125% WELCOME BONUS
Up to $1250 to bet on sports
250% Slots + Table Bonus
150 Free Spins On Gorilla Or Buffalo Ways
50 Daily Boost For Your Massive Wins
Grab your 175% + 50 free spins
2
Up to $2,000 On Deposit
Blackjack, Live Dealer & More
Use Promo Code: FREECZR
3
$25 Freeplay® On Sign Up
100% Deposit Match up to $1,000
Use Bonus Code: PLAYNJFREE
4
$35 CASINO CREDITS
On Sign Up
$35 Casino Credits on Sign Up
100% Match up to $100 (1x PTR) or
100% Match up to $2,000 (15x PTR)
To Claim: Click Play Now
5
Up to $2,000 Back if Down After First Day
Blackjack, Roulette, Slots & More
1 X Play Through
To Claim: Click Play Now
6
100% Up To $1,000 Deposit Bonus
Premium Online Casino Games
To Claim: Click Play Now
7
$100 Bonus PLAY
Opt-in & Bet Just $1
Bet $1 Get $100 Bonus Play
50 Bonus Spins Included
Daily Casino Bonuses
To Claim: Click Play Now
8
100% Up to $500 in Bonus Money
ONLY 1x Play Through!
Use Affiliate Code: PLAYCAS
9
In Bonus Bets
UP TO $1,000
Free Live Streaming - Watch Live Games
$1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets
Use Bonus Code: PLAYBONUS
What is a ‘Bad Beat’ jackpot in poker?
Poker rooms nationwide have seen a surge in popularity of the widely embraced promotions known as “Bad Beat” jackpots.
Every round, the poker room collects a $1 fee from each hand and contributes it to the jackpot. Once specific conditions are fulfilled, the jackpot amount is awarded to the victors. In order for the “Bad Beat” jackpot to be won, an exceptionally powerful hand must be defeated by an even more superior hand.
Hitting a “Bad Beat” jackpot is quite uncommon due to the rarity of a straight flush being beaten by a stronger hand. However, the specific requirements for qualifying for the jackpot may vary across different poker rooms.
Typically, all individuals seated at the table are winners when it comes to the jackpot. In a usual scenario, the player with the losing hand would receive 50% of the pot, while the winner would get 25%, and the remaining 25% would be divided among the rest of the players at the table. This unique situation in poker is when you actually hope to experience a bad beat.
Although Michigan online poker sites have yet to incorporate this feature, it has gained significant popularity among casinos throughout the state. Notably, MGM Grand Detroit witnessed a remarkable win of over $800,000 recently. Similarly, MotorCity Casino in another part of town reportedly established a national record in 2018 with a payout of $1.07 million.
Pittsburgh poker weekend started with good fortune
Similar to numerous players, I had always yearned for the opportunity to witness a “Bad Beat” jackpot being won during my poker endeavors. It is not unusual for these jackpots to accumulate to an impressive six-figure sum.
During the autumn of 2017, I embarked on a journey to the vicinity of Pittsburgh to participate in a Heartland Poker Tour event held at Meadows Casino. The tournament was structured with two initial rounds taking place on Friday and Saturday, while the second day was scheduled for Sunday. My strategy entailed participating on Friday and, if necessary, making a second attempt on Saturday in case I didn’t progress further.
(For further reading, explore the archives of David Kaye)
During the final round of Friday’s game, I went all-in with pocket eights against my opponent’s queens. With a mere 18% probability of winning the hand, luck favored me as the board revealed four hearts. Fortunately, I possessed the eight of hearts while my opponent lacked any hearts, allowing me to claim the pot.
Having successfully advanced to Day 2 on my initial try, I found myself with no plans for Saturday. Consequently, I opted to engage in some cash games. Little did I know that within a mere hour of joining the $1/$3 cash game, I would experience the most astounding moment of my poker journey.
My once-in-a-lifetime ‘Bad Beat’ jackpot hand
I was participating in a seemingly unimportant poker game.
At the river, the board displays four kings and a three. After examining the river, I decide to check, and surprisingly, my opponent also checks without hesitation. Suddenly, he leaps out of his seat and loudly exclaims, demanding me to reveal my hand. This unexpected outburst leaves me bewildered, but I don’t mind displaying my cards.
As I reveal Q-T, my opponent reveals Ace high, prompting a jubilant uproar from the table. However, I find myself bewildered, uncertain of the reason behind the sudden commotion.
After shouting for me to reveal my hand, the player suddenly begins exclaiming, “Bad Beat jackpot, Bad Beat jackpot!” Now, I find myself even more bewildered than I was earlier, if such a thing is even possible. Throughout all the poker rooms I’ve played in, it has always been mandatory for both players to use both of their hidden cards. However, in this particular scenario, we are both utilizing the four kings on the table, each with a distinct high card.
As the situation starts to calm, I turn to the player beside me and inquire, “I’m curious, why is everyone talking about the bad beat jackpot? Our hands don’t meet the requirements, right?” He enlightens me about the poker room’s rule that whenever the jackpot exceeds $30,000, only one of our cards needs to be in play. Currently, the jackpot sits at slightly below $32,000.
I pocketed a cool $15K on a losing hand
I’m in complete disbelief. Our table just won the “Bad Beat” jackpot, and astonishingly, I held the losing hand – which means I won the grand prize. Once the commotion settles and the payouts begin, I receive an unexpected $15,659 for having the losing hand.
After spending a few more hours playing, I decided to end my gaming session for the day. The following day, I participated in the tournament’s second day, only to get eliminated just 10 players away from winning any cash prize. It was disheartening to see my pocket kings lose to pocket aces. However, I couldn’t be too upset since I had won over $15K the previous day. Considering my recent success, I had no grounds to complain.
The poker trip to Pittsburgh concluded with a memorable ending. Although I didn’t achieve the desired success in the tournament, the weekend turned out to be highly profitable for me.
David Kaye, a prominent poker content creator hailing from Mason, regularly contributes a column for Playinmichigan. To keep up with his poker endeavors, you can follow him on various social media platforms using the username “DavidKayePoker.” David can be found on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram.
![]("https://us1.catenaus.com/import/img/pokerstars_logo.png"){kind=logo}
