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Lucky 8's Wheel Poker

Introduction

Lucky 8's Wheel Poker is a video poker variant by IGT/Action Gaming. It plays like conventional 3- and 5-play video poker with 1 to 5 coins bet per line. If the player bets 10 coins per line, then he invokes the bonus feature. With the bonus feature enabled, a dealt three of a kind or better will result in a bonus spin for an additional win.

Rules

  1. Lucky 8's Wheel Poker plays like conventional multi-play video poker, which I assume the reader is already familiar with, except adds a bonus feature, as explained below.
  2. The game is available in 3-play and 5-play.
  3. If the player bets 1 to 5 coins per line, then the game plays like conventional mutli-play video poker.
  4. If the player bets 10 coins per line, then the bonus feature will be enabled. Wins will be based on a bet of five credits per line. The additional 5 credits bet per line are a fee to enable the feature.
  5. In addition, if the player bets 10 coins per line, wins in the base game for certain hands will be bumped up. In games with no wild cards, extra line items will be added to the pay table, as follows:
    • Four 8's pay a total of 2888.
    • A full house with three 8's pay a total of 88.
    • Three 8's pay a total of 18.

    In games with wild cards, extra line items will be added to the pay table, as follows:
    • Five 8's pay a total of 88.
    • Four 8's pay a total of 28.
    • A full house house with three 8's pays a total of either 18 or 28, depending on the particular pay table.
    • Three 8's pay a total of 8.
  6. In deuces wild games, with a hand like 288AA, the deuce is used to complete whatever hand pays most, in this case 8's full of aces.
  7. If the player is dealt a three of a kind or better, with the feature enabled, then he will play the bonus round after the draw.
  8. In the bonus round the player will spin a prize wheel. The wheel has eight stops. Seven of the stops are for an immediate win, ranging from 188 to 8888. If the wheel lands in the dragon slice, then the player will spin a different wheel with much larger prizes.
  9. Based on my analysis, I believe the average bonus round win in 3-play is approximately 464 and in 5-play is 775. These averages will vary according to the particular pay table and setting. In some cases, the same pay table may have different average bonus wins.

Example

The following five images show an example of a game that involved the bonus round. Click on any image for a larger version.

lucky 8s wheel poker img 1

In the image above I was dealt a three of a kind on the deal with a max bet of 10-coins per line, entitling me to play the bonus round.

lucky 8s img 2

I held the three aces, obviously.

lucky 8s img 3

After the draw, I was invited to spin the wheel.

lucky 8s img 4

The wheel stopped on a win of 288 credits.

lucky 8s img 5

None of my hands improved. Each three of a kind won 15 credits. With the win of 288 on the bonus, my total win was 288 + 3×15 = 333.

Jacks or Better Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of the base game in 8-6 Jacks or Better. The win column is for a full ten-credit bet per line. The return is the ratio of the return from this win to the amount bet.

Jacks or Better Return Table

Event Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 4000 489,491,700 0.000025 0.009823
Straight flush 250 2,133,899,868 0.000107 0.002676
Four 8's 2888 3,776,111,220 0.000189 0.054710
Four of a kind (excpet 8's) 125 43,515,435,840 0.002183 0.027288
Full house with three 8's 88 15,547,066,488 0.000780 0.006864
Full house 40 212,238,219,852 0.010647 0.042590
Flush 30 214,938,510,912 0.010783 0.032349
Straight 20 224,189,163,696 0.011247 0.022494
Three 8's 18 116,031,103,260 0.005821 0.010478
Three of a kind 15 1,374,079,861,200 0.068934 0.103401
Two pair 10 2,582,446,536,540 0.129555 0.129555
Jacks or better 5 4,236,400,723,644 0.212530 0.106265
Nothing 0 10,907,444,392,980 0.547199 0.000000
Total   19,933,230,517,200 1.000000 0.548492

The next table shows my overall analysis of the liberal version of 8-6 Jacks or Better, with the higher average bonus win. The total return was kindly provided to me by VideoPoker.com.

Jacks or Better Summary

Item 3 Play 5 Play
Estimated bonus 465.27 774.31
Return from base game 54.85% 54.85%
Return from feature 44.53% 44.47%
Total return 99.38% 99.32%

Bonus Poker Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of the base game in 7-5 Bonus Poker. The win column is for a full ten-credit bet per line. The return is the ratio of the return from this win to the amount bet.

Bonus Poker Return Table

Event Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 4000 491,482,944 0.000025 0.009863
Straight flush 250 2,076,962,364 0.000104 0.002605
Four 8's 2888 3,761,082,204 0.000189 0.054492
Four aces 400 3,899,681,352 0.000196 0.007825
Four 2's-4's 200 10,500,243,444 0.000527 0.010535
Four 5's-K's 125 29,117,727,780 0.001461 0.018260
Full house with three 8's 88 15,484,761,552 0.000777 0.006836
Full house 35 212,269,239,708 0.010649 0.037272
Flush 25 211,959,740,952 0.010633 0.026584
Straight 20 224,530,176,228 0.011264 0.022528
Three 8's 18 115,113,164,544 0.005775 0.010395
Three of a kind 15 1,374,565,430,100 0.068958 0.103438
Two pair 10 2,581,995,037,572 0.129532 0.129532
Jacks or better 5 4,264,410,175,272 0.213935 0.106967
Nothing 0 10,883,055,611,184 0.545976 0.000000
Total   19,933,230,517,200 1.000000 0.547132

The next table shows my overall analysis of the liberal version of 7-5 Bonus Poker. There are two 7-5 version, with this one having the higher average bonus win. The total return was kindly provided to me by VideoPoker.com.

Bonus Poker Summary (Liberal Version)

Item 3 Play 5 Play
Estimated bonus 465.24 779.55
Return from base game 54.71% 54.71%
Return from feature 44.53% 44.77%
Total return 99.24% 99.48%

Bonus Poker Deluxe Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of the base game in 8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe

8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe Return Table

Event Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 4000 472,303,032 0.000024 0.009478
Straight flush 250 2,155,621,896 0.000108 0.002704
Four 8's 2888 4,149,679,224 0.000208 0.060122
Four of a kind (excpet 8's) 400 43,522,825,476 0.002183 0.087337
Full house with three 8's 88 10,373,689,548 0.000520 0.004580
Full house 40 206,307,795,168 0.010350 0.041400
Flush 30 217,696,015,092 0.010921 0.032764
Straight 20 238,931,663,760 0.011987 0.023973
Three 8's 18 130,868,821,188 0.006565 0.011818
Three of a kind (except 8's) 15 1,372,390,309,032 0.068849 0.103274
Two pair 5 2,463,756,152,652 0.123600 0.061800
Jacks or better 5 4,218,216,591,348 0.211617 0.105809
Nothing 0 11,024,389,049,784 0.553066 0.000000
Total   19,933,230,517,200 1.000000 0.545058

The next table shows my overall analysis of the liberal version of 8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe. There are two 8-6 versions available, with this one having the higher average bonus win. The total return was kindly provided to me by VideoPoker.com.

8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe Summary (Liberal Version)

Item 3 Play 5 Play
Estimated bonus 466.17 779.83
Return from base game 54.51% 54.51%
Return from feature 44.62% 44.79%
Total return 99.13% 99.29%

Double Bonus Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of the base game in 10-6-5 Double Bonus

10-6-5 Double Bonus Return Table

Event Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 4000 414,099,804 0.000021 0.008310
Straight flush 250 2,259,911,040 0.000113 0.002834
Four 8's 2888 4,139,477,904 0.000208 0.059974
Four aces 800 4,376,589,192 0.000220 0.017565
Four 2's-4's 400 10,446,358,596 0.000524 0.020963
Four 5's-K's 250 28,530,338,664 0.001431 0.035782
Full house with three 8's 88 10,341,510,336 0.000519 0.004566
Full house 45 190,441,071,972 0.009554 0.042993
Flush 35 295,270,130,016 0.014813 0.051845
Straight 25 287,497,172,436 0.014423 0.036058
Three 8's 18 130,882,031,724 0.006566 0.011819
Three of a kind 15 1,350,153,901,296 0.067734 0.101601
Two pair 5 2,287,310,110,092 0.114749 0.057374
Jacks or better 5 3,907,606,227,336 0.196035 0.098017
Nothing 0 11,423,561,586,792 0.573091 0.000000
Total   19,933,230,517,200 1.000000 0.549701

The next table shows my overall analysis of the liberal version of 10-6-5 Double Bonus. There are two versions of the 10-6-5 pay table, with this one having the higher average bonus win. The total return was kindly provided to me by VideoPoker.com.

10-6-5 Double Bonus Summary (Liberal Version)

Item 3 Play 5 Play
Estimated bonus 463.16 776.09
Return from base game 54.97% 54.97%
Return from feature 44.33% 44.57%
Total return 99.30% 99.54%

Double Double Bonus Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of the base game in 9-6 Double Double Bonus. The win column is for a full ten-credit bet per line. The return is the ratio of the return from this win to the amount bet.

9-6 Double Double Bonus Return Table

Event Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 4000 486,715,620 0.000024 0.009767
Straight flush 250 2,166,439,860 0.000109 0.002717
Four 8's 2888 4,156,840,788 0.000209 0.060226
Four aces + 2-4 2000 1,218,959,400 0.000061 0.012230
Four 2-4 + A-4 800 2,853,838,656 0.000143 0.011454
Four aces + 5-K 800 3,437,171,760 0.000172 0.013795
Four 2-4 400 7,663,158,792 0.000384 0.015378
Four 5-K (except 8's) 250 28,990,743,276 0.001454 0.036360
Full house with three 8's 88 10,480,536,792 0.000526 0.004627
Full house 45 194,672,167,560 0.009766 0.043948
Flush 30 221,411,384,160 0.011108 0.033323
Straight 20 234,366,393,720 0.011758 0.023515
Three 8's 18 131,716,796,856 0.006608 0.011894
Three of a kind 15 1,394,986,308,120 0.069983 0.104974
Two pair 5 2,369,667,037,104 0.118880 0.059440
Jacks or better 5 4,223,478,405,096 0.211881 0.105941
Nothing 0 11,101,477,619,640 0.556933 0.000000
Total   19,933,230,517,200 1.000000 0.549588

The next table shows my overall analysis of the liberal version of 9-6 Double Double Bonus. There are two version with a 9-6 pay table, with this one having a higher average bonus win. The total return was kindly provided to me by VideoPoker.com.

9-6 Double Double Bonus Summary (Liberal Version)

Item 3 Play 5 Play
Estimated bonus 463.38 771.16
Return from base game 54.96% 54.96%
Return from feature 44.35% 44.29%
Total return 99.31% 99.25%

Triple Double Bonus Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of the base game in 9-6 Triple Double Bonus. The win column is for a full ten-credit bet per line. The return is the ratio of the return from this win to the amount bet.

9-6 Triple Double Bonus Return Table

Event Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 4000 499,298,796 0.000025 0.010019
Straight flush 250 2,208,898,656 0.000111 0.002770
Four 8's 2888 4,198,781,268 0.000211 0.060833
Four aces + 2-4 4000 1,393,833,804 0.000070 0.027970
Four 2-4 + A-4 2000 3,438,536,988 0.000173 0.034501
Four aces + 5-K 800 2,939,959,896 0.000147 0.011799
Four 2-4 400 6,378,308,832 0.000320 0.012799
Four 5-K (except 8's) 250 28,566,601,596 0.001433 0.035828
Full house with three 8's 88 10,632,881,772 0.000533 0.004694
Full house 45 186,580,282,068 0.009360 0.042121
Flush 30 241,289,656,308 0.012105 0.036315
Straight 20 258,769,513,716 0.012982 0.025964
Three 8's 18 134,449,543,584 0.006745 0.012141
Three of a kind 10 1,379,869,625,592 0.069225 0.069225
Two pair 5 2,336,677,826,472 0.117225 0.058613
Jacks or better 5 4,083,172,951,320 0.204843 0.102421
Nothing 0 11,252,164,016,532 0.564493 0.000000
Total   19,933,230,517,200 1.000000 0.548013

The next table shows my overall analysis of the liberal version of 9-6 Triple Double Bonus. There are two 9-6 versions, with this one having the higher average bonus win. The total return was kindly provided to me by VideoPoker.com.

9-6 Triple Double Bonus Summary (Liberal Version)

Item 3 Play 5 Play
Estimated bonus 463.38 773.28
Return from base game 54.80% 54.80%
Return from feature 44.35% 44.41%
Total return 99.15% 99.21%

Return Summary

The following table shows the overall return for 3-play and 5-play for all available games and pay tables. In some cases the same game and pay table will have different returns. This is due to differences in the average bonus win. Unfortunatly, the player will have no way of knowing this average based on playing alone. This information was kindly provided by the friendly folks at VideoPoker.com

Return Summary

Game Base Pay Table Premium Pays 3-Play
Return
5-Play
Return
Bonus Poker Deluxe 8/6 18/88/888 99.125% 99.291%
Bonus Poker Deluxe 8/6 18/88/888 98.930% 98.864%
Bonus Poker Deluxe 8/5 18/88/888 97.903% 97.898%
Bonus Poker Deluxe 7/5 18/88/888 96.886% 96.760%
Bonus Poker Deluxe 6/5 18/88/888 96.472% 95.981%
Bonus Poker 7/5 18/88/888 99.244% 99.482%
Bonus Poker 7/5 18/88/888 98.268% 98.446%
Bonus Poker 6/5 18/88/888 97.250% 97.488%
Bonus Poker 6/5 18/88/888 96.957% 96.988%
Double Bonus 10/6/5 18/88/888 99.302% 99.540%
Double Bonus 10/6/5 18/88/888 98.995% 98.954%
Double Bonus 9/6/5 18/88/888 97.984% 97.907%
Double Bonus 9/6/4 18/88/888 96.824% 96.867%
Double Bonus 9/5/4 18/88/888 95.792% 95.898%
Double Double Bonus 9/6 18/88/2888 99.311% 99.246%
Double Double Bonus 9/5 18/88/2888 98.769% 98.703%
Double Double Bonus 8/5 18/88/2888 97.597% 97.606%
Double Double Bonus 8/5 18/88/2888 96.912% 96.995%
Double Double Bonus 7/5 18/88/2888 95.942% 95.905%
Deuces Wild 25-15-9-4-4-3-2-1 8/28/28 99.461% 99.424%
Deuces Wild 20-12-10-4-4-3-2-1 8/28/28 98.908% 98.356%
Deuces Wild 20-12-10-4-4-3-2-1 8/28/28 97.988% 97.889%
Deuces Wild 25-16-13-4-3-2-2-1 8/18/28 96.866% 96.938%
Deuces Wild 25-15-10-4-3-2-2-1 8/18/28 95.747% 95.949%
Deuces Wild Bonus 13-4-3-3-1-1 8/18/28 99.163% 99.517%
Deuces Wild Bonus 10-4-3-3-1-1 8/18/28 98.410% 98.331%
Deuces Wild Bonus 10-4-3-3-1-1 8/18/28 97.437% 97.816%
Deuces Wild Bonus 12-4-3-2-1-1 8/18/28 96.944% 96.961%
Deuces Wild Bonus 10-4-3-2-1-1 8/18/28 95.700% 96.015%
Jacks or Better 8/6 18/88/888 99.383% 99.317%
Jacks or Better 8/6 18/88/888 98.895% 98.889%
Jacks or Better 8/5 18/88/888 97.868% 97.924%
Jacks or Better 7/5 18/88/888 96.847% 96.844%
Jacks or Better 6/5 18/88/888 95.436% 95.459%
Triple Double Bonus 9/6 18/88/2888 99.154% 99.210%
Triple Double Bonus 9/6 18/88/2888 98.666% 98.967%
Triple Double Bonus 9/5 18/88/2888 97.919% 97.989%
Triple Double Bonus 8/5 18/88/2888 96.375% 96.788%
Triple Double Bonus 7/5 18/88/2888 95.709% 95.588%

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank VideoPoker.com for the list of games, pay tables, and returns.

External Links

Discussion about Lucky 8's Wheel Poker in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.