Video poker fans who are looking for something new and challenging should try one of NetEnt’s most popular variations of this casino game, namely Joker Wild. This is an interesting variation of video poker, which uses a 53-card deck – all 52 standard cards plus a Joker, which functions as a wild card.
Available in free-play mode or with bets from $/€0.10, Joker Wild by NetEnt is a great option for players who are willing to risk more for the chance to earn higher profits. Along with the conventional gameplay, the game offers up to 25 hands to be played simultaneously.
Rules and Gameplay
Joker Wild follows the basic rules of video poker with a few exceptions, of course. Each hand is dealt from a separate deck of cards, which includes all 52 cards from 2 to Aces and a Joker. The Joker can be a substitute for all standard cards in winning combinations.
Players have the option to play with 1, 5, 10, or 25 hands at the same time and choose the number and value of the coins for each bet. They can hold or discard the cards they receive initially and all cards they have chosen to keep remain in the same position in every active hand for the second deal. All winnings are paid automatically and they can be multiplied with the Gamble feature – it is available after each win and doubles the earnings if players guess the color of a face-down card.
Paytable and Specific Features
| Hand | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 400 | 800 | 1200 | 1600 | 4000 |
| 5 of a Kind | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 1000 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 10 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| 4 of a Kind | 15 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 75 |
| Full House | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 |
| Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Straight | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| 3 of a Kind | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 2 Pair | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Kings or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The presence of the Joker changes drastically the standard video poker game and to increase their winning chances, player should adjust their strategy accordingly. As we can see from the paytable, two additional winning hands can be formed here – Five of a Kind and Wild Royal Flush (with a Joker).
Since winning hands are easier to form due to the Joker in this game, the lowest-paying combination of cards is Kings or Better, i.e. a pair of Kings or a Pair of Aces. Players will not receive a payout for getting two Jacks or two Queens. Also, the Two Pair hand pays the same as Kings or Better.
Conclusion
This variation of video poker features high-quality graphics and convenient, easy-to-use layout, while the payouts for the higher hands are very attractive. Still, players should know that Joker Wild has an RTP of 97.95% when played with 5 coins and perfect strategy.