Video Poker
The Deal
A (Bar) Key to Success
November 15th, 2012
A bar key is a community key that can be used to log in any player who doesn’t have his own. The bartender activates your machine with his bar key, and you’re qualified for the bonus. Most bartenders will log you in without a thought. Some, however, will ask (or even insist) that you join the club, in which case you can decide for yourself if it’s worth the effort. It usually is, because then you might also get mail with additional offers from the bar. But if you don’t feel like filling out paperwork at that moment, or it’s a place you almost never go to, then asking for the key is the next best thing you can do before playing. Read more »
The Deal
Progressively Worse?
January 19th, 2012
A guy walks into a bar and looks at the video poker schedules. Then he looks up, smiles, and digs for a 20. What just happened? Most likely he saw a progressive jackpot that he liked. Read more »
The Deal
Spin the Wheel
December 15th, 2011
With few exceptions, bars have a different strategy for attracting video poker players. Whereas the casinos are all about offering the best pay schedules, bars offer lesser schedules with lots of add-on promotions. The bar promos take many different forms, but most common is probably the ETT wheel from IGT. You know the one. It’s big and colorful and you know when someone’s about to spin because Blood, Sweat & Tears’ “Spinning Wheel” comes on. Read more »
The Deal
Getting progressive
June 23rd, 2011
There are two kinds of video poker games—those with payouts that are static and those with payouts that change. The latter are known as “progressives.” On progressive video poker machines, one or more of the jackpot meters rises as players pump in money without hitting them. The progressive is almost always attached to the long-shot royal flush, though it can also be on the straight flush, four-of-a-kind or any other payout. Read more »
