Jack Pot

[Jorge]

Hello;
I would like to know more about jackpots in cash game:
In order to increase the jackpot, do you pick up a chip from the pot, before or after the rake?
Is there a sofware that handles this?
Do players like it, and is the cardroom more crowded because of it?
Are the profits better?
In your experience, do you recommend it?.
I'll really appreciate any answer.

[Nick C]

Jorge,
 I've been waiting all day for a response to your question. I guess everyone is waiting for someone to give some bad advice so they can all jump in. I'll bite. By jackpot I will assume that you are talking about an extra "take" from the pot to fund a bad beat jackpot. I'll give the methods used by a local casino that has been using it with success for a few years.
 There is a separate drop box for the jackpot take-out. By that I mean separate from the rake. This makes it easy to separate, but is costly because of the additional boxes required. The method I suggest is (depending on your rake procedure) is to always take the rake first, even though more rake might follow. Let the players know that the jackpot dollar will be taken after the pot goes over $20. This can get a bit confusing to some dealers so I like to tell them to take the rake and don't take the jackpot if it leaves less than $20 in the pot. Example; The casino I'm talking about takes a three dollar rake chip out for the house as soon as the first betting round is complete...so $24 pot total, three for the house, one for the jackpot and $20 left in the pot.
 Most higher limit players don't like the bad beat. They don't like anything being taken out of the pot (not even the rake ). If your cardroom spreads 7 card stud, or omaha, or any other games be sure to separate jackpots. It is easier to hit bigger hands in stud than hold'em so different jackpots, or different hand requirements will be needed to make things fair. You might want Aces full of eight's for hold'em and four of a kind for 7 card stud.
 If the majority of your players are low limit players, they will probably like the addition of a bad beat jackpot. The higher limit players don't need to be included. Getting it started might require the house to guarantee a certain amount just to get it off the ground. The money can be recouped at a later date. I would suggest setting the jackpot up so you have a back-up so when the jackpot is hit, there is another in reserve. For each dollar taken, separate 60% 30% and 10% for example.

This should get some other suggestions started.

[chet]

Jorge: 

Here is how the jackpot works at our local Native American casino.  I am not saying this is right or wrong, just that this is how they do it.

1.  The jackpot was "seeded" by the casino in the amount of $5,000. 
2.  The rules (at least those I can remember) are; Aces full of tens or better beaten by quads or better.  Both hole cards must play and trip aces on the board voids the eligibility of the hand for the jackpot.  There are the other usual rules also, such as no electronic devices, no conversation between players and the like.  For example, if one player would say to another, there is a jackpot possible, don't bet or even just possible jackpot, that could void the hand.
3.  One dollar is raked for the jackpot as soon as the flop is dropped.  No flop, no jackpot rake.  This dollar goes into a separate jackpot box.  The regular rake is taken AFTER the jackpot.
4.  25 cents of each dollar raked is held back to fund the next jackpot.  Initially this 25 cents was used to repay the casino for the original seed money.  The published amount of the jackpot DOES NOT include the amount of the reserve.  ONLY the actual amount to be paid out is published.
5.  If the jackpot is hit, 40% goes to the 'loosing hand', 20% goes to the 'winning hand' and the remaining 40% is split between all players at all holdem tables regardless of the game.  Non holdem games are NOT ELIGIBLE and do not contribute to the jackpot.  Mixed games are NOT ELIGIBLE as well.

That is what I remember off hand.  As I said, I am not saying this is the right way or the wrong way, just the way it is done here.

Chet

[Kendalizor]

The casino where I'm at takes a dollar out of every pot $20 or more on any (No-Limit 2/5 or lower) (or Limit game 10/20 or lower) Bigger games have no jackpot because the winnings sometimes would be less than a pot and the game stops while cameras are checked and paperwork made. Recently it changed from Quad 6's or better using both hole cards getting beat with a minimum of $20 in pot to A's full of 10's or better getting beat splitting $5000 to the loser and $5000 with the rest of the table. The previous way had bigger jackpots (some over $200,000) but were only split with one table as compared to now it hits 7-15 times a month and is shared by more people which tends to bring in more business so far but is still being tested. Mathematically I personally would prefer not to have a dollar taken out for a jackpot for promotions and jackpots that I may never get. It kinda reminds me of playing scratch-offs or pull-tabs which I also do not play with the odds against me winning. The casino is legally not allowed to use the money for anything but promotions and jackpots for the players though and of course it is nice when you win.

[Jorge]

Thank you very much, Nick, Chet and Kendalizor.
I'm much clearer now. Your advices will be very useful to me.