When video poker games were first introduced, there was only one game variety – Draw Poker. As the popularity of video poker grew additional game types (such as Deuces Wild) and features (such as “kickers” and multipliers) were added.
While all the additional games and features provided choices for players, they also required players to have knowledge of the impact on their play and bankroll.
For information about different games and features, their play characteristics, as well as how they impact your play and bankroll, please click here.
Super Times Pay video poker has been around for about a decade. In that time, it has gained a large and faithful following. This article covers everything you need to know about this game in order to have fun by effectively playing it.
Table of Contents
- Description of Super Times Pay Video Poker
- Reasons to Play Super Times Pay Video Poker
- Super Times Pay Jackpots
- Super Times Pay House Edge Vs. Standard Video Poker
- Super Times Pay Variance Vs. Standard Video Poker
- Super Times Pay Strategy
- Super Times Pay Bankroll Vs. Standard Video Poker (Single and Multi-Play)
- 1-Play, 3-Play, 5-Play, or 10-Play?
- Reasons to Not Play Super Times Pay Video Poker
- Where to Find Super Times Pay Video Poker in Las Vegas
- Playing Super Times Pay Video Poker Online
- Summary
1. Description of Super Times Pay Video Poker
Super Times Pay is a video poker variant produced by gaming giant IGT. The name comes from the fact that the game occasionally multiplies (times) a line by a random amount.
Some specifics of Super Times Pay video poker include the following.
- The player must play six credits rather than the normal maximum of five in order to turn on the random multiplier feature.
- The multiplier appears an average of once every 15 games.
- The multiplier can be from 2X to 10X.
- The multiplier initially appears as one of the cards in the dealt hand. It then moves to the left of the cards while the dealt card for that position appears in its place.
- It can be very disheartening, but there is no guarantee of a winning hand when a multiplier is in play. All dealt hands are random, or as random as a machine can make them, just as in the standard video poker games.
- Super Times Pay video poker comes in many different “flavors.”
- The game comes in 1-play, 3-play, 5-play and 10-play configurations. A few machines go up to 100-play. There is no requirement to play all of the lines in the multiple-play configurations.
- Super Times Pay offers a large selection of video poker games from which to select.
- The games include:
- Jacks or Better
- Bonus Poker
- Double Bonus
- Double-Double Bonus Poker
- Deuces Wild
- Plus, many more
2. Reasons to Play Super Times Pay Video Poker
With the plethora of other video poker games available in the casino or online, why would someone want to play Super Times Pay video poker?
The biggest draw for most people is the effect of the randomly timed and randomly sized multiplier on the resulting wins. Imagine hitting a royal flush with a multiplier of 10 times! The games included for play in Super Times Pay video poker are all commonly available and quite popular as standard video poker games.
There is no requirement to play multiple lines if the player is not so inclined. The return and variance are the same for any number of lines played.
3. Super Times Pay Jackpots
Let’s take a closer look at the reason people play Super Times Pay video poker – the jackpots. With standard video poker games, the largest jackpot possible is generally a royal flush. This normally pays 800-for-1 (4,000-for-5).
For multiple play standard games, the largest possible jackpot is a royal flush for each line played.
- 8,000 credits for two lines
- 12,000 credits for three lines
- 20,000 credits for five lines
- 40,000 credits for 10 lines
While any of these would be quite a substantial win, see what can happen with Super Times Pay video poker. As stated above, the multipliers are from two to 10 times. This means that the largest possible jackpot is 10 times the win for a royal flush for each line played.
- 40,000 credits for one line
- 80,000 credits for two lines
- 120,000 credits for three lines
- 200,000 credits for five lines
- A mind-boggling 400,000 credits for 10 lines
While the chance of these potentially life-altering jackpots actually happening is very small indeed, they are possible. Super Times Pay video poker in order to chase these elusive jackpots.
4. Super Times Pay House Edge Vs. Standard Video Poker
With such large jackpots, one might expect the house edge of this game would be reduced. Surprisingly, it is not. Here are the specifics of the house edge.
Without considering the impact of the random multipliers, the house edge of each game is the same as the standard version. Here are several examples.
- 8/5 Jacks or Better has a house edge 2.7 percent (97.3 percent return).
- 7/5 Bonus Poker has a 2.0 percent house edge (98.0 percent return).
- 9/6 Double Bonus has a house edge of 2.2 percent (97.8 percent return).
- 8/6 Double-Double Bonus Poker has a house edge of 2.1 percent (97.9 percent return).
- 20/12/9/5/3 Deuces Wild has a house edge of 1.1 percent (98.9 return).
Please note that the samples are just that – samples. They are on the lower end of the average returns you will find on the games in the casinos.
Games with higher or lower house edges are available. Casinos are notorious for changing pay tables, so please be sure to check the pay tables before playing.
By playing the sixth credit per line, the multiplier feature is activated. As mentioned above, it occurs once every 15 hands on average. It is between two and 10 times.
The average multiplier value is 4.05 times. By betting an additional 20 percent, the average win with the multiplier is 20.33 percent higher. Betting the sixth credit is nominally worth the additional cost. The house edge for each of the above games including the multiplier is:
- 8/5 Jacks or Better has a house edge of 2.4 percent (97.6 percent return).
- 7/5 Bonus Poker has a house edge of 1.7 percent (98.3 percent return).
- 9/6 Double Bonus has a house edge of 1.9 percent (98.1 percent return).
- 8/6 Double-Double Bonus has a house edge of 1.8 percent (98.2 percent return).
- 20/12/9/5/3 Deuces Wild has a house edge of 0.8 percent (99.2 percent return).
5. Super Times Pay Variance Vs. Standard Video Poker
The house edge goes down (return goes up) slightly when the multiplier feature is activated. The same cannot be said about the variance. Each game and pay table combination has a different variance. The scope of this article does not allow any detailed information about each game and pay table combination. Instead, here is some general variance information.
- Low variance is the result of wins being fairly consistent and frequent. In other words, lower wins occur more often.
- High variance is the result of a game that has one or more very large wins that occur infrequently.
- As more of the overall return is obtained from larger and fewer wins, the variance increases proportionately.
- Super Times Pay video poker’s multiplier feature really bumps up the variance.
- The multiplier feature increases variance by a factor of 2.2801. This is significant.
- The standard and the multiplier activated variance for the five sample games are:
- 8/5 Jack or Better: Standard: 19.32, Multiplier: 44.05.
- 7/5 Bonus Poker: Standard: 20.75, Multiplier: 47.31.
- 9/6 Double Bonus: Standard: 30.78, Multiplier: 70.18.
- 8/6 Double-Double Bonus: Standard: 41.85, Multiplier: 95.42.
- 20/12/9/5/3 Deuces Wild: Standard 25.14, Multiplier: 57.32.
6. Super Times Pay Video Poker Strategy
While the higher variance is a negative factor in Super Times Pay video poker, playing strategy requirements are good news. Playing strategy for every different Super Times Pay game is exactly the same as the strategy when playing the standard game. This is true whether it is Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, Double-Double Bonus, Deuces Wild, or any other game included on the machine.
If you have mastered the playing strategy for 8/5 Bonus Poker on a standard video poker game, that very same strategy is used on the Super Times Pay 8/5 Bonus Poker game. The strategy is the same whether the multiplier feature is activated or not.
7. Super Times Pay Bankroll Vs. Standard Video Poker (Single and Multi-Play)
Having an adequate bankroll can be the difference between a great gambling trip and a total disaster. It is impossible to cover the requirements for all Super Times Pay video poker games in this article since each game and pay table would have different requirements. In addition, the number of lines played impacts bankroll requirements.
Instead, here is some high-level information that should help.
- For standard video poker, a general rule of thumb is to have a total bankroll equivalent to the value of three to four royal flushes – 12,000 to 16,000 credits.
- For a 25-cent game, $3,000 - $4,000.
- For a 10-cent game, $1,200 – $1,600
- Due to the additional variance of Super Times Pay video poker, add 25 percent.
- 25-cent game – add $750 to $1,000
- 10-cent game – add $300 to $400
- If you are going to play multiple lines, add another 15 to 20 percent.
This may seem like a huge bankroll. Keep in mind that these are very general guidelines for a total bankroll, and not for a trip bankroll. If you are only going to play for a couple of hours, much less is required.
The bottom line is to make sure there’s enough money with you to play for your desired length of time without running out. It’s never a good idea to visit the ATM in a casino.
8. 1-Play, 3-Play, 5-Play, or 10-Play?
Super Times Pay machines can have 1-play, 3-play, 5-play and 10-play games. This means the player can play one, three, five, or 10 lines. Actually, the player can play any number of lines (up to the maximum available) by selecting the number of lines to play at the time of betting.
Which option is the best choice? Is it better to play one line, or 10 lines, or something in between? That is a very personal decision and can only be answered by the player.
Playing one line at a time keeps the amount of money at risk to a minimum. Playing multiple lines provides multiple opportunities to win. When dealt a powerful initial hand, the likelihood of several winning hands is increased. However, if a poor initial hand is dealt, there may be little to cheer about in that set of hands.
The more lines that are played, the higher the bankroll requirements. Playing 10 lines requires 10 times the bet of a single line game. That means 60 credits rather than 6.
Most Super Times Pay machines are multi-denomination. Depending on the machine, the betting unit can be 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents or more. The player can choose to play one line at 25 cents, or five lines at 5 cents. In both cases, the player is betting the same $1.50.
Here is the difference. Playing one line has a bit more variance than playing multiple lines. Playing one line means all or nothing for the $1.50 bet.
With multiple lines played, some can be winners (though for a smaller amount) and some will be losers. The chance of each game winning something is increased. The winnings may not cover the total amount bet, however. The variance is reduced slightly with multi-line play.
The choice of how to play the game is totally up to the player. The most important thing to remember is to make sure there is an adequate bankroll to fund your play. Whether you want to play it all or nothing, or win a smaller amount more often is up to you. The total result will be the same. It’s how you get there that’s different.
9. Reasons to Not Play Super Times Pay Video Poker
While there is additional excitement playing Super Times Pay video poker, there is a downside. Here are a few reasons a player may not want to play this game.
- Higher variance means that there will be longer periods where the machine eats your bets before a larger win replenishes some of your losses.
- A higher variance game requires a larger bankroll.
- Many Super Times Pay machines have pay tables that have a lower return than standard play machines. The overall loss may be greater than on a standard machine with a better pay table.
- Finding a machine may be more difficult. Casinos generally have fewer Super Times Pay machines. Some have none.
10. Where to Find Super Times Pay Video Poker in Las Vegas
Since Las Vegas has the largest selection of casinos and therefore the largest selection of games, there should be plenty of Super Times Pay video poker games available there.
Here is a list of casinos and the number of machines at each. These observations were made the week of August 22, 2021.
- Aria – 1
- Arizona Charlie’s Decatur – 1
- Bally’s – 3
- Bellagio – 2
- Boulder Station – 5
- Cannery – 1
- El Cortez – 1
- Excalibur – 1
- Flamingo – 3
- Four Queens – 2
- Fremont – 4
- Gold Coast – 2
- LINQ – 1
- Luxor – 3
- M Resort – 2
- Mandalay Bay – 8
- New York, New York – 1
- Orleans – 3
- Palace Station – 3
- Plaza – 1
- Rampart – 8
- Red Rock – 5
- Rio – 4
- Santa Fe Station – 2
- Silverton – 3
- South Point – 6
- Suncoast – 4
- Sunset Station – 7
As you can see, there are quite a few Las Vegas casinos that have Super Times Pay video poker. But, keep in mind that game inventories are constantly in the state of flux, so some of the above casinos may longer have these machines, while other casinos may add these machines to their gaming floors.
11. Playing Super Times Pay Video Poker Online
Several casinos offer Super Times Pay video poker. The same cannot be said about online casinos. I am not aware of any Super Times Pay video poker available to play for money online.
Super Times Pay video poker can be played for free, though. Playing online for free is a good way to experience the game without any cost – other than some time. This allows a player to see if this game is one that he or she really wants to play live in a casino. It is also a good way to pass some time if bored.
Summary
Super Times Pay video poker is a very popular variation of video poker. It has been around for about a decade.
- This game adds excitement by including a randomly timed variable multiplier. The multiplier can be from two to 10 times. When it appears, all wins, if any, are multiplied by its value.
- While it costs one extra credit to activate the multiplier, the return actually improves slightly when it’s in play. In return for the extra credit bet, large – sometimes very large – jackpots are possible.
- The house edge is slightly lower, but the variance is considerably higher than the same standard game.
- Playing strategy is the same as the standard game.
- Bankroll requirements are increased due to higher variance and multiple line play.
- Playing more lines reduces variance.
- Many Las Vegas casinos offer Super Times Pay video poker.
- Online play for money has not caught on, but the game is available to play for free.
Casino games, including video poker are constantly being changed and made more exciting. Even Super Times Pay video poker has experienced change in the last few years. To read about new variations of Super Times Pay video poker and other new and exciting video poker games, click here.
