Link Slot Machines Explained

What Is a Link Slot Machine?

A Link slot machine is a cabinet that pairs the hold and spin bonus mechanic with a multi-tier progressive jackpot structure where multiple cabinets share the same jackpot meters. The word "Link" specifically refers to this jackpot sharing: multiple machines are linked together so that play on any cabinet in the bank contributes to the same shared Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini jackpot values.

The Link product family was pioneered by Aristocrat and has become one of the most recognized slot machine formats on casino floors worldwide. The core formula -- hold and spin bonus plus linked progressive jackpots -- is consistent across the entire family, though each product line applies it with different themes, cabinet designs, and math models.

Other manufacturers have released games with similar mechanics, but the term "Link" in a product name (Dragon Link, Lightning Link, Mighty Cash, Buffalo Link, etc.) almost always refers to an Aristocrat title using this specific structure.

The Link Mechanic Explained

All Link games share the same underlying bonus mechanic:

1. Prize symbols appear during base play. Gold coin symbols or prize tiles land on the reels randomly during normal spins. Each prize symbol shows either a fixed credit value or a jackpot tier label (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand).
2. Bonus triggers when enough prize symbols land simultaneously. When a qualifying number of prize symbols appear on a single spin, the hold and spin bonus activates. The prize symbols from that spin lock in place.
3. Respins extend the collection. The unlocked positions respin. Each new prize symbol that lands also locks, and the respin counter resets. The bonus continues until three consecutive respins produce no new prize symbols, or until all positions are filled.
4. Total payout. The bonus ends and the player receives the sum of all locked fixed-credit symbols plus the current value of any jackpot tiers represented by jackpot tiles.

For a detailed explanation of the hold and spin mechanics specifically, see the hold and spin slot machines guide.

Linked Progressive Jackpots

The distinguishing feature of Link games is how the progressive jackpots work across a bank of machines. In a linked configuration:

• All cabinets share the same meters. Every machine in the bank displays identical jackpot values. The Grand jackpot shown on machine 1 is the same value shown on machines 2 through 6.
• Wagers on any machine contribute to all tiers. A percentage of each bet made on any cabinet in the bank feeds all linked progressive meters. Busy banks build jackpots faster than lightly played ones.
• A win on one machine resets all cabinets. When a jackpot fires on any cabinet in the bank, all machines in that bank reset to the floor value for that tier simultaneously. Players on adjacent cabinets will see the meter drop at the moment the jackpot is won next to them.
• Each tier is independent. Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand each reset separately when they hit. A Mini jackpot win does not reset the Major or Grand meters.

Some Link installations operate in a standalone configuration where a single cabinet maintains its own independent progressive meters. Standalone setups are typically found in smaller casinos or when a single cabinet is placed outside a dedicated Link bank. The mechanics are identical; the difference is whether the meters are shared or isolated.

Link Product Families

Aristocrat has released multiple Link product lines over the years. While each line applies a distinct theme and cabinet design, the underlying mechanic is consistent across all of them:

Despite different themes and names, a player familiar with how any one Link product line works can immediately understand the structure of any other. The prize-symbol trigger, respin sequence, and four-tier jackpot layout are consistent across the entire family.

How to Identify a Link Cabinet

Link cabinets have several consistent visual identifiers that make them recognizable at a glance on the casino floor:

• Tall top-box display: Most Link cabinets feature a large curved or flat-panel display above the main screen showing the four progressive jackpot values (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand) in large numerals. This display updates in real time and is visible from across the casino floor.
• Gold coin prize symbols on reels: The reel symbols include distinctive styled gold coins or prize tiles that do not appear in standard slot games. When these symbols appear in quantity on a single spin, they trigger the hold and spin bonus.
• Bank groupings: Link machines are almost always arranged in a dedicated bank of 3-8 cabinets with matching progressive displays showing the same jackpot values across all machines in the group.
• Product name on the glass: The product family name (Dragon Link, Lightning Link, Mighty Cash, etc.) is typically displayed prominently on the machine glass or the top-box.

Link Machine List (6 Games)

Below are the Link mechanic games currently documented in the Run the Slots database. Each link takes you to a detailed guide page.

For the full slot machine database including MHB progressives, accumulators, and free games machines, visit the complete machine list.