Video poker is a popular online casino game that can bring both recreational and professional players huge rewards. When it comes to video poker, there is a certain charm about the simplicity it brings. The casino game bears some resemblance to video slots with the rules of poker applied. One of the main attractions of video poker is that it allows for gamblers to apply skill and strategy into the mix, thus providing a thrilling and rewarding experience. You may be wondering why it is a well-liked game due to the lack of colourful graphics and engaging sound effects that video slots bring to interactive gambling. Video poker presents you with attractive potential returns of over 99% in some cases, neither blackjack nor roulette can boast house edges as low. That is why we have put together this helpful guide to assist you in taking your video poker to the next level. In a world full of gambling industries and progressing technology, both of which are excelling at shocking speeds, players are presented with an unending list of opportunities. In the last 20 or so years, the two have combined and flourished at alarming rates. Now, online casinos provide gamblers with the same glamorous feel that the good old brick and mortar gambling dens can. With new gambling casinos popping up all over the place, it can be tricky trying to locate a trustworthy operator that also provides quality, variety, and the potential of huge rewards. That is why our team of vetted gamblers have gotten together to form the ultimate guide to upping your video poker game. To do so, you must also acquaint yourself with the best online casinos for video poker. Our research team has put in a lot of time and effort to selectively hand-pick only the best gambling portals for our readers. Here are a few reasons to give our selection of video poker casinos a try. In our shortlist of best online casinos for video poker, we select a range from renowned casinos that operate under strict regulations. More specifically, we recommend gambling portals with licenses issued from the UK. This means that all players based in the United Kingdom can be sure of lawful game time. Not only that, but you can also be sure that no funny business goes on when the UK Gambling Commission oversees everything. These guys conduct rigorous inspections on all of their licensees to ensure that none of them soils their reputation. If a casino does in some way do so, the UKGC is unforgiving in its sanctions. Another huge factor in the popularity of this type of game is the RNG technology that is incorporated into the making of all video poker titles. RNG (random number generation) is a special programme that is applied to ensure the simulation of a perfectly shuffled deck of cards. This programme is used to determine the outcome of the game and make sure that every hand dealt is completely random. Randomness is an important part of all casino games, as it guarantees fair play and authentic gameplay. If you are a relative newcomer to the iGaming scene, you may not be familiar with the works of video poker. Even professional players can use a bit of refreshing on the subject at times. That is why our experienced team has put together this section on the basic rules of the game. As a brief introduction before we get into the details, video poker bears some similarities with standard 5-card draw versions of poke. A pair of jacks is the lowest paying combination, called jacks or better, which followed up to be the name of the most basic version of video poker. While the game is extremely simple, a little inkling of the rules will greatly increase your chances of playing the system to win big. Video poker, also known as draw poker, has adopted the larger part of its rules from poker. Players that are familiar with poker will find it easier to grasp how the hand ranking works. Here, we have put together an inventory of the standard hands and their rankings that you will encounter in your video poker journey. Of course, some variations of the game may have slight differences, but there are several that are typical in every variation of it. That is it for the ranking of the typical hands in video poker, now for the fun stuff. In many variations of the game, hands formed by certain card values will offer bonus rewards. That means that if you land a hand, but with specific cards (aces for example), you will receive a much larger reward than is usual for this rank of hand. Some of the variations that offer bonus payouts include Double Double Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, among others. We are going to walk you through the different kinds of bonus payouts you can encounter in the video poker industry. When having a go at video poker, it is important to not just dive into the deep end and hope for the best. Many players make the mistake of thinking that video poker has the same level of randomness as slots. However, that is not the case. In video poker, players have the chance to show their skill and manipulate the game’s probability into coughing up the maximum rewards. This is because while in slot games, what you get is what you get and nothing more, in video poker, players get the opportunity to select their cards and form optimal combinations. All you need to do is brush up a little on your technique and learn a bit about outcome probability to learn how to play video poker to your advantage. Each version of video poker will have an altered strategy plan. However, there are a few principle guidelines that new players can follow. The main rule is to never break up a winning combination like a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Quads, Full House, and Two Pair. It is important to mention that not all winning combinations should be preserved. For instance, if you hold four cards of a Royal Flush, it is advisable to break your hand if you hold a Straight or a Flush to allow for the opportunity of a big win. A common mistake made by newbies is when they hold a Two Pair and a high card, you should discard the high card and keep your pair. This is even if you hold a low pair, such as two 2s. Another principle rule is that if you hold a Set (3 of a Kind), you must discard the two that do not form a winning combination. Among the list of the novice mistakes is holding onto unsuited high cards. The only exception to that rule is if you have 3 consecutive cards to a Royal Flush. In that case, you should discard all other cards. If you have a Straight, you should discard one card if possible and aim for a higher-paying combination. An important pointer in video poker is to never underestimate the power of strategic play. Both chance and cunning are combined in this game, you should always try and think clearly, play slowly, and apply calculated strategies. It is also vital that you work on your gambling funds management plan. We recommend having a few separate sessions on various demo modes before actually playing with real money. This is so you can understand the “feel” of the game. And the final tip from our veteran video poker players, always opt for the full-pay version of a video poker game. Do not waste your time or efforts on less rewarding variations. As some slots and other casino games can have progressive jackpots incorporated into their works, so can video poker. Unlike slots, the progressive jackpot network is local, thus making the accumulation levels smaller than those of slots. But that is not to say that progressive video poker is not worth your time, rather quite the contrary. Much like the prize pools of progressive slots, video poker prize pools start from a specified sum and increase with every bet made on that specific game. The best thing about progressive jackpots is that they have no limit on how much they will grow. It is typical for the Royal Flush to be the hand that bags the jackpot. So, the prize pool continues growing until a player lands the triggering hand. The player will receive the payout for a Royal Flush, usually around 4,000 credits. After which, it will reset to the seed amount. There are not many differences between gameplay in video poker and progressive video poker. In fact, other than the progressive jackpot, players will hardly notice any alterations in terms of rules. Progressive video poker, however, rarely offers full-pay variants. When playing progressive jackpots, it is important to not fall for the common belief that the chance of winning the prize increases as the pool does. It is just more worth your time and funds. Players must also remember to play more flexibly in progressive games. The decisions one makes and the risks are taken should also be very calculated. Take into consideration the size of the prize pool at all times, playing more aggressively as it increases. A Royal Flush has a hit frequency of once in every 45,000 draws. Adjusting your strategy will increase your odds of landing the winning hand, but you should also keep in mind that you can lose a lot of money while waiting for the Royal Flush. On that note, the volatility of progressive video poker increases proportionately to the prize pool. That means that while shifting strategy will increase your chances of landing that winning hand, the likelihood of hitting smaller wins will decrease.Best UK Online Casinos
Why Trust Our Shortlisted Video Poker Casinos?
We Recommend UK-Licensed Casinos
All Video Poker Games are Certified for Randomness
Free Play Is an Option
You Can Pick From a Variety of Tables
Full-Pay Variants are Available
Multi-Hand Play
The Basic Rules of Video Poker
Deck Number and Objectives
Not unlike 5-draw poker, video poker is a game played with a single deck of 52 cards consisting of twos through aces. The aim of the game is to collect cards that will form a winning combination, so choose your cards well. You will receive different payouts depending on the type of combination you formed.The Initial Deal
When you start the game, you will receive an initial 5 cards from the deck. They will be dealt at random, and the deck is shuffled by RNG technology before randomly picking 5 to deal. When you receive these cards, you may select any, all, or none of them to help you form your winning combination. Whether or not you win depends on the deal after you have chosen your cards.Standing Pat
Standing pat is when a player decides to keep all of the cards they were initially dealt. This is an event that occurs when the gambler is betting on the dealt hand to be better than any other option the deck could have provided them with. Standing pat represents a very strong hand, so only do so when you are completely sure.The Draw
Players’ second hand will be dealt when they press the draw button. If you have managed to form a winning combination, you will receive a payout. The amount you win will depend on the type of hand you made. You can check the sums you can win by taking a look at the paytable. It is good to keep in mind that some paytables may vary slightly.The Paytable
When you open a video poker game, you should always check out the paytable to make sure there is not a more rewarding version of the game available. The paytable will present you with a list of the possible combinations and how many times the wagered amount you will receive if you land it. Paytables are generally presented on the screen as you play.Betting Levels
Different variations of video poker may present different betting ranges. Simply put, you select a coin value and then adjust the number of coins you wish to bet on your hand. The standard coin values range between £0.05 and £5, but that may vary depending on the variation of the game you are playing.Gamble Feature
All variants of video poker have the so-called gamble feature. Each provider will have different gamble features available in their games. Players must build a strategy when deciding to take a risk, as it is just as likely to lose everything as to multiply your winnings. There is no use in betting on dumb luck. The gamble feature is generally a pick-a-card method. Whether you will be selecting a suit, colour, or trying to find the highest value from a selection of cards, they all go by the same principle. If you win the gamble, your winnings will double, if not, you will walk away with nothing.Wild Cards
Wild cards may stand in for any of the other cards in the deck. Say for instance you are 1 card away from a full house, but that 1 card is your wild one. It will be able to play the role of your missing card, thus allowing you to reap the rewards for a full house. The wild card is usually represented by the joker, and there is typically only one, though some versions have 2. In one very popular variation of the game, the deuces (or twos) serve as the wilds, giving Deuces Wild its name. The Hand Ranking in Video Poker
Pair (Jacks or Better/Tens or Better)
At the bottom of the hand, ranking is Pair. If you have not managed to collect a better combination, two cards of the same denomination will bring players 1x the stake. That means that you will not have lost your wager, but you will not have won anything either.It is worth a mention that not all pairs will bring you a win, however. In the majority of cases, you will have to have a pair of Jacks for it to count. Some games, such as tens or better, will allow for a Pair to be formed from cards as low as 10s. Players have an estimated 1 in 2.38 chance of forming this hand.Two Pair
The next in line is Two Pair. As the name suggests, this hand is formed of 2 sets of 2 cards of the same denomination. For example, if you match two Aces and two Tens, you will reap the rewards of a Two Pair.Players will usually receive about 2x the bet for this hand. Players have an estimated 1 in 20 chance of getting a Two Pair in the larger part of video poker games, including Jacks or BetterSet
A Set is when a player manages to form a hand with 3 cards of the same value. This hand can also be heard of as 3 of a Kind or Trips. An example of a Set would be a hand of K-K-K-7-3.If you manage to land such a hand, you will most likely receive 3x the stake as a reward. The odds of forming a Set is 1 in 50 hands. With the second draw, your odds only go upwards.Straight
The next ranking hand is Straight. A player has achieved this hand when they have collected 5 consecutive cards, though not of the same suit. For instance, a player will have a Straight if they have a hand consisting of 7-8-9-10-J, and they are not suited.Players will generally receive 3 or 4 times the wager for this hand. Your odds of hitting this hand on the first deal is about 1 in 256, but with the second draw, your chances will increase.Flush
Players will have formed a Flush when they have a hand of 5 non-consecutive cards of the same suit. An example of a Flush would be 2-5-9-J-A of one suit, let us say Clubs for instance.Forming this hand will bring players a reward of would be in and around 5 or 6 times the wager. The odds of landing a Flush on your first draw is roughly around 1 in 500 but elevates with the second.Full House
The fourth-ranking hand in video poker is a Full House. This hand is made by gathering a combination of 3 cards with the same value and then another 2. An example of a Full House would be 3-3-3-10-10.Players will receive a reward of between 5 and 9 times your stake in most variations of video poker, so keep your eyes peeled for decent payouts. The likelihood of landing this hand in video poker is about 1 in 700 with the first deal but increases with the second draw.Quads
Quads are the next ranking hand in video poker. Players will have achieved forming a quad when they have 4 cards of the same value in their hand. You may have also heard it called Four of a Kind. Let us say you had a hand consisting of 7-7-7-7-10, you would receive the payout for Quads.The payout for this kind of hand is generally between 20x and 30x the wager. Jacks or Better games typically offer 25x the stake. Deuces Wild, however, has a much better payout for this kind of hand. Players can win 200x the stake for landing Quads in this variation of video poker. During the first draw, your odds of landing Quads is estimated at about 1 in 4,000 but increases with the second.Straight Flush
The second-ranking hand in video poker is the Straight Flush. You can form this hand by collecting 5 consecutive cards, but this time of the same suit, unlike the Flush. The only exception to this would be 10-J-Q-K-A, as this is the highest-ranking hand, the Royal Flush. But we will get to that shortly.An example of a Straight Flush would be 5-6-7-8-9 in Hearts, for instance. Landing this hand will have you reaping the rewards that usually range between 40 and 60 times your wager. The estimated odds of landing a Straight Flush is around 1 in 72,000, but that yet again increases with the second draw.Royal Flush
Now we get to the fun part. The highest-ranking hand in video poker is the Royal Flush. This five-card combination needs to consist of suiting 10-J-Q-K-A. Payouts for this rewarding hand can vary between 200 and even up to 300 times the stake, though the standard payout is 250 to 1.The Royal Flush is a key hand for players that are after some jackpot prizes, as in most variations of video poker, this hand will bring a special jackpot other than the payout. The odds of landing such a hand are estimated to be in and around 1 in 649,740 hands. Bonus Payouts
Quads with Aces
Quads are when you land four of a kind. However, some variations of video poker offer massive rewards for landing four Aces in a hand. The standard payout for Quads was between 20-30x the stake, whereas landing 4 Aces can reward players between 80-160x the wager. For instance, Double Double Bonus Poker will award 160x the bet for this special hand.Quads with Deuces through 4s
Players that form a hand consisting of four 2s, 3,s, or 4s in some variations of video poker, will receive a bonus payout. While the standard payout of Quads is usually between 20 and 30 times the stake, you can receive 80x the stake for this hand. A popular game that has a bonus payout for this type of hand is Double Double Bonus Poker. Bonus Poker rewards 40x the bet for this kind of hand.Quads with 5s through Kings
A follow up from the previous type of bonus payout, Quads formed by four of a kind of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, or K, will also award more than the standard Four of a Kind. In return for forming such a hand, players can expect a payout of around 50x the wager in certain variations of video poker. Players can receive such a bonus payout from Double Double Bonus Poker.Five of a Kind
You may think this is impossible, as there are no more than 4 cards of a kind per deck of playing cards. However, some versions of video poker have what we call a wild card. These can be deuces, jacks, or some other card, depending on the variation of the game and the rules that apply. If you have four of a kind in your hand and the fifth card is what we call a wild card, you will have achieved a hand called 5 of a Kind. The typical payout for this hand is around 12-16x the wager.Wild Royal Flush
As we mentioned above, players can expect to find wild cards in some variations of video poker. That enables players to form what is known as a Wild Royal Flush. These are generally not as rewarding as a natural Royal Flush but still can offer bonus payouts of between 20-30x the stake per coin bet.Four Deuces
Deuces are also known as 2s. Forming a combination of 4 of these cards can bring players massive rewards. In the well-known variation of video poker, Deuces Wild,players can reap a nice bonus payout of 200x the stake. This version is extremely popular due to its amazing payout percentages. Full-pay Deuces Wild has an RTP of 100.76%.Four Aces or 8s
In the popular online video poker game Aces and 8s, there is a special award for players that land such a hand. If you have 4 of a kind of As or 8s, you will be able to claim 80x the wager if you have bet a single coin. The payout increases with the bet level. There is a potential win of 320x the stake for a hand containing 4 of either of the two.Player Expectation and Optimal Strategy Play
Progressive Video Poker
Game Variations
Video Poker
Major Suppliers of Video Poker Software
Even though video poker is not as popular as some of the more glamorous casino games such as slots, all of the big software providers have crafted their own versions of it. Different variants of the game will present players with varying paytables, though some producers allow the casinos to tweak them to their standards.
Plates never used to have such a rich selection. Nowadays, players have a wide selection of video poker. Here we have put together a list of a few providers, esteemed for their quality games with excellent graphics, sound effects, and animations.
Microgaming
Louisiana Double PokerMicrogaming is, without a doubt, a leading software provider on the iGaming scene. These guys have over 20 years in the industry under their belt. This company has created hundreds and hundreds of quality casino games that are available to players online.
The unprecedented video poker selection by the software giants can be found in the larger part of online casinos. Microgaming is actually the provider of the largest range of this genre of game in the online gambling industry. Courtesy of the modern technology at Microgaming, the list of video poker titles are available for downloading or instant play.
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NetEnt
NetEnt is a Swedish provider, another among the highest ranks in the online gambling industry. In the two decades that it has been online, it has climbed its way up to the top and proven itself a successful gambling operator. The software provider has brought many outstanding games over the years, and many online gamblers enjoy their titles immensely.
You will find that this supplier has also crafted a diverse selection of quality video slots while in the game lab. Among the available tiles are Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Wild. They all include the double up feature that allows winning players to increase their profits up to 5 times. It is also worth a mention that none of the RTP’s fall under 97.95%.
Betsoft
Betsoft is a Malta-based software provider that has managed to make a name for itself since it fired up in 2006. They have amassed an impressive game library consisting of over 200 quality titles. The supplier has been particularly noticeable because of its cutting-edge 3D slots it has come out with over the years.
You will also find a satisfying selection of video poker variants. We discovered a diverse range of titles including Bonus Poker Multi-Hand, Split Way Royal, Deuces and Jokers Poker.
If you see a title from these guys, you can be sure of stunning animations, impeccable graphics, and an easy-to-use interface. The HTML5 games run perfectly on mobile devices as well as on the desktop. Betsoft guarantees an unforgettable gaming experience.
Playtech
The PaytablePlaytech is another old player on the online gambling block. With over 20 years of experience in the field, the provider now supplies over 50 top-end casinos with its premier-quality software. Players can find hundreds and hundreds of titles with their brand on it while surfing through various game catalogues of esteemed gambling domains.
Among the wide range of games by Playtech, gamblers can find a small but diverse selection of expertly-crafted video poker variants. Some of the titles provided by the software provider are available in multi-line format. This means that players can play multiple hands all at the same time. However, the less-volatile, single-hand games are also well-liked due to the higher payout percentages.
Our Recommended Online Video Poker Games
Video poker can be a thrilling experience. Not only that, it can be extremely rewarding if one has worked out an appropriate strategy and knows which games to invest in. It can take a lot of time to search through endless variants of video poker, however. There are many things to take into account, such as the RTP, whether it is a full-pay version or not, betting ranges, paytables, and so the list goes on. Worry not, our team of video poker veterans have done all the back work. Here is a selection of carefully selected titles that are definitely worth your time.
Full-Pay Jacks or Better Power
Jacks or Better Power Poker is 4 times the fun of the typical Jacks or Better version. That is because players will be able to play with 4 hands and thus have quadruple the chance of hitting a winning combination. The one we are going to look at is produced by Microgaming.
This one is played with 1 deck and the coin size can be adjusted from £0.25 to £5. The Royal Flush will bring you 4,000x the bet if you manage to land this rewarding hand. Combine that with the excellent RTP of 99.45% and you have yourself a quality video poker game. This game is a great start for beginner players as the rules are simple and there are no complicated features to confuse you while learning the ropes.
All Aces Poker
You will eventually grow tired of the novelty of Jacks or Better. We highly recommend you try out All Aces Poker when that occurs. This one is another favourite of ours from leading software providers, Microgaming. Since the rules barely vary between variations of video poker, players will have no trouble adjusting to this one.
The peculiar thing about this one is that the Royal Flush is not the most rewarding hand in All Aces, as it awards only 250x the bet per coin wagered. Landing 4 Aces brings the big prizes. Players will receive 400x the stake per coin bet. All Aces Poker also has an attractive RTP of 99.92%.
Double Bonus Poker
Double Bonus Poker is an excellent variation brought to players by Microgaming. There are other visions of it, but we especially like this one. The game has an RTP of 99.37%. You can play this version of video poker with 1, 3, 10, or 52 hands. The minimum coin bet is £0.05, while the maximum varies from the number of hands you play with.
Players have the potential win of 4,000x the bet if they manage to land the Royal Flush. There is also a rewarding double up feature available that gives this variation its name and allows you to double your profits. Players can win special payouts for different types of Four of a Kind hands as well.
Poker Pursuit
Poker Pursuit is the next fun variation from Microgaming we are going to look at. This one has an RTP of 97.09%. Surprisingly, this variation is not actually that popular among online casinos, it is one of those unappreciated treasures among the iGaming scene.
Players will find that Poker Pursuit brings a lot of classic table poker into the mix. First off, you place your bet and are dealt 3 cards. After you receive them, you decide whether to raise or continue as it is. After which you are dealt another card and are presented with the same options again. Then, finally, you are dealt the fifth. Based on your hand, you will receive the corresponding payout. The Royal Flush is the highest paying combination and awards up to 3000 coins.
Louisiana Double Poker
Another favourite of ours, Louisiana Double Poker by Microgaming, has an RTP of 93.45%. It is a great variation of Jacks or Better. While this may not seem like the most rewarding game at first glance, players have the chance to reap huge rewards if they play their cards right.
Louisiana Double Poker is played with a deck of 53. However, the extra card is not a Wild Card. It is called a Double Card and is the feature that brings this intriguing game its name. If the Wild Card appears in your hand, it will double your winnings if you have a hand of 4 or less. The minimum win is 1x the bet for Jacks or Better and the maximum win is 2,500 coins for a Royal Flush.
Common Video Poker Q&A
How is Video Poker Different from Slots?
Video poker usually has higher payout percentages than slots, to start. Also, every turn in slots is completely random and players have no control over the odds. While in video poker, players have the opportunity to tweak the outcome in their favour via strategy.
Is it Illegal to Play Video Slots Online?
This one is going to go unanswered, unfortunately. Regulations depend on the country you reside in as each state has different views on what should and should not be allowed if allowed at all in the gambling world. The majority of countries that allow online casinos to operate place no restrictions on video poker.
Is Video Poker Safe?
The iGaming scene can be a dodgy place if you do not know how to navigate yourself around the bad apples. As long as you stick to reputable, well-known online casinos, you will have no issues playing video poker or any other casino game for that matter.
How Can I Become a Skilled Video Poker Player?
Work on your strategy. And practice. Those are the two important factors of becoming a successful video player. We recommend trying out free play games and getting comfortable with the game before committing to playing with real money.
How Many Decks are Used in Video Poker?
One deck of 52 cards. That is unless there is a Wild Card thrown into the mix, which is typically the joker. Then the deck will consist of 53.