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Progressive Slot Machines in Michigan

Progressive slots can be life-changing, as the jackpot continues to grow until it’s won.  Not all progressive jackpots dish out millions, though. You can play games with multiple jackpots with prizes in the hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands. Finding the right progressive slots to play is no easy task. With thousands of games to choose from, many non-progressive prizes match or even beat the progressive ones.

This page covers everything you need to know to get the best from progressive slot machines in Michigan. You will find information about online games with progressive jackpots as well as linked progressives in live casinos. Examples of the best games with jackpots, plus how to take advantage of bonus deals and promotions.

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Different types of progressive slots

Progressive jackpots come in many sizes. There are also different ways to link them between games. Here are some of the types of jackpots you will find:

  • Individual slots: Some jackpots are for a single instance. They tend to be smaller and can only be won via a single cabinet or one game at each online casino.
  • Shared progressives: Jackpots are often shared between several similar games within a casino. Some examples are Dragon Link or Lightning Link. You will find them sharing a single Grand jackpot within a bank of games.
  • Wide-area progressives: The biggest jackpots are shared across multiple casinos. For example, the MegaBucks prize pool is shared between multiple casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Shared online progressives: You will often see jackpots shared between different slot games online. An example is the IGT MegaJackpots. A multi-million prize pool is shared between games, including Monopoly, Siberian Storm, and more.

The biggest prizes catch your eye and make the headlines when they are won. You will often see games with four or more progressives. A common way to organize them is by names like Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini. Some have fixed bonuses for the smaller jackpots, while only the biggest jackpots increase progressively.

There are minor variations as well. Some jackpots are programmed to pay out a specified amount. Konami slots frequently use this system. The biggest difference between jackpots is not how they work, but also how they are won.

How to win progressive slots

Creators are always dreaming up fresh new ways to award jackpots. On older reel games, lining up the top symbols (sometimes on a specified win-line) is enough to trigger a jackpot. Other games use scatters, bonus games, wheel-spin features, pick bonus features, or even pay out their biggest prizes completely at random.

Here is an example of each type of jackpot:

  • Scatters: Quick Hit slots use special logo symbols to award progressive jackpots. The top prize comes when you get nine Quick Hit symbols anywhere in view on the same spin. You need to bet the max (which varies by casino) to trigger this progressive.
  • Random jackpots: Online MegaJackpots from IGT award jackpots in two ways. You can line up the special logo symbols on a specific central win-line. After any spin, this jackpot can drop at random. You can win it at any bet size.
  • The “picks” bonus: This is a common way to award the top prizes. One example is 88 Fortunes. If the pot above the reels closes, you get to pick tiles. Each one reveals a jackpot-linked Fu Bat baby character. You keep picking until you match three, then you are awarded the prize.
  • Bonus games: This is the most varied way of awarding jackpots. Developers come up with new breakout games all the time. Lightning Link recently added a new format. If you get six special cash symbols, you get to respin until you fail to add more three times. Small jackpots can be won by hitting special balls. If you fill all 15 spots on the reels, you will win the biggest ‘Grand’ progressive.
  • Wheel-spin jackpots: Buffalo Grand offers a huge jackpot, along with smaller ones. You need to bet max to have a shot at winning the biggest prize. This comes via a bonus wheel. Some jackpots have a bonus spin sign. This lets you spin a second wheel with a multiplier. After you win a jackpot, you spin the main wheel again. This continues until you get bonus spins.

Best online sites with progressive jackpots in Michigan

Michigan will soon be home to the biggest and best online casino apps. You can play thousands of games via casino apps or browser-based web casinos. You can find a few progressive slots online that are normally available in live casinos. You will also find new progressive jackpots available exclusively online.

Each online casino in Michigan is licensed through a live venue. Here are three of the best brands for players seeking progressive jackpots.

  • BetMGM Casino: The MGM Grand in Detroit contains many of the biggest progressive jackpot slots. Their app, a partnership with GVC, will bring many of those jackpots online. BetMGM is a single app that offers sports betting, casino games, and poker from one account.
  • FanDuel Casino: Also known for its daily fantasy sports and sports sites, FanDuel partnered with Motor City to open an online casino in Michigan. This includes progressive jackpots from multiple producers. Check out the online-only titles from NetEnt, alongside games from WMS and Bally.
  • DraftKings Casino: This giant sports betting brand has partnered with the Bay Mills Indian Community, owners of the Bay Mills Casino and Resort.

Online games with progressive jackpots

Most online casinos overlay the prizes for jackpots on the tiled graphics you find in the lobby. You will find a big spread. Prizes range from four figures to seven figures. Many of the games will not be recognizable to players who are new to online casinos. They were created exclusively for online play and are not found in live casinos.

Here are some popular progressive slots you will find online that highlight the depth of the gameplay and themes available to you:

  • Divine Fortune: This Greek mythology game from NetEnt features amazing graphics and interesting gameplay. You get falling wilds and expanding wilds to connect multiple mythical creatures, including Medusa and the Minotaur. The big, five-figure progressive is won by getting rows of golden shield bonus symbols on the reels. There are three jackpot levels to win. The biggest prize is awarded for filling all three reels.
  • China Shores: Konami uses its “range” progressives in many popular online games. These show a range of prizes, for example, $1,000 to $3,000. The player must hit the jackpot before it reaches the top figure. This adds some strategy to your choice. If two similar games show a jackpot close to the upper limit, and one is not close, then you should play the highest. These prizes can be won at any bet level, with an increased shot at winning the more you bet.
  • Cleopatra MegaJackpots: When IGT created the iconic Cleopatra game, the industry was still in its infancy. This game was an instant hit and remains a classic to this day. You can now find Cleopatra online. One variation is linked to a $1 million+ MegaJackpots prize pool. You can win the same prize on several other classic IGT titles. The big prize can drop at random, or you can line up five of the special MegaJackpots symbols across the middle win-line.

Casino bonuses and progressive jackpots

Not all casinos allow you to win progressive jackpots with bonus funds. The problem is that you often won’t know which ones until you check the small print.

As well as bonus terms that explicitly exclude jackpots, you should look for caps on the amount you can win. For example, if a casino caps wins from a no deposit bonus offer at $100 and does not have a carve-out for progressive jackpots, you cannot benefit from hitting the big prizes. In this case, a better strategy is to use the bonus on a lower-volatility game, clear your funds, and then enjoy jackpots with this extra money.

A different approach used by some online casinos is to exclude progressive slots from contributing to your bonus playthrough requirements. This does not stop you from playing them. Any wagers you place simply count as zero towards clearing your bonus.

Here are the types of bonuses that can be used to win progressive jackpots at some casinos:

  • No deposit bonuses: Many Michigan online casinos give you bonuses simply for signing up. There is no need to deposit. These are smaller bonuses (e.g., from $10 to $30 at most). You will need to meet each casino’s play-through requirement before your funds can be cashed out. Casinos with frequent no deposit offers include Golden Nugget Casino and DraftKings Casino.
  • Matched welcome bonuses: This type of bonus incentivizes you to deposit. You get a 100% match of $250 to $1,500, depending on the casino. Some casinos allow you to make multiple smaller deposits. Playthrough is weighted, with slots (including progressives) usually counting at 100%.
  • No-lose first day: This type of bonus is ideal for playing progressive slots. You deposit and simply play with your own money. The casinos will refund you up to $200 in bonus credits if you lose. Those bonus credits have terms (including play-through) attached.

Bonus spins promotions, loyalty rewards, reload bonuses, and leaderboards can also be enjoyed in conjunction with progressive slots. As with the welcome bonus offers, you should always read the terms and conditions before you play.

Big win potential with no progressive slots

There are many non-progressive slots that can pay amounts equal to the bigger progressive jackpot games. If you search through the fine print in the rules of many games, you will find notes such as “250,000 coin top prize per spin” and the like. Meanwhile, games with bonus features, bonus spins that feature wilds, multiplier symbols, and pick games can also award big prizes.

Progressive Slots FAQ

Live progressive slot jackpots include some giant Megabucks wins in Las Vegas. The single biggest land-based win was over $39 million, won at the Excalibur Hotel in 2003. Online jackpots have since grown to even more staggering sizes. The largest online prize on record is €38.4 million, won in December 2023 on a WowPot progressive jackpot slot from Games Global.

Returns from slots are calculated over the long run. While spinning 10 million times will get you the exact percentage return stated for each game, short gambling sessions will see huge swings of fortune. Slots with progressive jackpots take a small portion of each spin’s cost to add to the big prize pool. This means less money is available for the regular prizes. On average, then, most players will get lower returns from progressive slots.

This will depend on the game. Some slots only give you access to progressive jackpots if you play the maximum bet or over a certain level. Others let you win at any bet level. Proportionally, you will have a better shot at winning the more you bet. Reel slots often pay jackpots only on the third & fifth lines. Whenever you play a slot with a jackpot, either online or live, it pays to double-check the rules.

This depends on the size of the prize and the casino. Smaller jackpots in live casinos are paid in a single lump sum. For larger prizes, for example, MegaBucks, you have a choice: take a smaller lump sum or spread the entire prize out over several years. Online casinos can also have terms stating that big jackpots are paid in monthly installments.

Start spinning for your progressive jackpot

Progressive slots offer some of the most exciting winning potential in all of casino gaming, whether you’re pulling the handle on a Megabucks machine in a Michigan tribal casino or chasing a seven-figure prize on your phone. The key is understanding how the different jackpot types work, carefully reading the bonus terms, and finding the game that fits your budget and style. With so many options available to Michigan players both online and in person, your next spin could be the one that changes everything.

About the Author
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Martin F. Harris

Content Editor

Martin Harris is a gambling writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience covering the industry. Much of his early work focused on live poker, reporting from major tournaments across the United States and abroad, including stops in Europe, South America, and Macau, as well as many summers spent covering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Martin holds a Ph.D. in English and has published a range of academic articles and books, including the award-winning "Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game." He lives with his family on a horse farm in North Carolina, where he enjoys sports, music, reading, and teaching part-time in the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte.

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