Network Jackpot Network Progressive Jackpots
A progressive jackpot that pools part of the bets from the same game across many online casinos so it grows together. The more casinos take part, the faster it grows, and most of the biggest online wins on record came from these.
| English | Network Progressive Jackpots |
|---|---|
| Classification | Game Features |
| English name | Network Progressive Jackpot / Pooled Jackpot |
| Category | Jackpot structure |
| Structure | Part of the bets from multiple casinos pooled into one jackpot |
| Online record | Over €19.4 million (Mega Moolah, April 2021) |
| Major networks | NetEnt, Games Global (Mega Moolah, WowPot), Pragmatic Play |
| Ban example | Germany online virtual slots (jackpots banned) |
Overview
A network jackpot (Network Progressive Jackpot) is a progressive jackpot run by one provider that links the many casinos offering its game. Spins at Casino A and spins at Casino B grow the same jackpot amount, and when it hits, a player at any of those casinos gets it. It’s also called a “Pooled Jackpot” or a “wide area progressive.”
Money builds up much faster than in a local jackpot that only grows within one casino, so these jackpots can reach millions of euros. You can find the basic jackpot categories in Jackpot Types. This article focuses on the structure that links multiple casinos and on the records.
How the money flows in and out
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Seed | The jackpot starts from a base amount set by the provider, not from zero |
| 2. Contribution | A set percentage of bets from all connected casinos goes into the jackpot |
| 3. Growth | The amount keeps rising until someone wins, and it’s shown on screen in real time |
| 4. Payout | When a player wins through a jackpot bonus or a specific combination, the accumulated amount is paid out |
| 5. Reset | Right after the payout, it goes back to the starting amount |
Because part of each bet goes into the jackpot, the share returned through regular wins is smaller. That’s why the listed RTP of a jackpot version can be lower than the original game. In the AI Slot database, Wolf Gold is 96% and Wolf Gold Power Jackpot is 95.5%.
Network jackpots by the records
| Period | Games | Details |
|---|---|---|
| January 2013 | Mega Fortune (NetEnt) | €17.86 million paid out, a Guinness World Record at the time |
| December 2017 | Hall of Gods (NetEnt) | A UK player won €7,205,687 |
| In April 2021, | Absolootly Mad: Mega Moolah (Microgaming) | Over €19.4 million from a €15 bet, the largest online slot record |
| September 2022 | Wolf Gold Power Jackpot (Pragmatic Play) | Pragmatic Play’s first global progressive; when the top prize hits, half is shared among the 1,000 most recent players |
| 2023 | WowPot (Games Global) | The top prize of its 4-tier jackpot network has passed €40 million |
Mega Moolah and WowPot are networks run by Games Global (formerly Microgaming content). NetEnt has run shared jackpots on Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, and Arabian Nights.
Network scope and AI Slot games
Network size varies by provider. Some are worldwide, like NetEnt and Microgaming, linking many operators together. Others are operator-level, like Pragmatic Play’s “Jackpot Play,” where one operator links its own brands into a local network. In Jackpot Play, 4-tier jackpots (Minor, Major, Mega, Grand) drop at random during the game.
| Games | Highlights | RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Fortune | NetEnt shared jackpot, 3-tier bonus wheel | 96.6% | 1,700x |
| Hall of Gods | NetEnt shared jackpot, Norse mythology theme | 95.7% | 4,300x |
| Arabian Nights | An early title with a NetEnt shared jackpot | 95.62% | 1,727x |
| Wolf Gold Power Jackpot | Pragmatic Play’s first global progressive | 95.5% | 2,500x |
| Kingdom of Atlantis Jackpot Play | Jackpot Play network version by operator | 95.5% | 5,000x |
| Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop | Relax Dream Drop 5-tier jackpot | 94.8% | 10,045x |
Jackpots only work when an operator connects them with real money. In the AI Slot free demos, no jackpot amount builds up or gets paid out. Also, Germany’s 2021 State Treaty bans pooling bets or winnings to create future prizes, so online virtual slots can’t have jackpots (Germany GGL).
