Most people have probably noticed that the huge amounts promised in jackpots and progressive jackpot games have since become among the most popular elements at modern online casinos. Here, players are tempted with life-changing wins that just keep growing until one lucky winner walks away with the pot. But what is really going on in the background of these games, and how is it that casinos can offer jackpots worth tens of millions without taking a big risk?
What is a progressive jackpot?
Progressive jackpots are something you’ll find in all modern casinos, but what exactly are they? It’s a bit like when you visit a casino site expecting to pay however you want, as seen at https://www.casinotopplistan.com/betalningsmetoder/swish/. Being able to pay via Swish or other methods is something most people now expect to be automatic.
A progressive jackpot is a prize pool that increases slightly every time someone plays an affiliate game. Unlike games that have a fixed jackpot with the same value all the time, a progressive jackpot will continuously grow until it is won. Then it is set back to the starting sum and starts again.
How is the pot funded in progressive jackpots?
So, a progressive jackpot is a win that just keeps growing into the clouds until one lucky player walks away with the money. It seems fair enough, but where does the money actually come from? Progressive jackpots are funded by dividing the players’ bets into three. This means that a small portion from each spin rolls over to the progressive jackpot, which works like this:
- A portion goes towards regular winnings in the game, so you are happy to win on small amounts
- A share goes to the house margin, i.e. the casino’s profit when playing
- A small percentage from each spin (usually 1-5%) goes on to the jackpot every time you play.
This way, there is a steady stream of small amounts that help build up the jackpot. It’s like the old adage says – Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.
Different Types of Progressive Jackpots
Now that we know a little more about what jackpots are, as well as how they can reach such staggering sums, it’s good to take it a step further. Because there is not just one type of progressive jackpot out there. Which of these you bet on will have an impact on the winnings you can take with you. A progressive jackpot can be set up in the following ways:
- Stand-alone jackpot: As the name implies, it is a jackpot where only one slot contributes to the pot. This often limits it to slightly lower amounts.
- Local Network: When there is a local network, there are multiple games at the same casino that contribute to the pot, but only games available at the operator contribute.
- Wides Are Progressive: This is often the type of game where you can really find the big wins. Here there are slot machines on several different operators that contribute to the same pot, which often means that the amounts can be huge.
Slots with Progressive Wins and Historic Payouts
There have been more progressive win slots popping up out there all the time, but there are a few that stand out from the rest. Because there are some games that have really hit hard and paid out winnings in the millions. These are often the ones that are sought out the most, but they are not everyday staples. Every time one of these is triggered, there is high-level casino news , so it is not something that goes unnoticed.
| Game | Developer | Biggest Recorded Jackpot | Year |
| Mega Moolah | Microgaming / Games Global | approx. €18.9 million (approx. NOK 190 million) | 2018 |
| Mega Fortune | NetEnt | approx. €17.9 million (approx. NOK 180 million) | 2013 |
| Hall of Gods | NetEnt | approx. €7.8 million (approx. NOK 80 million) | 2015 |
| Arabian Nights | NetEnt | approx. €8.6 million (approx. NOK 90 million) | 2012 |
| Jackpot Giant | Playtech | approx. €10.7 million (approx. NOK 110 million) | 2016 |
| Age of the Gods | Playtech | approx. €2.9 million (approx. NOK 30 million) | 2020 |
| WowPot! | Microgaming / Games Global | approx. €17.5 million (approx. NOK 175 million) | 2021 |
What happens when someone walks away with the jackpot?
A question that often arises, of course, is what happens when someone is lucky enough to trigger the win. Because when someone gets paid millions from a game, it must take some time before you build up a new jackpot again? Here, the developers have set specific amounts to which the winnings are reset. This means that it doesn’t go back to zero, so no one is unlucky enough to win a negligible amount on their winnings.
However, it is so rare that someone runs away with the entire winnings, that the big games are rarely reset. Most people win a share of the jackpot and thus there is almost always something left for those who are lucky enough to trigger the next one.
Summary
Progressive jackpots have become a must-have for modern casinos. With ever-increasing wins and life-changing payouts, this is something that can easily tempt even the most experienced players. However, it is also among the elements with the most myths in casinos. Because how do you actually run away with the big winnings and how on earth can someone offer a jackpot of millions of kroner without it entailing a huge risk?
As we have looked at in this article, there are several things that make this possible. Among other things, there are cross-game bets that allow you to offer these winnings. Here, small amounts from each spin will help the huge amounts grow further, until someone triggers them while playing.
