Progressive Video Poker Games

When we talk about progressive games, we refer to a case when a number of video poker machines are linked together and a certain amount of every bet placed on any of them is relocated to boost the common jackpot. As the casino increases its revenue, the jackpot keeps getting larger, until a player operating some of the linked video poker machines draws a specific winning combination (a Royal Flush or even a lower-ranking combination such as a Straight Flush or a Four of a Kind). The player earns the entire jackpot amount, while the progressive jackpot is reset to the initial value.

Eventually a progressive game turns out to be a player advantage game, as its expected return becomes larger than 100%. There is no problem for a casino to offer such video poker games, because the establishment ”shares profits” with the player and has already had its share.

A crucial moment to note about progressive games is that, in order to be eligible for the progressive jackpot, a player needs to bet the maximum number of coins. In case the player bets a lesser-than-maximum number of coins, they will provide a contribution to the jackpot but will be ineligible to earn it.

Let us have an example. If a player chooses to play on a $1.00 video poker machine with a progressive jackpot and bets 3 coins instead of the maximum 5 coins, his wager will be 3 x $1.00 = $3.00. It so happens that he draws a Royal Flush, thus, he gets a payout of 250 x $3.00 = $750, while the jackpot accumulated is, say $6 500.65. The player would have earned it if they had placed a bet of 5 coins (the maximum). So what conclusion can be drawn? By saving $2.00, the player actually lost $5750.65.

If there is an opportunity to earn a progressive jackpot, the reasonable player will prefer to do the math first in order to see what effect the progressive element may have on the expected return offered by the particular game. No calculators or electronic devices are allowed in a land-based casino, but the calculations are quite simple, so one can do them in their mind.

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Important rules regarding the progressive jackpots

In most cases, progressive jackpots are related to the highest-ranking combination, the Royal Flush, and require a bet of maximum number of coins (5). Experts in the field of video poker have devised two major rules in order to estimate the revised expected return of a particular game. Each of the two methods presumes that a Royal Flush combination provides 4 000 coins at reset (without taking into account the progressive element).

The First Rule

This rule adds 1% to the ordinary (non-progressive) expected return for every 2 000 coins, which are paid by the Royal Flush above the 4 000-coin reset amount. This method is used in order to approximate the expected return for progressive jackpots, that considerably exceed the reset amount of 4 000 coins. In order to do that, a player needs to take the following sequence of steps:

First, they need to determine how many coins the jackpot is providing for combinations such as a Royal Flush;

Second, the player needs to determine how many coins the jackpot is providing above the number of coins paid regularly;

Third, they need to divide the result in step 2 by 2 000;

Fourth, the player needs to multiply the value from step 3 by 1%, after which he/she needs to add the resulting value to the ordinary expected return of the game. This way they will approximate the new expected return.

Let us illustrate this with an example. A player chooses the 9/6 Jacks or Better game. Its pay chart for a maximum number of coins (5) is as follows:

It is evident that an ordinary Royal Flush offers a payout of 4 000 coins. On a machine with a denomination of $.25, the progressive jackpot offers a payout of $1 600. Let us now take the steps we mentioned above:

1. The dollar amount of the progressive jackpot is equal to 6 400 coins. How did we estimate it? As the machine has a denomination of $.25 and as four quarters comprise a dollar, then we have $1 600 x 4 = 6 400 coins.

2. A regular jackpot pays 4 000 coins, while the progressive jackpot – 6 400 coins. Thus, the progressive jackpot pays 6 400 – 4 000 = 2 400 coins above the ordinary payout.

3. We need to divide the result above (2 400) by 2 000, or we come to 2 400/2 000 = 1.2

4. We multiply the value from step 3 by 1%, or we come to 1.2 x 1% = 1.2%. Next, we add the latter to the ordinary expected return of 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), in order to estimate the expected return for the progressive game. Or, we have 1.2% + 99.54% = 100.74%.

With the progressive jackpot, the 9/6 Jacks or Better turns from a casino advantage game into a player advantage game.

The Second Rule

This rule adds 0.1% to the ordinary expected return of a particular game for every 200 coins the Royal Flush combination provides above the 4 000-coin reset amount. This method is used in order to approximate the expected return when the progressive jackpot is near the reset amount. A player is to take the following steps:

First, they need to determine how many coins the jackpot is providing for combinations such as a Royal Flush;

Second, the player needs to determine how many coins the jackpot is providing above the number of coins paid regularly;

Third, they need to divide the result in step 2 by 200;

Fourth, the player needs to multiply the value from step 3 by 0.1%, after which he/she needs to add the resulting value to the ordinary expected return of the game. This way they will approximate the new expected return.

Let us illustrate this rule with an example. A player chooses the 10/7 Double Bonus Poker game. Its pay chart for a maximum number of coins (5) is as follows:

It is obvious that an ordinary Royal Flush offers a payout of 4 000 coins. On a machine with a denomination of $1.00, the progressive jackpot offers a payout of $4 800. Let us now take the steps we mentioned above:

1. The dollar amount of the progressive jackpot is equal to 4 800 coins. How did we estimate it? As the machine has a denomination of $1.00 and the progressive jackpot pays $4 800, then we have 4 800 coins.

2. A regular jackpot pays 4 000 coins, while the progressive jackpot pays 4 800 coins. Thus, the progressive jackpot pays 4 800 – 4 000 = 800 coins above the ordinary payout.

3. We need to divide the result above (800) by 200, or we come to 800/200 = 4

4. We multiply the value from step 3 by 0.1%, or we come to 4 x 0.1% = 0.4%. Next, we add the latter to the ordinary expected return of 10/7 Double Bonus Poker (100.17%), in order to estimate the expected return for the progressive game. Or, we have 0.4% + 100.17% = 100.57%.

With the progressive jackpot, the 10/7 Double Bonus Poker turns from a player advantage game into an even better one.