Tropicana Features Progressive Bad-Beat Jackpot

Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino and Resort can turn a devastating bad-beat hand into something to celebrate. In fact, it's throwing $5,600 a week into the party. What is normally considered a player's darkest moment is instantly being turned into glorious triumph. For those who have had a big hand beaten by an even bigger hand - it's payback time. And since the Tropicana's bad-beat jackpot is progressive and house-funded, all limits are included. (Sorry, Omaha is not included.)

Recently, Joseph Schultz of Franklin Park, New Jersey, became the Tropicana's first bad-beat jackpot winner, taking home the top prize of $8,800, when his four eights were beaten by the four nines held by Elijah Brodnex, of Raleigh, North Carolina. Brodnex won $4,400 while the remaining six players each took home $1,455.

The bad-beat jackpot in the Trop poker room grows daily, with $5,600 added to the pot weekly. In order to trigger the progressive jackpot in hold'em, a player's hand must consist of aces full of kings or better and be beaten by four of a kind or better. In addition, the winning hand and the qualifying losing hand must use both holecards. For quads to qualify, a player must have a pair in his hand. In seven-card stud, four queens or better must be beaten by four kings or better. The player with the qualifying bad-beat hand receives 40 percent of the jackpot, the player with the winning hand receives 20 percent, and the other players dealt into the hand split the remaining 40 percent.

Also featured in the Trop poker room are daily tournaments with guaranteed prize pools of $500 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tournament games include seven-card stud on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, and hold'em on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. First-place prize money ranges from $1,000 during midweek to more than $18,000 on some Fridays. An invitational tournament is held once a month, with the winner taking home $1,000. Any player making a royal flush gets to spin the huge Spin and Win wheel for any number of prizes.

Trop Poker Club members enjoy special privileges with card membership. An advanced tracking system, featuring a photo identification card (the first in the nation), awards regular players with meals, gift shop discounts, show tickets, invitations to special events, and overnight stays.

With 42 tables, the Tropicana poker room is the third largest on the East Coast. The room is well-lit but not blinding, and large while still maintaining a club atmosphere. The chairs are comfortable, food and drinks are served 24 hours a day at the tables, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

LED lighting clearly displays the current jackpot amount, and several TVs are located throughout the room for keeping everyone updated on world events.

Everyone has a bad-beat story, but the best ones coming out of the Tropicana Casino and Resort have a happy ending.