Progressive jackpots have come to be associated with the slot genre, but they are not exclusive to it. There are multiple casino game types that feature some form of progressive jackpots and video poker is one of the most common games to offer them. Progressive jackpots often draw in a lot of interest from players due to the large sums that they often reach. As a result, they have become highly popular and are currently available at a wide variety of online casinos.
Video poker is one of the few games out there that can seamlessly incorporate a progressive jackpot, but unfortunately, there are only a handful of games out there that do so. As a result, they are relatively unknown and not many gamblers play them. This does not mean that they are bad by any stretch of the imagination, rather that they are simply unappreciated by the user base. In this article, we will explore progressive video poker and give you some in-depth information regarding this game type.
How to Play Progressive Video Poker
Playing progressive video poker no different than playing any other version of the original game. In terms of pure gameplay, you will have to make no significant adjustment in how you normally would play. When you open the game you will be asked to place a bet. This can be anywhere between 1 and 5 coins, the value of each coin being determined by you, with respect to the minimums and maximums set by the online casinos. After that, you will be dealt five cards and you will have to choose which to keep and which to discard. For every card that you remove from your hand, another will be added to it, thus forming your final hand.
When playing a video poker title, you will likely see that the highest possible payout is only available when you play at the highest bet or, in other words, at five coins. Since the highest possible payout in progressive video poker is the progressive jackpot, the same rules apply here as well.
Progressive Jackpots Explained
Progressive jackpots are a common feature on the gambling industry and are available at both brick-and-mortar establishments and online casinos. They are most often paired with slot games, which is understandable given that they are the most popular genre, but can also be found on other game types, such as roulette, blackjack, and our favorite video poker.
Progressive jackpots are called that due to the fact that unlike static jackpots, they change over time. With every wager placed, the jackpot increases in value until a lucky player hits the winning combinations and clears it. From every wager, a certain percentage is pooled to the overall jackpot, meaning that it is the players that contribute to it. As a result, the more popular a video poker game is, the higher the jackpot will be. It is unknown how much is set aside from each bet, but some video poker games use the 1% meter. This means that for every dollar that you wager on a video poker game 1% of that (or a cent, in other words) is pooled towards the progressive jackpot. Not all video poker titles use this system and there is no set standard, but this is one of the most commonly seen progressions.
Every now and then, a lucky player will hit the winning combination and clear out the jackpot. When this happens, the game reaches its ‘reset point’ and puts the progressive jackpot back down to its initial value. For each game, this sum is different, decided by the software provider that created the title.
It is worth noting that since progressive video poker is not as widespread as progressive slots, you can expect to find slightly lower jackpots. However, that does not detract from the quality of the games, as you can still get quite a lot of value for your money. In fact, slots are known for their high volatility and randomness, whereas video poker is equal parts probability and skill. This means that if you play for long enough using a good strategy, you can expect to make good returns on your bets. Understanding the rules and probabilities of the game is key to being successful at video poker and if you make use of a decent strategy you may find your bankroll swelling.
Advantage of Playing Progressive Video Poker
Video poker is undoubtedly one of the most popular casino game genres out there and there are plenty of advantages that come with playing it. For starters, video poker is unlike other casino games where the only win factor is luck. Similarly to blackjack, to be successful at video poker you need to have sufficient knowledge of the particular game you are playing. This will give you an advantage when it comes to playing the game, as you would have in-depth information regarding the probabilities of scoring a winning hand.
There are strategies for all popular video poker sub-genres which will help you tremendously when it comes down to playing the game. Skill is not a common aspect of many casino games, which makes them unappealing to certain players. Video poker, on the other hand, will give you the opportunity to come prepared and make the best play possible, which will ultimately have a great effect on your net bankroll. Playing video poker will not leave you at the mercy of luck and you will be able to be proactive where the game is concerned. Moreover, this will give you the opportunity to improve and become better at playing video poker over time, which in itself is can provide you with great satisfaction.
Additionally, progressive video poker comes with progressive jackpots which are the envy of many casino genres. A progressive jackpot is a prize pool that increases in value constantly, thus making it highly appealing to all kinds of players. Over time, progressive jackpots have been seen to rise in the tens of thousands and the games featuring them are some of the best bang for your buck, where value is concerned. Even after a progressive jackpot is won and reset, it still starts at a reasonable level, still giving you an incentive to play for it.
Something else that you should also consider is the cost of playing. Generally, video poker features tight betting limits, meaning that you can only wager so much per hand. In any other case, this could be considered a disadvantage, but when you take into account that you will have to play at the maximum bet if you wish to win the progressive jackpot, it may cause you to see this fact in a new light. Generally, video poker titles limit your maximum bet to $1 – $5 per coin, which means that you will not break the bank when playing at the maximum bet. Moreover, the fact that you will likely score some smaller wins means that you will be able to keep yourself afloat before you come to winning the progressive jackpot.
Additionally, we also have to take into account that video poker games come in many varieties. There are multiple sub-genres that you can play, which means you will not lack for choice. The most popular variations of video poker have adapted to feature some form of progressive jackpot and if you do not like one variety you can always switch to another. Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild are two of the most played variations of video poker on the market. Each features a different set of rules and paytables, making the experience unique for each game. If you get bored playing one type, you can always place a few bets on the other.
Video poker is inherently entertaining and you can count on having a great time, regardless of which variety you choose. Moreover, they are not strikingly different and you can switch from one to the other and still know what to do and what bets to place. This one of the best aspects of the genre and you will be hard-pressed to find a more diverse one. Additionally, video poker is available at the vast majority of online casinos and you will be able to play at most gambling websites that you frequent.
Disadvantages of Playing Progressive Video Poker
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect in this world and this also applies to our favorite video poker titles. There are not many disadvantages to playing progressive video poker, but there are still a few worth mentioning. For one, you will have to play at the maximum bet size if you wish to win a progressive jackpot. If you are used to wagering a single coin, you will quickly find that your bet size has to increase by five times, in general.
Naturally, this is a drastic change that significantly increases your risk in the short term. While the payouts of each game are made to reflect the increased number of coins, a bad series of losses could cause you to bleed chips and you may soon find your bankroll empty. This is the largest detriment when it comes to playing progressive video poker and aiming for the highest jackpot. It is recommended that you play a game that is appropriate to the size of your bankroll and to quite early if you find yourself losing too much.
Moreover, the progressive jackpots are usually won by scoring the highest paying hand on the paytable. There is a reason why this is the case and it has to do with odds and probability. The Royal Flush is the most common hand that can win you a progressive jackpot, but you will only score such a hand after 45,000 games on average. The odds are very slim, but if you can beat them you can see a substantial increase to your bankroll. Of course, you can achieve this at some point, but for that purpose, you would need patience and to make methodical plays, which may not sound too exciting to most gamblers.
Popular Progressive Video Poker Games
Naturally, you will want surely want to play some progressive video poker, having read all the great things about this genre. If this is the case, you are in luck, as we have compiled a list of some of the best progressive video poker titles on the market.
Some of these are somewhat obscure and cannot be found at every online casino, but if you do come across one that offers them, it is in your best interest to play a few hands. Each of the titles listed below is created by a reputable software provider and your satisfaction and enjoyment with the game will be guaranteed.
10-line Jacks or Better
This progressive video poker game comes courtesy of Playtech, one of the largest names in the online casino industry. This company has been in the business for more than two decades and has created countless high-quality casino games. This expertise now carries over to 10-Line Jacks or Better, bringing you one of the best games that you can play on the Internet.
The game features the traditional Playtech visuals, with a clear user interface and top-quality graphics. The game is cleanly presented to you on the screen and you should have no issue in understanding it. Moreover, the graphics are more than pleasing to the eyes, making your experience with the game much more enjoyable.
This game is made in the style of Jacks or Better, where the minimum qualifying hand is a pair of Jacks or higher. The hand that will guarantee you the progressive jackpot is naturally the Royal Flush and to win it you will have to wager 5 coins per hand. 10-Line Jacks or Better comes with several intuitive features which will make your gaming experience very satisfying. The Double feature will allow you to multiply your winnings if you are willing to stake them, whereas the Auto Hold functionality will automatically keep cards which form a winning combination.
SupaJax Video Poker
Microgaming is one of the first companies to begin development of online casino software, back when the industry was still in its infancy. Dating back to 1994, Microgaming has more than two decades of experience and their games have become famous worldwide. SupaJax Video Poker is one of their finest creations and it is a game that any video poker enthusiast will appreciate.
Inspired by the style of Jacks or Better, SupaJax will be immediately familiar to any to any veteran of the genre. This game is played with a 53-card deck, featuring the standard 52 cards and the special SupaJax card. The SupaJax card is the key to unlocking the progressive jackpot and to do so, you would need to form a hand of four Jacks and the SupaJax card. Naturally, to win the progressive jackpot you would need to place wagers with 5 coins. In terms of graphics, Microgaming has taken a retro approach, portraying the game in the 1970s style of clean visuals and the paytable on top. Overall, the game is highly appealing and it can provide you with good returns for your money, in addition to many hours of fun and excitement.
Mega Jacks
Mega Jacks is yet another top-tier game developer by industry leader Playtech. This video poker title comes with a progressive jackpot, which is the goal of many gamblers playing this game. Mega Jack is created in the style of Jacks or Better, where the minimum qualifying hand is a pair of Jacks or higher, making it highly accessible to anyone familiar with the genre. But Mega Jacks is not only for veterans of the gambling world and many new or casual players can have a great time playing this game.
Mega Jacks tries to recreate the feel of playing at a physical video poker game, placing the player in front of a virtual machine. The game comes with a very clean user interface, utilizing the display real estate to perfection. There is no useless clutter on the screen and you will clearly be able to see the paytable and your hand. Gameplay is just as intuitive and you will quickly find yourself at home with this game.
Playing Mega Jacks is no different from any other video poker title, meaning that anyone who has played before will be immediately familiar with how it works. The progressive jackpot can be won by hitting a Royal Flush when playing at five coins. The Double and Half Double features are also available, giving you the opportunity to further increase your winning after a successful hand. Playtech has pulled out all the stops with this game and their hard work has paid off. Mega Jacks is one of the best progressive video poker titles on the market and we highly recommend that you play it should you get the chance.
Jackpot Deuces
Jackpot Deuces ranks among Microgaming’s finest video poker titles to date and it is no accident that it is one of their most popular ones as well. Jackpot Deuces is based on the Deuces Wild style, where the 2s serve as Wild cards which can stand in for any other card, helping you to form winning combinations where you otherwise would not have been able to. Deuces Wild also offers players the opportunity to win a progressive jackpot and bring in a large sum to their balance.
Jackpot Deuces is created with the traditional Playtech graphical style in mind. The user interface is clean and precise, giving you full control of the game at all times. Moreover, you will be able to easily read the paytable and make your choices regarding which cards to keep or discard. The visuals are nothing if not appealing, with bright yellow colors popping up on the screen against a dark blue background.
Playing Jackpot Deuces is a joy and it is no different than any other video poker game, making it immediately accessible to anyone with even the slightest experience in the genre. Much like other games in the Deuces Wild sub-genre, the minimum qualifying hand is a Three of a Kind. The progressive jackpot can be won by scoring a Diamond Royal Flush, under the condition that you are wagering five coins per hand. The Double feature is also available, giving you the option to further increase your winnings by playing a bonus game where you have to pick a card higher in value than the one already presented to you. Overall, Jackpot Deuces is one of the best progressive video poker games out there and if you ever come across it we recommend that you give it a try.
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- Deuces Wild
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- Jacks or Better
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- Odds and Return to Player
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