Progressive Jackpot Games Available at Bison Casino

Progressive jackpots represent the category of slot machines with the highest potential winnings available at online casinos. Unlike fixed jackpots, their prize pool increases continuously until a player wins it.

What is a Progressive Jackpot?

A progressive jackpot is a prize pool funded by a fraction of each bet placed on the game in question, whether it is played on a single site or on a network of several casinos simultaneously.

How the prize money accumulates

With each spin made by any player connected to the network, a small portion of the wager is added to the current jackpot. The higher the number of active players, the faster the jackpot grows.

Difference with a fixed jackpot

A fixed jackpot always pays out the same predetermined amount, regardless of the number of players or the time elapsed. A progressive jackpot, on the other hand, can reach very large sums if no one has won it for a long time, which explains the particular appeal of this type of jackpot.

The Three Types of Progressive Jackpots

Not all progressive jackpots work the same way. There are three main structures, which differ in the size of the network that feeds them and the amounts they can reach.

Jackpot standalone

The standalone jackpot is funded solely by bets placed on a single machine, without any connection to other players or casinos. The amounts are generally modest, but the jackpot is triggered more frequently.

Local jackpot

The local jackpot combines bets from multiple machines or games within the same casino. The prize pool grows faster than in the standalone format, while remaining independent of other operators in the market.

Network jackpot (wide area progressive)

The network jackpot is connected to all of a single provider's partner casinos, allowing the prize pool to reach exceptionally high amounts. Games like Microgaming's Mega Moolah use this format and have produced winnings exceeding several million euros.

The Stepped Structure

Many modern progressive jackpot games offer several distinct prize tiers within the same title. This structure allows players of different skill levels to win a jackpot, even without reaching the maximum tier.

The four most common levels

The four-level structure has become the standard in the majority of progressive jackpot machines available online:

1. Mini: the lowest level, triggered most regularly
2. Minor: an intermediate gain with a moderate trigger frequency
3. Major: a large jackpot that accumulates over longer periods
4. Grand or Mega: the top tier, paid in full to a single player

How the trigger works

The jackpot can be triggered in several ways depending on the game. Some games activate a jackpot wheel in the bonus round, while others require lining up a specific number of special symbols on the reels.

The Must Drop and Daily Drop Jackpots

In addition to classic progressive jackpots, some providers offer guaranteed trigger formats, designed to reassure players of the certainty of a payout within a defined period.

How the Must Drop works

A Must Drop jackpot is programmed to trigger before reaching a predetermined threshold. As the jackpot approaches this limit, the probability of triggering it increases significantly with each spin.

How the Daily Drop works

The Daily Drop operates on a time-based system: the jackpot must be won before the end of the day, regardless of the amount accumulated. This format generates increasing tension as the hours pass, since the probability of triggering the jackpot increases as the deadline approaches.

Comparison of Jackpot Formats

The following table summarizes the structural differences between the main types of progressive jackpots available in online casinos.

Progressive Jackpot Providers

The quality and diversity of progressive jackpot games depend directly on the software providers a casino works with. Bison Casino collaborates with several major studios that offer jackpot titles in various formats and volatility levels.

Main suppliers and their formats

The most active studios in the progressive jackpot segment are:

1. Microgaming: pioneer of network jackpots with the Mega Moolah series, regularly exceeding several million euros
2. NetEnt: developer of Divine Fortune, one of the most played progressive jackpots in Europe
3. Pragmatic Play: offers built-in jackpots in many popular titles through its tournament and fixed jackpot system
4. Playson: specializing in multi-level jackpots with its Hold and Win series

What the choice of supplier implies

Each provider applies its own rules for contribution, triggering, and distributing prize tiers. It is advisable to consult the specific terms and conditions of each game before you start playing, particularly to understand the percentage of your stake that contributes to the progressive jackpot.

Criteria for Choosing a Progressive Jackpot Game

Not all players have the same profile when it comes to progressive jackpots. The choice of a game depends on several factors that vary according to each individual's preferences and risk tolerance.

Factors to consider

Before choosing a progressive jackpot machine, several criteria deserve to be evaluated:

1. The type of network – standalone, local, or wide area – determines the level of the maximum expected prize pool.
2. The tier structure: the presence of Mini and Minor levels allows you to win a jackpot even without reaching the main prize pool.
3. RTP excluding the jackpot: some games reduce their base RTP to contribute to the progressive jackpot, which impacts winnings outside of the bonus.

The trigger format: bonus wheel, alignment