Progressive picking bonuses have become pretty commonplace throughout the last decade. The most common format is picking until you get three of the same number. Most of the time, the number of coins available matches the number of progressives x3, or maybe a couple of extra to factor in upgrades, like on games like Coin Combo or Thunder Drums.
In those scenarios, the progressive picking is predetermined – triggering the bonus, and the outcome of the bonus, is already established at the time you make your wager. But is it always this way?
Aren’t the progressive picks always pre-determined by the machine? I always get a mini even if it’s the last pick. Just wondering.
Lynn M.
We try not to speak in absolutes too often around here because there will always be exceptions to the rule. And picking bonuses can be either true pick, meaning your pick matters, and predetermined, meaning the picking is all for show. Sometimes the pay table will clearly confirm that the picking doesn’t matter, and sometimes it won’t.
What we know for sure is if the other picking options aren’t shown, then the bonus is predetermined. If it shows the other options, it’s likely to be true pick, but isn’t guaranteed to be, at least in many states.
When you see those screens where there’s only three of each though, your odds of winning the Grand are not the same as the Mini – that’s pretty clear. So even if it does show the other options, it’s probably predetermined.
But that doesn’t mean all games have a predetermined picking bonus. We’ve seen examples by some manufacturers of having true pick bonuses linked to progressive prize opportunities.
So while most are nowadays predetermined, not all are. But regardless of whether they are or not, the chances of winning a smaller progressive will always be much higher by design.
