Bad Beat Jackpot
A bad beat jackpot is a bonus that's paid by casinos or poker sites to a player when they suffer a bad beat in a hand.
Understanding a Bad Beat Jackpot
Bad beat jackpots act as insurance if a player suffers a particularly bad, bad beat. 'The House' will often put a certain percentage of the rake generated to the bad beat jackpot pool, which can then be paid out to players involved in a bad beat that meets specific requirements (*these differ based on the casino or sites). While most players aren't shy in coming forward with a bad beat, Aces losing to Ace-king isn't going to qualify for most jackpots. Players must lose with considerably stronger hands, such as quads verses a straight flush, to qualify.
Different Bad Beat Jackpots
There are several different factors to a bad beat jackpot that influences how much is paid out, who gets paid and when a player qualifies for it. Every casino or poker site will have different rules to determine each factor - there is no uniform structure that's adopted by all.
Who gets paid?
If a bad beat jackpot is available and eligibility requirements are met, the player who suffers the bad beat will always be paid out. In some cases, such as on GG Poker, the beneficiary of the bad beat also gets paid out, as well as every other player on the table - though they get less than the players involved.
How much can be won?
This is dependent on the casino/site rules. Payouts can be a fixed amount (more common in casinos), but more often depend on the stakes you're playing, so a bad beat in a $0.01/$0.02 cash game will usually earn a significantly smaller jackpot than a bad beat in a $5/$10 game. GG Poker allows players to see the bad beat jackpot amount, and each bad beat will earn a percentage of that pot (not the entire pot).
What games are eligible for a bad beat?
Cash games are typically the most common format where bad beat jackpots are offered. Some casinos and sites will offer bad beat jackpots in tournaments as well though, so it's important to check the house rules on this. It's rare that shorter, single-table formats like SnGs and Spin & Gos will be eligible for jackpots.
What counts as a bad beat?
Again, it varies by site but a more important thing to note here is that it's largely dependent on the game/format as well. For instance, losing with quads in Texas Hold'em is a lot rarer than losing with quads in Pot-limit Omaha, given you have two fewer cards. Therefore, the threshold to qualify for a bad beat jackpot is lower in some games than others.
Examples of a "Bad Beat Jackpot"
- In a game of Texas Hold'em, a player loses with quad Aces against a straight flush. If the jackpot amount is $1,000,000, the losing player is awarded 5% of the total pot ($50,000), while the winner of the hand is awarded 1% ($10,000).
- In a game of Omaha, a player loses with a straight flush to a royal flush. The losing player is awarded a fixed payout of $5,000 from the bad beat jackpot.
- At a low-stakes Texas Hold’em table, one player hits quad Jacks, but another makes a straight flush. The bad beat jackpot awards the quad Jacks holder $10,000, the straight flush winner $5,000 and each seated player $1,000.
Bad Beat Jackpot FAQs
What is a bad beat jackpot?
A bad beat jackpot is a special promotion in poker where a large prize pool is shared when a very strong hand (such as four-of-a-kind or better) loses to an even stronger hand.
Who gets paid in a bad beat jackpot?
Typically, the player who suffers the bad beat (the losing hand) receives the biggest share. The winning hand gets a smaller payout, and the rest of the table splits the remaining prize money.
Do all casinos or poker sites offer bad beat jackpots?
No. Bad beat jackpots are offered only at certain poker rooms, both online and live. The rules and payout structures can vary depending on the operator.
What hands usually qualify for a bad beat jackpot?
The qualifying hand depends on house rules. Often, it requires four-of-a-kind or better losing to a stronger hand, though some casinos may set the minimum as aces full of tens or higher.
How big can a bad beat jackpot get?
Jackpots can range from thousands of dollars to over $1 million, depending on how long it has been since the last jackpot was hit and how much has been contributed by players.
