What is it?
A progressive jackpot is a bonus prize offered on a casino game in addition to its biggest prize. For instance, if a casino slot machine awards its grand prize when a player obtains three cherries, three cherries on a progressive machine will give the player not only the game's grand prize but also its progressive prize as well.

Progressive prizes grow as more players-play the progressive machines. For instance, if a progressive jackpot machine has a starting value or "default" of $100,000, the machine progressive gets bigger as soon as it is played. When its prize is won, the progressive jackpot again becomes $100,000, and begins to grow again.

Another characteristic of progressive jackpot machines are that they are usually found throughout several different online casino locations. This greatly increases the jackpot sizes available to be won, and does it in a much shorter time than could be otherwise possible because many different casinos contribute to the pot. It's kind of like the ol' Safety in Numbers adage where one casino couldn't handle paying out a large progressive jackpot but many casinos paying out a little each can easily be done.

Also, a condition is usually required to win a game's progressive. On video poker and slots, it is standard that players must bet the maximum number of coins in order to qualify for the maximum progressive jackpot prize. In Caribbean Stud Poker, players make a bonus US$1.00 wager with each hand in order to qualify.