Despite lacking the colorful graphics of slots or the adrenaline rush of table poker, video poker is an exceptional casino game that attracts thousands of players. It is easy to play, features straightforward rules, and offers complete transparency in terms of payback. At the same time, video poker is challenging and exciting because its outcome relies on both chance and skill. More than a hundred variations can be played online, and while some are fairly basic, others require complex strategies.
But how do you pick the best video poker variation? The variety of games, especially online, can be overwhelming, but with a little guidance, both casual and professional players can find the right game for themselves.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Video Poker Game
Some video poker players prefer standard variations based on Jacks or Better, the most basic version of video poker. Others seek something more innovative or strategically challenging. Most fans of the game, however, know they should focus on video poker variations that deliver solid payouts and high average return percentages. These figures help determine both the performance and, more importantly, the long-term profitability of the games.
However, there are other factors to consider when choosing a video poker game. After all, the choice is a matter of personal preference as much as a decision based on objective features such as expected returns. Players should first look for an online casino that offers a good selection of games because the software choice is essential. If you start playing a game that is not interesting or visually appealing, betting will soon feel repetitive and you will be more prone to mistakes.
In addition, some players look for variations with bonus payouts, wild cards, or progressive jackpots. Setting personal taste aside, several objective factors should also be taken into account, including the game’s simplicity, its expected returns, and its volatility.
Simplicity and Ease of Play
RTP Percentage
Volatility
Simplicity and Ease of Play
Compared with other skill-based casino games, video poker has one major advantage: it is very easy to play. Players familiar with poker will immediately notice that the winning hands are identical to those in classic poker. Complete novices also find video poker easy to grasp, especially after practicing a few rounds in demo mode.
Nearly all video poker variations clearly display their rules in a secondary window, while the winning hands and their corresponding payouts appear on the main screen. Therefore, there is no need to constantly check hand rankings, as all essential information is available as you play. Players can choose simple video poker variations or opt for games with more intricate rules. It is easy to spot titles that require a complex strategy, as they usually feature wild cards such as Jokers and wild Twos, or they offer additional payouts for specific hands like four Aces or four Tens.
RTP Percentage
Another key factor to consider when choosing a video poker variation is its theoretical return, commonly referred to as Return to Player (RTP). RTP is expressed as a percentage and indicates what portion of all bets will be returned to players in the form of winnings. Unlike some casino games for which the odds and return percentages are hidden, video poker is completely transparent. By knowing the payouts and the odds for each hand, we can calculate RTP ourselves. Software developers also publish the return percentages for all video poker variations.
The great thing about video poker is that the average RTP is above 99%, meaning players are expected to lose less than 1% of their bankroll over time. Some variations offer an RTP higher than 100%, which is rare but shows that, in theory, players can gain an edge over the casino. Video poker fans should look for the versions with the highest RTP, and in most online casinos the classic Jacks or Better, with a return of 99.54%, tops the list. Although these percentages are theoretical and real-life results may differ, RTP is still a valuable tool for estimating a game’s long-term profitability.
Volatility
Volatility is another important factor when selecting a video poker variation. In gambling, volatility describes how a game can impact a player’s bankroll, both positively and negatively. Low-volatility games provide small but frequent and relatively steady profits, while the odds of hitting a large payout are minimal. Highly volatile games, by contrast, are costlier because winnings are less regular and predictable, and players may need to wager significant amounts before landing a top-paying combination.
Choosing between low- and high-volatility video poker variations depends on what players want from the game. Those seeking consistent wins with a modest bankroll should stick to low-volatility titles. Players who are comfortable with higher risk in exchange for a chance at a big win in a short time should opt for highly volatile versions. Of course, they are just as likely to lose their entire bankroll when playing such games.
Full-Pay Video Poker
Most video poker variations may look identical to novices, yet each game usually has a slightly different paytable. Because the odds of forming each winning hand remain the same, even small changes to the payouts can have a significant impact on the house edge and the RTP percentage.
9/6 Variations
Low-Pay Video Poker Games
9/6 Variations
We can usually determine whether a game is a full-pay video poker variation by checking how much it pays for a Full House and a Flush. These are the fourth- and fifth-best paying hands in classic video poker, offering 9-to-1 and 6-to-1 payouts respectively. The 9/6 label comes from these payouts and signals that the game should have a strong RTP. The standard 9/6 Jacks or Better, for example, has a return of 99.54%.
Low-Pay Video Poker Games
Many video poker games available in land-based and online casinos are low-pay variations, offering less favorable payouts than 9/6 games. Sometimes even a one-coin difference in a payout can lead to a noticeable change in the RTP.
- 9/6 Jacks or Better = 99.54%
- 9/5 Jacks or Better = 98.45%
- 8/6 Jacks or Better = 98.39%
- 8/5 Jacks or Better = 97.30%
This does not apply only to Jacks or Better. The full-pay Double Bonus Poker is one of the best variations ever created, with an RTP of 100.17%. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare, and most casinos instead offer low-pay versions. Rather than paying 10, 7, and 5 coins for a Full House, Flush, and Straight, most Double Bonus games offer lower payouts and, as a result, have considerably lower return rates.
- 10/7/5 Double Bonus = 100.17%
- 9/7/5 Double Bonus = 99.11%
- 9/6/5 Double Bonus = 97.81%
- 9/7/4 Double Bonus = 97.74%
Additional Things to Consider
Payback percentages are a useful tool for new players who want to decide whether a game offers good value. Determining volatility is more complicated, but software providers often publish this information as well. There are, however, additional elements players should examine in a video poker variation, because they can greatly influence both the gaming experience and the expected returns.
Wild Card Games
Low vs High Denomination Games
Games with Bonus Payouts
Multi-Hand Video Poker
Wild Card Games
Playing a standard video poker game such as Jacks or Better or Tens or Better can be rewarding and is often a smarter choice than many other casino games. However, these simple variations are not particularly thrilling because the higher-paying hands rarely appear. For this reason, many gamblers prefer video poker versions with a wild card, as these cards act as substitutes and make forming winning hands much easier.
When a player receives a wild card, it can replace any other card in the deck, automatically becoming the card that most improves the hand. The two most popular video poker games that feature wilds are Deuces Wild, where all four Twos (or Deuces) are wild, and Joker Poker, which includes a Joker as the 53rd card in the deck. Because of the wilds, new hands can be formed in these games, including Five of a Kind and a Natural Royal Flush (a Royal Flush without a wild card).
Low vs High Denomination Games
Video poker players should always consider their bankroll. Depending on how much money they have available, they must decide whether they can afford a high-denomination game or should stick to smaller stakes. This decision is a crucial part of any money-management plan and will heavily influence the outcome of each session.
Assume a session bankroll of $100 and a desire to play the maximum 5 coins. If the minimum coin denomination in the chosen game is $1.00, each round will cost at least $5.00, which is not affordable unless you plan to play only about 20 rounds. A much better option is a game that allows a smaller coin size, $0.10 for instance, giving you a minimum of 200 rounds.
Games with Bonus Payouts
Many versions of classic video poker offer higher payouts for specific hands, usually Four of a Kind. Players can often identify these games by their names, which typically include the word “bonus.” Depending on the variation, the bonus payouts may be awarded for four Aces, four Fives, four Sixes, and so on.
To compensate for the higher payouts and keep the game balanced, developers usually lower the payouts for a Full House and a Flush, and sometimes even for a Straight. Casino patrons should review each video poker variation carefully, because such bonus paytables can be confusing and deceptive. Along with the payouts, they should also consider the RTP percentages. Additionally, they must understand that, much like wild cards, bonus payouts increase a game’s volatility.
Multi-Hand Video Poker
Another group of engaging video poker variations is known as multi-hand or multi-play games. These titles allow players to bet on more than one hand simultaneously. Most low- and medium-volatility video poker games are available in a multi-hand version. Players can usually choose 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, or even 100 hands, and the strategy is the same as for their single-hand counterparts.
Although these games are exciting, they are far more expensive than regular video poker. Suppose you play with 5 coins of $0.10 each, for a total of $0.50 per hand. If you open a 10-hand game, you will need to bet $5 per round; on a 25-hand game, $12.50 per round; and on a 50-hand game, $25 per round. As you can see, multi-hand video poker can quickly drain a bankroll.
Before opening such a game, determine whether you can afford it. A workable alternative is to play multi-hand video poker for $0.05 or $0.10 per round by wagering 5 coins of $0.01 or $0.02 each.
Is Progressive Video Poker Worth Playing?
Progressive jackpots are usually associated with lotteries, where the top prize increases constantly, reaching millions of dollars within days. In a casino setting, slots are the games most commonly linked to attractive progressive jackpots. Progressive video poker versions also exist and are typically found online, where game variety is vast. However, these video poker variations often feature relatively small jackpots, while the cost of play can be higher than expected. So, is progressive video poker worth playing?
Progressive Jackpots
High Cost
Break-Even Point for Video Poker Jackpot
Progressive Jackpots
A progressive jackpot does not have a fixed amount; instead, it grows until a lucky player hits it. Typically, the jackpot starts at a predetermined value, and a small percentage of each bet contributes to the pool. In video poker, the progressive jackpot is awarded for hitting a Royal Flush (a natural Royal Flush that does not include a wild card) while betting 5 coins.
Because a single game can be offered in many online casinos and played by numerous people at once, its jackpot should, in theory, grow constantly. In practice, very few progressive video poker variations are truly popular, so their jackpots rise more slowly and rarely reach the heights seen in slot games.
High Cost
Progressive video poker games are usually highly volatile, low-pay variations with RTPs of around 97% or even less. For this reason, they are generally a poor bet and are often avoided by players. The experience is rarely rewarding, and hitting the progressive jackpot is extremely difficult. As a result, players often invest large sums before they win the jackpot, if they win it at all.
Break-Even Point for Video Poker Jackpot
Progressive video poker variations are costly and pay poorly for regular winning hands. Once the jackpot reaches a certain size, the game can become profitable and even offer a negative house edge. This is the so-called break-even point, and it differs for each game based on its rules, odds, and payouts. Many players wait until a game reaches its break-even point before they start playing. Of course, this does not guarantee they will win the progressive jackpot, because the jackpot size alters the game’s mathematics, not the odds.
