As a recognized authority on casino gambling, Mark Pilarski worked 18 years in the casino industry, for seven different Nevada casinos. Mark now writes a nationally syndicated gambling column, is a university lecturer, reviewer and contributing editor for numerous gaming periodicals. A new column is posted every Sunday.
Progressives are jackpots that continue to increase in size until someone finally wins.
The trick is to find a jackpot that has grown large enough to overcome the machine's built-in edge. By shopping for value, you will occasionally find a progressive machine with this disproportionately large payoff. Keep in mind, James, that even if you do find a theoretically profitable machine, you will lose in the end, unless you hit the jackpot. There is only going to be one fortunate lucky dog while thousands of other luckless canines feed the fortunate winner's monster payday. Before I got my winnings, I was issued a tax form.