Play -ev to get the promo

I'm playing $1 triple play Stp 9/5 JoB video poker (98.7%, var 37 for triple play).
Casino also has single line $5 9/6 ddb (99%, var 42) but has slightly higher variance. Also, i prefer multipliers.

I'm down 4 figures because I've whiffed on the multiplier many times and I'm only halfway there to reach the points needed.
(Downside of stp is that when I whiff on the multiplier then the game is basically 82% return.)

Anyway, I could have easily bought the prize for the amount I've lost so far but I still think it's a good bet.
I calc that the theo loss is less than what the prize is worth.

Ironically, I wouldn't buy the prize.
I'm having more enjoyment knowing it's +ev trying to earn it, despite the actual results so far.

The Edgewater had a Monday promo for the Vegas Knights. For 500 points, you got a very nice Golden Knights fleece sweatshirt. Or you could buy the fleece in the gift shop for $39. After the promo ended, the gift shop had the fleeces on sale BOGO. I had a nice run, and after earning 430 points, I was up quite a bit. The last seventy points were a complete loss. I left with a small profit and a kool fleece, but I'd rather have left sooner and bought the dam shirt myself.