- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Great selection of slots
- High-quality live dealer games
- Excellent welcome bonus
- Crypto-friendly
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- 300+ games
- Crypto-friendly casino
- Live dealer jackpot
- Bonus galore for different verticals
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Accepts cryptocurrencies
- Generous welcome bonus
- Loyalty program
- Kahnawake Licence
Video poker has been around for decades and is extremely popular. A low house edge and greater winning possibilities are a major attraction to this game of skill, which is in essence a blend of slots and poker.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember that this is one game where the old saying ‘house has the advantage’, does not apply. Video poker is played with a standard 52-card deck where players are required to make the best 5 card hand.
There are several variants of video poker although the principle and objective of each game is the same. If you play the liberal tables properly, there is a chance of even getting 100% in returns if you include incentives such as cash back and free play.
Some of the popular variants of video poker include:
- Tens or Better
- Aces and Faces
- Deuces Wild
- Jacks or Better
- Joker Poker
- Double Double Bonus
- Deuces and Jokers
You will find most of these variants at online casinos with low stakes and high stakes.
At CasinoUSA.com, our experts suggest that slots players ought to consider video poker since the chances of cracking the jackpot are five times more. However, using a proper strategy is the key to success. And, that’s where we can help. All you need is to pay attention to the following sections.
Online Video Poker Basics
Playing video poker is as simple as 1, 2, 3. The dealer deals five cards. You need to decide which ones to keep, which you can do in online video poker by simply clicking on the relevant cards on the screen, and discarding the rest. When you hit the ‘Draw’ button the discarded cards are replaced. You win if you end up with a traditional poker hand such as a straight, two pair, full house, flush, etc. The amount you win depends on the pay-table for the relevant video poker variant you are playing.
Video Poker Pay-tables
Pay-tables feature five columns since the winnings depend on whether you played 1, 2, 3, 4,or 5 coins. In other words, you get to increase your bet and winnings on the number of coins played. It is always wise to deposit the maximum number of coins in a video poker game since it presents the opportunity to win the maximum amount.
One of the plus points of video poker is that you are aware of the returns before you begin playing. The house edge is roughly 3% which means you get back 97% of what you bet. The returns are determined by the pay-table, which varies depending on the variant played. Some games like Jacks or Better have a return as high as 99.54%. The bottom line is to choose video poker games with a good pay-table.
Video Poker Hands
Pay-tables are based on five-card poker hands that include:
- Royal Flush: Ace/King/King/Jack/10 of the same suit
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit (4,5,6,7,8)
- Four of a Kind: For cards of the same rank such as Ace of hearts or Ace of spades
- Full House: Two cards of one rank and three of another rank such as 8 of hearts, 8 of spades, 6 of diamonds, 6 of hearts, 6 of spades.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit such as Ace, 10, 8, 4, 3, 2 of hearts.
- Straight: A mixed suit of five consecutive cards such as 2 of hearts, 3 of diamonds, 4 of clubs, 5 of spades, 6 of diamonds.
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank such as 8 of clubs, 8 of hearts, 8 of diamonds
- Two Pair: Two cards of one rank and two of another such as 8 of diamonds, 8 of hearts, 7 of clubs, 7 of spades.
- Pair of jacks or better: Two jacks, queens, kings, or aces.
Video Poker Gems: Most Popular and Captivating Games That Keep Players Coming Back for More
Even though you may enjoy exploring the video poker sections at online casinos on your own, we’ve decided to come up with the list of the most popular titles you can’t go wrong with:
- Jacks or Better — This is one of the most common video poker variants offered by the majority of online casinos. If you bet 5 coins, the payout can go up to 800:1.
- Deuces Wild — Deuces Wild is another popular video poker version. In this game, 2s act as wilds and can substitute any card to help you form a winning hand.
- Aces & Eights — If you choose this title, you can expect bigger payouts for four Aces or four 8s. The version developed by RTG has the highest RTP — 99.78%.
- Double Bonus Poker — If you find a casino with a player-friendly pay table, you can play this game with a 100.17% payback rate. Also, the payout for a 4-of-a-kind hand will be higher compared to other video poker titles.
The Ultimate Showdown: Understanding the Differences Between Video Poker and Online Slots
On the surface, video poker doesn’t differ much from online slots, as both games rely on an RNG-generated outcome. However, while slots require no skill or strategy, video poker includes an additional step where your decision can affect the result.
When playing slot games, all you need to do is adjust the bet size and hit the Spin button. Yet, with video poker, you’ll receive random cards, after which you’ll have to choose the one you’d like to replace. In order to make the right choice, you’ll have to know how poker hands are made and be able to spot a pattern that could lead to a winning hand.
Want to learn more about the differences between video poker and slots? Check out our guide here.
Online Video Poker Strategy
There are a few simple rules that you can stick with in order to improve your chances of winning.
- Hold a two pair, royal flush, straight flush, full house, three of a kind or four of a kind. You and discard the remaining two cards in a three of a kind in order to get a chance at four of a kind. With a two pair, discard the fifth card for a shot at a full house.
- If you have four cards to a royal flush then it would be wise to break up a straight or flush. For example, if you have Ace/King/Queen/Jack/9 of hearts, discard the 9 for a chance to get the 10 of hearts. This also opens a window of opportunity to get a flush with another hearts, a straight with another 10 and a pair of jacks or better with an AKQ or J.
- Discard a single high card instead of a low pair.
- If you have four cards to a lower straight flush or royal flush break up a pair of jacks or better.
- Always play maximum bets or move to a lower stake machine that you can afford.
- Video poker offers high payouts but that doesn’t mean you can always break even.
- Never let short-term results let you down. If you play correctly, you will do well over time.
- Practice with play money before you place real money bets.
- Refrain from stretching your bankroll. If you want to start with $20 then head for machines that allow you to play five quarters at a time.
There’s much more to playing video poker so make sure to stay tuned to CasinoUSA.com for all the latest. Our experts have their finger on the pulse of everything to do with online video poker so make sure to keep coming back for more
Expert Tips and Techniques for Video Poker Fans
Although luck plays an important role in video poker, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of winning:
- Pick trusted online casinos with a decent selection of video poker titles so that you always have several options at your disposal.
- Check the pay table of your favorite video poker game and opt for a casino that offers the most rewarding pay chart.
- Play with maximum coins at all times to ensure the maximum payout whenever you win.
- Boost your account by claiming bonuses so that you can have extra funds for playing online poker.
- Take your time when making decisions, and only play video poker variants whose rules you fully comprehend.
Online Video Poker FAQ
If you’re interested in giving video poker a try but are confused by basic concepts, you might want to check out the following answers to the most popular questions about this casino game:
- Aces and Eights
- Aces and Faces
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Strategy
- Common Mistakes
- Deuces Wild
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Full Pay Video Poker
- Full vs. Short Pay
- How To Win
- Jacks or Better
- Jacks or Better Strategy
- Joker Poker
- Joker Poker Strategy
- Land-Based vs. Online
- Single vs. Multi-Hand
- Strategy Charts
- Tens or Better
- Tens or Better Strategy
- Video Poker Pay Tables
- Video Poker vs. Slots
- Video Poker vs. Table Poker