18+ only. Gambling involves risk. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.

Microgaming Jackpots

A. Antonova
Since 2017, Anisia has been sharing her iGaming expertise with readers of CasinoGamesPro.com. Her work covers comprehensive reviews of casino favourites like slots, roulette, blackjack, and video poker, along with thorough assessments of payment options, mobile casino platforms, and leading online casinos.
(editor) | Updated:

Microgaming’s Hit Progressive Slots

Microgaming JackpotsAnyone who has ever played at a renowned online casino has probably already heard the name Microgaming. It is among the frontrunners in the online gambling industry and is regarded as one of the world’s leading casino software developers. Microgaming’s creations are easy to spot. Each game in the developer’s portfolio impresses with exceptional visual and audio depth, while the user-friendly interface allows even first-time players to find their way around easily.

Slot fans have this leading software supplier to thank for some of the most innovative slot titles available online. Some of these come with gargantuan progressive jackpots capable of turning lucky players into millionaires. Read on to discover Microgaming’s history, achievements, and the key features of the developer’s jackpot slots.

Best Rated Casinos for United States 
Disclosure: Some links on our site are affiliate links. We may receive a commission from registrations, with no additional cost to you. We feature only licensed, expert-verified online casinos, and our reviews and ratings are independent and methodology-driven.
  1. Sign Up Bonus
    Up to $3500
    350% Bonus!
    9.7
  2. Sign Up Bonus
    Up to $500
    400% Bonus!
    9.4
  3. Sign Up Bonus
    Up to $30000
    100% Bonus!
    9.3

Microgaming: Brief History and Key Achievements

Microgaming Slots LogoMicrogaming is widely considered a pioneer in the development of online gambling solutions. Interestingly, the company launched the first-ever online casino, the Gaming Club, in 1994. Several years later, Microgaming decided to head in a different direction and concentrate its efforts primarily on casino software development, licensing its creations to other web-based gambling operators.

Microgaming’s impact on the industry is impossible to deny. The software developer is responsible for launching the world’s first wide-area progressive slot, Cash Splash, which was introduced to enthusiastic players in 1998. Two years later, the developer launched its first instant-play software, allowing players to enjoy their favorite games without installing downloadable casino clients.

Microgaming continued to achieve significant milestones in the following years. The developer’s hugely popular Mega Moolah slot entered the Guinness Book of World Records for paying the biggest progressive slot prize in history. The software supplier also paved the way for mobile gaming when, in 2004, it became the first developer to release a slot compatible with mobile devices: Double Magic. This was followed by another success when the company launched the first branded slot title in the industry, Tomb Raider.

Its achievements continued. In 2006 alone, Microgaming’s progressive slot titles boasted cumulative payouts of over $200 million. The developer is also responsible for introducing the so-called “All Pays” feature, which went on to become one of the most widespread slot formats in the industry. Slot fans also have the developer to thank for the Grand Slam of Slots, the first tournament of its kind to accept entries from various Microgaming-powered casinos.

Microgaming launched Quickfire, its iGaming distribution platform, in 2010. In 2022, Microgaming sold the Quickfire distribution business and its entire catalog to Games Global. Games Global has since taken the reins of Microgaming’s legacy, while the creator of the first online casino has shifted its focus to providing platform systems and services.

In 1997, the software developer became one of the founding members of the Interactive Gaming Council, an organization focused on promoting fair play and responsible gambling that still exists today.

Important Features of Microgaming Slots

Microgaming Slot FeaturesMicrogaming’s slots, progressive or not, are easy to recognize. Each slot in the developer’s gaming portfolio is a feast for the eyes thanks to the outstanding graphics and engaging animations that have become something of a Microgaming trademark. The visuals are crystal clear and exceptionally vivid, while the digital sound effects add further authenticity to the games.

As far as gameplay is concerned, you are unlikely to encounter difficulties finding your way around, even if you have never spun the reels of an online slot. The games have user-friendly interfaces that are easy to navigate.

Some Microgaming slots use the 243 Ways to Win format, allowing players to land a greater number of winning combinations on the reels. These games have no conventional paylines, so players do not need to select lines to bet on. Matching symbols simply need to appear on consecutive reels from left to right for players to collect a payout.

Paytable Achievements are another feature of interest found in some advanced Microgaming slots. Players earn achievements by completing all possible payouts for each symbol on the reels. The further players progress through the game, the greater the rewards. These include rounds of free spins, bigger multipliers, and retriggered bonus spins, among others.

Microgaming’s Mega Moolah Jackpot Network

Microgaming Jackpot Network - Mega MoolahSome slots from the leading software developer are linked to Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network. The progressive prizes often exceed $10 million because bets placed on all these slots contribute to the accumulation of the pools. These slots are also linked across all online casino operators that run on Microgaming’s platform.

The Mega Moolah Network Is Continuously Growing

Mega Moolah NetworkThe slots that initially fed the progressive network’s jackpots included the classic Mega Moolah, Mega Moolah Isis, Mega Moolah 5-Reel Drive, and Mega Moolah Summertime. The selection of jackpot slots has continued to grow as the studio has added more releases to the network.

Atlantean Treasures, Fortunium Gold, Absolootly Mad, Juicy Joker, and Mega Moolah Goddess are now all part of it. Players’ favorite vampire-themed slot, Immortal Romance, is another Microgaming classic that is now part of the Mega Moolah network.

The Mega Moolah Network in Figures

Mega Moolah Network in FiguresAll linked games offer several different rewards, as there are four jackpots to be won: the Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega jackpots. The second-largest prize is the Major jackpot, which is seeded at £10,000 or the equivalent in other currencies.

The other two prizes are smaller and hit more often. The Minor jackpot starts accumulating at £100, while the Mini prize is seeded at £10. Other features of the Mega Moolah slot series include wilds, scatter symbols, rounds of free spins, and multiple-coin bets.

Over the years, the network has awarded over 18 million individual jackpot prizes, totaling more than 1.3 billion in prize money. Players have won over 14.2 million Mini jackpots, 3.9 million Minor jackpots, 4,606 Major pots, and 11,537 Mega prizes. The Microgaming pots average 7,824 jackpot hits per day.

The Mini and Minor pots are smaller and hit more frequently. However, it is the Mega jackpot that can transform recreational slot players into millionaires. Once somebody wins one of the four progressive prizes, the respective jackpot resets to its base seed level. You can read more detailed information about some of the progressive Microgaming slots in the next section of the article.

The Mega Moolah Jackpot Fund Uses GBP as a Base Currency

The Mega Moolah Jackpot Fund Uses GBPThe largest jackpot is seeded at an impressive £1 million, which explains how the prize can climb to eight figures so quickly. One important point to note is that Microgaming provides this seed amount and uses GBP as the base currency for its Mega Moolah network. The use of GBP is understandable, considering that the company hails from the British Crown dependency of the Isle of Man.

The process is straightforward when a player with a GBP casino account hits the jackpot. They will collect the full jackpot fund down to the last penny. The Mega pot will drop to zero, and Microgaming will provide the £1,000,000 seed to ensure there is plenty of prize money for other players after the win.

Currency Conversion for Lower-Value Currency Wins

Currency ConversionThe process is slightly more complicated when players win the pot in other currencies. This complexity arises because the studio pays winners who use currencies other than GBP while drawing from a GBP-based fund. Another reason Microgaming uses this base currency is that GBP has a higher value than USD and CAD, for instance.

Accordingly, if a player triggers the Mega jackpot in another currency, the GBP-based fund will cover the win, but a portion may remain in the pool for the next jackpot trigger. Here is an example of what happens in this case. Suppose someone from the Great White North hits the pot for CA$7,000,000, which amounts to £4,095,700 at the exchange rate used in this example.

Microgaming would take £4,095,700 from the pool to pay the Canadian player in full. If the entire pool stood at £7,000,000 at the time of the jackpot win, £2,904,300 would remain in the fund for the next big win. The jackpot would start accumulating from this amount rather than from £1,000,000, and Microgaming would not have to provide a seed in this case.

Mega Moolah Can Drop Clusters of Multi-Million Jackpots

Mega Moolah Can Drop Clusters of Multi-Million JackpotsThis mechanism also applies to wins in other currencies, allowing the Mega jackpot to reach impressive amounts. It also makes it possible for the Mega Moolah slot to produce clusters of multimillion payouts. Players worldwide can enjoy the game in many different currencies.

When a lucky winner uses a currency other than GBP, a substantial amount may remain in the pool, especially if the pot has grown to an eight-figure sum. Another interesting point is that when the fund falls below £1 million after the currency conversion for a win, the Isle of Man-based studio will seed the pool again to bring it back to £1,000,000.

Winners Receive Their Prizes in a Single Payment

Winners Receive Their Prizes in a Single Large ChunkThe network has transformed many players into millionaires since its launch. More importantly, Microgaming-powered operators pay jackpots to winners in a single payment rather than in separate installments after completing the necessary verification checks. Here are some of the record-breaking Mega Moolah jackpot wins over the years:

  • In October 2015, UK soldier Jon Heywood from Cheshire won £13,213,838 (€17,879,645) at Betway Casino with a stake of just £0.25. Mega Moolah made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for awarding the largest online slot jackpot. Mr. Heywood’s win beat the previous world record from 2013, when a Finnish player collected €17,861,813 from NetEnt’s Mega Fortune slot.
  • In September 2018, an anonymous player pocketed €18,915,872 from the Mega Moolah slot at Grand Mondial Casino with a wager of €0.75.
  • In August 2020, a player from Sweden scooped €14,239,532 in prize money at Lucky Casino. The win made this player the eighth person Mega Moolah had transformed into a multimillionaire in 2020.
  • In April 2021, Microgaming beat its 2015 record by awarding a staggering €19,430,723 in prize money from the Mega Moolah: Absolootly Mad slot. The lucky winner was from Belgium and hit the life-changing pot at Napoleon Sports & Casino.

Try These 3 Mega Moolah Jackpot Slots

Pursue Your LuckAfter reading the stories above, you may be eager to set the reels in motion. Players can pursue these jackpots with wagers starting from as little as 0.10 credits in their base currency. Please note that minimum bet amounts vary depending on which slot from the Mega Moolah series you choose.

For example, the classic African-themed original plays on 25 fixed paylines with a minimum line bet of 0.01, resulting in a total wager of 0.25 per spin. By contrast, the newer Absolootly Mad release has no conventional paylines and uses the 243 Ways to Win mechanic instead.

The minimum bet required to qualify for all these winning ways is 0.20. Now, let’s examine three of the most enticing games from the Mega Moolah series. Remember that they all link to the same prize pool. It does not matter which one you choose; you play for the chance to win the same jackpots.

Mega Moolah: The Original

Mega Moolah - the Original
Screenshot of Mega Moolah: The Original
Mega Moolah Key Facts
Minimum/Maximum Bet0.25 – 6.25
Payline Number25 fixed paylines
Theoretical Return88.12%
Progressive Jackpot Contribution5.30%
Special SymbolsScattered monkey, wild lion
Bonus GamesRandomly triggered jackpot bonus game
Free SpinsUp to 15 free spins

As visually impressive as the new additions to the Mega Moolah network are, nothing can quite match the legendary status of the original savannah-themed slot that started it all. The original Mega Moolah plays on 25 paylines, where various animals native to Africa help you form winning combinations. Microgaming chose giraffes, lions, monkeys, elephants, and kongonis to represent the high-paying symbols.

Low-value combinations are possible by aligning card-rank symbols. The scattered monkey triggers the free spins round, which applies a 3x multiplier to wins. Players can retrigger the free spins by landing at least three monkeys during the feature. The lion serves as the wild symbol, substituting for all other icons except the scatter.

The jackpot bonus game triggers at random, but only within the base game. It is impossible to unlock the jackpot wheel during a round of free spins. Players can win one of the four progressive pots at any time and at any bet level. However, higher bets increase the chances of winning a progressive prize.

Mega Moolah: Absolootly Mad

Mega Moolah: Absolootly Mad
Screenshot of Mega Moolah: Absolootly Mad
Mega Moolah: Absolootly Mad Key Facts
Minimum/Maximum Bet0.20 – 50.00
Payline Number243 ways to win
Theoretical Return86.72%
Progressive Jackpot Contribution5.30%
Special SymbolsWild golden coin, free spins symbols with wooden door
Bonus GamesJackpot bonus game with a wheel
Free SpinsUp to 8 free spins (with 3x to 15x multipliers)

In 2018, Microgaming joined forces with the independent slot designer Triple Edge Studios, which created this release exclusively for the Isle of Man-based company. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice novels, this visually sophisticated slot takes you down the rabbit hole on a fantastical adventure during which you can win life-changing prizes.

Triple Edge Studios shifted the focus from Alice to the Hatter, the highest-paying symbol in the game, followed by the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare, a mushroom cupcake, teacups, and a pocket watch. The game uses the Rolling Reels mechanic with a multiplier trail and offers 243 winning ways.

Multipliers increase after each successive win, ranging from 1x to 5x in the base game. The free spins round comes with multipliers from 3x to 15x the total bet. Players collect wild coin symbols throughout the Rolling Reels feature. Once they complete the feature, they have a chance to unlock the progressive wheel. The more wilds you collect, the better your chances of the wheel appearing, but bet size also matters.

Mega Moolah: Atlantean Treasures

Mega Moolah: Atlantean Treasures
Screenshot of Mega Moolah: Atlantean Treasures
Mega Moolah: Atlantean Treasures Key Facts
Minimum/Maximum Bet0.10 – 200.00
Payline Number10 fixed lines that pay both ways
Theoretical Return86.78%
Progressive Jackpot Contribution5.30%
Special SymbolsProgressive pearl symbols, expanding wild mermaids
Bonus GamesProgressive wheel game
Free SpinsWild mermaids trigger free respins

Exciting undersea adventures are in store for players who decide to spin the reels of Mega Moolah: Atlantean Treasures. Neon Valley Studios designed this exclusive mermaid-themed release especially for Microgaming, and the results are visually impressive. Atlantean Treasures plays on 10 fixed lines that pay in both directions, increasing your odds of scoring payouts.

The visuals are captivating. You will encounter various vibrant sea creatures as top-paying symbols, along with an elusive expanding wild mermaid. Atlantean Treasures features a range of other functions, including respins and a pearl-shaped symbol that triggers the progressive wheel game.

The progressive pearl can appear only on the second, third, and fourth reels over any icon except the wild mermaid. Your goal is to collect pearls for the chance to trigger a spin of the jackpot wheel. Your odds of achieving this increase in proportion to the size of your bet.

Microgaming’s WowPot Series of Progressives

Microgaming's WowPot SeriesMicrogaming first launched the original WowPot title as a simple three-reel game, which later became available in a five-reel format with 15 paylines. The software studio revamped the WowPot jackpot network in early 2020 with the release of Wheel of Wishes, which became the first title in the growing progressive series.

Six slots are part of the WowPot network at the moment

The network has expanded to feature several releases with diverse themes, including Wheel of Wishes, Book of Atem, Sisters of Oz, African Legends, Queen of Alexandria, and Sherlock & Moriarty. Bets from all these titles feed the four-tier network, except for African Legends, which links only to the Major level. Each WowPot game gives players the chance to pocket one of the following progressive prizes:

  • The WowPot jackpot is seeded at 2,000,000.
  • The Major jackpot is seeded at 50,000.
  • The Minor jackpot is seeded at 100.
  • The Mini jackpot is seeded at 10.

The triggering criteria for the WowPot prizes vary by game. The jackpot triggers randomly in Book of Atem and Sisters of Oz. Players collect special coin or book symbols during gameplay, and each icon has the potential to launch the wheel-based WowPot bonus game. In contrast, players must score eight or more successive wins via the Rolling Reels mechanic to claim the Major-tier jackpot in African Legends. In other games, you must land a specific symbol configuration to trigger the bonus wheel.

The wheel contains twenty sections in total, with slices reserved for each of the four pots. You spin the wheel and wait for the pointer to select a slice, awarding its corresponding progressive prize. As with Mega Moolah, Microgaming provides the seeds for the WowPot prize fund and uses GBP as the base currency.

Book of Atem dropped its biggest WowPot prize to date in April 2021

WowPot is a newer jackpot network than Mega Moolah, but it has already gained considerable traction in the slot-playing community. The largest top-tier win on the network occurred in April 2021, when a British player landed £15,183,085 (€17,529,047) at 32Red Casino with a £0.80 wager on Book of Atem. The lucky winner eclipsed the €1,123,513 win that hit just a month earlier on the Sisters of Oz slot. Let’s take a closer look at three of the most appealing WowPot jackpot slots.

Wheel of Wishes

Wheel of Wishes
Screenshot of Wheel of Wishes
Wheel of Wishes Key Facts
Minimum/Maximum Bet0.20 – 25.00
Payline Number10 fixed paylines
Theoretical Return93.34% (92.24% in power mode)
Progressive Jackpot Contribution5.30% (14.50% in power mode)
Special SymbolsScattered wheel symbol, wilds
Bonus GameA wheel-based jackpot bonus game
Free SpinsN/A

Designed exclusively for Microgaming by the Alchemy Gaming studio, Wheel of Wishes appeals to players with its impressive visuals and special features. The slot plays on 10 paylines and includes giant symbols, power spins, a power mode, and a jackpot bonus game.

The power spin triggers when players land two scattered wheel symbols. During the power spin, the first and fifth reels turn into a random stacked symbol. The second, third, and fourth reels transform into a giant symbol that covers their entire grids. Landing a full wheel symbol unlocks the Wheel of Wishes jackpot game.

Players can also activate power mode for permanent power spins, increasing their odds of triggering the jackpot game. However, each power spin costs 10 times the standard bet. The wilds help players score more winning combinations within the base game. All regular symbols pay from left to right, except the scatter, which can award payouts in any direction.

Book of Atem

Book of Atem
Screenshot of Book of Atem
Book of Atem Key Facts
Minimum/Maximum Bet0.10 – 25.00
Payline Number10 fixed paylines
Theoretical Return88.20%
Progressive Jackpot Contribution5.30%
Special SymbolsThe scatter symbol also acts as a wild
Bonus GamePlayers collect scatters to unlock the jackpot bonus game
Free Spins3 or more scatters trigger 10 free spins with expanding symbols

Book of Atem launched across Microgaming-powered casinos in early September 2020, becoming the second game linked to the WowPot network. The Egypt-themed slot comes with high volatility, much to the delight of thrill-seeking players. It uses a transparent 3×5 reel grid and offers 10 paylines.

The game comes from the supplier All41 Studios, which joined Microgaming’s growing roster of independent studios in May 2019. All41 Studios focuses on delivering premium-quality games that provide a polished playing experience. Its commitment to quality is evident throughout Book of Atem, from its detailed visual design to its engaging gameplay.

Players must collect scattered books for the chance to trigger the jackpot wheel and pocket one of the four WowPot prizes. Three scatters landing on the same spin trigger a round of ten free spins, with the option to retrigger more. At the start of the free spins, the game’s software selects one random symbol that can expand to cover an entire reel. The scattered books also serve as wild substitution symbols.

Sisters of Oz

Sisters of Oz
Screenshot of Sisters of Oz
Sisters of Oz Key Facts
Minimum/Maximum Bet0.20 – 300.00
Payline Number20 fixed paylines
Theoretical Return86.70%
Progressive Jackpot Contribution5.30%
Special SymbolsStacked symbols, wild symbols that act as scatters and substitution icons
Bonus GamePlayers collect coin symbols for the chance to trigger a spin on the progressive jackpot wheel
Free Spins3, 4, or 5 scattered books trigger 5, 7, and 10 free spins

Sisters of Oz takes players on an adventure through a magical world inhabited by four sorceresses. Created for Microgaming by Triple Edge Studios, the game uses a 4×5 reel grid with twenty winning lines. Sisters of Oz offers an extensive selection of features.

One such feature is the jumbo blocks. Witch symbols can stack on the three center reels to create 3×4 blocks, increasing your odds of forming matching combinations. The Oz book icon serves as both a wild and a scatter. It can substitute for all symbols except the coin that triggers the progressive wheel.

During the base game, players collect coins in the Wicked Tales pot for the chance to unlock the bonus wheel, which awards one of the four progressive prizes. Placing higher bets increases the odds of triggering the jackpot wheel. In addition to the jackpot bonus game, Sisters of Oz features a round of up to ten free spins with multipliers. You can unlock it by landing at least three scattered wilds on the same spin.

Other Microgaming Slots with Progressive Jackpots

Microgaming Slots with the Biggest JackpotsAs mentioned previously, Microgaming’s slots are among the titles offering some of the largest progressive jackpots in the world. Keep in mind that the slots from the Mega Moolah and WowPot series are not the only Microgaming releases with such significant winning potential. The studio offers several other wide-area progressives with substantial prizes, including Major Millions and King Cashalot. Each links to a separate jackpot pool.

The original Mega Moolah slot was inspired by the African savannah and uses various wild animals as symbols on the reels. Both the classic Mega Moolah and its Egypt-themed cousin, Mega Moolah Isis, feature 25 paylines spread across five reels. There are 9 paylines in Mega Moolah Summertime and 15 paylines in the 5-Reel Drive variation of the slot.

Major Millions

Major Millions
Screenshot of Major Millions

Major Millions is another popular Microgaming title that comes with a colossal progressive jackpot. This entertaining slot features an aviation theme. It is available in several variations: MegaSpin, the five-reel version, and the classic 3-reel Major Millions slot.

Like the Mega Moolah slots, the Major Millions titles are linked in a progressive network, so all three variants contribute to the accumulation of the jackpot prize. This jackpot typically resets to a seed value of 250,000 credits.

King Cashalot

King Cashalot
Screenshot of King Cashalot

Slot fans looking for life-changing payouts can also consider Microgaming’s King Cashalot slot. Although it has simpler graphics and animations, this five-reel slot with 9 paylines is linked to a substantial progressive jackpot that is seeded at 100,000 credits.

As the name suggests, the slot has a medieval theme and features colorful graphics. Players can also benefit from a variety of extra features, such as scatter symbols, multipliers, and a “pick-until-collect” bonus game.

FAQ

Microgaming jackpots are a powerhouse in the online casino realm, renowned for their life-changing progressive pots like Mega Moolah. Games from the Mega Moolah series are part of a wide-area progressive network whereby the pots accumulate from bets placed across all online casinos that partner with the renowned software supplier. Thus, the jackpots surge to jaw-dropping amounts, rewarding winners with millions in prize money. Mega Moolah slots also have impressive seeds as their highest prizes are reset to €2 million.

Hoping for a Microgaming jackpot to hit? It’s all down to luck as the pots are generally awarded at random. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, so we recommend you always read the paytable to acquaint yourself with the winning conditions in the respective jackpot game. Microgaming’s wide-area jackpot network is famed for dishing out wins more frequently than you might expect. The Mega jackpot in Mega Moolah, for example, drops every eight weeks or so on average.

Absolutely. Microgaming leads the pack when it comes to mobile innovation and was among the first suppliers to launch mobile-compatible slots. Their jackpot slots are optimized for iOS and Android devices, ensuring a seamless and thrilling gaming experience on the go. So, yes, chasing those colossal jackpots from your smartphone or tablet is definitely possible.

One of the record-breaking wins on a Microgaming jackpot slot was awarded in 2015 when a British soldier won a staggering £13.2 million (around €17.9 million) from a mere 25p spin on Mega Moolah. It’s the kind of win that not only enters record books but also transforms lives overnight. Still, this record was recently improved by one of the slots from Microgaming’s WowPot series that paid out a whopping €38.4 million in late December 2023.

While there’s no magic formula to guarantee a jackpot win (it’s all RNG-based), you can smarten up your play. The jackpot can drop at any moment regardless of when the last win occurred. At the end of the day, it all comes down to luck. With that in mind, we recommend you always check the paytables in advance to ensure you meet the qualifying criteria for the jackpot. In some cases, placing larger bets slightly increases your odds of landing the pot but not necessarily always so. It all depends on which game you are playing.

»