Titles that feature life-changing progressive jackpots are typically among the most popular games in the catalogues of online gambling operators. Until recently, progressive jackpots were predominantly reserved for slots and video poker, but lucrative prizes are now attached to a number of traditional table games and roulette is no exception.
In roulette, winning Straight Up bets on individual numbers pay out at the rate of 35 to 1. Some roulette players are not satisfied with this maximum payout, especially when one considers how difficult it is to predict the winning number accurately. Indeed, this payout is hardly in the same league as the life-changing jackpots of progressive games that can sometimes reach millions of pounds.
With slots, there is an abundance of progressive jackpot titles, which leaves players with plenty of options to choose from. Unfortunately, this is not the case when it comes to progressive roulette, where the number of options is quite limited.
Nevertheless, some of the biggest gaming software suppliers in the industry have developed enticing roulette variations that come with ever-increasing progressive jackpots. Below, you can find more information on how progressive jackpot roulette works.
How Does Progressive Jackpot Roulette Work?
If you are already familiar with the rules of play in roulette, you will experience no difficulties in playing the progressive jackpot variations of the game. It is possible to bet on individual numbers, on combinations of numbers, or on the numbers’ properties (Red/Black, Odd/Even, and so on). Once you have made your wager, you hit the Spin button and wait for the ball to come to rest to determine the winning number.
In fact, there are only two differences between progressive roulette and the conventional variations of the game. The first is the massive jackpot itself, and the second is the obligatory side bet players are required to make. These side bets contribute towards the overall jackpot. What is vital to remember is that the contribution of players’ bets towards the jackpot will not be the same across all roulette versions available. Most of the time, such jackpots are not fixed amounts but continue to grow in small increments until one lucky player collects the life-changing prize. Once someone has won, the jackpot starts accumulating all over again. It is important to mention that the accumulation does not start from scratch when the jackpot is won but from a predetermined amount, called a “seed”.
Even if luck is not on your side and you do not succeed in winning the progressive jackpot, you can still walk away with a substantial prize. The bulk of the progressive jackpot variations have unique bonus features and lucrative payouts. Depending on which progressive roulette variation you play, larger payouts can be triggered whenever a given number is spun several times in a row.
In some cases, progressive jackpot roulette is played on a standard European wheel, which has 37 pockets, including the zero. With other variations, such as Age of the Gods Roulette and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette, the wheel contains additional pockets that trigger the special bonus features.
The Side Bet in Progressive Jackpot Roulette
The progressive variations of roulette allow players to make standard inside and outside bets. However, to become eligible for the progressive jackpot, players are expected to contribute a small, and in some cases obligatory, side bet on top of their original wager.
The size of the additional bet is nominal and amounts to one credit in the currency chosen by the player. The sum is automatically deducted from players’ casino account balances each time the ball is spun. As we said above, the progressive jackpot starts accumulating from a predetermined amount whenever someone wins it. A modest fraction of the obligatory side bet is put aside in case a lucky player wins the jackpot. The remainder of the sum contributes to the accumulating jackpot itself. What is more, there is no limit to the amount the pot can reach.
Roulette Variations with Progressive Jackpots
Some of the most reputable online casino operators have already added progressive roulette variations to their gaming portfolios. For the most part, the games they offer follow the rules of standard European roulette, the only exception being the obligatory side bet. Below, we have listed some of the most popular roulette variations that provide the most lucrative jackpots and bonus features.
Double Action Roulette
Double Ball Roulette
3D Roulette
Progressive Jackpot Roulette
Roulette Betting Progressions
Microgaming’s Roulette Royale
Microgaming’s Roulette Royale is a favourite among roulette fans mainly because it offers a range of potential payouts that far exceed those of standard roulette bets. The game is played on a single-zero European wheel containing 37 pockets, and there are no deviations from the standard rules of play.
Of course, there is a side bet that amounts to one unit in your preferred currency. This obligatory bet is automatically subtracted from your bankroll each time the ball is spun. The jackpot is won when the same number comes up five times in a row. Even if you fail to hit the huge progressive jackpot, there are still generous consolation payouts. If the ball lands on the same number twice in a row, your bet will pay 15 to 1. Should the same number come up three times in succession, you will be paid at a rate of 200 to 1, while four consecutive hits will earn you a payout of 3,000 to 1.
IGT’s Triple Bonus Spin Roulette
Triple Bonus Spin Roulette, courtesy of the gaming software supplier IGT, is yet another unique roulette variant that offers massive payouts to enthusiastic roulette fans. The game is played on a wheel that contains three zero pockets, marked 0, 00 and 000, plus an additional yellow pocket, marked with the letter B for “bonus”.
The Triple Bonus Spin feature is automatically triggered whenever the ball lands in the yellow pocket. A wheel with three separate rings then appears and players are granted a free spin. If you have placed a bet on yellow and all three rings align with the yellow bonus pocket, your payout will be 12,000 to 1. If only two rings align, your bonus spin will pay 1,200 to 1.
Playtech’s Age of the Gods Roulette
Another exceptionally thrilling roulette variation that has the potential to turn lucky players into millionaires overnight is Playtech’s Age of the Gods Roulette.
The creators of casino content at Playtech have added a twist to everybody’s favourite casino game by setting it against the backdrop of Mount Olympus, which is certainly not the image that springs to mind when you think of roulette. Avid casino fans can spin the wheel alongside the gods and potentially bag some rewards, thanks to the game’s bonus feature.
Gambling enthusiasts can qualify for a win worth up to 100 times the staked amount, provided that they place some of their chips on the special bonus position, which lies right next to the field reserved for the zero. Doing so activates a slot mini-game during which players have the chance to land substantial prizes for winning combinations of symbols. Players are given a total of three bonus spins to collect matching icons.
Although Age of the Gods Roulette is a European-style game and has only one zero pocket, players should be mindful that the house edge ramps up to 5.26% because of the additional bonus pocket. In most cases, the available chip denominations start at £0.01 and rise to £100. Players can easily determine the minimum and maximum amounts they can stake on each bet type simply by moving the cursor over the respective field on the betting layout. To place a call bet, players need only click on the miniature racetrack. Directly above it, they will see the history of the most recent winning numbers.
It is fair to say that the biggest appeal of Age of the Gods Roulette remains its multi-level jackpot game. While revelling in the game, players will have the chance to bag Power, Extra Power, Super Power and Ultimate Power jackpots.
It goes without saying that the most alluring of the above-mentioned prizes is the Ultimate Power jackpot, because it starts at £100,000 and grows with each stake players make. It is important to note, however, that the jackpot game can be activated randomly on virtually any spin of the roulette wheel.
What roulette fans might be even more excited to hear is that Playtech has launched a live version of its Age of the Gods Roulette, which is also equipped with the jackpot functionality.
Dragon Jackpot Roulette
Playtech undoubtedly intrigues players with its selection of progressive jackpot roulette games, and Dragon Jackpot Roulette is another such title taken straight from its gaming catalogue. It is an Oriental-themed roulette game that follows the European rules, as it has just one zero pocket.
Much like Age of the Gods Roulette, Dragon Roulette is also furnished with a bonus game, and playing it gives gambling enthusiasts the chance to walk away with one of four progressive jackpots. What is specific about this variant is that the extra field on the betting layout does not lie next to the zero but is instead positioned at the far right end of the layout.
Right next to the wheel, players will notice the racetrack and a board that allows them to stay abreast of the winning numbers from previous spins. To switch to placing any of the so-called French bets, casino enthusiasts need only tap or click on the racetrack so that it can expand.
Right below the history of the winning numbers, gambling aficionados will notice a bar that indicates what part of the roulette wheel their wager will cover.
This time, the chip denominations available vary between £1 and £500.
One of the main reasons Dragon Roulette has caused a stir among gambling enthusiasts is its Dragon Bonus. To trigger it, players must click on the special button that sits in the lower-left corner of their screen.
Once they have done so, players place a special wager on 12 numbers in total, and if luck is on their side and one of these numbers wins, they are taken to a special two-stage bonus game during which they can amass impressive prizes.
Yet the progressive jackpots the game awards are certainly what players are most eager to learn about. Dragon Roulette is furnished with four progressive jackpots that players can hit at random. The largest prizes are awarded when players win the Gold pot, while smaller prizes await those who land the Red, Blue or Green pots.
Frankie Dettori Jackpot Roulette
Another great progressive roulette variation powered by Playtech is Frankie Dettori Jackpot Roulette. Inspired by the famous horse jockey, this game offers players the chance to enjoy an authentic gaming experience by spinning the virtual roulette wheel and testing their luck.
In addition to the standard roulette numbers ranging between 0 and 36, there is an extra section on the wheel for the game’s bonus feature. This means that Frankie Dettori Jackpot Roulette is an American-style variation, giving the house a bigger edge of 5.26%. Despite this, those who enjoy making riskier bets will appreciate the game, as it allows them to play for Playtech’s progressive prize pool.
To make the gaming experience even more enjoyable, the game incorporates various features that provide smoother and more exciting gameplay. Despite being a progressive game, Frankie Dettori Jackpot Roulette offers players a classic casino experience that any fan of American roulette will appreciate.
You can place all of the standard roulette bets, enjoying their typical payouts if your predictions are correct. The minimum allowed bet starts at £0.10, while the maximum stake is capped at £100. The table maximum is £10,000.
In addition to inside and outside bets on the roulette grid, the game also features a racetrack that allows advanced call bets. You can choose to place wagers on bets like Tier, Orphelins and Voisins du Zero. These bets enable players to back a certain number on the racetrack while also including neighbouring positions in the wager.
Players can personalise their neighbour bets by choosing how many adjacent positions to include. You can select between one and five surrounding numbers when making neighbour bets.
The main feature of the game is its Mystery Win bonus, which is triggered when the ball lands on the trophy slot of the roulette wheel. This loads a special racetrack on the screen, allowing lucky players to choose from 20 positions, each revealing either a cash prize or a trophy multiplier.
The cash prizes during the bonus round can award payouts of between 1x and 5x your original bet on the Mystery Win bonus section of the wheel. Meanwhile, the trophies reveal multipliers that range between 1x and 7x and apply to the total bonus wins from the special feature.
While the bonus feature starts with a 1x multiplier, it increases with every trophy that is revealed. The feature ends when a “Collect” section appears on the racetrack. The biggest multiplier available is capped at 280x. It should be noted, however, that you will have the chance to play the bonus game only if you have placed a bet on that section before the ball lands on it. This is why players who wish to access the Mystery Win game are advised to place the special bet on every spin.
There is, of course, also the chance to win one of two progressive jackpots while playing Frankie Dettori Jackpot Roulette. The silver and gold jackpots of the roulette version are awarded randomly and can be won even after a losing bet. The higher a player’s stake, the better the chances of triggering a jackpot prize.
When the progressive jackpot game is triggered, players are asked to choose from 12 different tiles. A jackpot is won when the lucky player reveals either 5 silver trophies or 7 gold trophies. It should be noted that this feature is timed, and if you do not select enough silver or gold trophies before the time runs out, the prize is awarded automatically.
Things to Consider About Progressive Jackpot Roulette
As it seems, many gambling enthusiasts often get carried away when they start betting on games that are tied to progressive jackpots, simply because of the opportunity to bag massive prizes. Yet, diving in head first when it comes to betting on roulette games with progressive jackpots is ill-advised, and there are certain details players should pay attention to first.
First and foremost, roulette lovers who are on a tight budget should make sure that the costs incurred as they play are worth paying, taking into account the prizes on offer.
Another important consideration is that the edge the house gains over players is significantly increased because of the side bet required to qualify for the additional prizes. As was the case with Playtech’s Age of the Gods Roulette, an extra pocket is added to the wheel, which increases the house advantage to over 5%.
That being said, there are also roulette variants that offer progressive jackpots without adding extra fields to the betting layout. Players should not forget that, with most such games, triggering the bonus round might not be particularly challenging, but the probability of winning the biggest prizes is significantly lower.
Before they start betting on such games, players are advised to inspect the Help section, as in most cases it will provide information about the jackpot, including how it is triggered and the preset amount from which it starts accumulating. It is important to note that the percentage of players’ wagers that contributes to the pot is not the same across different roulette games, which is why this is worth checking as well.
These are all factors that should be considered, because the seed and the contribution of wagers will have a major impact on the amount players can eventually walk away with.
Another detail worthy of attention when making up your mind is the RTP of the game. Players are also advised to conduct research so that they can figure out how often the jackpot falls.
When all these factors are taken into consideration, it will be much easier for roulette lovers to make a wise decision.