So what would you do?

I went to Vegas with my friend "The Whale" (not because he's fat but because he often plays the $500 slots) last week. While waiting for our table at dinner to be ready, I convinced him to play some $1 VP at the bar at Venetian. He'd never played VP before to any great degree and I was trying to convince him it was a better play than the slots. Wouldn't you know 4 hands in he holds the King of Hearts and draws four more to the Royal! $4000. The Venetian bar tops did their normal thing and asked if he wanted to "Double up." Since "the Whale" didn't realize that he'd hit the jackpot, I hit "NO" for him and he collected the $4000. We talked about whether or not that was the right decision as he states he might have gone for it as he took his $4000 voucher and promptly lost it all in the $500 slots. (Hey, he only put $100 into the bar top.)

We talked about it again the next night while playing $5 DDBP when he got 4A with the kicker for $10,000. He declined that time. The next night he got dealt the Royal in clubs for $20,000, but was not given the option. The machine just locked up. Prior to that hand he had been betting only one credit per play until I pointed out his error not a moment too soon. (He states he would have killed himself had he won on just one coin.)

So what say ye? Should he have doubled up or just be happy with the win?

For your friend, I would have gone for the double up. Obviously, it's nothing to him to win $4000, so what the hell? In fact, I'd try to double up 3 times, and go for $32,000.

For a normal person, they should take the $4000, since the double up, while technically no house edge, is not worth risking a Royal Flush payout for a double or nothing scenario.

But the thread asks what would I do? Personally, I'd take the money and be jumping around the casino. This would be tough to accomplish for me, since 1) I am not a $1 VP player, and 2) as a rule, I don't play bar top VP machines.

Your friend is a lucky SOB. I sure hope he paid for the meal, or at least the tip (jump to another thread on how much he should tip...)

I have taken two friends gambling for the first time, and both times they hit a royal flush. One was playing VP, one coin (he only brought $20, and there were no nickel machines). He got the flush dealt, but both I and the player on his other side, suggested holding the four to the Royal, and he hit the last royal card. My other friend was playing Pai Gow Poker (Fortune Bonus) and got a royal. The dealer said in 7 years that was the first she ever dealt.

Wow, he is one lucky SOB. I would have walked with the money, but I have no balls; I wouldn't be playing at that denomination anyway.

Nah. Why double up the royal? That is the jackpot hand; psychologically, you want to savor those, not ditch it all on a double.

A fun thing to do would be to take a big paying hand like Aces or 2,3,4s on DDBP and see how many times you could double that up, maybe to even more than a royal.

A guy that normally plays $500 slots, gets a royal on $1 VP?

Sure, to you or me, that $4000 is HUGE and I understand why you slapped the "No" button.

But to that guy, $4000 is just 8 spins on his normal game. He should have doubled up.

Quote: DrJohn

So what say ye? Should he have doubled up or just be happy with the win?

He should learn how to play and he should learn how to listen to his friends who have clearly showed him the error of his ways regarding 500.00 slots versus Video Poker but to whom he does not want to listen. However, it was his decision and you should have merely encouraged him not made the decision for him.

Quote: DrJohn

I went to Vegas with my friend "The Whale" (not because he's fat but because he often plays the $500 slots) last week. While waiting for our table at dinner to be ready, I convinced him to play some $1 VP at the bar at Venetian. He'd never played VP before to any great degree and I was trying to convince him it was a better play than the slots. Wouldn't you know 4 hands in he holds the King of Hearts and draws four more to the Royal! $4000. The Venetian bar tops did their normal thing and asked if he wanted to "Double up." Since "the Whale" didn't realize that he'd hit the jackpot, I hit "NO" for him and he collected the $4000. We talked about whether or not that was the right decision as he states he might have gone for it as he took his $4000 voucher and promptly lost it all in the $500 slots. (Hey, he only put $100 into the bar top.)

We talked about it again the next night while playing $5 DDBP when he got 4A with the kicker for $10,000. He declined that time. The next night he got dealt the Royal in clubs for $20,000, but was not given the option. The machine just locked up. Prior to that hand he had been betting only one credit per play until I pointed out his error not a moment too soon. (He states he would have killed himself had he won on just one coin.)

So what say ye? Should he have doubled up or just be happy with the win?

At your friend's level, I thnk Kelly would say, "Throw it DOWN Big Man!"

I'm surprised he was able to take the ticket straight up. Wasn't there some IRS paperwork, and a hand pay?

Not familiar with this scenario. Is this an even-money bet and do you get points on your card for it? If so, it seems like a smart play

Quote: TomG

Not familiar with this scenario. Is this an even-money bet and do you get points on your card for it? If so, it seems like a smart play

its akin to the odds bet on the craps table. zero house edge. so i doubt you would get rated for it.

Quote: TomG

Not familiar with this scenario. Is this an even-money bet and do you get points on your card for it? If so, it seems like a smart play

come to think of it, I still don't know exactly what this "double up" entails? Why is the offer made if it is zero house edge?

Quote: odiousgambit

come to think of it, I still don't know exactly what this "double up" entails? Why is the offer made if it is zero house edge?

In the double up scenario, if you choose it, 5 cards are displayed. The first is the "dealer" card and is face up. The other four are face down and you may pick one. If you card beats the dealer, you "double up". The scenario is repeated as many times as you like until you lose.

"I'm surprised he was able to take the ticket straight up. Wasn't there some IRS paperwork, and a hand pay?

"

They did give him a W-2 G, but asked how he wanted his winnings; cash, check or voucher. He chose voucher and in 2 minutes they were back with a $4000 voucher.

I've told this before, a funny story on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe 15 years ago I was playing nickel VP at the Gold Coast, and the machines had the double-up option. I am playing and a likely homeless man sits two machines from me and puts 2-3 nickels in for a couple hands. He hits a winner, and doubles and wins, and doubles again and wins, and again and again literally 8-10 times or more. I keep hearing his machine racking up the credits and soon I see that he has won about $250 or so.

He stops and is staring at the machine like he is confused, so I ask him "Do you know what you are doing?" and he says "naw, man...I'm just trying to get my money out of this thing". He had no idea that he had been going double-or-nothing so many times, he had just been pushing buttons! I told him which button to hit to cash out...he did, the machine locked up while they came and hand paid him, then he goes back to betting 2-3 nickels at a time, but never tried the DON option after that LOL.

Quote: Johnzimbo

I've told this before, a funny story on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe 15 years ago I was playing nickel VP at the Gold Coast, and the machines had the double-up option. I am playing and a likely homeless man sits two machines from me and puts 2-3 nickels in for a couple hands. He hits a winner, and doubles and wins, and doubles again and wins, and again and again literally 8-10 times or more. I keep hearing his machine racking up the credits and soon I see that he has won about $250 or so.

He stops and is staring at the machine like he is confused, so I ask him "Do you know what you are doing?" and he says "naw, man...I'm just trying to get my money out of this thing". He had no idea that he had been going double-or-nothing so many times, he had just been pushing buttons! I told him which button to hit to cash out...he did, the machine locked up while they came and hand paid him, then he goes back to betting 2-3 nickels at a time, but never tried the DON option after that LOL.

How would he not realize he was still playing the game when he had to look at the dealer's card and then select a card to try and beat it?

Quote: VegasVic14

How would he not realize he was still playing the game when he had to look at the dealer's card and then select a card to try and beat it?

The buttons for 'Yes" or "No" light up...he was just pushing the button for yes time and again

What an awesome "Only in Vegas" story!

Is there a maximum number of times the machine will let you double up?

Quote: Ayecarumba

What an awesome "Only in Vegas" story!

Is there a maximum number of times the machine will let you double up?

I think until the amount reaches a hand-pay jackpot, therefore locking up the machine.