Technically, every casino game has a jackpot. Certainly, that is true if we consider the word “jackpot” to be synonymous with the term “top prize.” But in the modern era of iGaming, a jackpot is a little more specific. There are effectively two types: A static jackpot, i.e., a fixed headline prize, and a progressive jackpot, which is an ever-growing fund that keeps rolling over until it is won. The latter is usually much, much bigger than a static jackpot prize.
Progressive jackpots are an important part of the online casino landscape. Top sites will carry dozens, if not 100s of jackpot games. You can see some of the examples here https://casino.draftkings.com/category/jackpots/. As you may note, progressive jackpots are usually tied to slots, but they can also be part of table and card games. Usually, they are triggered randomly, sometimes not even requiring a winning play.
Jackpot networks can grow prizes quickly
However, while some games have standalone jackpots, there is also a wider system in place to facilitate jackpots at online casinos. These are known as jackpot networks. In effect, a jackpot network means a collection of games tied to the same headline prize. It means that you could be playing a game in one casino hoping for a jackpot, whereas another player is playing a different casino, perhaps even in a different country, is playing for the same award.
While the above information might seem like it lowers your odds of winning, given that you are up against more players, consider that it is also a perfect example of economies of scale principles due to the fact that progressive jackpots are funded by players’ wagers. A small fraction of every bet is placed into the ‘pot,’ allowing it to grow. So if you have players all adding to the pot in different locations on different games, it can grow quite fast.
IGT has long-term experience
Some of the most significant jackpot networks include the PowerBuck$ and MegaJackpots networks from IGT. IGT – International Game Technology – has been a stalwart of the casino industry for decades, and its jackpot networks work both offline and online, as the company made its name supplying physical slot machines for land-based casinos. Often, the PowerBuck$ and MegaJackpots top prize can reach several million dollars, so they have been mainstream attractions for years.
Another interesting one is Playtech’s Age of the Gods jackpot network. It’s been around for several years, and it is linked to the popular slots and table game series that Playtech developed, themed on Greek mythology. It usually doesn’t grow to a size as big as IGT’s, but it can still reach a significant sum. What’s remarkable about is that it is also tied into live dealer games, such as Age of the Gods Roulette Live.
As for the biggest network, in terms of sheer size of cash prize, the crown is worn by Microgaming and its Games Global subsidiary. For years, Microgaming was famed for its Mega Moolah jackpot games, which even had an entry as the biggest online jackpot in Guinness World Records. That prize was just over $20 million, awarded to a British soldier in 2015. Yet, Microgaming has beaten its own record in recent years, including Wheel of Wishes, which paid a sum of approximately $40 million.
As you can see, these are some titanic prizes. But it’s worth remembering that, while random, the chances of winning a progressive jackpot tend to favor higher stakes, at least for the majority of games. So, it’s best to treat it like buying a lottery ticket, tempering your play with hope rather than expectation.
