Casino guides
Linked Progressive Jackpots: How the Prize Pool Grows and Resets
A small share of each eligible bet feeds a shared prize pool. This guide explains contribution mechanics, seed values, and what published RTP figures do and do not include for progressive games.
What separates a progressive from a fixed prize
A fixed jackpot pays a stated amount regardless of how often or recently it has been won. A progressive jackpot grows because part of each qualifying stake is added to a shared pool. "Shared" can mean shared across one game on one platform, or across hundreds of operators running the same network title.
The mechanics described here use invented figures and a simplified model. They are not a description of any specific jackpot product at Lucky Bear and do not reflect any guarantee of prize size or frequency.
How contributions accumulate and where they come from
Suppose each qualifying stake contributes a fictional 1% to the jackpot pool and another fictional 1% to a reserve that seeds the pool after a win. At 1,000 units staked across all players, the pool grows by 10 units in this example. At 100,000 units staked it grows by 1,000. The pool grows faster when many players are active simultaneously, regardless of individual session results.
Linked jackpots pool contributions from multiple operators. A game session you play contributes to the same pool as sessions played at other connected casinos, and a win at any of them resets the pool for all of them. The contribution rate and the network scope are fixed by the game provider, not by the individual operator.
Seed values: what the jackpot starts at after a win
After a jackpot is won, the pool does not restart at zero. It resets to a seed value — a minimum starting level. If the fictional seed is 10,000 units, the pool begins growing from that point immediately after the reset. A player who joins shortly after a win therefore sees a pool at or near its seed, while a player who joins after extended accumulation may see a much larger figure.
The seed is typically funded from the reserve portion of contributions. When the reserve is large enough, the pool resets immediately to the seed. A smaller reserve may cause a brief delay. The seed value is a property of the game and network configuration, not something the player or individual operator sets.
What RTP figures include and exclude for progressive games
RTP figures published for a progressive game typically include an expected contribution from the jackpot. Suppose the base game has an RTP of 92% and the jackpot element adds a modelled 3%, giving a stated total of 95%. The 3% jackpot component is a theoretical expectation averaged across an enormous number of spins. Most players' sessions do not include a jackpot win, so the base-game RTP — here 92% — is the relevant figure for most outcomes.
The published total RTP is not a prediction for any individual session. A session in which the jackpot is not won will typically return at or near the base RTP. A session in which it is won will return far above the stated total. The stated figure averages these two very different outcomes over an enormous sample. For context on how RTP figures work generally, see our RTP explained article.
Questions to answer before playing a jackpot game
Before playing a progressive jackpot game, check: what is the minimum bet that qualifies for the jackpot, is there a separate optional side bet, which mode (base game, bonus round or both) can trigger the prize, and what does the claimed RTP include. Some games require a maximum stake to be eligible for the top tier; a smaller bet may still generate base-game returns but not jackpot contributions or eligibility.
The probability of winning any specific jackpot is not published by most providers and cannot be inferred from the pool size or recent win history. A large pool does not make a win imminent, and a recently reset pool does not make a win unlikely. Each spin is an independent event. Keep your session budget based on what you decided before starting, not on the displayed jackpot amount. See our responsible gaming guidance for general tools and limits. 18+.
For adults aged 18 and over. Educational content, not a promise of profit. Read our responsible gambling guidance.
Back to the blog