work, what features you need to unlock the big prizes, and how often they pay out, but always keep in mind that it’s only play money!
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How do you win progressive jackpots?
Every jackpot slot will have a different trigger for the main prize. Always check the paytable before you start to see which combination of symbols is required to unlock the biggest prize. In some games, like Mega Moolah, you will need to progress through a special bonus round even after hitting the correct combination of symbols. Also keep in mind that the top prizes are sometimes reserved for those playing at the highest available stake value.
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