Weird video poker in Tunica

29 October 2022

By Jerry Stickman

From Norman:

Hi Jerry,

I went to Biloxi along with my two daughters. My first thought was to compare Biloxi and Vegas. Having thought about it that would be unfair to Biloxi. It would be like comparing oranges and apples. As I’m sure we would agree there is only one Vegas.

So, my two daughters and I stayed at the IP for three nights. A while ago I had encouraged my older daughter to hook up with a casino host since she goes there occasionally. She did and was able to get her 3 nights comped. I was also comped due to my Boyd play.

There weren’t a lot of VP machines in number. Enough where there was never an issue getting a machine but the area for VP was relatively small. Most of the BP machines were 7/5 and the DDB machines were 9/5.

There was a bar where there was a progressive but the jackpot was just over a $1000 so it looked like it had just been hit. I didn’t go back to the bar until a few days later but I did notice a couple of things.

One, there were denominations of 25 cents, 50cents, and $1 for the progressive.

I’m not sure if I’ve seen that before.

Now here is where it gets interesting and I need your help with this. At the bar the BP was 8/5. However, all four of a kinds returned 175 coins. Nothing extra for four aces, four aces, 4 2’s,3’s or 4’s. On the casino floor itself there were several 8/5 bonus poker games but the same thing except all four of a kinds returned 150 coins.

I wasn’t sure which was the better game. Was it 7/5 bonus poker where you get 400 coins for 4 aces and 200 coins for four 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s or the 8/5 games with a fixed pay for four of a kinds.

Catch you later.
Norman

Norman,

I love hearing about your travels with family. That is so much fun. It is also great that your two daughters enjoy casinos. It also helps that they (and you) play enough to get comped rooms.

I definitely agree with your assessment of Vegas versus Biloxi. I definitely prefer Vegas (although as of the last time I checked, the casinos are really getting a bit pricy and greedy).

I have seen progressive machines at Boyd properties that have 25-cent, 50-cent and $1 denominations. Usually, the lower denominations have worse pay tables than the higher denominations.

Now let’s look at the BP games you mentioned. I have never seen a game labeled simply “Bonus Poker” where all the four-of-a-kinds are a fixed amounts. Bonus Poker Deluxe machines are set up that way, however. The difference is Bonus Poker Deluxe pays 1-for-1 for two pairs where Bonus Poker pays 2-for-1. I will list both returns for you.

8/5 Bonus Poker Deluxe with 175 payout for all 4Ks and 1-for-1 for two pairs returns 86.8 percent (if all the other pays are the same).

8/5 Bonus Poker with a 175 payout for all 4Ks and 2-for-1 payout for two pairs returns 99.6 percent (seems high based on the other games you saw).

8/5 Bonus Poker Deluxe with 150 payout for all 4Ks and 1-for-1 for two pairs returns 85.6 percent (if all the other pays are the same).

8/5 Bonus Poker with a 150 payout for all 4Ks and 2-for-1 payout for two pairs returns 98.5 percent (also seems a bit high based on the other games you saw).

7/5 Bonus Poker with 400/200/125 for 4Ks returns 98.0 percent.

So, double check all the pays on the games you saw – especially the pays for 2 pairs. It is entirely possible that the fixed pay quad games were Bonus Poker. It is best to be sure however.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of "Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker!" You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com