Every gambling enthusiast knows that one of the most important things to consider when choosing a game is its house edge. Simply put, the house edge is the casino’s advantage, and it expresses the potential return that the gambling website or land-based facility will enjoy over time. The higher the house advantage, the greater your chances of incurring losses. This is why one of the biggest factors that can positively affect your gambling is a low house edge.
While different casino games have distinctive house edges, blackjack and video poker rank among the top options that give players a greater advantage. With the array of video poker variants that gambling devotees can play, the house edge for each game varies. Generally speaking, however, with video poker the casino advantage can even drop below 1%.
What is more, players often have the opportunity to turn the tables and tilt the scales in their favor. Since video poker allows the use of optimal strategy, there are even cases when the house edge can be a negative number. To gain a better advantage, players should make sure they use the correct strategy and play a game that offers the best possible payout.
By combining these factors, video poker enthusiasts can enjoy a very lucrative and exciting gambling experience. Because casino advantage is a key element of video poker, we will further discuss everything you need to know about house edge.
Is the House Edge on Video Poker Really Low?
The reason why many casino aficionados prefer to play video poker is that the game offers them a much better edge than other games. In fact, video poker is known to have one of the lowest house edges. A lower house edge means that the expected return for players (RTP) is higher, which gives them a better opportunity for a profitable session.
The great thing about video poker is that players can easily check the return they can expect by looking at the paytable of the exact game they intend to play. This will show you the payouts for the different winning hands and will help you deduce whether the game is worth playing. It is easy to calculate the probability of a certain hand forming in video poker since you are using the cards of a standard 52-card deck.
The only way a casino can affect the odds and give itself a better advantage is by lowering the payouts for certain hands. Once you know the highest payout a specific hand should offer, you should avoid variants that pay less.
As mentioned earlier, some video poker versions can have a negative house edge. This, however, applies only to players who know how to use perfect basic strategy, have selected a full-pay video poker game, and are staking the maximum number of coins. Combined, these factors give players an advantage exceeding 100%.
House Edge Additional TipsWhile it is true that video poker offers the player a significant advantage, that does not mean the house edge for every variation is below 1 percent or even negative. Many game developers change the payouts for various hands. Sometimes even the slightest change can give the casino a much better advantage. This is why it is important to check the paytable before placing bets on certain video poker games.
Because a greater advantage is achieved only with perfect strategy, and not every player makes optimal decisions, many casinos can offer high payouts and still enjoy a solid edge. As mentioned earlier, full-pay games reduce the house edge, which is why they are hard to find. Even so, video poker remains one of the casino games that gives the house a relatively low advantage, which is great news for players.
Full-Pay Variants and Their Effect on the House Edge
For those who are looking for a video poker experience that gives players a bigger edge, full-pay games are the way to go. The games that offer the highest possible pay for winning hands actually present players with the best odds compared to other variations. It should be noted, however, that simply choosing a full-pay video poker game does not automatically give players an edge over the casino. To gain that extra advantage, players should also use the optimal strategy for the exact variation.
Since many players have become aware of the edge they can gain by playing full-pay video poker, such variants have become harder to find. If you want to recognize which game offers the best payouts, you should look at several hands on the paytable.
For instance, if you intend to play Jacks or Better, you should look for a 9/6 variant. This means the payout for Full House should be 9 to 1, while Flush should pay 6 to 1. If these payouts are lower, you have come across what is known as a short-paying game. Such versions of Jacks or Better may offer 8/5, 7/5, or sometimes even 6/5. It is easy to see that short-pay machines will not give you the best possible odds, and even if you use optimal strategy, you will not achieve the advantage you would gain on 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Full-Pay Variants Additional TipsThe full-pay version of Joker Poker offers players odds of 100.65% and awards a payout of 7 to 1 for Full House, 5 to 1 for Flush, and 20 to 1 for Four of a Kind. These payouts are lower with other variations of Joker Poker, which definitely give the house a bigger advantage. That said, it is very difficult to find a Joker Poker game that offers the full payout for these hands.
Another video poker version that may give players an advantage over the casino is 10/7 Double Bonus with an RTP of 100.17%. The 10/7 notation indicates that the game pays 10 to 1 for Full House and 7 to 1 for Flush.
The 10/6 Double Double Bonus variant of video poker also surpasses the 100% mark by offering players an RTP of 100.07%. Here, a Full House pays 10 to 1, and for a Flush players are paid 6 times their wager.
Other Factors That Might Affect the Odds
While it is advised to always opt for the highest-paying video poker games, it is also important to use the right strategy. This is crucial because in one variation the optimal strategy may be to hold certain cards, while in another you should discard them. You can lower the house edge to a negative number only if you combine the right strategy with a full-pay variation of video poker.
If you choose to play with wild cards, you will notice that forming certain hands is easier. This is why the payouts for some combinations will be lower, and you will need stronger hands to secure a more lucrative outcome. Moreover, depending on the video poker variation you are playing, the hands that qualify for a payout can differ. Take, for example, Jacks or Better, where you need at least a pair of Jacks to get paid, and Joker Poker, where the lowest hand that pays is a pair of Kings or better.
Other Factors That Might Affect the OddsWhile we have been talking about an advantage for players above 100%, this applies only when players make the maximum bet. One mistake many video poker players make is wagering less than the maximum number of coins. This lowers their chances of scoring a sizable payout and can even cost them the bonus payout for a Royal Flush. Playing video poker games that offer a progressive jackpot can also improve your chances of a big win. The one rule with progressive video poker, again, is to bet the maximum number of coins.
Do not miss the opportunity to join the loyalty programs that many virtual casinos offer their members. While you are making real-money wagers, you can earn comp points, which can improve your casino experience in the long run. Such clubs allow you to win different bonuses, claim various promotions, and even convert those points into cash. Joining the casino’s player club will help you further lower the house edge and gain a bigger advantage.
Video Poker Games With the Best Odds
While players will need a lot of practice and the right strategy, they must also know which games to look for at the casino. All of the games listed below can ensure video poker fans have a very lucrative experience. Once you learn which video poker options offer the most rewarding outcomes, you can master the right strategy and apply it the next time you play for real money.
Progressive Video Poker
There is no doubt that players seeking a fruitful experience should opt to play video poker with a progressive jackpot. If you have paid enough attention to this article, you already know that making the maximum bet is the best way to increase your chances of a massive payout. After all, if you are making the highest bet, why not take advantage of the opportunity to win a huge progressive jackpot.
This is a wonderful offer for players who gamble online since different progressive video poker games are connected in a huge network, which includes various virtual casinos. This means that numerous players who lose contribute to the accumulation of funds and the growth of the progressive jackpot.
Deuces Wild
This video poker variation is popular because it incorporates wild cards, making it easier to form winning hands. The game is still played with the typical 52-card deck, but the deuces act as wilds that can substitute any rank or suit. However, this game excludes some hands from the paytable, and the lowest hand that qualifies for a payout is Three of a Kind.
If you are looking for a full-pay variant of Deuces Wild, make sure the payout for Four of a Kind is 5 to 1. If you stumble upon a short-pay version, the payout for the same hand will be 4 to 1. Deuces Wild is a great option for players who make the maximum bet and use the optimal strategy. When played correctly, casino fans can enjoy an advantage of 100.76%.
Deuces Wild is definitely one of the video poker variations that offer the best payouts, and with the introduction of wilds, it is a great source of entertainment. If you use the right strategy, you can accumulate impressive payouts without even drawing a Royal Flush.
Joker Poker
Another volatile variation of video poker is Joker Poker, which adds a wild joker as the 53rd card. The joker, which is the 53rd card in the deck, can help you form winning hands more easily and introduces more ways to secure better payouts. There is also a change in the lowest-paying hand, as you need at least a pair of Kings to get paid.
A hand typical only for this variant is Five of a Kind, which even pays more than a Royal Flush with a joker. The only hand that pays more in Joker Poker is a Natural Royal Flush, formed without a joker.
Whenever you search for the best-paying variant of Joker Poker, check the paytable. Look for an option that offers a payout of 7 to 1 for Full House, 5 to 1 for Flush, and 20 to 1 for Four of a Kind. If you find a full-pay variant and use the right strategy, you can enjoy an advantage of 100.65%.
If you come across a game titled Joker Wild, you will be playing under the same rules, and the full-pay version is exactly the same. The chance to form a unique winning hand makes Joker Poker a favorite of many video poker fans. On top of that, the casino’s advantage drops below 0 percent when players stick to perfect strategy.
Jacks or Better
Being the most popular variation of video poker, Jacks or Better is not only fun but can also award amazing payouts. The full-pay version is easier to find, especially online. If you want the highest possible payout, opt for Jacks or Better, which pays 9 to 1 for a Full House and 6 to 1 for a Flush. If you come across a version that offers lower payouts, it is simply not worth playing.
It is a simple variation of video poker because it uses a standard 52-card deck with no wilds. Often, Jacks or Better is cited as an example of why one should always bet the maximum amount on video poker, as staking five coins on this game awards 4,000 credits for a Royal Flush. If you use perfect strategy on a 9/6 variant of Jacks or Better, the RTP is estimated at 99.54%. Compare this percentage with 97.30% for the 8/5 variant and 96.15% for the 7/5 one, and you will see that the full-pay version is the best option.
Double Double Bonus
As the name suggests, this variation is very similar to Double Bonus Poker. The only addition is that this video poker game awards players a bonus payout for forming Four of a Kind with Aces and a kicker (the fifth card of the hand) valued at 2, 3, or 4. Unlike some other video poker variations, there are no wilds and the deck contains the standard 52 cards.
Because the extra winning hands in Double Double Bonus lower the house advantage, many casinos reduce the payouts for certain hands. This is why you have to be very careful when choosing the version you want to play. When selecting Double Double Bonus, look for a variant that pays 10 to 1 for Full House and 6 to 1 for Flush. When you use optimal strategy, you can enjoy an RTP of 100.07%. In comparison, short-pay versions of Double Double Bonus offer an expected return of 98.98%, which is very disadvantageous for video poker enthusiasts.
Conclusion
If you are searching for the best video poker variations that will bring you a lucrative outcome, one of the main things to consider is the casino advantage. This figure shows you what return to expect and which game truly provides the best odds. One thing that will always lower the house edge is playing a full-pay version. Although these games are rather difficult to find, it is worth “shopping” for the machine or virtual game that gives the best possible payouts. Using the right strategy will also give players a bigger advantage and make their video poker experience more exciting and rewarding.