History Of Progressive Slots

By Gayle Mitchell

Once upon a time, there were lottery tickets to build dreams on and then IGT, the slot manufacturer, with the loud approval of their casino clients, introduced the first progressive slot in March of 1986.
This network of slots was connected locally, then expanded to participating gaming states, nationwide and now there is an international link that reaches into Canada, Europe and the Orient. 

IGT, always the vanguard in slotsland, was followed by Bally’s Thrillion series and Aristocrat’s Hyperlink systems. The many versions of progressive slots from these three manufacturers include familiar names like MegaBucks, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Betty Boop, Blondie and Cash Express.
These versions are leased by the participating casinos that receive a small percentage, while
the manufacturers maintain the equipment and pay out the ‘millionaire producing’ jackpots.
Some casinos place exclusive or proprietary slot progressives.

The largest slot machine jackpot at a land-based casino of $39,713,982. was won on Friday 3/21/03 on an IGT Megabucks machine at the Excalibur in Las Vegas. The winner, who requested anonymity, was a 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles. He said he had played about $100 on the machine when he turned his head away from it for an instant. When he looked at the machine again, the winning symbols had lined up.
Since the beginning, more than 250 millionaires have emerged thanks to IGT slots.

How do these ever-increasing jackpots grow? Well, approximately 10% of every dollar fed into
the progressive slot goes directly to the primary jackpots awaiting the ‘magic winning touch’. Because of this feature, progressive overall payback percentages will not be as high as basic slots with a constant jackpot amount.
Most players are not aware that there are two levels of progressive jackpots -- primary and secondary.

A ‘primary’ jackpot is the top prize award with the specific combination ‘hit’. In the case of Megabucks, these are the ‘Megabuck’ symbols that lined up correctly produce a bountiful payday.
This top jackpot is usually displayed with the biggest sign and numbers above the carousel or bank of machines.
Secondary jackpots are displayed on smaller screens mounted below the big screen of the primary jackpot. These are hit more frequently and therefore will not payout as large a sum of mone.
Before playing any single group of progressives, check out the primary and secondary jackpots, and then compare other surrounding progressives to see how high those jackpots are relative to their starting amounts.

Additionally, Progressives online offer an attractive option to play these massive jackpot slots.
Several sites track progressive totals as they grow, so you can best determine the ideal bet.
After a progressive jackpot is hit, the meter automatically resets to the base jackpot amount.

And now to the future of progressives, most of which is happening already. I believe you will find that million dollar jackpots will become the norm and paid as an ‘instant win’ instead of a 20-year wait.
Online high-dollar progressives are here and can only multiply to the delight of all slot players. Very soon, everyone will be able to make that ‘golden spin’.

Have fun with this ‘special line of slots’, be sure to bet maximum coin every time and in the end may all your progressive wins be progressively profitable.

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© Copyright 2005 Gayle Mitchell's material. It may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed.