NetEnt is a Swedish digital entertainment company specializing in the development and supply of premium online casino software. Since its inception in 1996, it has created gaming content for some of the largest gambling operators in the world, which offer the developer’s games on their browser-based and mobile platforms. Recognized as one of the most successful companies in this industry, NetEnt is listed on the Nordic Growth Market and the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
The software provider boasts an impressive portfolio of games that includes video slots, virtual and live dealer casino classics such as poker and blackjack, and progressive jackpot titles. NetEnt is behind several video poker variations that stand out thanks to their high-quality graphics, classic layouts, and smooth gameplay.
Company History and Overview
1Origins in Land-Based Casino Gambling
NetEnt was established as Net Entertainment in 1996 in Sweden, but the origins of the company can be traced back to the 1960s, when land-based casino gambling was a small yet promising sector in the country. It all started in 1963, when AB Restaurang Rouletter was founded. Just a few years later, a partnership was formed with a competing firm, AB Roulett konsult & Spelautomater. Shortly after, the new company was rebranded and the name Cherry was registered.
For the next couple of decades, Cherry operated multiple gaming establishments and casinos in restaurants and nightclubs across Sweden. With the emergence of online gaming and the rapidly expanding reach of the Internet, NetEnt was born. The company was founded by Pontus Lindwall, the son of one of Cherry’s founders, and in 2000 it launched its first online games. Within two years, it introduced its online casino, NetEnt CasinoTM, and began offering its software to other operators as well. This led to a license from Malta in 2005, and in 2007 NetEnt split from Cherry, becoming completely independent.
2Leading Name in the Industry
But all of this was just the beginning for the Swedish company. In 2011, it launched its first mobile game, and in 2014 it developed a title entirely in HTML5, which became the industry standard only a few years later.
Over the years, NetEnt has enjoyed remarkable commercial success. From a local online operator in Sweden, it has grown into one of the largest providers of digital gaming content in the world. Its global presence is impressive indeed, with offices in Malta, Sweden, Gibraltar, Poland, Ukraine, the UK, and the USA, where it employs more than 1,000 people. Today, NetEnt holds multiple licenses across various jurisdictions, and its games are available in a wide range of regulated markets.
3Extensive Collection of Games
Through its innovative CasinoModule, NetEnt offers operators a versatile and extensive selection of games across various categories. It releases a new game at least once a month, and many of these titles are optimized for mobile play. Players who visit a NetEnt-powered online casino gain access to hundreds of video slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer games. In addition, they can try their luck with some of the largest and fastest-growing pooled jackpots: Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, Arabian Nights, and Mega Fortune Dreams, to name a few.
All American Video Poker Gameplay
NetEnt Video Poker Software and Key Features
NetEnt boasts a huge portfolio of games, but when it comes to its video poker variations, players will find only a handful of titles for desktop or mobile platforms. Compared to other studios that offer twenty or thirty slightly different versions of the same game, NetEnt focuses on the quality of its video poker games rather than the quantity.
Visually, the games are outstanding, and they load instantly and are highly responsive. The developer has also added various advanced features and customizable game settings. All games are available in both real-money and fun-play modes, so players can try them out without risking their bankroll. Moreover, NetEnt’s software does not need to be downloaded and installed on players’ computers; the games are entirely browser-based.
Bet Level and Coin Sizes
Every variation of video poker by NetEnt can be played with bet levels between 1 and 5, each referring to the number of coins wagered per round. Because the best hand in the game pays more when 5 coins are staked, most players prefer to set the maximum bet level. They can also adjust the size of their stakes by selecting a coin denomination; different sizes may be available depending on the casino.
More importantly, the available coin values change according to the number of hands players bet on. Usually, denominations in single-hand video poker range from $0.10 to $10, but when playing a 25-hand version of the same game, coin sizes range from $0.01 to $0.50.
Interface and Layout
The interface of NetEnt’s video poker versions is smooth and user-friendly. The cards dealt in each round appear in the center of the screen, but in multi-hand video poker the large 5-card hand is reduced to make room for the additional hands that sit above it. On the left, players see a simplified version of the paytable, with all winning hands listed vertically alongside their respective payouts based on the number of coins wagered.
At the bottom of the screen are all the main buttons along with the customizable settings. The Info button in the bottom left corner opens the paytable, and next to it is the Bet field, which shows how many coins are staked. There are also Bet Level, Hands, and Coin Value areas, each with plus and minus buttons for adjustment. The Deal button takes center stage, while the Gamble and Max Bet buttons flank it. Note that Max Bet sets the highest bet level and automatically deals a new set of cards, but it does not change the coin value.
Double Up Gamble Feature
NetEnt’s video poker versions offer the Double Up Gamble Feature, which gives players the chance to double their winnings in a simple game of chance. After every winning hand, they can click the Gamble button to enter this feature, where they risk the winnings from the current round. The game displays 5 face-down cards and, below them, players are given two options: Red or Black.
Players must correctly guess the color of the first card once it is flipped. If they succeed, their winnings are doubled and they can either collect them or gamble again. With each consecutive correct guess, the gambled amount doubles. Players have a maximum of 5 attempts to boost their winnings. However, if they make a mistake, the feature ends automatically and the gambled amount is lost.
Multi-Hand Play
This is arguably the most exciting feature in NetEnt’s collection of video poker titles. Although there are only four variations, each one can be played in 1, 5, 10, or 25-hand mode. By selecting multiple hands, players bet on all of them simultaneously. Naturally, the bet size is multiplied by the number of hands in play.
For instance, if players choose to bet on 25 hands and wager 5 coins with a denomination of $0.50, they will be staking $62.50 per round. In a single-hand version of the game, the same bet would cost only $2.50 per round.
Game Settings
Before you start playing NetEnt’s video poker games for real money, make sure you carefully adjust the size of your bets, especially if you are wagering on multiple hands at once. Beyond that, there are few settings that can be changed, aside from the Fast Play option, which can be switched on from the Game Settings menu in the bottom tab of the screen.
In addition, players can configure the Gamble feature so that it either never activates after a winning round or automatically triggers every time. NetEnt has also added a Game History function, available only in real-money mode, which shows win history, hit frequency, and the current RTP of the game.
Standard Rules in NetEnt Video Poker Games
Those who have played any type of video poker know that most games, whether variations of Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, follow the same standard rules. Some versions include a wild card, such as a Deuce or a Joker, while others may offer higher payouts for specific winning combinations. Aside from these differences, the majority of video poker games in online and land-based casinos are almost identical.
NetEnt’s video poker variations are no exception. In the past, the studio offered several games: some were regular single-play versions, while others supported multi-hand mode. In 2014, however, the company released an updated collection of video pokers that allowed players to switch from single- to multi-hand play within the same game. This was a major improvement because it let players change the number of active hands instantly, without closing the game. These newer, enhanced versions of video poker from the Double Up series can now be found in all NetEnt casinos, although some operators may still offer the older releases.
Rules and Gameplay
NetEnt’s video poker games use a single deck of cards that is shuffled after each deal. They follow conventional video poker rules and are played with 1–5 bet levels and various coin denominations. To start a game, players choose the bet level, coin value, and the number of hands they wish to activate. Note that in multi-hand mode, the cards for each hand are dealt from a separate deck.
Once players have adjusted their stakes, they select the Deal button and receive 5 initial cards; by clicking on a card they keep it for the second draw. The remaining cards are discarded and replaced with new ones once players press the main button again. At this point, the game automatically checks for winning combinations. The objective is to land one of the poker hands listed in the paytable, each of which grants a different payout, starting at 1:1 for Jacks or Better and reaching 250:1 for a Royal Flush.
Paytables
The paytable is one of the key components to examine when choosing a video poker variation. As mentioned above, these games are largely the same; the biggest differences lie in how much they pay for each winning combination. Players should pay particular attention to the payouts for a Flush and a Full House. If these hands pay 6 and 9 times the stake, respectively, the game is considered full-pay, and this will be reflected in its theoretical return. Another point to consider is the presence of bonus payouts in the paytable and any hands that can be formed with a wild card.
Every video poker variation by NetEnt displays a simplified paytable on the main game screen. Here, players can see all possible poker hands and their payouts. Players are also notified of every winning hand they form. The full paytable is available from the Info button and shows how the hands are ranked along with the corresponding payouts based on the chosen bet level.
RTP Percentages
NetEnt recognizes what is most important in video poker, its theoretical Return to Player (RTP). Expressed as a percentage, RTP shows how much players can win back in a particular game. All video poker versions by the Swedish studio offer high returns, up to 99.56%, which is among the highest RTP figures you can find. Some games may occasionally advertise returns above 100 percent, but casinos typically reduce certain payouts, so realistically playing a game with such a payback percentage is nearly impossible.
Popular Video Poker Variations by NetEnt
Jacks or Better Double Up
NetEnt’s Jacks or Better is a polished take on the classic video poker game, offering fast gameplay and the potential for solid profits. It is also the most basic video poker variant, making it suitable for both experienced players and complete newcomers. Up to 25 hands can be played simultaneously, and bets range from $0.10 to $62.50 per round.
To receive a payout, players must land at least a pair of Jacks, the lowest-paying hand in the game. This is a full-pay version of Jacks or Better and offers a high theoretical return of 99.56 percent when played at the maximum bet level. If players stake fewer than 5 coins, however, the RTP drops to 98.40 percent, according to NetEnt’s official rules.
Deuces Wild Double Up
Deuces Wild is another popular title found in most online casinos. Like Jacks or Better, it follows standard rules, which makes it a favorite of many video poker fans. NetEnt’s version bears the same name and features crisp graphics, fast gameplay, and a theoretical return of 97.97%. Players can once again choose to bet on 1, 5, 10, or 25 hands simultaneously and adjust their wagers accordingly, with each round costing up to $62.50.
Overall, NetEnt’s Deuces Wild is a conventional single-player video poker game that uses one standard 52-card deck. The key difference from Jacks or Better is that all four Deuces are wild, meaning they can substitute for other cards in winning combinations. The presence of wilds makes forming winning hands easier, so the paytable has been adjusted. Payouts start with a Three of a Kind rather than Jacks or Better.
- Natural Royal Flush – 250:1
- Four Deuces – 200:1
- Wild Royal Flush – 20:1
- Five of a Kind – 15:1
- Straight Flush – 9:1
- Four of a Kind – 4:1
- Full House – 4:1
- Flush – 3:1
- Straight – 2:1
- Three of a Kind – 1:1
All American Double Up
All American Double Up is arguably the most unconventional video poker title from NetEnt. It follows standard rules, offers no wild cards, and includes no bonus payouts. The difference lies in the paytable. As in other games, a Jacks or Better hand pays even money and the remaining hands are ranked as in regular poker, but the payouts vary. For instance, Two Pair pays even money, whereas in Jacks or Better it pays twice the original bet.
- Royal Flush – 250:1
- Straight Flush – 90:1
- Four of a Kind – 35:1
- Full House – 8:1
- Flush – 8:1
- Straight – 8:1
- Three of a Kind – 3:1
- Two Pair – 1:1
- Jacks or Better – 1:1
As you can see, most combinations pay less than the regular payouts in Jacks or Better. This results in a lower payback percentage: the theoretical RTP is 98.11 percent. Even so, it is higher than the returns we have seen in some video poker variations from other software providers.
Joker Wild Double Up
NetEnt’s Joker Wild Double Up is an exciting video poker variant, but unlike most games of this type it uses 53 cards: the standard 52 cards from 2s through Aces plus a Joker. The Joker acts as a wild substitute, which is why the hand rankings are similar to those in Deuces Wild.
The payouts and odds for each winning combination, however, differ significantly, so players need a tailored strategy when they play this game. Because of the altered paytable, the theoretical return is 97.95%.
- Natural Royal Flush – 400:1
- Five of a Kind – 200:1
- Wild Royal Flush – 100:1
- Straight Flush – 50:1
- Four of a Kind – 15:1
- Full House – 8:1
- Flush – 5:1
- Straight – 3:1
- Three of a Kind – 2:1
- Two Pair – 1:1
- Kings or Better – 1:1
Jacks or Better Double Up Summary
| Jacks or Better Double Up | |
|---|---|
| Wild Cards | No |
| Bet Limits | €0.10 – €50.00 per hand |
| Number of Hands | Up to 25 |
| Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
| Gamble Feature | Yes |
| House Edge | 0.44% |
Deuces Wild Double Up Summary
| Deuces Wild Double Up | |
|---|---|
| Wild Cards | All deuces in the deck |
| Bet Limits | €0.10 – €50.00 per hand |
| Number of Hands | Up to 25 |
| Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
| Gamble Feature | Yes |
| House Edge | 2.1% |
All American Double Up Summary
| All American Double Up | |
|---|---|
| Wild Cards | No |
| Bet Limits | €0.10 – €50.00 per hand |
| Number of Hands | Up to 25 |
| Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
| Gamble Feature | Yes |
| House Edge | 1.89% |
Joker Wild Double Up Summary
| Joker Wild Double Up | |
|---|---|
| Wild Cards | Joker |
| Bet Limits | €0.10 – €10.00 per hand |
| Number of Hands | Up to 25 |
| Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
| Gamble Feature | Yes |
| House Edge | 2.05% |