Expert: C.J. - 9/20/2009

Question
It seems that when the multiplier comes up, I don't get a good hand. Is this game a ... "sucker bet" game?

Answer
Hi George,
Super Times Pay Poker is one of the most popular of all "hybrid" type video poker games.

Approximately 6.25% of the time, a random multiplier will appear. The multiplier does not know what hand is being dealt. You may notice that the multiplier does not appear AFTER the hand is dealt, but somewhere between the 1st and 4th card.  So you have 2 sets of randomness going on: the randomness of the dealt cards, and the relative randomness of the multiplier appearing. (I say relative randomness, because multipliers can appear on 2 consecutive hands, and not appear for 30 hands sometimes. Over the long haul, though, it appears about 6.25% of the time.)

This is certainly not a sucker bet. You are paying a 20% ante on your bet (1 extra coin per hand) for the chance at a 2X through 10X multiplier that happens 6.25% of the time. This game can be volatile, for sure, and requires a decent bankroll. But there are some attractive rewards if you can ride out the dry spells.
For what it's worth, the typical payback percentage on Super Times Pay is consistent with standard poker games. It's just more volatile, and your personal experiences may not be representative of the overall long term expected payback.

Hope this helps.
CJ