Imagine for a moment that you are ready to register with your first online casino. Friends have told you how much fun it is to play video slots. What they might not have told you is many of today’s top online casinos have huge game libraries that include thousands of video slots from which to choose. Oh my! What now?
According to Occam’s Razor theory, it’s best to keep things as simple as possible. In that spirit, limit your decision-making process to choosing between progressive slots and regular slots. Both options are similar with one primary difference. Confusing? Maybe a further discussion is warranted.
What is a Progressive Slot?
A progressive slot looks and acts like a regular slot. However, progressive slots have a bonus feature that revolves around a progressive jackpot that keeps getting bigger until someone hits it. It works as follows:
A progressive slot is usually connected through a single server to a “network” of online casinos that have decided to offer access to the slot. As players play the game, a portion of their wagers is siphoned off and placed in a progressive jackpot pool. It’s progressive because it keeps building.
In most cases, players are chosen at random for a chance to claim the progressive jackpot. After being chosen, there is almost always a particular action they will need to take and if the stars align, the progressive jackpot becomes theirs. If they miss, the jackpot keeps growing until it is hit. Once hit, the progressive jackpot is usually reset to a statutory minimum amount.
What is a Regular Slot?
The simple answer would be a slot without a progressive jackpot feature. A more in-depth description would include that regular slots are also called “jackpot” slots. Each game has predetermined jackpots that are paid out based on wager amounts and reel alignments. They also have bonus features, which allow players to boost their winnings while playing interactive bonus games or using free spins.
4 Factors to Help You Decide
Now, you are armed with the knowledge of how progressive and regular slots differ. After looking at something like no deposit bonus codes for Limitless Casino, you can start thinking about which type of slots you want to play. With that in mind, you might appreciate advice from online slot experts who suggest you use the following important considerations.
Jackpot Size
Both types of online video slots offer standard jackpots with some bigger than others. Typically, slots with smaller jackpots pay out wins slightly more frequently. The other slots pay out bigger amounts less frequently. How payouts flow is what determines a slot’s “variance”.
The only characteristic that differentiates progressive and regular slot jackpots is that one progressive jackpot. It’s usually very big, it keeps growing, and it’s very difficult to hit.
Using jackpot size as a consideration for choosing between progressive slots and regular slots comes down to one thing. Do you want a random chance at the BIG payday?
Return to Player Percentage
A slot’s “Return to Player” or RTP percentage represents the percentage of every dollar wagered on the slot that is going to be returned to players as gross winnings over the life of the game. If you see an online video slot with a 96% RTP percentage, you know right away the house’s advantage on that slot is 4% over time.
When comparing RTP percentages for progressive and regular slots, you’ll see right away that progressive slot RTP percentages are lower. How much lower? The average RTP percentage for progressive slots is 87% compared to 96% for regular slots.
Reality is very different. The reason for the difference between RTP percentages is wholly attributable to the actual progressive bonus feature. There is less money paid out from a progressive slot’s base game because a portion of the wagers goes into the progressive jackpot pool. If you were to just compare base games, in all likelihood, you would find that the average RTP percentages are almost the same.
There is nothing worth considering here.
Special Bonus Features
As you gain experience playing both types of online video slots, you might notice a trend. You see, regular slots tend to offer more special bonus features. At the same time, progressive slots offer fewer special bonus features because they want players to focus on a chance to play the progressive jackpot game.
If you want access to more free spins and interactive bonus features, go with regular slots.
Excitement and Enjoyment
At the end of the day, there should only be one factor worthy of consideration when trying to choose between progressive and regular slots. Just be true to yourself and play the online video slots that create excitement and enjoyment in your heart and mind. Money aside, you’ll never lose.
