| Updated: Video poker is an intriguing and surprisingly rewarding casino game that follows the basic rules of draw poker but is much simpler than the traditional table game. Although it has been around for more than 30 years, many casino players are still unaware that video poker offers the best odds in the casino. In fact, some variations of the game can even provide a negative house edge when played with optimal strategy.
Because video poker is played on machines that resemble slots in land-based casinos, gamblers often misunderstand and overlook it, assuming the game relies solely on chance. In reality, it requires considerable knowledge and skill, the ability to identify games with the highest return, and the financial discipline necessary for any form of gambling. In this guide, novices will learn all the basics as well as essential aspects of video poker, including poker hand rankings and their corresponding payouts.
The following online video poker guide also lists the most popular variations of the game and explains the differences between single- and multi-hand video poker. It also highlights the importance of full-pay video poker and includes information on the software developers that have produced the most online variations.
Basic Rules of Video Poker
The standard game of video poker is based on five-card draw poker, which is why it’s sometimes simply called draw poker. It is played with a single standard deck of cards that is “shuffled” before each deal – of course, because this is an automated computer game, there is no actual shuffling. Still, the cards are dealt randomly, making it impossible for players to count them or for casinos to manipulate the outcome. Each game round consists of two deals, and the goal is to form a winning poker hand.
Adjusting the Bet
Available Buttons Wild CardsAdjusting the Bet
The game begins once players place their bets and click the Deal button. To make the most of the experience, they should adjust the size of their stake. Typically, they can bet 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 coins in various denominations ($0.05, $0.10, $0.20, $0.50, $1, $2, $5, etc.).
Available Buttons
Once the bet has been placed, players need to choose the Deal (Deal/Draw) button and they will be dealt 5 random cards. Here, they have the option to keep any number of cards with the Hold button or they can choose to discard them all. Clicking the Deal button once more removes the discarded cards and new ones are dealt in their place.
If a winning poker hand has formed, the player receives a payout according to the specific paytable of the game. Most video poker versions also give players the chance to double their winnings with the Double/Gamble button. Usually, players need to predict the color of a playing card or to guess whether it is high or low. If they succeed, the winnings from the current round will be doubled and if they fail to guess correctly, they will lose the gambled amount.
Wild Cards
Some video poker variations include so-called wild cards – cards that can substitute for any other card in the deck. Originally, Jokers filled this role, but any card can serve as a wild. For example, one of the most popular video poker variants, Deuces Wild, treats all Twos as wild cards.
Video Poker Pay Table
Video poker offers various payouts that depend on the ranking of the specific poker hand that is formed. In fact, the payout depends not only on the strength of your combination of cards but also on the size of the bet. Usually, the highest-ranking hands in video poker pay slightly more when you bet the maximum number of coins. Here are the payouts for 1-coin play:
- Royal Flush – 10, J, Q, K, and A of the same suit; 250:1
- Straight Flush – 5 consecutive cards of the same suit; 50:1
- Four of a Kind – 4 cards of the same face value; 25:1
- Full House – 3 cards of one rank and 2 of another; 9:1
- Flush – 5 cards of the same suit; 6:1
- Straight – 5 consecutive cards of any suit; 4:1
- Three of a Kind – 3 cards of the same face value; 3:1
- Two Pairs – 2 separate pairs; 2:1
- Jacks or Better – a pair of Jacks or higher; 1:1
When players bet 5 coins, however, the payout for a Royal Flush jumps to 4,000:1 – ordinarily, it would be 1,250:1 (5 × 250:1). This is why seasoned players recommend always wagering the maximum number of coins.
The Mechanics behind the Game
Video poker players sometimes mistakenly believe that a long losing streak must be followed by a winning streak that will make up for the losses. Others think that a slot or video poker machine will eventually be “due” for a big payout. However, these are misconceptions and examples of the so-called “gambler’s fallacy.” In reality, each round of video poker is a random, independent event.
To be consistently successful at the game, players must understand its mechanics. There are two basic concepts every video poker fan should know – randomness and house edge.
RNG RTP and House EdgeRNG
Just like all computerized casino games, video poker produces random results with every deal and each game round. Randomness is ensured by a random number generator (RNG), which is a piece of software built into every game. It uses a complicated pseudo-random number algorithm to generate sequences of numbers that cannot be predicted in any reasonable way.
As a result, every card dealt during a video poker round is random and does not depend on any previous or subsequent cards. This means that losing or winning streaks may appear to be “streaks,” but in reality they occur by chance, and players cannot rely on them to develop a strategy or betting system. Moreover, a Royal Flush might not appear in a million rounds, yet it could also surface three times in a row, even though such a favorable scenario is highly unlikely.
RTP and House Edge
All casino games, including video poker, provide the casino with a long-term advantage known as the house edge. It is created by a small difference between the payout and the “true odds” of the different outcomes in the game. The odds represent the likelihood of a winning hand appearing in each round – for instance, the odds of being dealt a Royal Flush in the initial draw are very low, at 649,740 to 1.
The typical Jacks or Better game has a house edge of 0.46%, which suggests that players can expect to lose $0.46 out of every $100 bet. This is simply a theoretical concept; it applies only over an unlimited number of rounds – in reality, players may finish with a profit or a larger loss. The house edge and the Return to Player can be seen as two sides of the same coin: a Jacks or Better game with a house edge of 0.46% will have an RTP of 99.54%.
How to Choose a Video Poker Game?
Video poker may be a skill-based casino game, but the outcome is still heavily dependent on pure chance. This is why players should carefully choose the video poker variation and specific game that best suit their skill level, bankroll, and personal preferences.
Full-Pay Video Poker Single vs Multi-Hand Video Poker Progressive Video PokerFull-Pay Video Poker
The first thing casino players should do is look for a full-pay video poker variation. The term refers to the amount of money paid out by a specific version and, more precisely, to two poker hands – Full House and Flush. A full-pay Jacks or Better game, for instance, is a 9/6 game, paying 9 and 6 times the bet size for a Full House and a Flush, respectively. Games with lower payouts, such as 8/6 or 6/5, should be avoided.
Single vs Multi-Hand Video Poker
Another thing to consider is playing multiple hands simultaneously – this is a preferred option for experienced players with a higher tolerance for risk. In multi-hand video poker, you receive one hand at the beginning, and after you choose which cards to hold, those cards are replicated across 5, 10, 25, 50, or even 100 hands. Each hand is independent and dealt from its own deck of cards. More importantly, your original bet is multiplied by the number of hands you play.
Progressive Video Poker
Some video poker games feature a progressive jackpot – one that grows with every bet placed in the game. Usually, the jackpot is awarded when players hit a Royal Flush or another specific hand. Keep in mind, however, that the progressive jackpot is typically triggered only when the maximum number of coins is bet.
- Tens or Better Variations
- Deuces Wild Variations
- Jacks or Better Variations
- Video Poker Variations
- Hand Rankings in Video Poker
- Video Poker Rules
Popular Video Poker Games
Major Providers of Video Poker Software
Due to its relative simplicity and very low house edge, video poker enjoys a loyal following, especially among online casino players. Software development companies are striving to meet the demand for challenging and interesting video poker variations. Many of them have therefore released an extensive selection of single- and multi-hand video poker titles over the years.
Microgaming NetEnt Playtech BetsoftMicrogaming
Founded more than two decades ago, the Isle of Man-based software provider Microgaming launched the first online casino in 1994. The studio is famous for its slot titles featuring massive progressive jackpots, but it also boasts a large collection of video poker games in its portfolio. Many of these titles are available in multi-hand mode and can be found within the Power Poker series.
NetEnt
NetEnt is a Swedish developer of online casino software, and since 1996 it has released a diverse range of award-winning slots, table games, and video poker titles. Along with Microgaming, it is known for offering games with exceptionally high RTP rates. The company also offers a fantastic Live Casino platform that powers some of today’s leading gambling websites.
Playtech
Playtech is one of the largest developers of online gambling software, and its gaming portfolio is incredibly diverse. In terms of video poker, it features all the basic variations of the game and has added several unique titles, such as the 10-hand Jacks or Better Progressive, the single-hand Mega Jacks Progressive, and 2 Ways Royal, which offers an RTP of 99.80% when played with perfect strategy.
Betsoft
Betsoft was established in 2006, and since then it has developed a large portfolio of online casino games, including unique 3D slots, realistic card and table games, and beautifully designed video poker variations.
In addition to its standard video poker offerings, Betsoft also provides several one-of-a-kind pyramid poker games that are unlike anything else on the market.