According to a recent study undertaken by casino group Carmen Media, “exponential growth in [progressive pokie] jackpots is set to continue.” In fact, should current trends continue, the average jackpot awarded at online casinos will be at $1.18 million by 2018.
Since 1998, the average progressive jackpot won on an internet pokie has increased 1000% to the present day. The crucial factor in the increase in jackpots is the “networked progressive jackpot,” a system employed by Microgaming casinos in general and at several interlinked Playtech- and Rival-powered outlets as well. Microgaming, the largest of the networks, has awarded nearly $300 million in progressive jackpots from pokies alone in under seven years.
In fact, the Microgaming network was responsible for the single largest progressive jackpot payout ever when 36-year-old Australian casino player Georgios M. of Greece hit Mega Moolah pokie for €6.3 million ($7.04 million) in May 2009, beating the €5.5 million record set the previous year on the same machine.
The most recent big progressive jackpot winner was Catherine M. of the United States, who managed to just miss winning US $1,000,000 when she won on the Red, White & Win pokie at Go Casino. Catherine is hardly complaining about not technically earning the status of “instant millionaire” with her prize of US $990,529 ($1.107 million).
As of this writing, three LiveCasinoDirect-recommended pokies are set to pay out with progressive jackpots of US $1 million or more: Playtech’s Gold Rally (AU $1.2 million) and RTG’s Shopping Spree (just over AU $1.15 million). The big one is of course on Mega Moolah, now at US $4 million (AU $4.47 million).
To think that someday such prizes will be the norm...