Joker Poker Video Poker

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The name might sound a little frivolous, but don't be put off, Joker Poker is an exciting variant of video poker with a greater chance of landing a top hand than some other games out there. Also known as ‘Joker’s Wild’, Joker Poker livens up the standard five-card draw poker format by adding a Joker card to the deck.

This added Joker acts as a wild card - an exciting addition to most poker games - and can substitute any other card to create the strongest possible winning hand.

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Best Joker Poker Video Poker Sites

Although Joker Poker's popularity may not be as widespread as some of the more traditional variants like Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, it is still a well-known video poker game. In fact many online casinos in Canada offer this variant. You might find fewer variations of Joker Poker compared to more common games and some casinos offer bonuses specifically for certain games, including variantions of video poker. These bonuses might come in the form of free spins, bonus funds, no deposit bonus or other promotions.
 


Check Out: Top casino app for Joker Poker Video Poker.


Variants

Many software providers have tweaked the format to offer players additional versions. These include Double Joker Poker, which doubles the number of Jokers in the decks; Deuces & Joker Poker, in which twos and Jokers are wild, and Joker Poker Power Poker, which lets you gamble any winnings in an extra double-or-quits mini-game. Each one has a different pay table, so remember to factor in those variations when you play. Some casinos even offer a unified point system if they are enrolled in the Casino Rewards program.
 

Rules

Like most video poker sites variants, players join a game, select a wager and hit ‘Deal’. Five cards will appear on the screen; the player is then given the option to hold any number of them before hitting ‘Deal’ again to discard and replace any cards not held. If one or more Jokers feature in a player’s final hand, the game will automatically determine and pay out the highest possible hand.

The Joker is what sets this variant apart from other popular variants. Joker Poker's use of the wild Joker provides a host of new hand combinations for players to capitalise on.

Payouts

Adding the wild Jokers into the mix means that players have an increased chance of landing a Royal Flush, and also introduces a new winning hand: five of a kind.

Usually, the top payout is for a ‘natural’ Royal Flush (that’s a Royal Flush achieved without a Joker), followed by five of a kind and a Joker Royal Flush, then the usual hands.

Most gaming software providers compensate for the potential big payouts by taking wins from the bottom of the pay table. Unlike the similar variant Deuces Wild, many versions – including some from top software provider Playtech – will still pay out for a pair, but only Kings or Better.

An unexpected quirk among Joker Poker providers, though, is that pay tables can vary quite significantly. A natural Royal Flush pays between 800-1,000 coins, five of a kind will range between 150 and 200 and four of a kind between 17 and 20. This means it’s wise to compare pay tables before committing.

Strategy

Greater chances of a big win combined with the trimming of the bottom of the pay table make this a relatively high-volatility video poker game – less so than Deuces Wild, but still enough to call for a change in strategy from simpler variants like Jacks or Better or Double Bonus video poker.

Because of the high payouts awarded for four or five of a kind, pairs are much more valuable than in Deuces Wild, and low payouts on a straight or flush mean that even a low pair can be worth gambling on.

However, the core strategy should really be bankroll management, ensuring that you bet small sums in order to survive dry periods in search of those bigger wins. The chance of landing a winning hand on any given deal is around 44%.

Where to Play

You can play Joker Poker with any of the operators listed above if they are available in your province. If you are based in Ontario then there are a whole array of new casinos available for you to play with legally. So, be sure to check out the best online casinos in Ontario if you are looking to play in that province.

 


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