Microgaming’s Progressive Jackpot Network Adds Wheel of Wishes
In the first 6 months of 2019, Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network (MPJN) awarded €89,879,343 in prizes. Mega Moolah led the way, paying out a jackpot of €12,328,029.16.
With jackpot figures still hard to come by, another network release was announced: Wheel of Wishes, developed by Alchemy Gaming. It was scheduled to join Microgaming’s PJN on 11 February 2020.
Wheel of Wishes is a progressive jackpot slot based on the established WowPot concept. At the time, WowPot’s average monthly progressive jackpot was €13,299.13; its biggest recorded win came on 30 May 2019, reaching €27,967.30.
The new game’s Major jackpot was set to start at a minimum of €2 million, placing it among the MPJN’s leading prizes and creating the possibility of a substantial win.
The lineup also included three further, lower-value jackpots: Mini, Minor and Major ‘Major’. The Major prize still had a hefty minimum value of €50,000.
An Arabian desert backdrop sets the scene for 5 reels, 10 pay lines and a stated RTP of 93.34%. The game combines familiar slot play with a newly launched Wheel of Fortune title.
The report points to low-variance play and a stacked wild symbol as features that can help form combinations. Genie lamps, treasure chests, mythical books and potions can line up in 3, 4 or 5-symbol combinations as players chase the Wheel of Wishes jackpot bonus, triggered through a Power Spins feature in a mythical cave of riches.
Power Spins can activate when two scatter symbols land on the reels. This triggers stacked symbols across all 5 reels, which the report also said could produce regular wins in the base game.
The feature can also place an oversized symbol on reels 2, 3 and 4. The report suggested this could form multiple 4- and 5-symbol combinations across the reels, with payouts that might surpass the ‘Mini’ or ‘Minor’ progressive jackpots.
Power Spins are also linked to the four progressive jackpots. If a 3x3 Power Spin symbol fills all 9 spaces on the centre reels, the Wheel of Wishes jackpot bonus games begin. The game description says players are guaranteed at least one jackpot in that bonus; this is a claim about the game feature, not a guarantee of profit.
Players could also place a side bet to activate permanent Power Spins rather than waiting for the Wheel of Wishes bonus game. The report said this would increase the chance of hitting one of the jackpots.
At the time of publication, the MPJN network was reported to have created 79 millionaires and paid more than €1.1 billion in jackpot prizes. The Wheel of Fortunes minimum €2 million jackpot was expected to add to that figure and contribute to record multi-million Euro payouts in 2019 and 2020.
The announcement built anticipation, but players still had to await the game’s release. It was scheduled to arrive at Microgaming casinos on the MPJN network no earlier than 11 February 2020.
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, with a focus on reviewing online casinos, assessing slot games and examining player safety. Their work covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms and withdrawal policies. Drawing on practical testing and independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based reviews to help players understand gambling platforms, their features and possible risks.
