Your Definitive Guide to Online Video Poker 2023

Everything you need to know about Online Video Poker: from the classic game rules to advanced variants strategies and terminology; in this Video Poker guide, you'll find a game overview, explanations about video poker variants, tips, free video poker games and the best online casinos for real money video poker reviewed and ranked by our experts.

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Overview

Not so long ago, any mention of video poker would evoke images of dusty bars, poorly-lit rooms, and chain-smokers mindlessly hitting the spin button on the machine in front of them.
Video poker forms one of the most popular casino games available. Every day, bright casino floors are filled with the lively sounds of video poker machines. The casino games generate vast excitement, especially when that siren rings to signal a big win!

Initially it was made as a casino game and it was the first game to be computerized. With the growth of the internet it was successfully broken in to the digital world. The game is built around a slot machine and 05-card draw poker.

As the video poker scene steps further into the light, it is only natural that this casino game would transition to the online space. By incorporating video poker into online casinos, game developers unearthed a new generation of customers eager to discover the joys of landing a full house or a royal flush.

Unlike many other casino games, video poker does not need a live casino environment to succeed. This game is suited to be played away from casino floors as it is generally played by a single person and not a crowd. The poker game plays out well in video form and allows novice and experienced players to enjoy the game at their own pace.

Easy gameplay is not the only positive for video poker. There is an abundance of variations that only enhance the poker game experience. Titles like Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better and Joker's Wild have kept online casino users entertained for hours and landed some big wins, thanks to the generous RTP (return to player) available at any video poker site.

This page contains everything you need to know about playing video poker online. Here, you will find a wealth of information, including the history of video poker, the pros and cons, the types of video pokers you can expect and the list of jargon words you will encounter along your journey. We also throw in tips and strategies that you can try out when you play and a detailed FAQ section that answers some of the most commonly-asked questions. So keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know!

Pros & Cons

Pros
Video poker comes with a large game variety.
Easy to learn and fun to play.
Quick games sessions.
Low minimum bets
Offers the lowest house edges
No waiting for other players to start
Cons
Average RTP of video poker machine is only 97% leaving a house edge of 5%
RNG means that you cannot predict which cards will land
Strategies can sometimes be challenging to memorise

History

As with all gambling games, video poker also has its history in Europe, where the original poker game was invented. However, video Poker burst on the scene in the 1970s after computers started taking over the casinos in America.

Si Redd was the man responsible for this new concept. He was a member of staff at Bally Technologies in the mid-1970s. Initially, his initiative was promptly rebuffed by the executives. However, the willpower of Redd was too strong to let him down. To fulfil his dream, he made his own company and named it Sircoma. We know that company as a C$2 billion entity called International Game Technology (IGT).
It is said that patience is the key to many things, and for Redd, this held true. He needed to wait patiently for nearly a decade before his brainchild penetrated the casinos of Las Vegas. The launch of MTV was when people finally started to come to terms with the new concept and began to see as well as realize its potential

The game was designed on the draw version of poker. In this version, a two-pair hand is the simplest hand. However, Jack or Better, which is based on a player having two jacks or higher in his hand, became more popular, and even today, it is the most played version of the game.

Video Poker was able to cement its place as an everlasting member in the world casinos, exclusively due to the outburst and outreach of the Internet. However, the prominence of video poker is not just limited to casinos; it has become a global phenomenon.


Rules

In contrast to different versions of poker, video poker is quite simple. All editions of video poker have the standard 52-card deck; however, the Joker Wild variant is also played with the joker card. The game begins by taking a wager and pushing the deal button, which then deals out five cards. The player can discard or hold the card, and the machine keeps replacing the discarded cards with more random cards until the player finally selects the hand. Of course, the probability of winning now depends on this hand.

The grade of cards in all versions of video poker is the same; however, players can find variations in the payout ratio in different editions of the game. Commonly the classification is: the highest grade hand is the Royal Flush after that is the straight flush followed by the second-grade hands, four of a kind, full-house, flush & straight. Finally, the last grade is of three of a kind, two pairs & last of all one pair of jacks or better.

Video poker only has two outcomes, a loss or a win, and this rule is constant in all versions of the game. The game can have a payout as high as 99.5%, and with no definite house advantage, people can make good money from the game.


Strategy

As the game rules suggest, it is pretty straightforward to learn. All you need to do is decide which cards you will discard and which ones will you keep.

The strategies below work a treat in jacks or better, but it is also applicable to other variants of Video Poker games.

Straight Flush: A unique and rare hand, worth keeping a picture of if ever achieved. Lest of a straight flush holding all cards can swiftly change destiny through the progressive jackpot of Royal Flush.

Four of a Kind: Four of a Kind is the 2nd best hand. You cannot further improve it.

Full-House: Full-House refers to the 3rd best hand. You cannot further improve it.

Flush: Cannot be further improved.

Straight: Cannot be further improved.

Three of a Kind: Keep three of a kind, discard the rest

Two Pairs: Hold two pairs and discard the other card. You might get a full-house

Jacks or Better: Keep the pair, discard the rest

Keep the Jacks, King, Queen or Ace. Discard the rest upon losing the opening hand.


Popular Terms

The game is made up of old terms and new words, giving it a taste of both worlds.

ActionFull sum wagered in a game by the player.

Bet Max: The 05 coin per hand wager.

DiscardCards rejected by the player after the initial deal.

FlushA hand in which all five cards belong to the same suit.

Four of a Kind A hand in which all four cards have the same value.

Full-HouseHand having a pair and three of a kind.

HandCards which the machines dole out to the player.

HoldCards accepted by the player after the initial deal.

Jackpot: Highest bonus achievable is generally given for a royal flush.

PairTwo cards of precise identical worth, i.e. two Jacks or two 2s.

Pay BackProjected payout ratio in a game, calculated from statistics for millions of hands.

Payout: Sum rewarded out to the player for one hand.

Pay TableA listing of payouts for every scenario exhibited on the monitor.

Royal FlushThe best achievable hand in Video Poker constitutes an Ace-high flush of the identical suit.

Straight: Five successive cards, such as 1-5.

Straight Flush: A straight that has all the cards from an identical suit.

Winning Hand: Winning Hand is a hand that pays out a winning arrangement.

Tips

Once you’ve found your footing, you may wish to progress a little further. So, to help you improve on your video poker skills, here are some tips:

Getting Started

For any player ready to embark on their video poker journey, we have put together a 5-step process to get things going. The steps are simple to follow, so pay attention to them:

1 Do Some Reading

Before you place that first bet, it pays to make sure that you know what's going on. Unfortunately, too many individuals have fallen into playing without understanding the game. If you are unsure, it makes sense to read up on the essential elements of video poker. Go through the rules, look at the different game types and check out which casinos have what you're looking for.

2 Select a Casino

Once you've completed your research, you can choose a casino. Look out for licensed casinos that offer great bonuses and various video poker variations.

3 Get in the Game

When you've settled on your preferred casino, it's time to take action and select your video poker game. Different games have different minimum stakes and payout structures, so choose wisely.

4 Place That Bet

Playing free video poker games may help build confidence; the only way to enjoy video poker is by placing that first bet. Feel free to start slowly. Many online casinos offer minimum bet requirements, so you don't have to break the bank.

5 Know your Pay Tables

Payout tables are a critical component of the video poker experience. Payouts are based on hand ranking, so make sure you understand these. In addition, most video poker screens will include a running payout table to keep players in the loop.

Terminology

Getting to grips with the lingo used in the online video poker space can be painful. However, we have tried to simplify the process by supplying a list of glossary terms to help you make sense of the video poker arena. So study the terms, get comfortable with the jargon, and soon be ready to go!

Video Poker Glossary

Video Poker Types

Introduction to the most popular types of video poker games:

Classic Video Poker

Video poker is an online casino game based on the ever-popular five-card draw poker variant in its simplest form. It is played on a small console similar to a slot machine in the live environment. But, in the online space, Players can play video poker on any computer or laptop.

All Aces

All Aces video poker builds on the back of the Jacks or Better game. The primary difference is its payouts. This video poker offers an increased payout for four-of-a-kind and decreased payout amounts for several other hands.

Aces and Eights

Aces and Eights video poker is contested between the player and the dealer. The dealer deals with five cards, and the player can discard those cards he doesn't need. Like so many other video poker games, Aces and Eights relies heavily on the play of Jacks or Better, but it offers higher payouts for several four-of-a-kind hand combinations.

High-Speed Poker

High-speed Poker is a quick game that is played against the dealer. It features three betting rounds: the Ante Bet, Play Bet and Bonus Bet (optional). The game is set up to move along speedily, so the software used in the game will enable players to make quick decisions.

Bonus Deuces Wild

Bonus Deuces Wild is based on the classic video poker game Deuces Wild. This title has been modified to increase the likelihood of a player landing a winning hand. Bonus Deuces Wild offers additional payouts for five-of-a-kind hands and any royal flush hand that includes a wild card. The creators have also reduced the payout amount of lower value hands like the flush and the straight.

Double Double Bonus Poker

Double Double Bonus poker utilises the 'Jacks or Better' concept, but it changes the various payouts. With Double Double Bonus, players are treated to bonus payout amounts for different four-of-a-kind hands.

Double Joker

Double Joker is a variation of the Joker Poker video poker game. The game centres on the two joker wild cards, which can be substituted for any other card, to form winning combinations. All the different aspects of video poker are present in the game.

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is the most well-known video poker variant. With this game, the usual poker rules apply. Players are dealt five cards and will then decide which card to hold and which ones to replace. The significant difference here is that payouts only begin with a pair of jacks. This variant forms the basis of many other video poker games.

Tens or Better

Tens or Better is another video poker variation based on the Jacks or Better concept. The rules and gameplay are similar to other video poker games. However, the minimum payout in this game is a pair of tens.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is a widely-played variant of video poker. In this game, all twos are wild. These wild cards can substitute for any other card to form a better poker hand. As a result, the game is more accessible for individuals to play. However, the payouts are not the highest.

Aces and Faces

Aces and Faces is a video poker variation that aligns with the classic video poker rules. As with other video poker variants, the main distinction here is the payout amounts on offer.

Bonus Poker

The Bonus Poker variant is, in many ways, similar to Jacks or Better. Like Jacks or Better, the lowest-paying combination is a pair of Jacks. In addition, however, Bonus Poker offers a variety of bonuses for varying four-of-a-kind hands.

Joker’s Wild

Joker’s Wild is another popular video poker variant. As the title suggests, the joker card plays a central role. In the game, the joker is wild and will substitute for all other cards to create a winning hand.

All American

All American video poker provides us with another Jacks or Better concept adaptation. All American has maintained the same formula, but they have increased payout amounts for flushes, straights and straight flushes. They have also reduced payout amounts for full houses and two pairs.

Poker Pursuit

Poker Pursuit video poker is quite similar to high stakes poker in that it also uses various ante/raise stages. According to the payout table, a player will be paid if he lands any winning combinations.

SuperJax

SuperJax is an online-only video poker game. It follows the same rules as standard video poker. However, the game includes an additional card, the SuperJax. This card pays out a progressive jackpot if a player lands four jacks and the SuperJax card.

Mega Jacks

Mega Jacks is another video poker variant based on the Jacks or Better poker game. This game offers a progressive jackpot with no wild cards. The progressive jackpot pays out if a player lands a royal flush while using the maximum number of coins.

Louisiana Double Poker

Louisiana Double Poker is played with a 53 card deck. The Double Card does not act as a wild. It will, however, double your wins if it is present in any winning combination. The lowest winning combination is a pair of jacks, while the highest winning combination is a Royal Flush.

2-Ways Royal

Another video poker variant is based on the Jacks or Better concept. The main difference is that 2-way Royal contains two royal flush combinations – a high royal flush and a low royal flush.

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FAQ

A pat hand refers to a hand that has been dealt that you cannot improve on. For example, if you have been dealt a royal flush, you cannot do much better than that.

You most certainly can. Whether you’re playing online or in a live environment, the strategies used in video poker remain the same. So go ahead and try them out!

A full-pay video poker machine offers the best payouts available. The RTP is often close to 100%.

Many online casino sites provide tons of free-to-play video poker games. This video poker offers players an excellent opportunity to find the games they like without risking money.

As with many casino games, video poker is based mainly on the element of chance rather than skill. This fact means that there is no definitive way to win the game. You can undoubtedly use strategies to improve your performance, but the randomised nature of the game means that players are constantly relying on luck.

Yes, the hands ranking is the same as in the live environment. Video poker games include a hands ranking chart so that players can keep track of their potential payouts.

Yes, there is. If you are playing at a licensed online casino, you can check up with the regulatory bodies that license them. Licensed online casinos focus on compliance, and the rules placed on them by the respective governing bodies are onerous. This option means that online casinos will go above and beyond to ensure that all of their games are fair and transparent.

There is no special software package that you will need. Most online casinos will provide downloadable software if required for the set of casino games. Other online casinos allow you to play the games directly from the casino site.

Various video poker games are available, but most are variations of the Jacks or Better video poker game. All of the video poker games follow the same format. The significant differences stem from the payout structure.

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