AP Glossary
WhatIsProgressiveJackpot?
A jackpot that increases with each bet placed, funded by a small percentage of each wager. Progressives can be standalone (single machine) or linked (multiple machines). When a progressive grows high enough above its reset value, the added value can push the total RTP above 100%.
Why It Matters
Why this matters for advantage play
Progressives are the second pillar of slot AP, alongside accumulator counters. The mechanism — siphoned coin-in funding a meter that eventually pays — is mathematically transparent and creates predictable +EV windows whenever a meter sits above its breakeven point.
Progressive Jackpot GuideCross-Reference
Related terms
MHB (Must-Hit-By)
A progressive jackpot guaranteed to trigger before reaching a specified ceiling value. MHB progressives are the most mathematically analyzable form of advantage play because the ceiling creates a known upper bound for expected cost calculations.
Linked Progressive
A progressive jackpot fed by multiple machines, causing faster meter growth than standalone progressives. Linked progressives across a bank of machines or an entire casino floor reach +EV thresholds more quickly.
Standalone Progressive
A progressive jackpot fed only by the individual machine, as opposed to a linked progressive shared across multiple machines. Standalone progressives grow more slowly but the meter value is entirely attributable to play on that specific machine.
WAP (Wide Area Progressive)
A progressive jackpot linked across multiple casinos, such as Megabucks. WAPs grow extremely fast due to high volume but are rarely viable for AP because the base game return is very low and the trigger probability per spin is tiny.
Live Examples
Machines that use this
Documented Progressive machines on Run the Slots. Tap any title for the full advantage play guide.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about progressive jackpot
Typically 1–10%. The contribution rate is set by the manufacturer and casino and reflected in the meter rate.
No. Once funded, contributions are committed to the meter and only released when the jackpot hits.
The accumulated meter pays from contributions already made. The casino doesn't take a fresh hit when a jackpot wins — the customers funded it across the cycle.
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