Best Online Video Poker Sites for 2024
Video poker is quickly becoming a favorite in the online gambling community. It’s no question as to why, either. With dazzling graphics and crisp audio, online video poker will impress even the most seasoned online players. This game has been described by many fans as a combination of slots and online poker. It’s well-loved for its generally even odds and modest house edge. Read on to learn more about how to make the most out of your video poker online experience.
Top Video Poker Casinos in 2022
Basics of Online Video Poker
To grasp the basics of this exciting poker variant, you need to familiarize yourself with the value of card hands. Players are dealt five cards from a deck of 52 cards by the dealer to begin with. For 52-card video poker, there are no Joker cards included.
Following that, strategy dictates which cards you should keep and discard. The good thing about video poker online is that there are no time constraints. This means that you can discard or keep cards at your own pace.
You can decide to hold your original hand or alternatively discard some cards. In the case of the latter, new cards will be randomly drawn from the deck. The game pays out the winnings according to the value of the player’s final hand.
This game has relatively decent odds, which only adds to its allure. If you play 100 hands of Jacks or Better, the most popular variant of video poker, for example, you are going to win 21 times — in theory. Individual skill surfaces in the remaining 79 hands, and that will ultimately determine your success rate.
Online Video Poker Variants
When gambling online, you’ll come across several types of video poker. We’ve outlined some of the fundamental elements to keep in mind while you play. Later, we’ll dive into some of the top video poker games variants.
- Full Play Vs Short Play Online Video Poker
One of the most important things to know about video poker online is that play is divided into ‘full play’ and ‘short play’. The only difference between full play and short play video poker is their payouts. Full play has a higher payout than its counterpart. Because of its lower payout, short play video poker usually has more promotions. - Numbered Online Video Poker
Video poker online games may contain numbers, with popular mentions being ‘9/6 Jacks or Better’ and ‘8/5 Jacks or Better’. The ratio refers to the payouts associated with the video poker hands. For instance, in Jacks or Better, a Full House gives you 9 times your stake, while a Flush is 6 times your stake.
Wild Cards Video Poker
Games like Deuces Wild and Joker’s Wild are two variations that allow wild cards. A wiId card is a designated card that can represent another card of the player’s choosing. In the variant Deuces Wild, twos are wild cards. Alternatively, in Joker’s Wild, the jokers are wild. The core principle in wild card games is simple; wild cards can substitute any non-wild card in the game to increase the value of the player’s hand.
Jacks or Better
This variant of online video poker games is the most common, and is remarkably straightforward. In this version, players receive 5 cards, and must select the ones they want to keep for the next round. In order to win, players need only hold a hand with jacks, or better, to receive a payout. This version was the first variant of video poker created, and is a great choice for new US players looking to get their feet wet.
Jacks or Better Level Up
Based on the abovementioned version, the ‘level up’ feature of the game is what has made it so popular. This version is a multi-level game. This means that as the level progresses, so too do the potential wins. The payout is multiplied by the level multiplier. The highest possible multiplier is 8x. As a player progresses to another level, all previous wins are credited to them. Naturally, this version offers huge potential for winnings.
Tens or Better
We should start off by saying that this variant has the smallest payout of all. However, many players view it as incredibly exciting nonetheless. The game is played with a deck of 52 cards, and wild cards of any kind are excluded. Players are dealt 5 cards at the beginning of the game. As is the case of all other versions of video poker, the aim is to build the highest ranking hand.
Tens or Better Power Poker
This thrilling variant offers players the chance to play 5 hands simultaneously. It should come as no surprise that players seeking excitement and fast-paced action are drawn to this version. This game has a total of 9 paying hands, which means that even novices are likely to stumble onto a win at some point or another.
Modified Pay Schedule Video Poker
If you see that a video poker game has a modified pay schedule, you’ll know that there are bonuses available that double, or even triple, a hand’s value. Remember that only specific video poker hands trigger these casino bonuses, so don’t expect the bonuses to extend to all hands.
Influencing the House Edge: Winning Hands for Online Video Poker
Lowering the house edge is an important part of maximizing your video poker strategy. Keep reading to find out how exactly you can do this with different poker hands.
The types of video poker hands that you can assemble online are:
- Two of a Kind
- Full House
- Three of a Kind
- Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Straight Flush
- Straight
- Royal Flush
The following table demonstrates how the ratios indicated on paytables can affect your payout in a video poker game online.
| Payout Type | 9/6 | 8/5 | 6/5 |
| Royal Flush | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Full House | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Flush | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pairs | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Pair – Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Long Run Pay % | 99% | 97% | 95% |
The following table provides a basic strategy for Jacks or Better video poker. This data is only applicable if you’re staking the maximum wager accepted by the machine. Still, it is essential practice to check out the paytable of whichever video poker you play, as there may be slight variations.
| Initial Hand | Cards to Hold | Cards to Discard |
| Royal Flush | 5 | 0 |
| Straight Flush | 5 | 0 |
| 4 of a Kind | 4 | 1 |
| 4 Card Royal Flush | 4 | 1 |
| Full House | 5 | 0 |
| Flush | 5 | 0 |
| 3 of a Kind | 3 | 2 |
| Straight | 5 | 0 |
| 4 Card Straight Flush | 4 | 1 |
| Two Pairs | 4 | 1 |
| Straight | 5 | 0 |
| Pairs – Jacks or Higher | 2 | 3 |
| 3 Card Royal Flush | 3 | 2 |
| 4 Card Flush | 4 | 1 |
| Pair – Lower Than Jacks | 2 | 3 |
| 4 Card Straight | 4 | 1 |
| 3 Card Straight Flush | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Card Royal Flush | 2 | 3 |
| 3 High Cards | 3 | 2 |
| 2 High Cards | 2 | 3 |
| 1 High Cards | 1 | 4 |
| Any Other Hand | 0 | 5 |
Top Tips for Getting the Most out of Video Poker
Here you will find a list of lucrative tips that you can try out to increase your chances of winning at video poker.
- Never switch strategies mid-game when playing video poker online.
- Always go for the games with higher payouts. Obviously, the higher the payout, the higher your expected return. In light of that, the video poker variant with the highest payout is the 9/6 Jacks or Better, where a full house has a payout of 9 to 1. A flush has a payout of 6 to 1.
- Make the maximum wager allowed, because that’s the only way to guarantee a big win. Alternatively, if you’re a new player, we recommend starting with a smaller wager and increasing the bet amount as you gain experience.
- Don’t rush your decision to discard or keep cards. Video poker is a game that’s played at a slow pace.
- If you’re holding a pair of Jacks, never draw 5 new cards at a time. This is because you may miss out on making some valuable combinations. Jacks are also more useful than aces because they create more combinations.
- There is only one reason to get rid of a winning hand dealt to you — when you draw a card that can grant you a royal flush.
- Never break a flush, except if you can draw one card to a royal flush.
- Don’t hold a kicker (extra card) and a pair, because their combination reduces the value of your hand by 5%.
- Never hold 3 cards to a flush. In general, it’s not a good move to play video poker for a flush.
- Always go along with the streak. In other words, increase your stake when you’re on a run and reduce it when you’re losing.
- Only play progressive video poker when the jackpot is decent. For instance, play online video poker games where the jackpot is $250 on a nickel machine, $2,500 on a quarter, and $10,000 on a dollar.
- Don’t draw 4 cards if you can draw 3 cards to a royal flush.
- Never draw a straight flush when you have a straight.
- Never hold just a 10.
How to Choose the Best Video Poker Online Casinos
Some factors to consider before choosing the best online casinos where you’ll play video poker are:
- Reputation
- Game selection
- Casino bonuses
- Website navigation
- Customer support
- Payment methods.
Reputation
Check for positive and negative reviews. Only make a deposit if there are more positive reviews about the brand than negative ones. Have a look at our online casino reviews section to check out how our experts reviewed our top online casinos.
Game Selection
When it comes to game selection at a casino site, it’s important to ask yourself the following two questions:
- Does the game offering include multiple video poker variants?
- Does the game selection include other games aside from video poker?
Casino Bonuses
Confirm that a casino’s welcome bonuses are lucrative and plentiful. They need to be applicable to your favorite video poker games. It is also advantageous to read over the wagering requirements to ensure they are reasonable.
Website Navigation
Establish how easy it is for you to find and play your favorite video poker games. Ensure that other helpful sections like deposit options and customer support are easy to find and understand.
Customer Support
Find out whether a site’s customer support encompasses a live chat option. If it does, are agents available 24/7? If not, make sure that there are other options available if you need to have questions answered in a timely manner.
Payment Methods
Check if the casino site facilitates your preferred payment methods. You should also make sure the deposit and withdrawal limits are reasonable. Another element to investigate is any fees associated with financial transactions on the site.
Final Advice
Success at video poker online begins with a winning strategy. Equally as important is bankroll management. After going through this video poker guide, you should be equipped with enough information to embark on your thrilling video poker journey. We wish you the best of luck and prosperous gambling.
