Progressive jackpots in online pokies are usually triggered from within the game. The trigger could be a specified combination of symbols or a random occurrence after any spin. Playtech, the leading software provider to Australian online casinos, offers a series of pokies in which the progressive jackpot is triggered in a completely different manner. This series of games is sub titled Dollar Ball game.
‘Dollar’ refers to the AU$1 side bet that has to be placed by clicking the Dollar Ball icon on the screen. ‘Ball’ refers to the lotto type game played with balls. At the start of the Dollar Ball game numbers from 1 to 49 are displayed on the screen. You have to pick five of them. The selection can be made manually based on your preference or you can use the random pick incorporated in the game. The selected numbers are displayed on the screen. When you click the Spin button the reels start spinning. While this is in progress, five numbered balls will be randomly drawn and will be displayed above the selected numbers. You get a payout depending on the number of matches from the selection of five. After this game is over the reels stop spinning and the pokie payouts take over. Both payouts will be added and credited to your balance. An important thing to remember is that the Dollar Ball game will be automatically played along with every main game spin with the same numbers, until you select different numbers or disable the side bet.
There is a separate payout table for the Dollar Ball game side bet. If there is a match of one number then then the payout is 1 to 1. For a match of two numbers the payout is 2 to 1 and for a match of three numbers the payout is 25 to 1. Then the progressive jackpot comes into play. For four matching numbers the payout is 1% of the progressive jackpot pool. Five matching numbers result in the full progressive jackpot being hit. After this the jackpot amount is reset to the base level.
Not all Playtech online pokies have the Dollar Ball game. The Dollar Ball games are highlighted in the list of progressive games in the casino client. Some popular titles are Captain’s Treasure, A Night Out, Forest of Wonders, Football Rules Alien Hunter and Silver Bullet. All these pokies can be played at our recommended online casinos like Omni Casino and Mansion Casino.