Gun Lake, MI Jumbo Jackpot

Gun Lake Casino in Michigan offers a Jumbo Jackpot. It starts at $20k and HAS to hit before it reaches $50k.

Here are the other basic rules:

1. It hits randomly, no matter what slot or stakes you are playing. You could be playing max credits at a $20 machine or 1 penny at a time on a penny machine, your odds are the same.

2. If your card is in a machine when the jackpot hits, you win $25 in slot play.

So my question is, is there a point where you should go and play to increase your odds of coming out ahead and if so, what is that point? Obviously if the jackpot ever gets to $49,999.99 it has to hit. If it gets to say $49k, would you increase your return by going to a penny slot and playing the min (1 line, 1 penny) or would that not be advantageous because you won't be hitting big in the game itself?

It depends on how quickly the jackpot advances. If it goes up $1 per day then it is likely not worth playing until relatively close to the limit. If it goes up $100 a day it is a different story.

Quote: Grambus

Gun Lake Casino in Michigan offers a Jumbo Jackpot. It starts at $20k and HAS to hit before it reaches $50k.

Here are the other basic rules:

1. It hits randomly, no matter what slot or stakes you are playing. You could be playing max credits at a $20 machine or 1 penny at a time on a penny machine, your odds are the same.

2. If your card is in a machine when the jackpot hits, you win $25 in slot play.

So my question is, is there a point where you should go and play to increase your odds of coming out ahead and if so, what is that point? Obviously if the jackpot ever gets to $49,999.99 it has to hit. If it gets to say $49k, would you increase your return by going to a penny slot and playing the min (1 line, 1 penny) or would that not be advantageous because you won't be hitting big in the game itself?

This type of promotion seems to be big in Penn National casinos (including Argosy and Hollywood). I've never seen a payout of a winner that they advertise that gets even close to $49,000. I think I saw one payout at $45,000, but most "hit" around 35-40. This wouldn't make it an advantage play.

The only good news (if it's good news) is that they do offer it on VP as well, but the tables are pretty lousy there, best being 7-5 Bonus Poker, so take that with a grain of salt.

Quote: SOOPOO

It depends on how quickly the jackpot advances. If it goes up $1 per day then it is likely not worth playing until relatively close to the limit. If it goes up $100 a day it is a different story.

When I wrote the original message, the Jackpot (live counter on the casino website) was at $29,900 or so. It is currently at $30,100 about 7 hours later.

I have seen it multiple times over $45k. I don't have the exact stats on me right now on where it has hit in the past. This is a fairly new casino, opening earlier this year, so it doesn't have a huge history.