Your Complete Guide to Online Video Poker 2023

This guide is a definitive collection of tips, overviews, and explanations for those who want to learn everything about online video poker. We have included everything, from different versions of the game and a glossary to the best online casinos where you can play the games for free or real money. See what our experts have to say about these ranked and reviewed websites.

Top Pick
Approved Approved
New
BetiBet Casino
9.9

Up to $1800 on your first 2 deposits

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
Win Rate
97%
Payout Speed
1 hour
Benefits

Excellent reputation since the casino was established.

A full menu of live casino games.

Quick and effective customer support, including live chat.

Payouts processed in up to two hours.

Accepts multiple deposit methods, including Bitcoin.

Uses high quality updated software.

Payment Methods
2
Approved Approved
Favorite
Hot
Leon Casino
9.8

100% Match Bonus up to $300

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
Win Rate
96.7%
Payout Speed
24 hours
Benefits

Managed by a large public company.

The casino offers an exclusive multiplayer version of Blackjack.

Live chat support is available 24/7.

Payouts are processed between one and three business days.

Free play options available.

High-quality mobile casino.

Payment Methods
3
Approved Approved
Favorite
Hot
RocketPlay Casino
9.8

100% Match Bonus up to $200

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
Payout Speed
2 - 3 Days
Benefits

Excellent reputation since the casino was established.

Multiplayer games supported.

24/7 customer support.

Wide range of currencies.

Bitcoin accepted.

Fully Instant Play - No Download Needed.

Payment Methods
4
Approved Approved
Favorite
Casino Rocket
9.7
Payout Speed
2 - 3 Days
Payment Methods

100% Match Bonus up to $500

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
5
Approved Approved
Grand Rush Casino
9.7
Win Rate
96.84%
Payout Speed
2 - 3 Days
Payment Methods

200% Match Bonus up to $1000

WELCOME200

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
6
Approved Approved
Favorite
Hot Hot
Wild Tornado Casino
9.7
Payout Speed
1 hour
Payment Methods

Up to A$1000 + 100 Free Spins on your first 4 deposits

OCR150

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
7
Approved Approved
Favorite
Hot Hot
Stay Casino
9.6
Payout Speed
1 hour
Payment Methods
Exclusive

20% Match Bonus up to A$200

CASINOREPORTS777

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
8
Approved Approved
Favorite
Hot Hot
FastPay Casino
9.5
Win Rate
98%
Payout Speed
2 - 3 Days
Payment Methods

Up to $150 + 100 Free Spins on your first 2 deposits

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
9
Approved Approved
Hot Hot
Playamo Casino
9.4
Payout Speed
1 - 2 Days
Payment Methods

Up to $300 + 150 Free Spins on your first 2 deposits

FIRSTDEP

18+ Only, T&C Apply.
10
SurfCasino
9.4
Win Rate
98.75%
Payout Speed
1 - 2 Days
Payment Methods

Up to A$1500 on your first 4 deposits

18+ Only, T&C Apply.

Overview

Video poker is a popular casino game that combines elements of traditional poker and slot machines. While it bears many similarities to slots, it is a distinct genre and one that has a higher return to the player. The condition is to use the optimal strategy, something that can be achieved by using the standard chart. The goal is to make the best possible hand, with video poker being an interactive game where players decide what to keep and what to discard.

This game is played on a video screen that displays the player's cards and allows them to make their betting decisions. The game begins with the placing of a bet and the potential winnings are indissolubly linked to the amount wagered. Once the bet is placed, players are dealt five cards and they decide how many they keep and how many they discard. The best case scenario is to make a royal flush or a straight flush, which paid the best, according to the pay table.

The stronger the hand, the lower the odds of making it, so punters are advised to balance their decisions based on their bankroll and expectations. There are numerous variations of video poker, each with its own set of rules and payout rates. Some of the most popular video poker games include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus Poker. There are minor strategy deviations for each game, but overall the rules are similar, so the learning curve is smooth.

Skilled players who use optimal strategies can have a significant edge over the house. However, it is important to remember that video poker, like all forms of gambling, ultimately depends on luck. That’s why it is essential to exercise proper bankroll management and only bet what you can afford to lose.

Pros & Cons

Pros
A highly interactive game of chance
Popular at online casinos
Higher than average RTP
Cons
Can’t be played against real dealers
Not many versions are available

History

Unlike many casino games, who often have origins going back to ancient times, Video Poker only came to the market in the 1970's, although poker itself has been around in some for around 2-300 years.

The idea for Video Poker came from Si Redd, an employee of Bally Technologies in the USA, in the mid-1970s. He tried to get the company to produce his game but they were not interested, so Redd struck out on his own, starting the Sircoma company. This business is known today as International Gaming Technologies, or IGT and is still one of the biggest casino game developers in existence.

It took some time for Video Poker to get established, but by the middle of the 80s a new generation of people, who were used to computer games, were more accepting of the concept of playing a game on a video screen and it began to take off, particularly in Las Vegas casinos.

The original Video Poker games were based on Draw Poker, with a two pair hand being the lowest winning combination possible, but is quickly became overtaken by Jacks or Better which requires the player to get at least two Jacks from the cards  to get a win. Jacks or Better is still the most widely played Video Poker game.

The arrival of online casinos in the 1990's has really given Video Poker a natural home, where gamers can play from the comfort of their living rooms. Almost all online casinos now feature at least one Video Poker title, or usually several of them, and it now ranks alongside roulette and blackjack for popularity.


Terminology

The terminology associated with Video Poker is unsurprisingly a mix of older Poker terms plus some new ones specifically for the computerized versions.

Action:  The value of the bet placed by the player.

Bet Max: The biggest bet size possible per hand, normally a five coin bet.

Discard:  The card, or cards that the player does not wish to keep after they are initially dealt out.

Flush:  A five card hand with all cards belonging to one suit.

Four of a Kind:   A hand where four cards are of equal value.

Full House:  A hand made up of a three of a kind, plus a pair.

Hand:  The first five cards dealt by the machine to the player.

Hold:  The card, or cards that are retained by the player after they are dealt out by the machine.

Jackpot: The biggest win, which is usually paid out for getting a royal flush hand.

Pair:  Two equal value cards, such as two Queens, or two 7's.

Pay Back:  The return on their wagers that a player can expect over a number of games.

Payout: The amount paid out for a single winning hand.

Pay Table:  A chart displayed on the screen showing how much is paid out for each hand value.

Royal Flush:  A hand consisting of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace from the same suit. This is the best possible poker hand to get.

Straight: Any hand consisting of five consecutive cards, but not including the Ace.

Straight Flush:  A hand where the cards making up a straight are all from the same suit.

Winning Hand:  Any combination of cards that are of a high enough value to get a payout.


Rules

Video Poker is a fairly simple game to learn, certainly when compared with other poker games. With the exception of Joker Poker, where the deck includes the Jokers, the games use a standard deck of 52 cards. To start playing a round of Video Poker, the player must first make a bet of their chosen value and then click the 'Deal' button. The machine will then deal five random cards. The player tries to make the best possible poker hand by either holding or discarding as many of the cards as they wish. Discarded ones are then automatically replaced to give the player a final poker hand, with payouts based on this result.

Hands are given the same ranking in Video poker as for most poker games, but the payouts can vary depending on which type is being played. These are the rankings, starting with the best - Royal Flush; Straight Flush; Four of a Kind; Full House; Flush; Straight; Three of a Kind; Two Pair; One Pair of Jacks or Better.

The house edge in Video Poker games can vary from as little as 0.5% up to around 3% depending on where you are, and what type of game is being played. All are single player games, where it is just you against the machine.


Strategy

Video Poker is a game with few rules, and correspondingly few options to use any form of strategy. The only decisions to make are which cards to keep and which cards to replace, but this basic strategy, mainly designed for Jacks or Better should be followed.

Straight Flush: If you get a straight flush, hold all of the cards as you could win a big prize. A royal flush is very rare, but not unheard of and will pay out even more.

Four of a Kind: Hold all the cards, as this hand won't be improved by discarding the one card that doesn't match the rest. This is the third best possible combination.

Full House:  Hold all the cards, as again, getting rid of the two that don't match can't actually improve this hand.

Flush: Hold all the cards, as you cannot better it by discarding any.

Straight: Hold all the cards, as you cannot better it by discarding any.

Three of a Kind: Hold the three cards of equal value and replace the remaining two cards.

Two Pairs: Hold the two pairs and replace the remaining card.

Jacks or Better: Hold the two Jacks and replace the other three.

Additionally, any cards apart from Jack, Queen, King or Ace should be discarded if the initial ones dealt out do not give you a winning hand.

Here are some useful tactics designed to help new Video Poker players improve their game.

  • Get to learn the hands and their ranks in a real poker game before trying out Video Poker. It will be easier to play once you have understood how each card combination works.
  • Study the paytables that are displayed on the screens to see what the payouts for each combination of cards will be. See if you can find a game with a good return to the player, of up to 99.5%.
  • Even if you get the lowest winning hand, don't discard all five of the cards. Always keep the winners, and only discard any of the other cards if it is possible to improve the combination by doing so.
  • If a progressive jackpot is paid out for a royal flush, make sure that you play with a Max Bet, as you will not qualify for the jackpot without it.
  • Always remain calm. If you are not in the right frame of mind, due to tiredness, being in a bad mood, or even drunk, you are much more likely to make bad decisions, which will ruin your fun, and possibly your bankroll.
  • Each new hand has no memory of the previous ones, and no influence on subsequent ones. Even if you have won or lost several hands in a row there is no such thing as an inevitable result for the next one.

Tips

Once you know the basics you need to expand your horizons and these are the tips you should consider to maximize your winnings.

Getting Started

We want you to enjoy a smooth experience with video poker and that’s why we have assembled a list of five steps that will guide you early on.

1 Choose a respectable online casino

Research goes a long way and you should play video poker at licensed and regulated casinos.

2 Open an account:

Register for an account with the online casino to gain access to real and virtual currency games.

3 Fund your account

Deposit funds into your account via traditional payment methods or cryptocurrencies.

4 Try a video poker game

Take it one step at a time and try one again before taking a leap of faith with another for real money.

5 Play for free

Experiment with different games in demo format before your deposit and switch to real money.

Glossary

It can be quite a challenge to master the optimal strategy, but once you do it you will be more successful. This will give you enough time to get familiar with the key video poker terms, such as the ones we have included in our glossary.

Video Poker Terminology

Video Poker Versions

The basics for players seeking popular versions of video poker

Classic Video Poker

A casino game that uses a 52-card deck and comes in many flavors such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker's Wild. This is available at most online casinos.

All Aces

A video poker game that just as the name indicates, pays out higher rewards for four-of-a-kind Aces. It is a popular version of the classic that can be found in many operators.

Aces and Eights

A version of a video poker game with a high return to the player that pays out extra rewards for getting four-of-a-kind Aces or Eights. It uses the standard rules of the classic game.

High-Speed Poker

A fast-paced poker game that challenges players to make quick decisions in a limited time. It is ideal for veterans and players who enjoy action-packed games.

Bonus Deuces Wild

A video poker game that will pay significantly more for players who make a four-of-a-kind hand with deuces. It is also a popular version of the game that can be found in many casinos.

Double Double Bonus Poker

A variation of video poker that offers the best rewards to players who are lucky enough to make a four-of-a-kind hand.

Double Joker

A type of video poker game that uses two joker cards in the deck. In addition to the standard winning combinations players can use them to create more winning hands.

Jacks or Better

A classic video poker game where players need to get a pair of Jacks or better to win. It is the most common version of all video poker games, and nearly all casinos offer it.

Tens or Better

A video poker game similar to Jacks or Better, where players are supposed to get at least a pair of pants to qualify. It is a simple and fun game to play at all stakes.

Deuces Wild

A video poker game where all the Deuces are special since they play the role of wild cards. This means that they can substitute other cards to create winning combinations.

Aces and Faces

A video poker game that rewards players for getting a combination of Aces and face cards. It is a game that blackjack enthusiasts will surely appreciate whether they play for free or real money.

Bonus Poker

A high-paying version of a video poker game that offers extra bonuses for certain winning hands. The extra payments complement the standard ones which can be found in the payout chart.

Joker’s Wild

This exciting version of video poker uses a joker card as a wild card. It is a powerful card since it can be used to substitute other cards and create winning hands.

All American

This version of the game is ideal for veterans and high rollers because of its enhanced payouts. Straight flushes and four-of-a-kind are the ones capable of triggering these massive payouts.

Poker Pursuit

This version of video poker requires players to choose to hold or discard cards in order to create the best possible poker hand. It has the rules slightly tweaked compared to the classic game.

Calculate Your Casino Bonus

A$
Casinos Bonus Min. Deposit WR Payment Methods Claim Bonus
Blazzio Casino
A$800 + 100 Free Spins
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
A$20 30x (Bonus & Deposit)
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
Boomerang Casino
A$750
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
A$30 30x (Bonus & Deposit)
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
50 Crowns Casino
A$700 + 100 Free Spins
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
A$30 45x (Bonus & Deposit)
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
Letslucky Casino
A$500 + 100 Free Spins
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
A$30 40x (Bonus & Deposit)
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
Bambet Casino
A$500
18+ Only, T&C Apply.
A$20 45x (Bonus & Deposit)
18+ Only, T&C Apply.

Our Favorite Casino

Approved Approved
Favorite
Hot Hot

FastPay Casino

9.5
Best for
Slots
Poker
Blackjack
Over 5385 games available

One of the most trusted online casinos, excellent reputation since online.

Powered by the likes of NetEnt, IGT, Microgaming, and more.

Attentive and responsive customer service.

Variety of withdrawal Options available.

Deposit, play, and withdraw in Bitcoin.


Win Rate
98%
Payout Speed
2 - 3 Days
Features
3D Games
Arcade Games
Auto Play
Branded Games
8 more
Payment Methods

100% Match Bonus up to A$150

Welcome Bonus

18+ Only, T&C Apply.

FAQ

Players compete against software instead of their peers and are paid based on the strength of their hands.

If the optimal strategy is used, you can aspire for a return to the player of more than 99%, which is a lot.

You should compare a video poker chart to use the optimal strategy, which is simple and universal.

Video poker is prevalent at online casinos and you can find thousands of licensed operators.

The Royal flush and a straight flush pay the best, but weaker hands also deliver our payment.

Discover More

Live Casinos

Explore the fascinating lineup of top casinos featuring live dealers and enjoy the action being streamed to your device. Play for real money and claim bonuses with popular games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, or sic-bo. Start on the right foot with our comprehensive casino guide.

Read More

Trending Casinos

Get up to speed with the hottest online casinos in Australia and single out trending operators that appeal to modern punters. Stay in the loop with top casinos and take advantage of the best offers.

Read More

Top Online Casinos

We have assembled a top 10 of online casinos reviewed and ranked based on how they score in key categories such as security, selection of games, payouts speed, and general player satisfaction. Choose any of these casinos to be certain of enjoying a memorable gaming experience.

Read More

Important Notice

By visiting this site, you certify that you are over 19 years old, and you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. Read More