The Rules and the Video Poker Machine

Gameplay begins with the player inserting credits into the machine. This can be in the form of paper money or a player’s card. The player then proceeds to place a bet of one or multiple credits and pressing the deal button. The player is shown their hand and offered the chance to shed one or more cards to exchange them for new ones. This is known as the draw aspect of the game. These are all drawn from a virtual deck that represents a regular deck of cards.

Once the machine has issued new cards, it pays out if the hand played matches the listed winning combinations usually posted on the pay table on the video poker monitor.  These pay tables indicate the payout for various hands depending on their rarity. The rarer a hand is, the higher it pays out. For instance, a pair of jacks would pay even money. On the other hand, a royal flush (the rarest of all hands) would payout the maximum.

In addition to winning individual hands, there are other ways to profit. For instance, many video poker machines offer progressive jackpots or prizes. This entices the user to play more frequently and place higher wagers. Although the game is based on five card draw, the customer isn’t actually playing against another hand. Rather, they win by acquiring a specific combination of cards.

Regulation

In order to keep the equipment validated, calibrated and fair, video poker machines are regulated by individual state or Indian gaming agency. These regulatory bodies mandate that machines deal random card values out of a virtual card deck. The Nevada Gaming Commission began this rule with other states following shortly thereafter. All video poker machines are tested prior to going live on the casino floor.

Video poker can provide entertainment for hours on end. Since every casino is in business to make money, the machines are set to slightly favor the house. Although skill is involved, it’s extremely difficult to be popular in the long run. Consequently, it’s best to enjoy the excitement and have fun!

Established in 1994, Microgaming is a consistent industry-leader by creating innovating products and conducting inventive thinking. The primary ideas that have produced success for Microgaming include:

• Product quality
• Powerful management tools
• Uncompromised security characteristics

The Microgaming sites have become synonymous with enormous jackpots. By offering over 20 progressive jackpots across all sites, customers have more of an opportunity to hit it big. This has become their trademark and thousands of internet gamblers have flocked to their sites. Since Microgaming’s conception, the company has paid out over $225 million.

In addition to the massive jackpots, Microgaming also controls one of the world’s largest online poker networks. This connects numerous players at different levels from various locations around the globe as the poker platform supports many different languages. A consistent theme is their big payouts. Poker tournaments offered on the Microgaming network tend to be some of the most aggressive and have the largest payouts.

Additionally, Microgaming provides a large bingo network for the traditional player, mobile gaming solutions for those on the go, live dealer games for those players that want to replicate reality and software packages for land based casino operators. Overall, the company offers over 120 casinos and 40 poker rooms that are available on the web. Within this network, there are 400 games to play.

A few of the most popular online casinos include:

• Prime Casino
• Spin Palace Casino
• Casino Splendido
• Roxy Palace Casino

There are many advantages to hiring Microgaming to develop casino software. First, Micrograming provides some of the most durable and robust casino software around. Next, a training academy is available for casino operators to ascertain new information about leading-edge practices and software and participate in ongoing training. Additionally, new game releases, ongoing system maintenance and upgrades add to the effectiveness of the software.

Microgaming views both their players and customers as top priority. With new games, large jackpots and huge networks, players are consistently satisfied. Casino customers are granted ongoing upgrades and maintenance, new games, training and excellent software. These aspects keep all their customers happy, resulting in an increased retention rate each year and consistent growth.

Caribbean poker is played with three to five players at a table and one deck of cards. Each player is dealt a five card hand, with two chances to bet. The layout of the game is very similar to standard five card poker.

The inclusion of a progressive jackpot makes Caribbean poker a popular game at the casino. In a progressive jackpot the jackpot for the table will continue to rise as each hand is dealt.

How Do I Play Caribbean Poker?

To start a hand of Caribbean poker each player must place an Ante bet. The minimum amount of the Ante bet is determined by the casino. Each player must also place a bet towards the progressive jackpot if they want a chance to win the pot before the cards are dealt. This happens before every hand and ensures the jackpot will continue to rise.

The dealer will then deal five cards to each player. Each card is dealt face down. The dealer also deals five cards to himself, with one card being face up for the table to see. Players are only dealt one set of cards. After their cards are dealt they can choose to fold or remain in the game. If they remain in the game, a player must double their Ante bet.

The advancement of Caribbean poker is determined by the dealer’s hand. If the dealer has a hand that is Ace King or higher (based on standard poker hands) the round will continue. The player’s hand must beat the dealer’s hand to win the round.

If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, all players receive two times their Ante bet, and have their progressive bet returned on an even-scale.

How Does Betting Work in Caribbean Poker?

Players have two betting options in Caribbean poker; betting on the single hand and betting on the progressive jackpot.

In order to be considered in on a hand, the player must place an Ante bet. This bet has a minimum and is placed before any cards are dealt. After the cards are dealt the player has one chance to raise their Ante bet during the round.

Players also have the option of betting on the progressive jackpot. This bet is completely optional and does not disqualify a player from the round. However, a player must bet on the progressive jackpot for the chance to win it.

Medieval warriors are sure to love Brave Heart, a slot game centered around the sword slashing movie starring Mel Gibson.  This game even incorporates the memorable battle for Scotland’s freedom into the format.  Led by Gibson’s character William Wallace, the better the Scotts do in battle, the more points the player gains.  Brave Heart also offers a nice selection of progressive jackpots that are strategically named after different levels of movie success.  Ranging from Smash and Epic to Acclaimed and Blockbuster, each jackpot is individual but can be targeted by the player within a single game.

Forest Gump is another new slots game you can find in the Intercasino lobby.  This one is based on the historical film starring Tom Hanks and comes with two full bonus games.  Forrest Gump serves up many famous quotes from the hit film and caters to interactive fans with “Run Forrest Run” feature that provides players with control over Gump’s incomparable dash.

Fans of DC comic books will have a filled day with InterCasino’s new super hero-themed slots game – Superman.  This is an epic game based on the alter ego of Clark Kent.  It features an amazing 50 paylines and calls for players to court the lovely Lois Lane while thwarting the evil attempts of the sinister Lex Luthor.  This game is action packed because all this goes on during your pursuit for a wealth of free spins and prosperous jackpots.

In addition to the movie and comic book-themed virtual slot machines, InterCasino also has a new game called Perfect Pairs Blackjack.  This game is largely based on the classic hole-card variant known as Atlantic City Blackjack.  While very similar to traditional Atlantic City, the differences add a uniquely fresh touch to the game.  The most notable difference is the inclusion of an optional side wager that offers bonus payouts based on the first two cards the player receives. Another catch is that these bonuses only apply to pairs.  For example, mixed pairs payout 5 to 1, colored pairs payout 15 to 1, and Perfect Pairs pay out 25 to 1.  Perfect Pairs offers the highest quality graphics you will find in an online casino game, boasting brilliant animation and 3D graphics that give it a realistic look and feel.  It also includes dealer voice-overs that liven the flow of the game and keep the action moving.

Powered by CryptoLogic, InterCasino is one of the oldest casinos in the online gambling industry, first emerging on the scene in 1996.  In fact, it is the very first casino to utilize CrytopLogic software.  InterCasino is well known for welcoming customers with generous deposit bonuses and more exciting games than they know what to do with.  Unfortunately, due to the controversy surrounding online gambling in the United States, this casino does not accept U.S. players.

Importance of the Payline

Most online casinos offer slots games that give you the option to choose the number of paylines.  When you think about it, this is only practical as it doesn’t make much since to play a game where all the paylines cannot be enabled.  With the exception of scatter wins, winning combinations typically only result in payouts when they occur in an enabled payline.  Online slots with progressive jackpots go the extra mile to emphasize the importance of selecting all paylines available.  For example, a progressive game usually only pays out when the predetermined winning combination occurs in the highest payline.  While this can be considered risky, selecting all the paylines can dramatically increase your total bet per spin.  This is especially true if you have opted for a game with 50 to 100 paylines.  In this scenario, your best bet would be to reduce your line bet so that you can remain within the limitations of your bankroll.

The Coin Factor

Collectively, the number of coins per payline and coin size contribute to the line bet.  Now you have some online slots games that only permit you to bet one coin per payline, but even then, they generally offer a greater coin size range in addition to an acceptable degree of options within that given range.  Those that give you the option to choose the number of coins often have a notably smaller coin size range and fewer choices within that range.  The good thing is that with either type of slots game, the end results are usually the same.

With some online slots games, you must choose the number of coins per payline and coin size together so that you can obtain your desired line bet.  In these games, the line bet must be selected in accordance to your bankroll for that particular session, and the number of spins you anticipate playing.  Let’s say your bankroll is compromised of 100 credits and you plan on playing 100 spins.  In this scenario, it would be wise to choose a 1.00 line bet, which can easily be done in some online slots games.  Others allow you to choose other denominations such as two 0.50 coins or four 0.25 coins.  Going back to the point of above, both of these variations essentially give you the same options, just in a different way.  Whatever you win, you can put it aside for another session.

Cryptologic

There are many reasons to play progressive blackjack at a casino powered by Cryptologic.  For one, many players find that the pool is easier to win since it can be hit when you have four aces of the same color, meaning they do not have to be of the same suit.  Although there is no second jackpot to compete for, there are fixed payouts you can win through a number of combinations of both suited and unsuited aces.  If you want to contribute to the progressive jackpot, you can do so with a voluntary $1 wager.

Microgaming

Microgaming goes above and beyond to standout from the competition and this is reflected in its progressive blackjack game.  With this game, winning is not based on a combination aces but sevens, which makes the name Triple Sevens a fitting title.  If you assemble 21 from three seven of diamonds, then you hit the progressive jackpot.  Similar to the other games, this one also has fixed payouts for many different combinations of seven.  Microgaming’s Triple Seven blackjack game produces winners more frequently but the average payouts are lower than the games by other vendors.

Playtech

Leading casino software provider also offers a progressive blackjack game that gives you the opportunity to win big.  In this game, four aces of the same suit gets you the entire pool.  Unlike the offerings from other vendors, there is no combination that qualifies you for a smaller amount of the pot.  There are however, fixed payouts for specific combinations such as three aces of the same suit and four aces from different suits.  A major plus of progressive blackjack with Playtech casinos is that even a single ace offers a $5 payout.

Vegas Technology

In Progressive Blackjack by Vegas Technology, the jackpot is claimed when you are dealt out four aces of the same suit.  This powerful combination gets you 100% of the money in the jackpot pool.  However, if you are dealt four aces of different suits, then you receive 10% of the overall pot.  Vegas Technology’s progressive blackjack also has some fixed payouts that make the game more intriguing.  Keep in mind that you must place an additional bet of $1 in order to qualify for the pool in any of these progressive blackjack games.

Conclusion

Progressive blackjack carries the same level of high risk as any other progressive casino game.  What we mean by this is that your chance of hitting the jackpot are very low, especially if you are someone who prefers to play it safe all the time.  On the other hand, gambling in itself is all about luck so on any given day, you could hit big and make online casino history.

]]> http://onlinecasinospotlight.com/2009/09/getting-progressive-with-online-blackjack/feed/ 0 http://onlinecasinospotlight.com/2009/07/online-casino-software-provider-review-microgaming/ http://onlinecasinospotlight.com/2009/07/online-casino-software-provider-review-microgaming/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:24:18 +0000 gracechen http://onlinecasinospotlight.com/?p=86 Microgaming is a veteran in the field online casino gaming platforms.  In fact, it makes the claim of actually creating the first ever operating online gaming system in 1994.  Since that time, the company has led the way in developing an impressive portfolio of licensee internet casinos, powering some of the most renowned and successful operators, including The Gaming Club, 7 Sultans Casino and The Riverbelle casinos.  Today, Microgaming is an industry heavyweight with more licensed casinos, games and revolutionary concepts than any other vendor.

Gaming Options

If you are a player who prefers a great variety, you may want to specifically look for casino sites running on the Microgaming platform.  Many of its licensees offer well over 100 casino games for players to choose from.  They also tend to offer some of the biggest progressive jackpots on the market.  In 1998, Microgaming introduced Cash Splash, the internet’s first progressive casino game.  Today, its line of progressive games are tremendous, consisting of blackjack, slots, cyberstud poker and roulette among others.  These games have some of the largest default jackpot values around and rise very quickly.  Major Millions, one of its current flagship games, has a jackpot that begins around the $250,000 mark and exceeds $1 million on a regular basis.  It is reported that the biggest winner to date struck a cool $1.7 million with a single spin.  Talk about luck.

Online Gambling Innovation

Viper, its next generation online casino software, now powers a large number of Microgaming licensee casinos.  The Viper platform allows you to automatically play the casino game of your choice optimally by either playing through expert play modes, which send notification when you have made a non-optimal wager choice, or automatically make the best choice for you, depending on the mode you selected.  Innovation such as this is the very reason why Microgaming is at the top of the list for online gaming software vendors.

What’s to Like about Microgaming

Any experienced gamer will tell you that Microgaming’s range of casino games and playing options are unrivaled.  Online casinos powered by this company will give you a greater choice of games than competitors along with a variety of helpful tools to sweeten the bargain.  With a Microgaming casino, there are no frills or fluff, just an intuitive gaming interface that allows you to easily navigate your way through the casino games.

What’s Not to Like about Microgaming

For the most part, everything is positive with Microgaming platforms.  If we had to pick on them for anything, it would have to be the in-game graphics.  For example, the images are not as sharp as they could be, and the casino games do not look as crisp as what you get from some of the other software vendors.  On bright side, Microgaming casino games are nice and sizable with a look and feel that makes all the instructions, numbers and other essential elements easy to view.  If you eyes aren’t what they used to be, this is a definite plus.