Progressive jackpots provide players from across the globe with the opportunity to cash in on life altering prizes frequently. In contrast, no two jackpot networks are alike, since they vary in size and format. The generosity of each network is dependent upon how its games are linked amongst each other, with each type offering different benefits for players.

The most basic type of progressive jackpot will be the stand-alone. This type of game accumulates its prizes in line with the wager that players make on a single game. It's not linked to some other games, sell so the prizes accumulate very slowly. They are common in the land-based casino world, as technological limitations have restricted traditional casino operators from linking games across a wide area. Within the online casino world, these games are becoming obsolete, as players decide to wager on linked progressive jackpots which provide more generous prizes.

Local area progressive jackpots are extremely common within the land-based casino world, and they are becoming increasingly popular at online casinos. These types of networks link the prizes from a number of games. At land-based casinos, the games included in the network tend to be part of a 'game bank', which consists of several games that will be physically linked together on the casino floor.

An in-house (or proprietary) network links games within one casino. Companies like Party Casino and 888 Casino, who design their own games, offer these types of progressive jackpots. There are actually some online casinos in which all available games contribute to one generous prize, such as Win-A-Day Casino and Slotland. They offer much more generous prizes than stand-alone and area games, but wide area networks continue to offer even more lucrative cash prizes for players to enjoy.

The most generous type will be the wide area network. This network links games across a number of casinos. The networks operated by Microgaming and PlayTech span lots of casinos, which is the reason why it really is not uncommon for games like Mega Moolah, Major Millions and Beach Life to pay out prizes worth millions of dollars.

Wide area progressive jackpots are becoming increasingly popular within the land-based casino world, as well. Traditional gaming operators now have the digital technology that allows them to link games across several land-based locations. As a result, companies like Las Vegas Sands and MGM can offer their very own generous wide area progressive jackpots that boast prizes worth tens of million of dollars.