Despite the massive popularity of slots and blackjack, video poker remains one of the most preferred games in casinos around the world. The invention of the Internet and the boom in the number of online casinos, however, has made the game even more accessible and attractive to millions of gamblers. Today, video poker fans have thousands of gambling sites to choose from, each offering different software, bonuses and payment options.
Many casino players prefer online betting over traditional play in brick-and-mortar facilities, which are often quite glamorous, exclusive casino hotels catering to the needs of high-rollers. Many gambling enthusiasts are limited by legal restrictions, long distances and hefty entry fees and other expenses associated with traveling and playing at land-based casinos. What online gambling brings is, most of all, convenience. Whether you wish to play slots, blackjack, roulette or video poker, you can do it online. Web-based casinos also combine poker rooms, sportsbooks, and often, you can also play live dealer games which are broadcast to your computer or your phone in real time.
There are thousands of casino sites and new ones launch almost every day, so players are constantly given new options. Certainly, not all sites are equally good and before investing your time and finances into real-money video poker online, you should take several aspects of online casinos into consideration and choose wisely.
Advantages of Playing Video Poker Online
Destinations such as Las Vegas, Macau or Monte Carlo are known as a gambling heaven for millions of visitors and their revenues increase each year. But online gambling attracts even more players because it allows you to play your favorite games from the comfort of your home. Moreover, mobile casinos constantly improve their services and performance and users can access all casino games and features directly from their phones and tablets.
Along with ease and convenience, playing video poker online comes with many other advantages. The variety of the games in online casinos is far superior to what can ever be offered in land-based facilities where the gaming floors have limited space, traditionally dedicated to slots. Large online casinos, on the other hand, can host more than a hundred video poker games, along with hundreds of slots and virtual table games. Most gambling sites offer at least several video poker variations suitable for both novices and experienced players.
More Video Poker AdvantagesOnline players can also enjoy lots of benefits such as different bonuses and promotions usually tailored to fans of slots and video poker games. Gambling operators attract new players with no-deposit or first deposit bonuses and keep their regular customers engaged with constant promotions, free chips and other incentives. There are also loyalty programs and anyone can be enrolled, as long as they are real-money players. Land-based facilities, in comparison, would offer VIP status only to high-rollers, while comp points are given only by the largest casinos.
In terms of game play, there is hardly any difference between playing video poker in your local casino or online. If you choose a good web-based casino, however, you will be able to adjust your bet size in accordance with your budget. There are games allowing you to bet $0.01 per hand or as high as $10 and even more. In addition, you can make deposits using safe, fast, and even anonymous payment methods which are convenient to you.
This brings us to another advantage online gaming has over traditional play in brick-and-mortar casinos – privacy. Many players do not feel comfortable and confident enough when visiting casinos, so betting online is the preferred option for them. Some gambling sites offer complete anonymity, which is, of course, impossible, if you play at a traditional casino.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Gameplay
Software Variations
Gaming studios have created an impressive range of online video poker games and there are hundreds of options players can choose from. There are amazing variations of the traditional rules of classic video poker and even games, which are available exclusively online. Most providers of online casino software have at least the basic video poker variations in their gaming collections. Before choosing an online casino for real-money video poker, players should make themselves familiar with the major gaming studios and their specific offerings.
One of the largest casino software developers is Microgaming, an Isle of Man based company, which currently has the largest gaming portfolio. As expected, it also offers a full range of video poker games, including classic titles, as well as unique versions of popular games. Among the most played titles created by the company are Deuces Wild, Aces and Faces, All American, and the All Aces Poker variation which has one of the highest expected returns at 99.92%. In fact, Microgaming has made the RTP percentages of its games public and in most of their video poker versions, the house edge is less than 1%. Some of the most recognizable games from Microgaming are included in their range of Power Pokers. These are multi-hand variations of video poker such as Jacks or Better Power Poker, Deuces and Joker, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, and others.
Another software provider known to develop high-quality video poker variations is Playtech, a successful creator of online casino games and software. The company offers almost all versions of video poker and although they are not particularly different from the classics, at least in terms of rules, they have quite a unique appearance. Playtech’s video poker versions are colorful, with fun animations and beautiful themes. Players can choose from Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, or 2 Ways Royal, which offers a jackpot payout not only for holding a Royal Flush, but also for getting a hand called “Lo Royal Flush”. It is comprised of a suited Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six and it pays off the same as the “Hi Royal Flush” – 250 times the size of the bet.
Net Entertainment, or simply NetEnt, is one of the leading developers of online casino and gaming software. It is recognized all around the world as a creator of some of the highest quality casino games. However, the video poker collection of NetEnt includes a limited number of titles, compared to other famous providers. The company has several variations with impressive graphics such as Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Joker Wild, and All American in both single and multi-hand variations. One of the interesting features you will find in NetEnt’s video poker games is the double up option. It is activated after getting a winning hand and the player has the opportunity to double the payout he or she receives. This bonus game requires you to guess the color of a face down card but if you fail to give the correct answer, you lose the winnings of the current round.
Many online casinos are also offering an extensive collection of RTG video poker titles, which boast high-quality graphics and fast, smooth gameplay. A real veteran in the world of casino game developing, RealTime Gaming, or simply RTG, is famous for its slots and video poker games which are accessible through a downloadable software. The developer also has a nice collection of virtual table games, which are hosted by most RTG-powered casinos on the Internet. An important feature of their video poker games is that casino sites are allowed to adjust the pay tables of each game. RTG also has one of the richest and most diverse selections of video poker. So before starting to play any game by the gaming studio, players should do a research, inspect its pay table and decide whether it is good or not.
Choosing a Video Poker Online Casino
Most online gamblers know exactly what to look for when choosing a good casino site for playing video poker. However, it can be difficult for the less experienced players to distinguish between reliable casinos and those that are less trustworthy and transparent. Currently, there are thousands of casino websites and most of them offer video poker. In order to determine where to play, casino enthusiasts should pay extra attention to several things.
The first thing you need to consider when choosing a gambling site for playing video poker online is the licensing of the operator. Every respectable online casino has a license for gambling operations from a governmental or international regulator which is a guarantee for the safety of the casino and the fair play it offers. Real-money gambling sites also need to take certain security measures to protect users’ data and all financial transactions going through the cashier system of the casino. Usually, this is carried out by encryption technology such as SSL and TLS, easily noticeable by the lock symbol in the site’s address bar.
Online Video Poker Casino TipsAnother indicator of the merit of any casino site is its customer support. Players should register at sites which offer 24/7 assistance by professional support teams. The entire appearance and design of the casino site are important, as well. Typically, sites that look outdated would not be capable of offering the excellent support you are searching for. It is also essential to make sure that the casino site has a good variety of games and most of all, that it works with the software you prefer. Some casinos provide an instant-play interface so that players can open their favorite games directly in-browser. The games offered by other casinos can be accessed only from a special software which is downloaded on users’ computers.
When choosing an online casino for video poker, players should also take into account the withdrawal times and the payment methods accepted by the operator. At some of the older gambling sites, withdrawals are processed within a week or even more, while most of the relatively new casinos offer faster payouts. It is important to play at a site where you can use your preferred deposit method, whether that would be a credit card, a digital wallet, or simply your online banking account.
Video Poker Casino Sites
Searching through hundreds and even thousands of casino sites would no doubt be a tedious, mundane task, especially when a large portion of the sites have no territory restrictions and accept players from all around the world. In fact, most casino sites fall into two major groups – those that accept international players and those that do not allow registrations of real money accounts from the United States of America. There are also some local online casinos which are specifically targeted towards customers in a limited region or country.
Below, we have listed ten of the best casino sites for playing video poker. They all come with a great variety of games, excellent support, and attractive pay tables. Of course, these casino operators are also recognized in the gambling community as respectable and trustworthy, while the sites they are in charge of – as convenient, fun and safe destinations for playing video poker online.