This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.
A.C. says:
What do you do when you run into a video poker game with what seems to be an inordinately high progressive meter? Maybe play it? Sure, but it’s difficult to make a spot decision about what the return percentage might be and whether or not you should play it relative to other options on the same machine. This article provides some guidance for assessing a progressive on the fly. It doesn’t give you everything you need to know, but the author makes that point and the shortcut advice provided is valuable. Print out the charts to consult or just commit the breakeven points to memory for the games addressed. Take the next step by applying the rules of thumb regarding the value of specific royal-flush-meter increases and you can make informed decisions in real time. Also, pay attention to the “Cautions” at the end of the article, which identify other important considerations. For the last word on playing progressives, check out The Secret World of Video Poker Progressives by Frank Kneeland, which goes beyond anything else currently in print on this subject.
This article was written by Jerry Stich in association with 888Casino.
ESTIMATING THE RETURN OF PROGRESSIVE VIDEO POKER
Progressive video poker offers benefits and challenges for players. One of the major challenges is determining the return at a specific level of the jackpot. This articles explores that aspects of the game.
In a progressive game, one or more lines of the pay table increases as the game is played. The most common pay line is the royal flush.
At reset value, the royal flush pays the same as a non-progressive – 4,000-for-5. As the game (or linked bank of games in a casino) is played, part of the amount bet goes towards increasing the amount paid when the jackpot is hit. Once a royal flush (or other progressive jackpot hand) is hit, the amount paid is returned to the reset value.