Presented herein are gaming systems, gaming machines, and methods for conducting wagering games. Gaming machines are disclosed which include a gaming cabinet, display device(s) and input device(s) coupled to the cabinet, and game-logic circuitry disposed within the cabinet. Game-logic circuitry is configured to: display on the display device a jackpot value of a progressive jackpot in a progressive jackpot meter; determine a meter speed for the progressive jackpot meter to incrementally display the jackpot value increase to a second jackpot value within a set time; determine a controlled meter position from the meter speed; determine a scroll speed for the controlled meter position; determine a respective scroll speed for each meter position to the right of the controlled meter position; display on the display device the progressive jackpot meter increasing to the second jackpot value as restricted by the first speed of scroll and any respective speeds of scroll.