Abstract: A payout method for a group of linked gaming machines that provide a progressive jackpot pays a proportion of the jackpot to eligible players at each linked machine. Data from each of a group of linked slot machines is sent to a central controller which determines the value of the progressive jackpot by accumulating a predetermined fraction of the money bet at each linked machine. When a progressive jackpot-winning outcome occurs at one of the linked machines, the winning machine signals the controller which then announces the win. The eligibility of the players to share in the progressive jackpot may be conditioned upon placing a maximum bet at the gaming machine and initiating play at the gaming machine within a predetermined time interval before the progressive jackpot-winning outcome occurs.