Business Wire, July 26, 2004
LAS VEGAS -- Mikohn Gaming Corporation (Nasdaq:MIKN), a leading provider of diversified products and services used in the gaming industry worldwide, has launched a new proprietary table game -- Texas Hold 'Em Bonus(TM) Poker.
Based on the "live" poker game Texas Hold 'Em, Mikohn's newest table game with patented side bets will bring a new level of excitement to the table game pit or poker room.
Mikohn's Executive Vice President of Sales Bob Parente stated: "The resurgence of interest in the game of poker as a result of the multitude of tournaments and televised events makes the introduction of Texas Hold 'Em Bonus(TM) Poker a natural. With its similarities to regular Hold 'Em, we expect Texas Hold 'Em Bonus(TM) Poker to attract both poker and table game newcomers, as well as cater to regular poker players waiting for a seat in the poker room."
An enticing "kicker" to the game is that Texas Hold 'Em Bonus(TM) Poker permits the player to make a Bonus Jackpot side bet, that will add a new dimension of excitement for the players.
About Mikohn: Mikohn is a leading supplier of innovative and diversified products and services used in the gaming industry worldwide. The company develops, manufactures and sells an expanding array of slot games, table games and advanced player tracking and accounting systems for slot machines and table games. The company is also a market leader in exciting visual displays and progressive jackpot technology for casinos worldwide. There is a Mikohn product in virtually every casino in the world. For further information, visit the company's website: http://www.mikohn.com.
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Texas Hold 'Em Bonus(TM) logo and layout are trademarks of Mikohn Corporation.
Safe Harbor Statements under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expectations for the Company's Texas Hold 'Em Bonus(TM) Poker table game. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual circumstances, events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to delay in the introduction of new products, customer acceptance of the Company's new products, rights licensed from content providers, the Company's ability to enforce its intellectual property rights, the Company's ability to meet its capital requirements, relationships with casino operators, the overall industry environment, approvals of regulatory authorities, adverse court rulings, production and/or quality control problems, the denial, suspension or revocation of privileged operating licenses by governmental authorities, competitive pressures and general economic conditions as well as the Company's debt service obligations. For a discussion of these and other factors which may cause actual events or results to differ from those projected, please refer to the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
Monday, June 11, 2007
Tactics shift with game in Double Bonus Poker
Chicago Sun-Times, Nov 22, 2002 by John Grochowski
Not long ago, a reader dropped me a line to thank me for the Double Bonus Poker strategy in my book Gaming: Cruising the Casinos, and to say that his results had been much better since he started using the strategy.
The feedback was appreciated, and I'm always happy to hear about better results. Cold streaks and losing sessions are an unavoidable part of gambling, but solid play can do much to ease the rough spots.
But what really struck me about this reader's story is that his basic game is quarter 9-6 Double Bonus Poker, in which full houses pay 9-for-1 and flushes pay 6-for-1. That in itself isn't surprising- -for quarter players, the 9-6 pay table is the most common Double Bonus game in the area. But the strategy in Gaming is for 10-7 Double Bonus, with full houses paying 10-for-1 and flushes 7-for-1.
Does that make a difference? You bet it does. The difference in full house payoffs doesn't affect strategy much, but we have to account for the lower return on flushes.
The strategy in Gaming, devised by Chicago strategy guru Howard Stern, was one of the first to appear in print when I ran it in the Sun-Times in 1994. By the time I wrote The Video Poker Answer Book in 2000, software was available to analyze strategy changes for different pay tables.
Let's look at some sample hands, detailing some of those strategy differences in Double Bonus Poker:
King of clubs, Queen of clubs, Jack of clubs, 5 of clubs, 8 of spades:
We have four parts of a flush, but also three parts of a royal. Which do we choose? In the 10-7 game, we keep all four clubs, but when the flush payoff is lowered to 6-for-1, we go for the royal instead. Our expected average return for a five-coin bet in 9-6 Double Bonus is 7.43 coins on King-Queen-Jack, and only 6.70 coins on all four clubs. In 10-7 Double Bonus, the four-card flush average return of 7.66 coins noses out the 7.59 on the three-card royal.
King of clubs, Queen of clubs, 9 of clubs, Jack of diamonds, 6 of spades:
In versions of Double Bonus where the flush pays 7-for-1, we often hold three-card flushes, and we keep a special lookout for possible straight flushes. If we were playing the 10-7 game, we'd hold King- Queen-9 of clubs, which could become a straight flush with a Jack-10 draw. The expected return is 3.26 coins, compared with 3.09 on the next-best play, holding King-Queen-Jack-9. In 9-6 Double Bonus, the expected return drops to 3.05 coins on the possible straight flush, while the inside straight draw to King-Queen-Jack-9 remains at 3.09.
Jack of diamonds, Jack of hearts, King of diamonds, Ace of diamonds, 7 of diamonds:
As in many video poker games, payoffs start at a pair of Jacks or better, but the elevated flush payoff in 10-7 Double Bonus means that we break up high pairs for most three-card royals and for four-card flushes that include at least two high cards. Here, our expected return on the 10-7 game is 7.55 coins on the four-card flush and 7.28 on the pair of Jacks. When the flush payoff drops to 6-1, we stick with the safer play and keep the pair of Jacks, a sure winner. The expected return on the high pair is 7.23 coins, while the four-card flush drops to 6.60, a shade worse than the 6.68 on the three-card royal, Ace-King-Jack of diamonds.
Ace of spades, 9 of clubs, 7 of clubs, 5 of clubs, 2 of spades:
In most Jacks or Better-based games, we'd hold just the Ace. Double Bonus Poker, which pays 800 coins for a five-coin bet on four Aces, gives us even more incentive to stick with the high card. That's just what we do in 9-6 Double Bonus. The expected return is 2.31 coins, better than the 2.15 for holding 9-7-5 of clubs. But in 10-7 Double Bonus Poker, three-card straight flushes, even with both gaps on the inside, are slightly better plays than the single Ace. In the 10-7 game, holding the three-card double-inside straight flush will bring an average return of 2.35 coins, just nudging out the 2.34 on the lone Ace.
9 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, 2 of diamonds, 3 of clubs, 4 of spades:
In most video poker games, we'd scrap this entire hand. There is no high card that would get us our money back if we paired it on the draw. Straight and flush possibilities are remote. In 9-6 Double Bonus, we'll get back an average of 1.61 coins if we keep the three diamonds, but that's not as good as the 1.64 we'll get for tossing the entire hand. In 10-7 Double Bonus, the higher flush return means holding the diamonds brings an average of 1.82 coins per hand, compared with 1.65 for a redraw.
Copyright The Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Not long ago, a reader dropped me a line to thank me for the Double Bonus Poker strategy in my book Gaming: Cruising the Casinos, and to say that his results had been much better since he started using the strategy.
The feedback was appreciated, and I'm always happy to hear about better results. Cold streaks and losing sessions are an unavoidable part of gambling, but solid play can do much to ease the rough spots.
But what really struck me about this reader's story is that his basic game is quarter 9-6 Double Bonus Poker, in which full houses pay 9-for-1 and flushes pay 6-for-1. That in itself isn't surprising- -for quarter players, the 9-6 pay table is the most common Double Bonus game in the area. But the strategy in Gaming is for 10-7 Double Bonus, with full houses paying 10-for-1 and flushes 7-for-1.
Does that make a difference? You bet it does. The difference in full house payoffs doesn't affect strategy much, but we have to account for the lower return on flushes.
The strategy in Gaming, devised by Chicago strategy guru Howard Stern, was one of the first to appear in print when I ran it in the Sun-Times in 1994. By the time I wrote The Video Poker Answer Book in 2000, software was available to analyze strategy changes for different pay tables.
Let's look at some sample hands, detailing some of those strategy differences in Double Bonus Poker:
King of clubs, Queen of clubs, Jack of clubs, 5 of clubs, 8 of spades:
We have four parts of a flush, but also three parts of a royal. Which do we choose? In the 10-7 game, we keep all four clubs, but when the flush payoff is lowered to 6-for-1, we go for the royal instead. Our expected average return for a five-coin bet in 9-6 Double Bonus is 7.43 coins on King-Queen-Jack, and only 6.70 coins on all four clubs. In 10-7 Double Bonus, the four-card flush average return of 7.66 coins noses out the 7.59 on the three-card royal.
King of clubs, Queen of clubs, 9 of clubs, Jack of diamonds, 6 of spades:
In versions of Double Bonus where the flush pays 7-for-1, we often hold three-card flushes, and we keep a special lookout for possible straight flushes. If we were playing the 10-7 game, we'd hold King- Queen-9 of clubs, which could become a straight flush with a Jack-10 draw. The expected return is 3.26 coins, compared with 3.09 on the next-best play, holding King-Queen-Jack-9. In 9-6 Double Bonus, the expected return drops to 3.05 coins on the possible straight flush, while the inside straight draw to King-Queen-Jack-9 remains at 3.09.
Jack of diamonds, Jack of hearts, King of diamonds, Ace of diamonds, 7 of diamonds:
As in many video poker games, payoffs start at a pair of Jacks or better, but the elevated flush payoff in 10-7 Double Bonus means that we break up high pairs for most three-card royals and for four-card flushes that include at least two high cards. Here, our expected return on the 10-7 game is 7.55 coins on the four-card flush and 7.28 on the pair of Jacks. When the flush payoff drops to 6-1, we stick with the safer play and keep the pair of Jacks, a sure winner. The expected return on the high pair is 7.23 coins, while the four-card flush drops to 6.60, a shade worse than the 6.68 on the three-card royal, Ace-King-Jack of diamonds.
Ace of spades, 9 of clubs, 7 of clubs, 5 of clubs, 2 of spades:
In most Jacks or Better-based games, we'd hold just the Ace. Double Bonus Poker, which pays 800 coins for a five-coin bet on four Aces, gives us even more incentive to stick with the high card. That's just what we do in 9-6 Double Bonus. The expected return is 2.31 coins, better than the 2.15 for holding 9-7-5 of clubs. But in 10-7 Double Bonus Poker, three-card straight flushes, even with both gaps on the inside, are slightly better plays than the single Ace. In the 10-7 game, holding the three-card double-inside straight flush will bring an average return of 2.35 coins, just nudging out the 2.34 on the lone Ace.
9 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, 2 of diamonds, 3 of clubs, 4 of spades:
In most video poker games, we'd scrap this entire hand. There is no high card that would get us our money back if we paired it on the draw. Straight and flush possibilities are remote. In 9-6 Double Bonus, we'll get back an average of 1.61 coins if we keep the three diamonds, but that's not as good as the 1.64 we'll get for tossing the entire hand. In 10-7 Double Bonus, the higher flush return means holding the diamonds brings an average of 1.82 coins per hand, compared with 1.65 for a redraw.
Copyright The Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Progressive Gaming International Receives Approval from Nevada for Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker
Business Wire, Nov 17, 2005
LAS VEGAS -- Progressive Gaming International Corporation (NASDAQ: PGIC) (the Company), a leading provider of diversified products and services used in the gaming industry worldwide, announced today that it received approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission for its newest table game, Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker.
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Robert Parente stated: "We can now begin to fulfill the pipeline of orders currently at approximately 200 and growing for this exciting table game that has gained strong popularity in other jurisdictions in North America. Additionally, we are experiencing better than expected demand for the TableMax product in Oklahoma and expect to begin installing within the next several weeks."
About Progressive Gaming International
Progressive Gaming International is a leading supplier of Integrated Casino Management Systems Software and Games for the gaming industry worldwide. The Company develops and distributes an expanding array of slot and table games, plus management and progressive jackpot software systems.
The Company is unique in the industry in offering management, progressive systems and games as a modular yet integrated solution. There is a Progressive Gaming International product in virtually every casino in the world. For further information, visit www.progressivegaming.net.
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Safe Harbor Statements under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the current and expected pipeline of orders for Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker and expectations for installations of the Company's TableMax product. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual circumstances, events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to delay in the introduction and installation of new products, including the Company's Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker and TableMax products, the status of rights licensed from content providers, risks related to the Company's ability to enforce and develop its intellectual property rights, including rights licensed from third parties, the risk that patents or trademarks may exist of which the company is not aware, or that existing patents may provide benefits to third parties beyond those anticipated by the company, relationships with casino operators, the overall industry environment, customer acceptance of the Company's new products, further approvals of regulatory authorities, adverse court rulings, production and/or quality control problems, the denial, suspension or revocation of privileged operating licenses by governmental authorities, competitive pressures and general economic conditions, the Company's ability to meet its capital requirements, as well as the Company's debt service obligations. For a discussion of these and other factors which may cause actual events or results to differ from those projected, please refer to the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new circumstances or anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances as they occur.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
LAS VEGAS -- Progressive Gaming International Corporation (NASDAQ: PGIC) (the Company), a leading provider of diversified products and services used in the gaming industry worldwide, announced today that it received approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission for its newest table game, Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker.
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Robert Parente stated: "We can now begin to fulfill the pipeline of orders currently at approximately 200 and growing for this exciting table game that has gained strong popularity in other jurisdictions in North America. Additionally, we are experiencing better than expected demand for the TableMax product in Oklahoma and expect to begin installing within the next several weeks."
About Progressive Gaming International
Progressive Gaming International is a leading supplier of Integrated Casino Management Systems Software and Games for the gaming industry worldwide. The Company develops and distributes an expanding array of slot and table games, plus management and progressive jackpot software systems.
The Company is unique in the industry in offering management, progressive systems and games as a modular yet integrated solution. There is a Progressive Gaming International product in virtually every casino in the world. For further information, visit www.progressivegaming.net.
Advertisement
Safe Harbor Statements under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the current and expected pipeline of orders for Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker and expectations for installations of the Company's TableMax product. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual circumstances, events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to delay in the introduction and installation of new products, including the Company's Texas Hold' Em Bonus Poker and TableMax products, the status of rights licensed from content providers, risks related to the Company's ability to enforce and develop its intellectual property rights, including rights licensed from third parties, the risk that patents or trademarks may exist of which the company is not aware, or that existing patents may provide benefits to third parties beyond those anticipated by the company, relationships with casino operators, the overall industry environment, customer acceptance of the Company's new products, further approvals of regulatory authorities, adverse court rulings, production and/or quality control problems, the denial, suspension or revocation of privileged operating licenses by governmental authorities, competitive pressures and general economic conditions, the Company's ability to meet its capital requirements, as well as the Company's debt service obligations. For a discussion of these and other factors which may cause actual events or results to differ from those projected, please refer to the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new circumstances or anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances as they occur.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
New Online Poker Room TouchStone Poker Offers Players an Untouchable Experience; 100% Welcome Bonus from TouchStone Poker Makes a Big Impression
Business Wire, Jan 16, 2006
LONDON -- New online poker room, TouchStone Poker (www.TouchStonePoker.com) launched today offering first time customers an immediate Welcome Bonus of up to 100% of their purchased chips value, PLUS a free Tournament Pass as part of its introductory celebrations.
Owned by Global Fortune N.V., TouchStone Poker is registered and licensed in Curacao and is committed to delivering a premium online poker room for players looking for non-stop real time action.
Everyone from first time players to seasoned professionals can enjoy instant access to a wide selection of 'play for fun' or 'play for real' poker games such as 'No Limit Texas Hold 'Em, 'Omaha Hi/Lo' and '7' or '5' Card Stud, with 'no limit', 'pot limit' and 'limit betting' all within a superior environment.
Players can also take part in a range of high end tournament games attracting the more advanced online poker player and guaranteed prizes to further enhance their online pleasure.
With security a major priority, TouchStone Poker's advanced software is supplied by cutting edge developers Full House Entertainment N.V. and provides sophisticated encryption, player tracking and anti-collusion protection that guarantees a safe and totally secure gaming environment.
Additionally, TouchStone Poker's team of online specialists will be on hand 24/7 to provide customer support via e-mail, Live Chat and toll-free communication connections.
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TouchStone Poker's Floor Manager, Wyatt Davison said: "We aim to provide poker lovers everywhere with an unbeatable offering - a high-quality, maximum value online poker experience that delivers fast payouts whilst offering exceptional quality."
"Other poker rooms typically offer new players between 20%-50% bonuses if any at all. Here at TouchStone Poker Room, ours is very rich by industry standards. Most importantly, our new players have immediate access to both betting and their super sized winnings."
Editors Notes:
Based and licensed in Curacao, TouchStone Poker is owned by the online gaming corporation Global Fortune N.V.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group
LONDON -- New online poker room, TouchStone Poker (www.TouchStonePoker.com) launched today offering first time customers an immediate Welcome Bonus of up to 100% of their purchased chips value, PLUS a free Tournament Pass as part of its introductory celebrations.
Owned by Global Fortune N.V., TouchStone Poker is registered and licensed in Curacao and is committed to delivering a premium online poker room for players looking for non-stop real time action.
Everyone from first time players to seasoned professionals can enjoy instant access to a wide selection of 'play for fun' or 'play for real' poker games such as 'No Limit Texas Hold 'Em, 'Omaha Hi/Lo' and '7' or '5' Card Stud, with 'no limit', 'pot limit' and 'limit betting' all within a superior environment.
Players can also take part in a range of high end tournament games attracting the more advanced online poker player and guaranteed prizes to further enhance their online pleasure.
With security a major priority, TouchStone Poker's advanced software is supplied by cutting edge developers Full House Entertainment N.V. and provides sophisticated encryption, player tracking and anti-collusion protection that guarantees a safe and totally secure gaming environment.
Additionally, TouchStone Poker's team of online specialists will be on hand 24/7 to provide customer support via e-mail, Live Chat and toll-free communication connections.
Advertisement
TouchStone Poker's Floor Manager, Wyatt Davison said: "We aim to provide poker lovers everywhere with an unbeatable offering - a high-quality, maximum value online poker experience that delivers fast payouts whilst offering exceptional quality."
"Other poker rooms typically offer new players between 20%-50% bonuses if any at all. Here at TouchStone Poker Room, ours is very rich by industry standards. Most importantly, our new players have immediate access to both betting and their super sized winnings."
Editors Notes:
Based and licensed in Curacao, TouchStone Poker is owned by the online gaming corporation Global Fortune N.V.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group
Video poker play enters bonus zone
Chicago Sun-Times, Jun 30, 2006 by John G. Brokopp
Be prepared video poker fans: The bonus round component that revolutionized the way gamblers play traditional reel and video slot machines is infiltrating your games.
The World Series of Poker-branded machines featuring a "Final Table Bonus" that WMS Gaming rolled out at last year's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas have at long last been approved in Illinois.
Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel recently introduced a bank of eight games in its dedicated poker area along the back wall, replacing the Deuces Wild quarter progressives.
The game's debut in this market coincides with the start this week of the 2006 World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The competition continues for seven weeks, highlighted by the No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship July 28 through Aug. 10.
Final Table Bonus video poker plays like regular five-card draw variations of the game (Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, etc.). The twist is the side bet you make on a bonus hand consisting of two additional cards that are dealt from a 52-card deck separate and apart from the base game.
If the bonus hand you are dealt is a pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces, you enter the exciting bonus feature in which you are pitted against nine animated opponents, one at a time, in a game of Texas Hold'em.
You play your first opponent using the bonus hand you were dealt. However, in this and all the rounds in which you play, you have the option of discarding the hand and replacing it with two new cards dealt from a fresh deck. You can do this a maximum of two times for each round.
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Once you accept your two-card hand, your animated opponent is dealt two cards from the same deck. The game begins, starting with the "flop" (three community cards appear on the screen), followed by the "turn" (one more card) and finally the "river" (fifth and final community card). The game automatically updates the winning probability percentage for both you and your opponent.
The highest poker hand using any combination of each player's two hole cards and the five community cards wins the hand. If the player defeats or ties his opponent, he advances to the next round and a new opponent using a fresh deck of cards.
The object is to scale the ladder and defeat as many opponents as you can. The pay table for the Final Bonus feature follows (all wins multiplied by the bonus bet): 650 for first, 350 for second, 225 for third, 150 for fourth, 100 for fifth, 50 for sixth, 25 for seventh, 15 for eighth, 10 for ninth and five for 10th.
There are other enticing bonus components. For example, if the two-card bonus hand you are dealt includes an ace, any winnings from your base game hand will be tripled. If you're dealt a pair of aces, any winnings are multiplied nine-fold.
Also, the game may randomly trigger a "free seat" in the Final Table Bonus round even if your bonus hand doesn't qualify.
If your base game is Double Bonus, any four-of-a-kind payout will be doubled if you also get into the bonus round. In Double Double Bonus, you receive four times the payout on any four-of-a-kind if you also get into the bonus.
Finally, the player wins a Bad Beat Bonus of 10,000 times the bonus bet if he loses with four-of-a-kind or higher.
Harrah's Joliet is offering the game in the $1 denomination, which combined with the bonus bet (which is equal in value to your base wager), can make it an expensive wagering proposition for average players. I played the quarter version at the Paris in Las Vegas. There's no doubt the bonus round is extremely entertaining and the multipliers enticing, but chasing it with the additional wager is the price you pay.
John G. Brokopp is a local free-lance gaming writer. E- mailjbrokopp@sbcglobal.net.
Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Be prepared video poker fans: The bonus round component that revolutionized the way gamblers play traditional reel and video slot machines is infiltrating your games.
The World Series of Poker-branded machines featuring a "Final Table Bonus" that WMS Gaming rolled out at last year's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas have at long last been approved in Illinois.
Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel recently introduced a bank of eight games in its dedicated poker area along the back wall, replacing the Deuces Wild quarter progressives.
The game's debut in this market coincides with the start this week of the 2006 World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The competition continues for seven weeks, highlighted by the No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship July 28 through Aug. 10.
Final Table Bonus video poker plays like regular five-card draw variations of the game (Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, etc.). The twist is the side bet you make on a bonus hand consisting of two additional cards that are dealt from a 52-card deck separate and apart from the base game.
If the bonus hand you are dealt is a pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces, you enter the exciting bonus feature in which you are pitted against nine animated opponents, one at a time, in a game of Texas Hold'em.
You play your first opponent using the bonus hand you were dealt. However, in this and all the rounds in which you play, you have the option of discarding the hand and replacing it with two new cards dealt from a fresh deck. You can do this a maximum of two times for each round.
Advertisement
Once you accept your two-card hand, your animated opponent is dealt two cards from the same deck. The game begins, starting with the "flop" (three community cards appear on the screen), followed by the "turn" (one more card) and finally the "river" (fifth and final community card). The game automatically updates the winning probability percentage for both you and your opponent.
The highest poker hand using any combination of each player's two hole cards and the five community cards wins the hand. If the player defeats or ties his opponent, he advances to the next round and a new opponent using a fresh deck of cards.
The object is to scale the ladder and defeat as many opponents as you can. The pay table for the Final Bonus feature follows (all wins multiplied by the bonus bet): 650 for first, 350 for second, 225 for third, 150 for fourth, 100 for fifth, 50 for sixth, 25 for seventh, 15 for eighth, 10 for ninth and five for 10th.
There are other enticing bonus components. For example, if the two-card bonus hand you are dealt includes an ace, any winnings from your base game hand will be tripled. If you're dealt a pair of aces, any winnings are multiplied nine-fold.
Also, the game may randomly trigger a "free seat" in the Final Table Bonus round even if your bonus hand doesn't qualify.
If your base game is Double Bonus, any four-of-a-kind payout will be doubled if you also get into the bonus round. In Double Double Bonus, you receive four times the payout on any four-of-a-kind if you also get into the bonus.
Finally, the player wins a Bad Beat Bonus of 10,000 times the bonus bet if he loses with four-of-a-kind or higher.
Harrah's Joliet is offering the game in the $1 denomination, which combined with the bonus bet (which is equal in value to your base wager), can make it an expensive wagering proposition for average players. I played the quarter version at the Paris in Las Vegas. There's no doubt the bonus round is extremely entertaining and the multipliers enticing, but chasing it with the additional wager is the price you pay.
John G. Brokopp is a local free-lance gaming writer. E- mailjbrokopp@sbcglobal.net.
Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
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