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Video Poker Online

While video poker games might look very similar to slot machines at a glance, they are completely different. Whereas slots are a game of pure chance, you need brains and strategy to win in video poker.

The history of video poker dates back to the early seventies, when the first dedicated game machines appeared in Vegas casinos. In recent years, video poker has become one of the most popular online games for players looking to enjoy the thrill of poker in calm solitude.

So, if you are new to playing poker games or looking to improve on your strategy, then, this piece is made just for you. We will unveil the basics and everything you need to know the best strategies and succeed playing online video poker games.

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Best Casinos To Play Video Poker For Real Money

With the increasing popularity of online casinos and poker games, in particular, gamers are spoilt for choice. We are here to help you find the best place to play video poker!

Online Video Poker Main Rules Explained

Online Video Poker Main Rules ExplainedFor experienced gamblers, video poker is the top choice as it offers significantly higher odds than most other games. However, it has a bit of a learning curve, compared to other games. That’s because it is a game of strategy governed by a set of rules. Before you start playing a video poker game online, you need to get yourself familiar with the rules and the most important hands.

The objective of the game is to get a set of cards whose combination offers you some payout. The principle is hinged on the traditional classic 5-card draw poker where the player receives 5 cards from the machine after placing a bet and pressing the deal button. If the combination doesn’t look great, the player has the option to “hold” all or some of the selected cards for replacement. In short, here’s the gameplay of video poker:

  1. Learn the payout table
  2. Choose how much you want to bet
  3. Draw five cards - hold or replace any of them
  4. If your hand qualifies, you win!

The payout depends on your final hand which is then compared to the paytable which will be displayed on the screen. If it corresponds to the exact combination displayed in the paytable then your hand wins.

Video Poker Hands & Payout

Video Poker Hands & PayoutThe winning hand is ranked in descending order of value as follows:

  • Royal flush
  • Straight flush
  • Four-of-a-kind
  • Full house
  • Flush
  • Straight
  • Three-of-a-kind
  • Two-pair
  • One-pair
  • High card

At the end of each round, whoever has the highest value hand, wins. Being able to remember the various card combinations that give each winning hand as if your life depends on it is vital because it does.

Video Poker Payouts

While the winning hand combination is vital, the paytable gives an idea of the ranking of the winning hands and the corresponding payouts. The payout varies depending on several factors that include

  • The gambling operator or game developer
  • The value of the bet wagered
  • The rarity of the hand
Online video poker payouts
Hands 1 Coin 2 Coins 3 Coins 4 Coins 5 Coins
Royal flush 250 500 750 1000 4000
Straight flush 50 100 150 200 250
4 of a kind 25 50 75 100 125
Full house 9 18 27 36 46
Flush 6 12 18 24 30
Straight 4 8 12 16 20
3 of a kind 3 6 9 12 15
2 pairs 2 4 6 8 10
Jacks or better 1 2 3 4 5

Always Play max Coins.

Video Poker Main Features

Understanding Video Poker Main Features

Playing poker games can be fun. You can play alone from the comfort of your mobile phone or PC but, you can't do this unless you are very familiar with the main features of poker games. If you are a newbie, then you have to learn about these features as you will be coming across them every day or whenever and wherever you decide to play.

Buttons

  • Bet one: How much do you intend to bet? This button allows you to choose your bet size. Press the button to add a coin to your bet.
  • Bet max: If you want to bet the maximum amount of coins, just press this button and it will automatically do that.
  • Deal/Draw: Press the button to receive your first five cards. If you are not satisfied with them, you can choose which cards to swap and get new ones by pressing the button again.
  • Hold: Pressing the Hold button will keep all your cards, which will be used in your final hand. If your hand matches one of the combinations in the paytable, you win!

Displays

Meanwhile, as you play poker games, you must get yourself acquainted with what you will see in a video poker game.

  • Coin: Poker machines assign monetary values to coins which is what you use to place bets. For example, if you select a $10 coin and decide to play 2 coins, then your total bet is $20.
  • Credits: You can think of this as the currency or betting unit used in poker games.
  • Bet: This is the amount of money a player is willing to stake or wager on a game.
  • Paytable: This is your reference point for comparing your outcome with the predefined outcomes.
  • Win: When your outcome matches the predefined outcome on the paytable, then you win.

Best Bonuses For Video Poker Players

Just like any other casino game, video poker players too can enjoy a wide variety of bonuses. The most popular ones include sign-up, cashback and reload bonuses. They can either contain regular funds to your account or free rounds or credits at the particular game.

While not as plentiful as the bonus selection for slot machines, gamers still can enjoy solid and good

  • decoration
    20Bet logo
    Welcome bonus: $120 + 120 Free Spins
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    888Starz Casino Logo
    Welcome bonus: up to ₱87,720 + 150 Free Spins
  • decoration
    Winz.io logotype
    Welcome bonus: up to $5,000 / 100mBTC or 800 Free Spins
  • decoration
    BC Game Logo
    Welcome bonus: up to 1,080% deposit match
  • decoration
    bons-logo-105x105s
    Welcome bonus: up to 197,500 PHP + 200 Free Spins
  • decoration
    Jiliko Casino logo
    Welcome bonus: 300% up to 300 PHP

All About Odds, RTP & House Edge

All About Odds, RTP & House EdgeEvery casino player wants to find the game that gives them the biggest returns and the highest chance to win. That’s why it’s important to know what odds, RTP and House Edge are.

Odds tell you how likely it is for you to hat get a winning hand. RTP, on the other hand, is a number that shows the average return to the player over time. For example, an RTP of 96% means that players on average will get 96 percent of their money back in the long term. The remaining 4% stay at the casino, which is accordingly called the house edge.

Online video poker odds
Online Video Poker: Odds
Hand Odds
Royal Flush 649,740:1
Straight Flush 72,193:1
Four of a Kind 4,165:1
Full House 694:1
Flush 509:1
Straight 255:1
Three of a kind 4:1
Two Pairs 21:1
Pair J,Q,K or A 7.69:1
Any Pair 2.37:1

Interesting Betting Strategies

When playing video poker, the player has control over the cards that have been dealt. What happens afterwards is completely up to you and that is where these strategies come into play. You can decide to throw away the entire hand with the hope that you will be dealt with a royal flush or you could decide to swap only a couple of the cards depending on your strategy. Different strategies apply depending on the variant of video poker that you choose to play. Let's explore some of them.

Use Strategy Tables

Strategy 1: Use Strategy Tables

The first step to understanding how the game works is by reading a strategy table works. One of them is the poker hand ranking system. Once you understand all of these and how it works, the table can be applied to both video poker and table games.

  • Always begin with the first line of the strategy
  • Make a comparison with the hands that you are dealt
  • If the cards you are dealt contains the listed cards, hold them and hit the draw button for the other cards
  • If it does not contain any of the cards listed, move down to the next line of the strategy and continue until you locate the line that contains the cards that you have been dealt
  • If you get to the end of the strategy and still can’t find any of the cards you have been dealt with, hit the draw button without holding on to any of the cards.
Deuces Wild Strategy

Strategy 2: Deuces Wild Strategy

Deuces Wild is one of the most popular poker games and that’s largely because it offers huge payouts with a high RTP. However, it all depends on whether or not you’ve got a winning strategy. To apply the Deuces Wild strategy, you must be familiar with the charts. It serves as a guide to help maximize your winnings.

There are five charts in this strategy and you can easily refer to any that corresponds to the number of deuces you have been dealt. Once you are dealt a hand, count the number of deuces (number 2 cards) you have and compare with the scenario as described on the chart.

For example, let’s say you are dealt 5 cards and you have 4 deuces. This is easy. Discard cards that aren’t a deuce and then draw. The same applies when you are dealt 3 deuces.

Most Popular Types Of Online Video Poker

There are different variants of video poker games available depending on the type of casino you are playing at. However, irrespective of the type of poker machine you are playing, the principle is similar although the strategy might be a bit different. Meanwhile, it is also important to point out that the payout percentage is also different and in many cases informs players' decisions when it comes to making their choice. That being said, the popular types of online video poker include:

  • Slot machine - icon

    Jacks or Better

    There is hardly any online casino that does not offer this poker game. Jacks or Better is available in different pay tables. However, if you are a pro then the 9/6 machine will surely ring a bell. Also, it is a very popular option for newbies as it offers a high RTP of as much as 99.5%. It pays out on any hand that has a Jacks or Better.

  • Tens or Better

    Tens or Better

    In this variant of video poker, the winning hands are in the same order and it uses a single deck. Players enjoy Tens or Better because a pair of Tens is the lowest paying hand which makes it easy to win. However, the payout is a bit lower with a full pay of 6/5 as against the 9/6 of Jacks and Better.
  • Deuces Wild

    Deuces Wild

    Another very popular poker game, Deuces Wild uses a single deck of 52 cards. However, what makes this variant unique is that all Twos or four deuces can serve as wild cards. That way, the player can easily replace any of the dealt cards with a deuce to complete a winning hand. This explains why Deuces wild offers low returns. However, it has a high RTP of up to 100.8%.
  • Double Bonus Poker

    Double Bonus Poker

    A variant of Jacks or Better with slight variations in that it offers a relatively higher payout on any hand that has four aces. Very popular is the 8/5 chart which is the best pay chart for bonus poker. This means that you get 8 times the best amount anytime you hit the full house or 5 times the bet anytime you get flush.  Also, it has a higher RTP up to 100.2%
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How To Start Playing Video Poker For Real Money?

  1. Choose a casino from our list

    The casinos on our list have been reviewed and meet our criteria.

  2. Choose a good welcome bonus

    Various casinos offer a welcome bonus for poker games. Select the best poker casino bonuses from our list and start playing.

  3. Make a deposit

    Proceed to the cashier section of the casino and deposit the list of deposit alternatives.

  4. Choose the game and wait until you get your cards

    Once you have made a deposit, select your preferred variant of the poker game and start playing.

  5. Take a win

    Certainly, if you have applied all the strategies we have discussed coupled with a bit of luck, you should be able to take a win.

A Few Tips For Video Poker Players

  • 7-1-bet-maximum-coins-50x50s

    Bet Maximum coins

    If you are looking to get a maximum return on your investment then you have to bet maximum coins. If your bankroll allows it, high-limit games have higher payout than regular ones.

  • 7-2-mind-the-paytables-50x50s

    Mind the paytables

    The paytable serves as a guide to help understand the pay structure and help you make better decisions. Keep an eye on it and make your moves accordingly!

  • 7-3-start-with-low-variance-games-50x50s

    Start with Low-Variance Games

    Variance in poker is a measure of uncertainty. While lower variance games might not be as profitable as the higher ones, a lower variance means that it’s easier to get regular wins - albeit with lower prizes.

  • 7-4-dont-guess-learn-basic-strategy-50x50s

    Don’t Guess, Learn Basic Strategy

    Never mistake poker games for slots. You need luck to win in slots but for poker games, it's all about your strategy. Learn the basis, master it as you play and never play without one.

  • 7-5-target-the-right-promotions-50x50s

    Target the Right Promotions

    A good bonus is fair and beneficial to you. You don’t want to get caught on the wrong side of things playing with bonuses that feels like a trap, so read the terms and conditions!

  • 7-6-manage-your-bankroll-50x50s

    Manage Your Bankroll

    You must keep an eye on your bankroll at all times. Never play with money that you can't afford to let go of just in case things don’t go your way.

Ara Bernier

Author: Ara Bernier
  • 94 articles

Ara is a marketing manager currently residing in the city of Marikina in the Philippines. She is outgoing and creative. Her hobbies include fashion, travelling, and taking stunning photos for her Instagram influencer account. Ara’s mission is to help others using her marketing know-how. As a person who has knowledge of how to market herself, Ara knows a thing or two about marketing her client’s company, products, and services.

FAQ

Where can I find a good poker game?

This is easy. We've got a list of some of the finest online casinos where you can enjoy the best poker games.

Do I need poker strategies to win?

Definitely! Poker is a game of strategy and with a good one, you can earn some good winnings.

Can I play video poker for free?

Yes. Demo games is a good way to get familiar with the game or try out new strategies without any risk of losing real money.

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