Online casinos tend to offer a vast variety of games to their members, catering to the preferences of numerous casino fans. Many virtual players enjoy taking things to the next level and increasing the level of risk by playing progressive slots. If you prefer playing Live Casino games, however, you can still enjoy plenty of options that offer progressive prizes.
If you enjoy making bets on casino classics like roulette and poker, you can find several great live-dealer options that will allow you to play for very generous progressive jackpots. Several software providers have added progressive prizes to some of their Live Casino games, offering fans of the genre the chance to sweep bigger payouts.
Usually, progressive Live Casino games require making a specific side bet. This means that only players who are willing to take additional risks will have the chance to sweep the progressive prize of a live-dealer game.
How Do Progressive Live Casino Games Work?
The progressive jackpots offered in Live Casino games work in a similar way to the progressive prizes that can be won by playing video slots. Most live-dealer games that offer progressive jackpots are poker variations that include jackpot side bets. That said, players can also simply play the standard table game without making the side bet and enjoy the typical payouts if they end up winning the round.
The progressive jackpot pools of live-dealer games are generated by being linked to progressive jackpot networks across the various virtual casinos that offer the specific live-dealer games by the same software operator. Most of the progressive Live Casino titles are provided by Evolution Gaming or Playtech, and casinos that offer their games contribute to the increase in progressive jackpots.
The progressive prize pool increases with the contributions of the side bets made by all players who place the additional wager but do not win the jackpot. The progressive jackpot is constantly increasing thanks to players’ bets and continues to generate bigger sums until it is won. Once a lucky player sweeps the progressive jackpot, it starts to increase yet again until another player hits the massive prize.
Progressive jackpot Live Casino games that can be seen at different online casinos share several features:
- Progressive jackpot pools can constantly increase, reaching major sums that can sometimes compete with the biggest progressive jackpots of video slots
- To qualify for the progressive jackpot, players are required to make a specific side bet
- The progressive jackpot can be won even if the player folds their hand or loses the base game
- Making a side bet can even qualify players for smaller fixed-jackpot prizes
- Once a progressive jackpot is won, it goes back to its seed value, which is often a specific minimum amount from which it starts to accumulate
Understanding the Features of Progressive Live Casino Games
There are several specific elements that are present in all progressive variations of live-dealer games. Having a better understanding of these features will help you decide whether progressive Live Casino games are suitable for you and what it will cost you to play for the chance of winning a progressive jackpot.
Jackpot Seed Value
One thing that makes progressive Live Casino games very attractive is the chance of sweeping very generous progressive jackpots. Even after a jackpot is won, it starts to accumulate again from a specific value rather than from 0. The starting value of a progressive jackpot is known as a seed value.
Not all progressive live-dealer games share the same seed value, as each software provider decides that value for every specific game offering a progressive prize. Either way, knowing that even if a jackpot is won there is still a chance for the prize to reach higher amounts quickly motivates more players to give such games a try.
Uncapped Progressive Jackpots
The live-dealer games that offer progressive jackpots have no cap on the maximum sum they can reach. This means that the jackpot prize can increase for an unlimited time, reaching very high amounts. Some Live Casino games share the same prize pool with a few progressive slots, helping the jackpot reach even higher amounts much more quickly.
There are progressive jackpots that have boiling-point pots, indicating a specific maximum at which the jackpot must be won. This type of progressive jackpot, however, is more common for video slots and most live-dealer games typically have uncapped progressive prize pools.
Side Bets
Side bets are definitely a key feature of progressive live-dealer games, as they are the element that qualifies players to win the major payout. Of course, if you simply enjoy the main game, you can skip the side bet and play the live-dealer game of your choice. Even if you opt to make the side bet, you should be aware that this will not affect your winning chances in the main game.
Another reason why side bets are so important in progressive Live Casino games is that the prize pool constantly increases thanks to the side bets made by other players. As long as others are willing to make the additional wager for a chance to win the progressive jackpot, it will continue increasing until it is won.
Jackpot Meters
Those who are playing for more than just having fun will pay attention to things like RTP and break-even point. Playing a game that offers a progressive jackpot means that, at some point, the RTP of the game can surpass 100%, giving players better chances for very fruitful outcomes.
To be able to keep track of those things, however, you must also be able to view the current progressive jackpot of the specific game. This is where jackpot meters come in handy, as they allow you to see how the jackpot is changing in real time. As other players’ side bets contribute to the increase of the prize pool, you can easily check the jackpot amount at the moment you decide to play. Thanks to jackpot meters, players can decide on the perfect time to play a progressive live-dealer game and enjoy a more advantageous RTP.
Jackpot Win Conditions
Depending on the type of progressive live-dealer game that you play, the conditions to win the major prize may differ. While some games will award the progressive prize randomly, others require players to meet a specific condition to win the jackpot.
Keep in mind that even if you meet the winning condition, if you have not made a side bet, you will not qualify for the progressive jackpot. This is why players are encouraged always to make the side bet if they wish to have the chance to win the constantly increasing prize pool. While making the jackpot side bet may be optional, some live-dealer poker variations may require players first to make an Ante bet and then place their side bet to be eligible to play for the progressive prize.
As live-dealer poker tables can be played by numerous players at the same time, when a winning condition is met, all players with active side bets will split the progressive jackpot. Even though the special hand that triggers the progressive jackpot may be different, this is one feature that the various progressive live-dealer games share.
There are also a few live roulette tables you can come across online and play for the chance of landing a progressive jackpot. While the winning condition may not be the same for every progressive live roulette game, we can take a look at Playtech’s variant of the game. It requires an additional bet that will qualify you for the progressive jackpot. The huge prize is triggered randomly, with a special jackpot game being launched on the screen. Lucky players will need to play the jackpot game to determine which one of four progressive jackpots they will win.
Despite the type of progressive live-dealer game you play, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- You should always make the side/additional bet to qualify for the progressive jackpot
- If you are playing live-dealer poker, the progressive jackpot will be divided between all players who had active side bets at the time the jackpot was won
- Some Live Casino poker games allow players to make the side bet only after placing an Ante bet
- The progressive jackpot on live roulette is randomly awarded and players can win one of four jackpots of different sizes
How Do Progressive Jackpots Affect the RTP in Live Casino Games?
Playing live-dealer games that offer progressive jackpots is definitely an endeavour suitable only for certain types of players. Although the chance of sweeping a generous jackpot may sound very tempting, you should carefully think through your playing strategy. If we exclude the progressive prize, we will notice that this type of live-dealer option gives the house a rather high advantage.
If you opt for simple gameplay, refraining from the jackpot side bet, you will play the game with its standard poker or roulette house edge. If you, however, decide to make the additional bet and test your luck for the massive progressive prize, you can expect the RTP to drop significantly, giving the house an even bigger advantage.
Take, for example, Live Casino Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker by Evolution Gaming. The RTP for the base game is quite advantageous, having a theoretical return of 99.47% on total bets. If you decide to make a bonus bet, the RTP will drop to 91.46%, giving the house a bigger advantage over you. The lowest RTP, 81.84%, however, is for the jackpot side bet of Live Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker.
As we have previously mentioned, many players use the jackpot meter feature to keep track of progressive jackpots and determine a certain game’s break-even point. The great thing about being an online casino player is being able to easily find the break-even mark of any online game, including progressive live-dealer options. Some online calculators will enable you to enter the different payouts of the specific game and find out the break-even point at which you are advised to play for the progressive jackpot.
| RTP of Progressive Live Casino Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game Type | Base RTP | Progressive RTP |
| Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker | 99.47% (total bet) | 81.84% |
| Caribbean Stud Jackpot | 98.19% | 81.84% |
| Casino Hold’em Jumbo 7 Jackpot | 97.84% | 81.64% |
Best Progressive Live Casino Games to Play Online
Although there are not that many progressive variations of live-dealer games online, Playtech and Evolution Gaming have provided several games that give players the chance to sweep generous progressive jackpots. The live-dealer options that offer progressive prizes include a roulette variation and a few poker games. Whichever you decide to play, we advise you to be cautious with your bets and only play if you can afford the additional side bets.
Live Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker
Powered by Evolution Gaming, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker is one of the most entertaining live-dealer games that offer players the chance to sweep a very generous progressive jackpot. While the goal of the main game is to form the best five-card poker hand, you will also have the chance to make a bonus side bet and a progressive jackpot side bet.
Before you are allowed to make any of the side bets, you will first need to make the Ante bet for the main game. After you are done with your bets, the base game will start, with the dealer handing out two face-up cards to the player’s side. The next few rounds are played to determine the outcome of the main game.
After the main game is complete, even if you end up losing your bet, you still have the chance to enjoy bigger payouts if you have made the side bets of Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker. Both the bonus bet and the jackpot bet are evaluated at the end of every playing round.
As for the progressive jackpot of the game, every player who has joined the live table and has an active jackpot side bet will share the progressive prize with other qualified players if there is a Royal Flush. Those who make the jackpot side bet will also have the chance to enjoy special payouts for certain other hands.
Of course, the bonus side bet and the jackpot bet are optional, and you can simply place your Ante bet and play the standard five-card draw poker game. Although the chance of winning a generous progressive jackpot may sound very tempting, players should be aware that the additional bet has a significantly lower RTP than the base game.
The base game has a pretty good RTP of 97.96% for the Ante bet and 99.47% for the total bets. Meanwhile, the RTP for the bonus bet is 91.46%, while the progressive jackpot bet has an even lower RTP of 81.4%.
| Main Game Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Bet Type | Payout |
| Ante bet | 1:1 |
| Flop bet | 1:1 |
| Turn bet | 1:1 |
| River bet | 1:1 |
| Bonus Bet Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Player AA + Dealer AA | 1,000:1 |
| Player AA | 30:1 |
| A-K suited | 25:1 |
| A-Q/A-J suited | 20:1 |
| A-K unsuited | 15:1 |
| K-K/Q-Q/J-J | 10:1 |
| A-Q/A-J unsuited | 5:1 |
| 10-10 through 2-2 | 3:1 |
| Progressive Jackpot Bet Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | Progressive jackpot |
| Straight Flush | 2,500:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 250:1 |
| Full House | 50:1 |
| Flush | 25:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
Caribbean Stud Jackpot Poker
Another progressive jackpot live-dealer game by Evolution Gaming is Caribbean Stud Jackpot Poker. In this game, players have the chance to sweep a rather generous progressive prize if they make the jackpot side bet. There is also the option to make a bonus side bet and enjoy extra payouts for a combination of their cards and the dealer’s first card face up.
Once you are done with your bets, the main game will start, with the dealer dealing five cards face up on the player’s side. Five cards are also handed to the dealer, but only the first one is face up. The player then needs to decide how to play, and the main game finishes with the dealer revealing their remaining four cards.
Even if you end up losing your main bet, you will still have a chance to enjoy a bonus payout thanks to the 5+1 bet, or even sweep a progressive jackpot. Both of the side bets are evaluated after the base game is finished and they do not affect the main play.
Those who make the jackpot bet in Caribbean Stud will qualify for the progressive prize of the game. All players who have an active jackpot side bet will share the progressive jackpot if their hand happens to be a Royal Flush. Meanwhile, other winning hands will bring them boosted fixed payouts.
If you decide, you can simply play the base game of Caribbean Stud without making any of the side bets. The base game has a pretty good RTP of 98.19%, but if you opt for the 5+1 side bet, the RTP will drop to 91.44%. You should also keep in mind that the jackpot side bet has an even lower RTP of only 81.84%. As you can see, this is definitely a risky side bet that is not suitable for everybody.
If the player’s hand wins, the payout on the Ante bet is 1:1, while the payout on the Call bet depends on the winning hand.
| Main Game Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 25:1 |
| Full House | 10:1 |
| Flush | 7:1 |
| Straight | 5:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
| Two Pairs | 2:1 |
| One Pair or less | 1:1 |
| 5+1 Bonus Bet Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 |
| Full House | 20:1 |
| Flush | 15:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 |
| Progressive Jackpot Bet Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | Progressive jackpot |
| Straight Flush | 2,500:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 250:1 |
| Full House | 50:1 |
| Flush | 25:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
Casino Hold’em Jumbo 7 Jackpot
At Evolution Gaming casinos, you can also come across Live Casino Hold’em Jumbo 7, giving players the chance to win a very generous progressive prize. The goal of the main game is to have the best five-card hand and beat the dealer. Like the aforementioned poker variations, this game will also require players to place an Ante bet first and then make a bonus side bet, a jackpot bet, or both.
After you place your bets, the game will start and the player’s side will receive two hole cards, as will the dealer. Three community cards are then placed on the table and the player must decide how to play the game. If the player’s hand wins the game, the Call bet pays even money, while the Ante bet will pay out according to the rank of the winning hand.
All players who have joined the live poker table and have made the progressive jackpot bet will share the major prize if there is a 7-card Straight Flush, which is created by the player’s two cards and the five community cards. There is also the chance to enjoy a fixed payout if you get a Straight or a better hand.
If you simply want to play Casino Hold’em, you can just make an Ante bet and then decide to fold or make a Call bet. The RTP of the base game for the Ante bet is 97.84%, while the bonus bet has an RTP of 93.74%. The Jumbo 7 Jackpot bet has the lowest RTP of 81.64%.
| Main Game Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 20:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 10:1 |
| Full House | 3:1 |
| Flush | 2:1 |
| Straight | 1:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1:1 |
| Two Pairs | 1:1 |
| One Pair or less | 1:1 |
| Bonus Bet Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 40:1 |
| Full House | 30:1 |
| Flush | 20:1 |
| Straight | 7:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 |
| Two Pairs | 7:1 |
| Pair of Aces | 7:1 |
| Jumbo 7 Jackpot Bet Payout | |
|---|---|
| Hand | Payout |
| 7-Card Straight Flush | Progressive jackpot |
| 6-Card Straight Flush | 5,000:1 |
| 5-Card Straight Flush | 250:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 |
| Full House | 5:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 |
| Straight | 2:1 |
Age of Gods Live Roulette
Playtech has decided to bring a bit of diversity to the progressive jackpot live-dealer scene by introducing its Age of Gods Live Roulette. This is a very fun addition to Playtech’s Age of Gods series, sharing the same progressive jackpot with the virtual roulette and a number of video slots from the Age of Gods sequence.
When you take a look at the roulette wheel used in Age of Gods, you will notice that it resembles the one used in American roulette. Instead of an additional double-zero pocket, however, the extra socket is for the bonus bet that some players might opt to make. Being a variation of American roulette, the base game of Age of Gods Live Roulette has the standard house edge of 5.26%. Unlike the poker variations by Evolution Gaming, this Playtech live roulette will automatically include every player in the possible draw of the progressive jackpot.
Every time you bet on Age of Gods Live Roulette, 0.99% of your wager will contribute to the jackpot pool. There is no real winning condition to be met to enjoy a progressive payout while playing this live roulette. The progressive jackpot can be randomly triggered at any point, even after a losing bet.
While you can play the base game like any other American roulette, you can also place your bets on the Bonus section, which has replaced the double-zero pocket. When the ball lands in the bonus socket, this will trigger the bonus game of Age of Gods Live Roulette. When the Bonus game is activated, it will launch a slot with different symbols and three spins to play.
Whenever three matching symbols land on the slot, you will enjoy a specific multiplier, the value of which depends on the type of matching symbols. The highest payout you can enjoy thanks to the bonus round is capped at 300x when you land the highest-paying symbol three times in the three consecutive spins of the slot.