They always take your bet even when you win!

We recently visited the Traverse City, Michigan area.
The minimum age for the local Indian Casino is 18 years old.
So we took our 20 year old grandson to the Turtle Creek Casino.
I told him that the best odds as far as the machines go would be the progressive poker machines.
So he played the 25 cent progressive poker machine.
Of course he always hit "Max Bet" which is 5 x .25.
Let's say that he got a pair of jacks which pays $1.25 for the $1.25 bet.
His total did not change!
Even though you win, it takes your $1.25 bet and pays you $1.25 for no net change!
It always takes your bet even when you win!

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Quote: furjaw

Let's say that he got a pair of jacks which pays $1.25 for the $1.25 bet.
His total did not change!
Even though you win, it takes your $1.25 bet and pays you $1.25 for no net change!
It always takes your bet even when you win!

That's how that's supposed to work. You pay $1.25 to play, then you get to see the cards. If you get a pair of jacks, you win $1.25 and that money is added to your total after you've paid to play. So the win brings you back to even, versus being down $1.25 if the hand didn't result in a win.

Not only do all VP machines work like that, so do all reel slot machines as well. The only electronic games which work different are the ones that immitate table games, such as the many bubble craps games.

Quote: Nareed

Not only do all VP machines work like that, so do all reel slot machines as well. The only electronic games which work different are the ones that immitate table games, such as the many bubble craps games.

How about the blackjack machines?

Quote: furjaw

How about the blackjack machines?

The ones that are on the same units as video poker machines work the game way.

Blackjack pays 2 for 1. This is even money at a real table. Obviously video blackjack isn't that good.