How to Play Progressive Video Poker
When it comes to video poker, progressive games can provide a fruitful gambling experience for players if they know how to play them correctly. The biggest difference between a regular video poker machine and one with a progressive jackpot is that the jackpot on the latter increases every time someone bets on the game. The amount of the jackpot can be enormous – sometimes reaching four and five figures worth of coins. The size of a progressive jackpot depends on how many different machines are linked and the type of game. Some progressive jackpots are shared between several casinos which helps to increase the overall size of the pool.
Traditionally, video poker machines offered escalating payouts for stronger hands – for example, a pair of jacks may pay even money and four-of-a-kind would offer 25-to-1 payback. A progressive jackpot is a separate pool that is incremented with every bet placed on the machine and that grows exponentially over time. A progressive jackpot is often shared across multiple machines and can be incredibly large in the case of online slots.
The way a progressive jackpot is created is also very similar to how the prize pools on other casino games work. The jackpot on a video poker game starts off at a predetermined amount or seed and continues to grow with each wager made. The jackpot is then awarded to a player who manages to form the highest ranking hand, the Royal Flush.
While this sounds straightforward enough, there are a few things that must be taken into account when playing a progressive video poker game. First and foremost, the Royal Flush must be formed with a pair of jacks or better. Any other type of hand will result in a loss of some or all of the jackpot money. This is why it is important to learn the odds of forming the Royal Flush and use this knowledge when making decisions about which cards to hold and which ones to discard.
Another factor to consider is the meter rise rate. This varies from casino to casino and machine to machine and it is very important to find a progressive jackpot game that offers the fastest meter rise rate possible. This will maximize the chances of hitting a strong hand before the jackpot runs out.
As soon as the jackpot reaches a certain level, a progressive video poker game will become a positive expectation machine. This is the point at which it will start to return more than 100% to a player and it is important for experienced players to be able to identify this.
The only downside to this is that the average player will lose money at a much faster pace than they would playing a non-progressive game and that they must be prepared to change their strategy as the jackpot pool bulges. Therefore, progressive video poker is only suitable for those with a large bankroll and the patience to wait for a high-ranking hand.