Progressive Jackpot System: Accrual and Payout of Prizes

CASEXE’s experts explain how progressive jackpots work, what operators should pay attention to, and how to comply with the requirements of European jurisdictions.

What Is a Progressive Jackpot

It is a prize pool that grows as players place bets and spin the reels on slots. The more active people are on the website, the higher the potential reward and the greater the chances of winning it.

Let us look at how a progressive series works:

• a part of each wager is directed to a special fund;
• the prize pool gradually increases and is shown on the screen in real time;
• when the necessary conditions are fulfilled, the jackpot is awarded to one or more gamblers;
• after the payout, the sum returns to the predetermined value and begins to grow again.

For example, if a progressive pool starts at €100,000 and a portion of deposits is constantly added to it, the total can eventually reach €500,000 or more. After a win, the counter resets.

Popular Jackpot Formats

There are several main types of such rewards:

1. Local or single product. Only participants of a selected game or platform contribute to the fund, which means it grows more slowly. In this case, the chances of winning big are much higher.
2. Network jackpot. The solution unites visitors of various casinos. A portion of bets from all connected digital portals goes to a single bank, allowing the collected sum to increase rapidly.
3. Wide-area pool. In this system, a single jackpot can be available across numerous titles, and the conditions may apply to several related products.
4. Solution with a fixed starting value. After a win, the amount returns to a set initial mark (for example, €50,000 or €100,000) and then starts to grow again.
5. Multi-level product. It combines several accumulative pools: mini, middle, main jackpot, and others.

Well-Known Progressive Series

One of the most recognisable options is Microgaming’s Mega Moolah system. It has gained huge popularity for its large payouts and mechanics, where a single jackpot can unite players across different online casinos.

Another well-known example is Mega Fortune from the same provider. The solution is associated with the similarly named product line and is known for big rewards.

Among other famous jackpot series are Major Millions and Hall of Gods. In these systems, the prize pool depends directly on customer activity, bet size, and the number of connected entertainment portals.

It is important to understand that an option’s popularity does not necessarily mean a higher chance of winning. These are distinct but interrelated characteristics.

What Determines the Size of a Prize Pool

The main factor is the number of bets that form the total amount. The more people and website activity, the faster it can grow.

The size of the jackpot is also affected by:

• the percentage of a wager directed to a fund;
• the number of connected titles and casinos;
• the minimum and maximum pot size;
• the rules of the selected gaming system;
• the frequency of the mode’s activation.

That is why 2 progressive pools can grow at very different rates, even if they work based on the same principle.

For a jackpot, its current value must be the same for all participants and system components. Any discrepancies can lead not only to technical problems but also to financial disputes and litigation.

Therefore, modern systems must guarantee real-time data synchronisation. This ensures all gamblers can see the fund’s real volume. In this case, information about it and subsequent resets are accurately transmitted between gambling platforms.

Architecture of the Progressive Jackpot

Let us look at the technical components of the solution:

1. Game clients. These are slots, card titles, or other products that contain accumulative prize pools. Each solution sends the system details on bets, rounds, and results, which it uses to determine the monetary reward.
2. Jackpot engine. This is a central component responsible for calculating the sum that will be paid to the winner. It processes game events, determines which part of the stake goes to the fund, and updates its value. Besides, it controls the rules for launching the draw and captures the main moment.
3. Jackpot database. A separate storage system can accumulate information on the current size of a series, history of changes, events, and previous wins.
4. API and event-driven layer. Entertainment platforms transmit the gameplay to the jackpot system through the API architecture, which checks whether each bet contributes to the prize pool and then increases it.
5. Display system. The front end receives data from the service and updates the value without reloading the page. This allows casino visitors to always see the current amount of money they can potentially win — both in the slot machine interface and on the gambling resource.

How the Progressive Jackpot Functions

Let us explore more deeply how the system works.

Prize Fund Growth

Operators can set the percentage of contributions that goes to the common bank.

Thus, if 1% of each bet is sent to the cash pool, then for a €2 deposit, the system will automatically add €0.02 to the total jackpot.

All transactions are processed by the special engine — a component that receives wagering data and correctly updates the fund volume. The system takes into account every bet and prevents losses or repeated crediting.

The prize pool is based not only on fixed contributions.

Depending on the casino settings, the percentage may change due to:

• bet size;
• game type;
• the current level of the jackpot;
• terms of the marketing campaign.

That is why the jackpot engine should account not only for the bet itself but also for the rules used to calculate the amount directed to the prize fund.

Data Exchange

With a large number of deposits, several servers can update the same jackpot information almost simultaneously. If such operations are not coordinated, some accruals may be lost or recorded incorrectly.

To avoid this, the system uses mechanisms to safely adjust the overall state. These include blocking, message queues, sequential event processing, distributed locks, idempotency, and other synchronisation methods.

The specific set of solutions is selected based on the gambling platform architecture, the number of simultaneous operations, as well as the system’s performance and reliability requirements.

Application of an Idempotency Layer

For a progressive service, it is important to prevent the repeated processing of the same game event. If a single stake is calculated multiple times, the prize pool will be overvalued, and the information will be incorrect.

To avoid such errors, each stage is assigned a unique identifier (idempotency). After that, the engine module checks whether the taken step has been previously handled in order to correctly adjust the balance and display the actual size of the monetary fund.

Payout of Winnings

At this point, the program performs several tasks:

• receives the result of rounds;
• checks the jackpot’s activation conditions;
• records the successful session;
• blocks further changes to a specific prize pool;
• saves the winning amount;
• transmits information to the payout system;
• sets a new starting value;
• sends updated figures to customers.

All actions must be taken consistently. Otherwise, several gamblers may receive the same payout.

Program Crash

The architecture of a progressive pool may include:

• multiple instances of the jackpot service;
• backup databases;
• replication;
• message queues;
• logging of operations;
• automatic switching to the backup infrastructure.

An advanced technology stack protects the system from failures. It makes it possible to quickly replay the sequence of events and restore the jackpot to a correct state.

Position of Leading European Jurisdictions

Authorities do not require entrepreneurs to use any specific progressive pool architecture. Regulators focus on other issues: transparent rules, accurate calculations, data security, and fair winner determination.

United Kingdom

The UK Gambling Commission considers such jackpots under RTS 9 (Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards). The main focus is ensuring the monetary fund functions predictably, transparently, and is equal for all users.

Key requirements for a progressive series:

1. Clear rules. Players should know in advance how the jackpot is formed, its size, whether it has a maximum limit, and who is eligible to participate.
2. Control over changes. Access to settings should be restricted, and all modifications need to be recorded in logs. This will make it possible to see who changed the system parameters and when.
3. Protection of funds. If part of each bet goes to the progressive jackpot, casino owners must ensure this money is paid in accordance with established rules.

Malta

The Malta Gaming Authority considers such reward systems an essential part of the operator’s technical infrastructure, along with RNG, casino content, and databases.

The MGA also requires B2C licensees to include cash pools in their financial reporting. The regulatory body uses this information to check whether their funds are sufficient to cover liabilities to gamblers.

Particular attention is paid to the connection of suppliers. When adding a new software developer, the operator should provide the regulator with information regarding the type of jackpot offered and its policy.

Spain

Here, certain digital entertainment formats have special rules for accumulative rewards. The DGOJ requires that such prizes be funded by wagers, not by business owners.

The Main Things About Progressive Jackpots

This is one of the most popular mechanics in the modern iGaming industry.

Key aspects that should be taken into account:

• Software providers and operators offer a wide variety of exciting formats. These include local and online products, cross-game pools, solutions with a previously set initial capital, and multi-layered options.
• The jackpot system consists of game clients, an engine module, an API, and an event-driven layer. Together, these components protect casino portals from crashes, duplicate transactions, and incorrect information display.
• European regulators do not require entertainment project owners to use any specific progressive architecture. Instead, they want operators to process settlements accurately, protect customer data, and ensure transparency in the accrual of prize funds.

The CASEXE studio offers advanced solutions for the gambling business. You can order systems for land-based and online casinos, mobile betting portals, certified gaming content, and reliable payment services.

For all questions, please contact our managers.