History of Casino Jackpots

Jackpots have been around since gambling began and the idea of a huge windfall bonus has been used to add incentives to gambling for generations. Over time jackpots have been slowly evolving and ever increasing.
Casinos have long been offering progressive jackpots for their games but when did it start? For as long as people can remember the progressive machines have existed, but the truth is they are quite a recent innovation.

A Brief History of Jackpots

Invented originally in 1986 by a small company known as International Game Technology (IGT), progressive jackpots were introduced as the group was just entering the slot machine business. They realized that mechanical gaming machines were actually holding the industry back.

Thanks to the development of technology, the company managed to utilize electronics to develop one of the first electronic random number generators. This was to pave the way for the future of not just slot machines, but the invention of progressive jackpots.

Shortly after inventing the first random number generator based slot-machine, a five-reel monster which was revolutionary at the time, IGT then started to think bigger.

Soon they launched the first ever progressive jackpot machine known as Megabucks. Thanks to Megabucks and the IGT team, progressive jackpots became one of the most famous casino trends in the 90s and they continue popular to this day.

Nowadays IGT is the developer of some of the most famous progressive slot games such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and The Price is Right.

Casinos gradually started to move online in the mid-90s, but it was not until the late 90s that online gambling became as popular as it is today. Back then people were reluctant to shop online, never mind gamble. Today this has all changed thanks to the development of e-commerce and the internet in general.

As a result, progressive jackpots online are some of the highest in the industry. While they are nothing like the lottery games the odds of winning a progressive are significantly higher for regular gamers that know what they’re doing.
Because of this, there are millions of players worldwide and a many, many different progressives available. From $2,000 prizes to $2,000,000 prizes gamers are spoiled for choice when it comes to looking for the perfect game.
Nowadays, progressive jackpots are not just restricted to slot machines. Video poker, roulette and blackjack are all forms of gaming that allow players to enter and compete for the grand prize. The question is, will you win it?
In the past five years, there must have been hundreds of millions of dollars given out in the form of progressive jackpots. These prizes have often come at the most unexpected moment, and the recipients have in some cases not even known about their victories.

Progressive prizes seem like they’re here to stay. It is a great way to try and win something big while enjoying your time at the casino and if you are a smart player then the chance of winning a progressive isn’t really that farfetched.
Just try to be remembered for being a historic winner, not for being a forgotten failure.