US casinos are known for their massive paydays, and most of the truly impressive totals are generated by players winning a progressive jackpot. This article focuses on the various types of progressive slots, as well as some of the biggest payouts ever achieved.

What Is a Progressive Slot?

Progressives are still considered slot machines, but they have one major difference from the other games you see on the casino floor. A percentage of all money put into the machine is added to a jackpot, and this amount continues to rise until someone hits the necessary winning combination.

While the overall payback percentage is often lower than other slots, the progressive makes up for it by offering huge sums that sometimes climb into the millions. You’ll have to risk money to win money, though, as most progressives only pay out their top prize when a customer plays the maximum amount on a spin.

Types of Progressive Machines

The following are the three types of progressive slots available in US casinos and abroad:

Stand Alone – This type of machine is not connected to any others. All money for the top prize is generated solely by the machine, and the jackpot is often less than what you’ll find on the other types of machines.

Proprietary – Multiple slots are connected, usually within the same casino. In some cases, a company may own multiple gaming facilities and link some of the slots at each property. The jackpot is often more substantial than the standalone variety, but still smaller than the wide area machines

Wide Area – If you want to become a multi-millionaire, this is the type of progressive you need to be playing. These machines are linked across entire states, with each participating casino getting their cut of the profits. The overall payout percentage is lower to defray the added cost of running these games, but that won’t matter a bit if you hit the jackpot.

Largest Progressive Jackpots

While the odds of hitting a progressive jackpot are sometimes astronomical, any player lucky enough to do so will find their life changed in an instant. Here are some of the biggest progressive wins in the history of slots, including both land-based and online payouts:

$39,710,826.36 – In 2003, a 25-year-old software engineer became an instant multi-millionaire after risking $100 on Megabucks slot at the Excalibur in Las Vegas. At the time, it was the largest jackpot ever won in Vegas, and the player did so by beating the 1 in 16.7 million odds.

$9,086,722.18 – In 2025, a Swedish player hit the jackpot while playing the Hall of Gods Mega at Unibet Casino.

$34,955,489.56 – A 37-year-old Vegas cocktail waitress won on the Megabucks machine at the Desert Inn. Sadly, a drunk driver would crash into her six weeks later, killing her sister and leaving her paralyzed. This 2000 tragedy also started an urban legend that jackpot winners were cursed.

$13,895,993.28 – In 2011, a Norwegian gamer struck it rich while playing the Mega Fortune Mega at the Betsson Casino.

$27,580,879.60 – In 1998, a retired stewardess mistakenly put $300 into a Megabucks machine. It responded by making her wealthy beyond her wildest dreams.

$21,149,716.75 – In 2013, a Finnish player won big while playing Mega Fortune Mega online at the Paf Casino.

$22,618,156.67 – An elderly woman was about to eat breakfast at Bally’s in 2002, when she decided to drop $170 in a Megabucks machine. Afterwards, she had more than enough to pick up the bill.

$21,346,952.22 – A business consultant visiting Vegas in 1999 put $10 into a Megabucks machine and won the jackpot on his first spin.

$10,225,700.45 – Another Finnish player struck online riches in 2025, getting his win on the Arabian Nights progressive at Paf Casino.

$21,147,947 – A 92-year-old former Megabucks jackpot winner hit paydirt again in 2005, exceeding his previous total by about $17 million.

If you’ve never tried a progressive slot machine, you’re missing out on an exciting opportunity. The adrenaline rush during each spin is greater than what you’ll experience with a normal slot, and the chance to become an instant millionaire is irresistible to most. The next time you’re building your bankroll, be sure to set a little aside for a few spins at a progressive.