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Volatility Marks Multiple-Hand Video Poker

"For the experience of hitting the big one as many as five times, that's why.

"…If you've never played multiple-hand poker, here's a quick explanation: On the opening deal, the player sees five cards and holds some of them in the hope of completing a winning hand. These `held' cards are replicated in additional hands that are displayed above the `playing hand.' Then each of the hands is completed, each dealt from its own electronic deck.

"You have to bet something on each hand, and it's possible to load up some pretty big bets in very short order. Mystic's quarter version of five-hand poker, for instance, can be played with five coins on each hand -- for a total of $6.25 per cycle.

"…At a Las Vegas trade show last year, Action Gaming unveiled several new versions of multiple-hand poker, including one that allowed 50 simultaneous hands on a machine where the player could choose the denomination of coins being played -- from pennies to dollars. The prospect of making five-coin dollar bets on 50 simultaneous hands -- that's $250 a pop -- struck me as major-league stuff.

"In fact, when you consider the speed that video poker is played, bets of $250 per cycle probably involve more risk per hour than betting $1,000 per hand at a comparatively slower blackjack table. In a casino, speed kills.

"…Mystic's management seems pleased with the five-hand poker machines -- which, by the way, also let the player select between several types of video poker.

"…[Director of slot operations, Ralph] Margolis notes, however, that multiple-hand poker is very ``volatile'' -- a word used in the casino industry to describe games that can produce big winners and big losers in a short period of time…"

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