Playing video poker online has become very popular in the last couple of decades, as the internet and mobile phone technology has made this form of poker easily accessible to millions of people.
While almost everyone with even a passing knowledge of gambling knows something about the game of poker, video poker might be something entirely new to you. It is actually a very simple form of the game, where the player makes a bet on the five cards that are dealt to them. They are then given a chance to choose which cards to hold and which to discard, then new cards are dealt to replace them. You then receive a payout (or not) based on the results of your hand.
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Playing Video Poker at Online Casinos
Video poker has been part of online casinos since the early days, but a lot has changed since then. Since it’s not as simple to play like slot games, many players frown upon it. Then again, it has a decent, loyal following, players who despise slots and other RNG based games. Note, video poker games are also RNG based, but with a few tricks up your sleeve, there are games which have more than 100% of RTP. For what it's worth here's a table with reasons to play video poker.
Advantages
|
Advantage |
Reason |
|
Simple to play |
Video poker is as easy to play as a slots game |
|
Requires skill |
Unlike a slots game, a video poker game requires tactics, it is not completely random. |
|
Solo game |
You can play video poker on your own, you do not need to join a game. |
|
Low house edge |
Of all casino games, video poker has the lowest house edge, making it more likely that you will win. |
As you can see from the table, video poker games are much suitable for the casual poker player who likes to play a few hands on their mobile device. They also offer a good way to learn the intricacies of poker, if you are looking to play proper poker against real opponents in the future.
The Basics
When you log onto your online casino account for a game of video poker, these are the steps to take.
- Select the type of video poker you want to play at your online casino
- Begin a hand by hitting the play max credits button or its equivalent
- When your hand is dealt, select the cards you want to retain or discard using the hold/cancel buttons
- Use the deal or draw button to save selected cards and replace the ones you want to discard
- Collect your winnings, accept your losses and repeat the process for a new hand
One of the most appealing things about playing video poker online is its simplicity and accessibility. As you can see from the above steps, a game of video poker is much less complex than the kind of game that you will encounter in a ‘proper’ poker room.
In order to assess your chances of winning in each hand you are dealt, it is a good idea to use a pay table. We will explain what a pay table is in the next section of this guide.
Using a Pay Table
When playing video poker online it is always useful to use a pay table. A pay table clarifies the likelihood and size of the winnings that you can expect to gain from certain hands. Before you log onto your online casino account and play video poker, you should make sure that you have a solid understanding of the terminology of poker. This includes the names and card composition of each hand.
Along the top of the table the bet size is shown in coins. The winnings associated with each hand are displayed in the main body of the table.
|
Bet size (coins) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Royal Flush |
250 |
500 |
750 |
|
|
Straight Flush |
50 |
100 |
150 |
|
|
Four of a Kind |
25 |
50 |
75 |
|
|
Full House |
9 |
18 |
27 |
|
|
Flush |
6 |
12 |
18 |
|
|
Straight |
4 |
8 |
12 |
|
|
Three of a Kind |
3 |
6 |
9 |
|
|
Two pairs |
2 |
4 |
6 |
|
|
Pair of Jacks plus |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Bet size (coins) |
4 |
5 |
||
|
Royal Flush |
1000 |
4000 |
||
|
Straight Flush |
200 |
250 |
||
|
Four of a Kind |
100 |
125 |
||
|
Full House |
36 |
45 |
||
|
Flush |
24 |
30 |
||
|
Straight |
16 |
20 |
||
|
Three of a Kind |
12 |
15 |
||
|
Two pairs |
8 |
10 |
||
|
Pair of Jacks plus |
4 |
5 |
||
Remember the Random Element
Unlike more conventional forms of poker, you are only given one betting interval in which to place a wager. As with online slots, a Random Number Generator (RNG) is often used to determine the cards that are drawn. This can make formulating an effective strategy a different challenge to playing normal poker, but to do well at video poker you will still need to give things some thought. You can determine outcomes with your actions, unlike a slots game.
Here, we will give you a basic guide to playing video poker online. You can find out a little bit more about bonuses, casinos that offer video poker, and a few basic hints and tips to get you started in your search for the best video poker machines to play.
Video Poker Bonuses
Promotions and bonuses are important, both to casual and avid video poker players. However, since the games have such high RTPs, casinos do not put video poker that easily amongst the games you can play with bonus money. Nevertheless, there are still some available as we are about to find out below.
Signup Bonuses – New Player Bonuses
Fresh starts can be difficult, which is why welcome bonuses are probably the most important type of video poker bonuses. You’ll need the extra bonus funds until you get noticed by the casino operator, and get that VIP status you deserve and want so much. Note, when we say a video poker welcome bonus, we mean bonuses that have wagering requirements that can be completed playing video poker games. They’re not as common as many of you’d expect! Make sure you claim your welcome bonus immediately after you sign up. Also, in case you need a bonus code for the welcome bonus, get it right the first time!
Free Money
Probably the most sought type of bonuses amongst players into video poker, free money. You might also come across video poker no deposit bonuses, which is pretty much the same. However, the latter is usually used to refer to new player no deposit bonuses for video poker players. We're not that into no deposit bonuses for video poker players because they typically come with hefty wagering requirements that are impossible to complete, not to mention that there are many of them with cashout limits.
Note, you can find these bonuses labelled as Free Play or No Deposit Bonuses in our bonus listings.
Tournaments & Races
They've grown out of fashion over the years. Slot games and live casino games have taken over the online gaming industry in full. Video poker tournaments are extremely rare. Only a few online casinos showcase online video poker tournaments. The worst part, you have to pay a buy-in, which discourages a lot of players from giving them a try.
Races are a different type of promotion, or better said a competition. Instead of having to win the most money during a given period, players have to wager the most. That being said, the results can be misleading. The video poker player at the top of the leaderboard is not necessarily the best one. It shows the one that's wagered the most, which puts high rollers at an advantageous position.
Online Video Poker Bonuses are Scarce
Unfortunately, online video poker bonuses are scarce, which is why we recommend you to take advantage of every opportunity that presents to you. As a VIP player, you'll be given more bonus opportunities. Sticking with an online casino for the sake of becoming a VIP, but if the video poker offer is admirable, doesn't sound all that bad. Many players are doing it. After all, it's not like a new video poker game gets released every month as slot games do. Find your favourite video poker online casino, prove your worth, and become a VIP. Besides custom bonus deals, you will get access to account managers, better customer support, higher cashout limits, faster withdrawals and so on.
Can You Apply Strategies As a Bonus Player?
Many experienced video poker players have mastered the game, and they don't apply any textbook strategies. They play the game, and it's their style, their approach to winning the game. You will find many different strategies, tips and advice for video poker and how to increase your odds. You can apply any strategy you like, but not as a bonus player. Why? Because there's a bet limit for bonus players, which restricts players from using most popular strategies.
Additionally, some rules prevent all players, including video poker ones, to manipulate the bet size. For example, if you win a big prize, then reduce the bet size, this can put you under investigation and have your winnings voided. This goes for video poker bonus players only.
Former Slot Players Turned Video Poker Enthusiasts
If you’re one of those players that are sick of the low slot RTPs, and you’ve gotten into video poker, there a few things you should know about. Bet size matters, because it affects the RTP of the game. It’s all about the big prizes, especially the royal flush. Most slot players have never played their favourite slots with max bet. Well, as a video poker player, you might have to raise the stakes to see the returns go up. Again, make sure you're not breaking any bonus terms, that is if you're a bonus player.
The rules are different! Depending on which game you play, meaning is it Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, your chances of winning will change accordingly.
Lastly, unlike slots, in video poker, you are in charge. Not in full, but to some extent, you set the RTP. An optimal strategy can make the difference between a poor video poker run and a decent profit at the end of the day. Nevertheless, in time, you will move away from strategies, special approaches, and you will put your video poker play on auto-pilot!
Pay Close Attention to Wagering Requirements
When playing video poker using a casino bonus, it is very important to remember that the game contributes to wagering requirements at a vastly lower rate than slots games. While a bet on a slots game will count 100% towards wagering requirements, video poker’s contribution is often less than 10%, and sometimes as low as 2%.
When you sign up for a casino bonus it is vital that you check all wagering requirements that are attached to that bonus. If you want to make use of your bonus casino credit by playing video poker online, then you need to take note that it will take a longer time to meet wagering requirements. For this reason, if you’re keen on video poker games, smaller initial deposits and smaller bonuses might be a good idea. That way, you can burn through the requirements more quickly while keeping your bonus balance intact.
Casinos Where You Can Play Video Poker Online
If you’re looking for the best video poker machines to play, there are hundreds of online casinos to choose from. As we have mentioned above, one thing to always consider when you’re looking for a good casino where you can play video poker games then you should always pay close attention to the welcome bonus on offer. A good welcome bonus certainly helps to make you feel a lot friendlier towards an online casino. It is not the only thing that you should be considering, though.
A really important factor to consider is the range of video poker games on offer at a casino. If a casino only has two or three variants of the game, then it probably doesn’t take the game very seriously. You are unlikely to pick up additional bonuses or enjoy enough variation to keep you interested for long. Always choose casino that has plenty of varieties of poker video games on offer.
Best Casinos Online
Some casinos that video poker players may want to try include Betway, BetVictor and PartyCasino. There are hundreds of options out there now for fans of the game, but it is vital that you always check the options on offer before you sign up for an account. Some casinos will offer a more valuable bonus in addition to the initial matched deposit, in the form of free games. While many casinos offer free games on slots, some will offer free games for their poker video games too.
Best Video Poker Machines to Play
When choosing from the massive range of video poker games that you can find online, it is important to look for a reliable software developer. Most casinos will use video poker software that has been developed by a specialist games developer. Many of these companies also produce slots games as well as poker video games, so you may be familiar with these names if you’re a keen casino gamer already.
Microgaming Games
Microgaming has been active in the games industry since 1994, and has acquired a reputation for the high quality of its graphics, in its poker video games as well as its slots titles. Microgaming’s video poker games also have a lower house edge, giving you a greater chance of winning, something that is popular with people who enjoy playing video poker online.
Playtech Games
Playtech was established in Estonia in 1999 by an entrepreneur called Teddy Sagi. They produce some popular poker video games, including variations such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and All South African. You can find Playtech video poker at many online casinos and seeing their name is a sure sign of quality.
Pragmatic Play Games
Pragmatic Play is one of many online games developers that are based in Malta. Established in 2011, they are particularly known for their Jacks or Better variant of video poker, which has an attractive Return to Player percentage of 99.54%.
Video Poker Strategy
Although playing video poker is not as intense or as tactically demanding as playing poker at a table against human opponents, you still need to keep a few things in mind if you want to be successful when you are playing. Elsewhere at this site you can find a full guide to video poker strategy, but here are a few brief pointers to keep in mind when you begin playing.
Some Basic Tips and Hints for Playing Video Poker
Video poker has a moderately low house edge when compared with other forms of online gambling. This means that you can enjoy success if you are prepared to put a little thought into shaping your strategy.
Remember that you are not facing a dealer or other players when you are playing video poker online. You should also check the pay schedules for the variant of the game that you are playing, to see what the typical Return to Player (RTP) rate is. This can help you assess your chances of success. It is also worth checking the house edge for the different types of video poker on offer at your favoured online casino.
It is also a good idea to become as familiar as possible with the variant of the game that you have opted to play, and also to practice playing it if a free play option is available at your chosen online casino.
Classic Table Game Meets Slots!
As you can see, when it comes to video poker games there are plenty of options out there. When you are choosing an online casino it is important that you see how many variants of the game are available. It is also a good idea to check the value of the welcome bonus that is being offered. An important aspect of the bonus to check is the wagering requirements, as playing video poker online never counts towards meeting these at the same rate as other casino games, like slots.
When you’re playing video poker there are few strategic things to keep in mind too. Always learn as much as possible about the variant of the game that you are playing, and practice it in free play mode if you can. Video poker is an enjoyable and entertaining form of the game, especially if you approach it with a positive attitude.