Essentially, a bad beat jackpot is a reward for a player who loses a poker hand even when they possess a remarkably strong combination. Typically, there are specific criteria that must be met, such as requiring the losing hand to be at least four-of-a-kind fives, created with both hole cards.
Bad beat jackpots are usually significant amounts, and it's common for smaller prizes to be shared among all players at the table.
This guide will cover the following topics.
What Hand Strength Is Necessary to Qualify for the Bad Beat Jackpot?
The requirements depend on the specific casino. Generally, a qualifying hand is some form of four-of-a-kind , and both hole cards usually need to be involved in forming this hand. It’s also often true that the winning hand must also be created using both hole cards.
What is a ‘Rolling’ Bad Beat Jackpot?
A rolling bad beat jackpot continues to build in size until someone finally wins it; afterward, it resets to either zero or a predetermined starting amount. Many casinos allocate a portion of the daily rake to contribute to the growing bad beat jackpot.
How Is the Money for a Bad Beat Jackpot Funded?
Often, the money for a bad beat jackpot is sourced from the rake taken from players. Some poker rooms might even impose an additional rake specifically for this purpose.
Is it necessary to use both hole cards to qualify for a Bad Beat Jackpot?
Typically, yes; both the losing hand and the winning hand generally must utilize both hole cards. If this requirement were absent, a bad beat jackpot could be triggered merely by the community cards revealing quads (for example, KKKK2), because all remaining participants would effectively be holding quads.
Bad Beat Jackpot Summary
A bad beat jackpot rewards players who suffer a loss despite having a powerful hand, often requiring at least four-of-a-kind fives (made with both hole cards). While the primary award is granted to the player who loses, the rest of the table frequently shares in a portion of the jackpot as well.