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Progressive Video Poker |
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Progressive jackpots are most commonly associated with slots but they are also available in most casinos on video poker machines. While the jackpots are nowhere near the multi-million dollar prizes found on slots such as IGT's Megabucks there can be some good opportunities on progressive machines. |
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What are Progressive Jackpots? |
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| A progressive jackpots is a jackpot that grows as people play. It progressively gets larger and larger as a percentage of each bet is added to the total prize. With video poker games this jackpot is usually won by hitting a royal flush although there are other variations with jackpots won for four of a kinds with special kickers or royal flushes of a specific suit. |
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Choosing When to Play a Progressive Machine |
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While there is no way to tell if a progressive jackpot on a slot machine gives an EV of over 100% it is possible with video poker. This means that if you learn what point the jackpot level pushes the EV on a progressive video poker machine over 100% you can use this to your advantage.
Below is a list of some of the most commonly found progressive machines and the point at which the royal flush grows big enough to push the payback to over 100%. You will very occasional find a game that is way over these levels - if you do we highly recommend playing as long as possible to score the jackpot. |
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| Jacks or Better (25¢) |
9/6 |
9/5 |
8/6 |
8/5 |
7/5 |
| Royal Flush |
$1220.00 |
$1696.00 |
$1705.50 |
$2166.50 |
$2629.75 |
| Straight Flush |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Four of a Kind |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
| Full House |
9 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
| Flush |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
| Straight |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Three of a Kind |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Two Pair |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Jacks or Better |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Return % |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
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| Dbl Dbl Bonus (25¢) |
9/6 |
9/5 |
8/5 |
7/5 |
6/5 |
| Royal Flush |
$1,461.50 |
$1,943.75 |
$2,378.75 |
$2,801.75 |
$3,216.00 |
| Straight Flush |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Four Aces + 2-4 |
400 |
400 |
400 |
400 |
400 |
| Four 2-4 + A-4 |
160 |
160 |
160 |
160 |
160 |
| Four Aces |
160 |
160 |
160 |
160 |
160 |
| Four 2 - 4 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Four 5 - K |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Full House |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
| Flush |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Straight |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Three of a Kind |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Two Pair |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Jacks or Better |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Return % |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
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Playing Considerations |
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There are a few things to keep in mind when playing video poker machines with a progressive jackpot. The first is the fact that in many cases the jackpot is linked to a whole bank of machines. This means that if there are players on all of the machines there is a chance that another player will hit the royal before you.
Also remember that the odds of hitting a royal flush never change no matter how big a jackpot gets. Having said that, if the royal flush pay is considerably over the levels you see above then changing your playing strategy to maximize your chances of getting a royal can be a good idea. |
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