Slots and Poker Come Together
Video Poker Online lets you play two favorites in one game! If you’re a fan of Video Poker but also love slots games, then you should try your hand at Video Poker at trusted casinos online!
Video Poker Overview
In a nutshell, Video Poker is simply a fancier name to a poker game that has the convenience and excitement of a slots game. Anyone who knows how to play poker should try their luck playing Video Poker. The great thing about playing Video Poker aside from the ease and convenience is that there are so many variations to choose from! Find out how Video Poker was invented, the different types of Video Poker available at online casinos, how to start playing Video Poker and how you can benefit from playing Video Poker at a reputable live casino tables!
Video Poker History
Video Poker has been around much longer than you might think, as far as the 19th century. The first Video Poker machine developed in 1891 in Brooklyn by Sittman and Pitt. It was a crude version of Video Poker machines you see today since there really was no actual video but the machine randomly handed out poker hands as the modern ones would. The machine created by Sittman and Pitt lacked the automatic payout feature due to the number of possible combinations. The owner of the establishment where the machine was used to play handled the payments to the players as necessary. The first Video Poker machine worked the same way as a classic slot machine would – the player will pull a lever in order to produce the poker hands.
With the help of computer technology, companies were able to create a real Video Poker machine in the 1970s. International Game Technology (IGT), then known as SIRCOMA, created a Video Poker machine in 1979 which eventually started circulating in casinos. Video Poker games at land-based casinos grew immensely popular and evolved to different varieties including those that featured wildcards. Video Poker machines continued to improve as technology became more advanced. The popularity of Video Poker never waned and has been successfully translated to exciting and lucrative online games, offering interesting gameplay, features and bonuses, and a chance to win the progressive jackpot!
Understanding Online Video Poker
Casino slots are not the only games that you can enjoy at virtual gambling sites. Although a large portion of online casino games is based on slot machines, you will also find a great selection of Video Poker games to play. If you like playing Video Poker at a casino near you, then you will definitely enjoy playing Video Poker from wherever you are, at any time of the day! But first, let’s review the basic rules of online Video Poker and the types of Video Poker that you can play at your favorite online casino.
Online Video Poker Rules and Gameplay
Video Poker is technically a combination of slots and poker. With a slot machine, you will see a screen filled with reels and symbols, but with Video Poker you will be presented a poker hand when you press the Play button. In order to win at Video Poker, you need to understand poker hands very well since you will need to keep or discard certain cards. Similar to playing a poker game on the table, you will be given 5 cards by the dealer. You will then decide which card to keep, throw or replace. The payout will obviously depend on the quality of the hand you decided to keep.
Video Poker Types
Video Poker is not difficult to play since you only need to understand the basic rules of poker. When playing Video Poker online, you will be able to choose from a variety of Video Pokers which also have different rules. The following are the most common variations of online Video Poker games:
1. Jacks or Better
There are many types of Video Poker machines and one can be easily confused if you are new to playing Video Poker. Jacks or Better is a good option for people who have not tried Video Poker before and wants to understand the rules first before trying other Video Poker games. As the title of the game implies, you must get Jacks or better to win. Jacks or Better is the most popular type of Video Poker that you will find at online and regular casinos.
2. Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is a Video Poker game where the deuces (set of two) turn into wild cards. The Deuce can be any card found in the standard playing card deck. Although the payouts may not be as great with other forms of Video Poker, it can be a great option if you want to try something new and fun.
3. Aces and Faces
Aces and Faces is a variation of the popular Jacks or Better Video Poker game. It uses the standard 52 cards deck but the main difference between the two games is that with Aces and Faces, you can get bigger wins by getting four-of-a-kind poker hands with Aces and Faces.
4. Tens or Better
Tens or Better is a Video Poker version that gives payouts when you get 10s or better, hence the name. It’s very similar to Jacks or Better Video Poker but it is easier to win with Tens or Better although the payouts are smaller than the former.
5. Joker Poker
Joker Poker is a suitable game for those who love the wild card feature, just like the ones found in slots games. Joker Poker uses a 53-card deck instead of the standard 52 cards, with the extra card being a wild or Joker card. The Joker card helps create a winning combination from your current poker hand.
Video Poker Slots
“NetEnt houses a few of the best video poker variations offered and played in almost every online casinos there is.”
Video Poker is derived from the casino’s classic poker game that is played on a slot machine instead with a dealer with other players and on the round poker table.
Video Poker throughout the Years
Video Poker made its entry into the world of win no deposit free spins casino gambling in the 70’s and since then have been hands down one of the most popular casino games played by many avid casino goers. The way how video poker works are almost the same as how traditional poker is played. For many decades, poker has gone through a lot of changes from rules to card number variations and is played with actual cards by a group of casino players on a roundtable.
As the popularity of casinos became known to many and the flow of people going in and out of the casinos became unexpected, a need for more space to cater more players to the casino had risen; thus, the need for the casinos to innovate in order to satisfy this demand. Slot machines were then introduced to the public including a version of video poker which immediately caught the eyes of casino players. Then and now, video poker is no doubt one of the most renowned gaming options in any casino.
- The very first versions of online video poker innovated at the same time as the first personal computers were produced in America. Since then, video poker games became one of the most sought-after slots in online casinos. With the rise of popularity by online casinos due to its convenience and a vast selection of fun games to play and no deposit bonus win, more and more online casinos are continuing to emerge, adapting the traditional games of land casinos to create a familiar vibe for casino players.
- When it comes to providing high-quality games, Net Entertainment never fails to deliver excellent quality games and has been known ever since as one of the best companies that provides slot games for every online casino there is in the industry. When it comes to video poker, NetEnt is one that houses the best versions of video poker and its variations that includes several single-handed and multi-handed poker games, in all of the online casino worlds.
How Video Poker Works: Rules
For casino players looking for a game that requires skills, high possibility of huge wins, anonymity, and privacy, and more importantly one that has a low house edge, there is no better game than video poker. In the game of poker, you must have already heard about the house always has the upper hand in the game, however, video poker is a true exception to that rule.
- The rules of video poker are pretty basic but since there are a variety of video pokers being played around, they may differ slightly. However, the common rules are all based on the standard hand values of poker. Royal Flush, Four of a Kind, and Full House are the terms that you may encounter in every video poker game. Play 1 to 5 coins on the machine (for the actual traditional video poker machine), while selecting the amount you want to wager when it comes to online video poker to start off the game.
- You will then be given five random cards from which you will select which cards to hold or to discard, the discarded card will be then replaced and a second dealing will take place. This second dealing will be your final hand for play from which you will be paid off according to the value of your cards. For instance, if the Royal Flush of the video poker you chose to play pays out 200x the bet at 5 Euros, you win 1000 Euros in total.
Theme and Graphics
NetEnt since the beginning of its success has never once failed its patrons in providing high-quality and visually pleasant games. NetEnt’s video poker games are impressive when it comes to its graphics and animation that they leave a realistic vibe to the game. The interface of the game is straightforward making it uncomplicated to navigate about. This approach to its design is helpful for those players who have never played online video poker before.
The play table and other key symbols of the poker games can be easily located on the games. When a winning combination is obtained, the winning hand and its corresponding payout are highlighted to inform the player. For playing casino games, which is offering any game imaginable from A to Z and is giving new players an amazing welcome bonus and free spins no deposit to use for spin casinos. Sign up and deposit to receive up to 150 Bonus Spins and free spins no deposit without wagering required, and win max bonus and extra rounds points.
- While not very common, no-deposit free spins with no wagering actually do exist. In addition to them not having bonus spins for wagering required, you get the added benefit of there being spin no deposit required either.
- Inside every game, you will see how much money and how many coins you have right now for spin casinos. This helps you avoid unpleasant surprises like realistic games and free spins and manage your bankroll. If you don’t want to spend your real money, you can always switch to the demo mode and play for virtual coins.
Gameplay
Like any other online casino game, players need to adjust the size of their bets before starting the game. The coin value, as well as the bet level and how many coins you want to bet per hand, can be adjusted. Also, the players can adjust the number of hands they want to play per round. They can opt to choose from 1, 5, 10 or 25 hands per round. The advantage of playing video poker with more than one hand is that you get more chances of winning a prize. The betting limits of video poker vary per game which you can bet for as low as 10 cents per round. While video poker works by drawing cards randomly, adjusting the game on your preferred setting can be a form of a strategy of staying in the game for longer plays without running out of money to stake easily.
Features and Bonus
In order to fully satisfy their players, NetEnt does not only provide a variety of games to choose from, which can be noticed from its wide selection of differently themed slots but also focuses on equipping games with good features and exciting bonuses. NetEnt’s video poker games are also equipped with bonus games. This can be obtained when you have won a prize in your poker game which will give you the option to take your winnings or try to double it up to bring home more. Since video pokers are played with little skills and luck, there will always be a risk of losing in every game.
Double Up Feature
The bonus game works with the player having to guess if the color of the next card will be black or red. When the guess is right, the winnings double, if not, the player loses the winnings. So if you are feeling lucky and are up to take the risk of more winnings, you can go all the way and guess not just the color but also the suit of the next card for a chance to quadruple your winnings.
Video Poker Collection
In the present, NetEnt presents its players with four main variations of video poker namely Jacks or Better, Classic Deuces Wild, Joker Wild, and All American. All these video poker variations are the most common that you can find in any casinos available online. NetEnt designed their video poker in such a way that players will get the feel of playing poker in the actual brick-and-mortar casinos or in the computerized video poker consoles. Also, the interface of these games are straightforward, thus, easy to use for avid and new casino players. If you haven’t tried playing poker yet, you may play any of these video poker games to learn how to play poker. Knowing NetEnt, players are offered with high-quality games and good experience in all of the games they play at any casinos available online.
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is also known as the grandfather of video poker as it is the most popular and one of the oldest variant in NetEnt’s roster of video poker games. Jacks or Better is a full 52-card deck poker game that has similar rules with five-card draw poker. This game offers a full payment on the Full House and Flush of 9 to 1 and 6 to 1. This game works with the objective of making one of the qualifying hands that are listed in the pay table. Succeeding to win after the draw, gives an option to players to gamble your profits for a double up. This works by placing your profits on the last hand and trying to predict the color of a card’s suit.
All American Poker
This variation of video poker by NetEnt is based on the game of Jacks or Better since the game rules and hand rankings coincide between these two poker games. The objective of this game is to form at least one pair of Jacks or higher in order to win. When it comes to poker hand ranking, the Royal Flush is the highest ranking hand which can pay a fixed jackpot of 4000 coins for a maximum bet.
Classic Deuces Wild
Classic Deuces Wild is a one hand video poker variation that follows the standard video poker rules. This variation is the second most popular variation of video poker next to Jacks or Better. In this game, the deuces help the player create winning sets and substitute the cards if the player wishes to. This increases the odds of hitting winning combinations. In other words, it works for the benefit of the players. Like the Jacks, it also utilizes 52 cards. Like any other video pokers by NetEnt, you can make use of the Double Up feature to collect more winnings.
Joker Wild
Unlike the Deuces Wild and the Jacks or Better, this poker variation makes use of 53 cards instead of 52 since the Joker is added to the deck, thus, the name of the game. If you are familiar with the Wild feature in casino games, the joker on the deck acts as the Wild. The Joker Wild can be used as a substitute for all the other cards which will increase the odds of players ending up with winning sets.
RTP
If you want to know why video poker is one of the most popular games on both land and online casinos? High RTP. Video poker is known for its high payout percentages and high chances of winning since it actually works in favor of the player rather than the house. This is the reason why casinos do not really offer bonuses for video poker games. In NetEnt’s collection of video slots, the RTP of each variation ranges from 97% to up to a whopping 99%.
Jacks of Better – 99.56% RTP
All American – 98.11% RTP
Classic Deuces Wild – 97.97% RTP
Joker Wild – 97.95% RTP
Pros
- Players can go anonymous
- High RTP
- Video Poker Variations to choose from
- Can be played via mobile and other devices (depending on the casino)
Cons
- High risk in All or Nothing (Double Up round)
Verdict
NetEnt lives up to its name of being one of the most reputable game providers in the industry. The games it provides is no doubt of high quality which makes the user experience even more satisfying and the game worth playing. With NetEnt being able to produce versions of video poker, it is expected that the players will enjoy more than they normally would playing poker in actual casinos
If you are a player who prefers to play a poker game alone, with privacy and with a high advantage, NetEnt’s video poker games are ideal for you. Poker has always been a favorite table game of most avid casino goers since it offers simple gameplay but with generous payouts. It is also a great game for new players to start learning. There are a lot of video poker variations that are also developed by other companies. However, millions still prefer to play the variations created by NetEnt and sign up on casinos affiliated by NetEnt since players will be assured that the casinos they sign up for are licensed, regulated and fair to their customers when it comes to payouts.
Online Video Poker FAQs
Is Video Poker the same as playing poker in real life?
The main difference between playing poker in real life and online is the fact that you are only trying to beat the house, not another player. There are also different rules in Video Poker that is not present in real like poker, thus it is important to understand the rules and gameplay.
Where should I play Video Poker online?
You can find a great selection of Video Pokers at online casinos. A reputable online casino offers a wide variety of online Video Poker games that will suit the taste of every kind of player.
Do I have to download any software to play Video Poker online?
Most casinos nowadays offer instant play games so you don’t have to worry about downloading any program or software to play Video Poker. You will be able to play Video Poker from your browser without the hassle of installing anything on your computer or mobile device.
Can I play Video Poker games through my phone?
Yes, as long as you choose an online casino that supports mobile gaming since the games are already optimized for mobile device use.
Can I play Video Poker online for free?
Absolutely! Online casinos offer free play which is beneficial for those who want to try out the game first before playing with real money.
How can I play Video Poker with real money?
Yes, you can. To play online Video Poker, you will need to deposit funds to your online casino balance through bank transfer, credit card, e-Wallet, and other reliable deposit/payment methods. You will also be able to withdraw your winnings using a reliable online payment method.
They say that in playing Video Poker, the house always have the advantage. Is it true?
Whether poker is played at an online casino or at a brick and mortar casino, poker requires strategy in order to win. Unlike slots games where the outcome is based solely on luck, players with good strategy have more chances of beating the house.
How can one be sure that Video Poker online games are not rigged?
Reputable casinos are regularly monitored and audited by gambling authorities and independent auditing firms so you can be sure that the Video Poker games are random and fair.
Can strategies work when playing Video Poker?
Definitely! Strategies work online and in real life so understanding how the game works and having a good strategy can improve the chances of winning.
Online Video Poker Conclusion
Video Poker has been around for decades and became an exciting alternative to classic slot games since Video Poker games allowed some form of interaction through the required moves and strategies. Thanks to technology and the effort of innovative software developers, Video Poker can now be played by accessing online casinos that have continuously populated the Web over the last several years. In order to enjoy your online casino Video Poker games, you must fully comprehend the basic gameplay and be ready to apply strategies in order to beat the house. Video Poker combines the characteristics and features of a poker game and slots game to guarantee an interactive and challenging good time!
