White Hat Studios is expanding its popular progressive jackpot offerings with the launch of Jackpot Royale Express™, a fast-paced alternative to the original Jackpot Royale™. We spoke with Armen Tatarevic, VP of Gaming at White Hat Studios, about how this new product caters to evolving player preferences, what makes progressive jackpots so appealing, and the studio’s vision for the future of jackpot gaming in the US.
Bonus.com (BC): First off, tell us about Jackpot Royale Express™. How is it different from your traditional Jackpot Royale™?
Armen Tatarevic (AT): Jackpot Royale Express™ introduces players to a new fast-hitting structure engineered to deliver smaller but more frequent daily jackpot drops. The likelihood of triggering the Jackpot Wheel feature with five fireball symbols has been increased, enhancing the anticipation of each and every spin. Triggering the new-look Rapid Fire Wheel can award multiplier wins from 5x up to 1,000x, as well as five progressive jackpots, and since launch, more than 9,000 jackpots have been awarded to US players, emphasising the regularity of wins.
BC: What would you say the attitude is of the average American casino player toward progressives? Are there differences in this market from the rest of the world?
AT: Historically, progressive jackpots have been a staple of the American land-based casino experience, so we know there is demand, and more recently, we are seeing the US iGaming sector draw inspiration from established European markets to cater to an increased appetite for diverse jackpot systems. Players are starting to branch out from classic content and explore new products, and White Hat Studios is committed to elevating the overall US jackpot genre to align with this trend.
Jackpot Royale™ was immensely popular, and we have already seen the latest product evolution, Jackpot Royale Express™, gaining traction with players. This increased traffic to progressive jackpot titles will only fuel future development, with suppliers likely to invest greater resources in jackpot innovation should they see demand for the titles.
BC: Are you envisioning casinos offering Express™ alongside Jackpot Royale™ and maybe other progressives? Or is this more a matter of giving them one more option to choose from in picking the structure that’s best for their audience?
AT: There’s definitely a platform to offer both options to provide players with greater choice. The goal is to provide online casinos with a diverse range of progressive jackpot products within a single promotional tools suite – a one-stop shop for jackpots.
The two products cater to contrasting player preferences, meaning they can be offered alongside one another without cannibalising traffic. With an average top payout of $175,000, Jackpot Royale™ is designed for those hunting for the biggest hit, while Jackpot Royale Express™ appeals to those who favor lower-volatility content, with jackpot drops far more frequent. As the US market and its consumer preferences continue to evolve, it is vital to develop an all-encompassing portfolio that offers something for every playstyle.
BC: What do you think makes progressive jackpots such a hit with players? Obviously, big prizes are enticing, but does a progressive get more attention than a similarly large fixed payout?
AT: It could well be rooted in the psychology of the modern player. There is something about seeing a jackpot value rising that is appealing to players, especially if they know that the prize must drop before reaching a predetermined value or within a specific timeframe. This anticipation is attractive and makes the jackpot value feel more attainable than a huge, fixed prize. However, there is still a strong appetite for fixed jackpots given the land-based history of the US market, and we don’t foresee that ever disappearing completely.
BC: What sort of player do you imagine preferring Express™ over the traditional Jackpot Royale™? Any advice for players trying to decide which game to play?
AT: Jackpot Royale Express™ has been carefully crafted to appeal to a broad audience with the optimal balance between jackpot size and the frequency of drops. However, if we were to home in on one specific player preference, the new system would be for those who opt for a slightly less volatile gaming experience.
We understand that the enormous $175,000+ jackpots on offer in Jackpot Royale™ may feel unachievable for some, hence the development of a progressive network that guarantees more frequent prize drops. Jackpot Royale™, however, is not your usual unachievable large network progressive. We have paid out $46.1m in Jackpot Royale™ winnings over the past 3 years – that is certainly not an unachievable jackpot!
BC: Was the development of Jackpot Royale Express™ motivated by player feedback or trends you see in the market? How did this come about?
AT: The popularity of progressive jackpot products has been on an upward trajectory in the US over the past few years, and with a lack of innovation in that area, the goal was to fill a gap in the market. The resounding success of Jackpot Royale™ gave us insight into what the US player is looking for stylistically from a jackpot product, and we were able to leverage this experience to build a new progressive network specifically in alignment with the preferences of a unique subsection of players. Some of White Hat Studios’ most popular titles have been integrated into the Jackpot Royale Express™ network already, and there are plenty more on the roadmap.
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