How progressive jackpots work
How progressive jackpots work
A progressive jackpot is a prize pool that grows with every bet placed on the game or its linked network. A fraction of each bet, often a few percent, feeds the jackpot. Triggering it is either random or tied to a specific combination. Once won, the jackpot resets to a predefined minimum starting value.
How the jackpot is fed
With every bet placed on a progressive jackpot game, a small fraction (often between 1% and 5% depending on the game) is deducted and added to the prize pool. When the game is part of a multi-casino network, the bets of all connected players feed the same jackpot, which allows very large amounts to accumulate.
Types of progressive jackpots
There are local progressive jackpots (linked to a single casino or operator) and network jackpots (linked to multiple casinos through the same provider). Network jackpots can reach much larger amounts, but their probability of triggering is lower because it is shared across all players on the network.
How triggering works
A jackpot can be triggered in two main ways: by a specific combination appearing on the reels, or randomly at any moment regardless of the spin result. In both cases, the trigger is governed by the RNG. The probability remains constant and does not increase as the prize pool grows.
After a win: the seed
Once the jackpot is won, it resets to a guaranteed minimum value called the seed or starting value. This value is set by the provider or operator. How quickly the jackpot rebuilds then depends on the volume of bets placed across the network.
FAQ
Is a progressive jackpot more likely to hit when it is very large?
No. The probability of triggering the jackpot is fixed and does not depend on the amount accumulated.
Do you need to bet the maximum to win a progressive jackpot?
Some games require it, others do not. The paytable or game rules specify the eligibility conditions.