Player-funded jackpots in iGaming are changing the game, but are they understood?

The battle for player engagement is entering a new phase, and the jackpot may no longer be just a marketing gimmick. When bonuses blur the lines and gamification loses its charm, players start to switch off. From complex rollover conditions to bonus expiry traps, traditional promos often frustrate more than they convert. Players come for the bonus. They stay for the thrill. But hidden conditions and vanishing rewards leave a trail, not of loyalty, but of disillusionment. That’s why player-funded jackpots in iGaming are quietly taking the spotlight with more substance and less spin.

ThrillTech’s recent integration with platform provider Pragmatic Solutions has brought this mechanic into sharper focus. Unlike traditional jackpots, which are often funded by the operator and loosely regulated under promotional tools, player-funded systems use real side bets, placing them under full B2B licence obligations.

And that, says ThrillTech, is exactly the point. Faye Williams, Head of Business Development at ThrillTech, shared exclusive insights with SiGMA News.

Compliance meets conversion

“Player-funded jackpots make you fall under the same regulatory requirements as a slots supplier,” explains Williams. “The moment you accept a bet and resolve it, you need to get a B2B licence or certification. This logic is broadly agnostic when it comes to jurisdictions.” That’s because it hinges not on promotional design but on the core act of processing a bet —a financial transaction that triggers regulatory oversight, regardless of the market.

ThrillTech holds B2B licences from the UKGC, MGA, Spelinspektionen, and ONJN, with plans to expand its regulatory footprint by the end of 2025...[Read More]