bet365 is looking to expand its progressive jackpot game Jackpot365 into its sports betting offering ahead of the World Cup.
The launch comes at a critical time, with operators looking to maximise heightened player engagement during this summer’s marquee event.
The integration of the Jackpot365 game into the sportsbook offering ahead of the World Cup underpins the versatility of the tool, since it was previously just a feature on its casino platform.
One of the key challenges operators are faced with as they head into the World Cup is extending engagement beyond the opening buzz of the tournament, especially as star power dilutes with the lesser-known teams taking the stage.
Jackpot365 may well be seen as a crucial tool to extend the engagement of players throughout the tournament, a challenge that takes on heightened intensity during this extended edition of the tournament.
Jackpot365 on sports is available in the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ontario, as well as across selected bet365.com territories. The feature will also be going live in Michigan and Brazil in the near future.
A bet365 spokesperson said: “Jackpot365 is a wonderful addition to our bet365 sports platform, giving customers the opportunity to land a huge jackpot win on any qualifying bet.
“Designed and built in-house at bet365, this innovative product offering adds an extra layer of excitement and value to every visit to bet365.”
Participation in Jackpot365 is completely optional and doesn’t impact the outcome of the game being played. Players can opt in or out at any time.
Previously, the Jackpot tool has had significant success in the casino vertical; a tougher taxation environment heightens the benefits of the operator being able to transition its most successful tools from the casino space into the sportsbook arena.
The World Cup may well provide the litmus test for progressive jackpots and the sportsbook sector, opening the door to it being utilised across other sportsbook products.
Four progressive jackpots
Built in-house and described as an ‘industry-first’ progressive jackpot that lives within the sports betslip, Jackpot365 will offer four progressive jackpots – platinum, gold, silver and bronze – with jackpot wins dropping daily, adding ‘an additional layer of excitement alongside customers’ regular betting activity’.
To participate, players must build their sports bet, enter their stake and select ‘opt in’ on the betslip to participate, increasing their wager by an additional jackpot entry fee, before then placing their bet.
Within the Jackpot365 terms and conditions, bet365 stated that opting in via casino is separate from opting in via sports and opt-in status ‘does not transfer between products, and you can be opted in on casino and opted out on a sports betslip, and vice versa’.
Jackpots are paid out as cash prizes and are awarded randomly to players who have opted in and placed qualifying bets.
Since launching late last year, more than 112,000 jackpot wins have seen almost £50m paid out in jackpot prizes.
