Best US Sites to Play Video Poker Games
The best game variants are now available online at established platforms like our top pick, Caesars Online Casino. This US-licensed casino has a rewarding VIP program and a $1,000 welcome bonus that's eligible to use on 17 top video poker games. Join us as we learn about the game variants, strategies, tips to win, and the best USA online casinos with these fun games.
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How to Play Video Poker
Video poker is a digital version of the classic five card draw poker. Players can win money by making poker hands such as a pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind, straight, flush, straight flushes, four of a kind, and up to the highest hand, a royal flush.
US players can enjoy an incredible choice of video poker variants online. They provide a similar experience to a slot machine, with a Random Number Generator (RNG) system picking random cards on each draw and displaying them on the screen.
When you load a video poker game, the most prominent feature is the pay table. It’s typically displayed to the left or above the cards. It lists the poker hands and the corresponding prizes you receive for each one. It also shows if the top hands, like a royal flush, have a jackpot when betting maximum coins. Follow the steps below to learn how to play video poker.
- Pick a game variant and load the title.
- Select the number of coins to play (from 1 – 5)
- Decide how much to bet by adjusting the coin value. (typically 0.10 – 10+)
- View the payout table to see the value of each poker hand.
- Press the Deal button to begin the game. Five cards will appear face-up on the screen.
- Click on the cards you wish to keep, and press Draw to replace the others.
- Make a final hand to receive a payout and win real money.
- Some online video poker titles let you gamble your winnings to double up.
Types of Online Video Poker Games
There are many popular video poker games at US online casinos. Each game variant has different rules, payouts, and special in-game jackpots. Below, we’ve gone into more detail about the most common types of real money and free video poker.
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better video poker is one of the most famous five card draw poker games at online casinos. The minimum hand to receive a payout is a pair of jacks. So if you get a pair of 2s through to 10s, they don’t count. The highest hand is the royal flush, which pays 250:1 for one coin and a massive 4000:1 jackpot prize for five coins.
The two most common Jacks or Better game types are 9/6 and 6/5, which refer to the coin payout for a full house/flush. In 9/6 Jacks or Better, players receive nine coins for a full house and six for a flush. 6/5 has reduced rewards of six and five coins. 9/6 Jacks or Better offers a higher 99.54% RTP than the 6/5 version, with 95.51%.
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is a fun video poker variant where all 2s count as Jokers and act as wild cards. It enhances the gameplay, and landing a wild can boost the chances of forming stronger hands like a straight flush. For example, if a pair of kings and two lands, the game will turn the two into a King and hold the three cards to make triples.
Due to the increased chances of making a hand, the RTP of Deuces Wild video poker can reach 100.76% with perfect strategy. The minimum payouts start at three of a kind, offering an even 1:1 prize. You must hit a natural royal flush with no deuces to win the jackpot. The next strongest hand is four deuces.
Double Bonus Poker
Double Bonus Poker offers a unique style of jacks or better that focuses on rewarding special jackpots for different four-of-a-kind poker hands. One coin bettors can receive double jackpot prizes worth 160 for four aces, 80 for four 2s - 4s, and 50 for four 5s - Kings. There are two variants: full pay and short pay.
In full pay games, the one coin payouts are 10/7/5 for full house/flush/straight hands, and the RTP with optimal strategy can reach 100.17%. Short pay has lower prizes of 9, 7, 5 and a reduced 99.10% RTP. Most casinos have Double Bonus poker titles paying 10/7/4 or 9/7/5 to combat strategic players gaining an edge over their business.
Triple Play
Triple Play video poker is an exciting fast-paced variant that is more suitable for experienced jacks or better video poker players. Triple Play lets you play three hands at once for triple the fun and returns. You can select from different titles, including Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, Jacks or Better, and other popular choices.
Instead of one row of five cards, the screen displays three rows with five cards. Payouts start with jacks or higher and include super bonuses for hands with four cards, e.g. Four Kings. Triple Play is perfect for players who know their strategy and wish to receive more hands in each gaming session.
Jokers Wild
Joker Wild is a game variant that adds a Joker card to the deck, bringing the total to 53. It acts as a wild and can replace any card to help make a better hand. For example, if you have two aces and a joker, it will automatically become an ace to form three of a kind.
The payouts are similar to other game types; however, landing a pair below kings means players won't receive a payout. With the addition of the Joker, players can make five of a kind with payouts for one coin starting at 200. The top prize for betting with five coins is a natural royal flush jackpot of 5,000.
Double Double Bonus
Double Double Bonus poker is a unique video poker game with boosted jackpot prizes for hands with four of a kind. The bonus rewards for one coin bets range from 50 for four 5s – Kings, 80 for four 2 - 4s, 160 for four Aces or four 2,3,4 with an Ace, and 400 for four Aces with 2, 3, or 4 kickers.
The most common version of Double Double Bonus poker is 9/6, with a theoretical return of 98.98% using optimal strategy. Like other online video poker versions, the minimum prizes start at Jacks or better with a 1:1 reward. The extra rewards make this a fun and rewarding variant at US online casinos.
Multi Play
Multi Play video poker titles bring the classic action of Jacks or Better and boost the excitement with the ability to play 5, 10, 25, 50, and up to 100 hands simultaneously! It's not for the fainthearted and is a more suitable choice for experienced players who have perfected their online poker strategy.
In Multi Play poker, you receive a starting hand at the bottom of the screen, and all others stay face down. You can select to hold specific cards and press deal. All hands will keep the cards you choose and draw other ones. Each hand that wins receives credits contributing to the round's return.
Free Video Poker vs. Real Money Play
If you’re new to video poker, the great news is it’s available to play for free or real money, just like slot machine games. You can start for free, learn the basics, and improve your chances of winning. We’ve listed some other pros and cons to consider below.
Free Online Video Poker
- Play Jacks or Better & Other Top Video Poker Games with No Risk
- Practice and Learn Game Rules Before Playing for Real Money
- Wide Availability at Real Money & Social/Sweepstakes Casinos
- Can’t Win Actual Prizes
- Not All Varieties May Be Available For Free
Real Money Video Poker
- Win Real Cash Prizes
- Wide Variety of Game Variants and Hand & Speed Options
- Huge Jackpots for Top Hands at Max Coin Bet
- Must Deposit and Risk Money to Win
- Not All US States have Legal Real Money Gaming
Video Poker Strategy Tips
Playing video poker involves using a strategy. You can improve your chances of winning by playing free video poker to learn the rules, studying some tips, and forming a plan. The tips below are a good starting point for a better game experience.
Know Your Paytable
Learning the pay table of video poker machines is essential to succeeding. It shows the hands required to win money and their prizes; for example, a straight flush pays 50:1. It also tells you how many coins to bet and be eligible for jackpots. The pay tables can vary between each poker type, so it's best to double-check. Examining them shows if the game is 9/6 or 9/5, allowing you to pick higher RTP titles.
Play Maximum Coin Bets
Playing with maximum coin bets on a real money video poker app allows you to be eligible to win the biggest prizes. Many variants have jackpot prizes for top hands at maximum bet. For example, in Jacks or Better, betting five coins awards a royal flush jackpot of 4,000. If the same hand lands on a one to four coin bet, the return would only be 250 – 1,000.
Hold on to Low Pairs
Holding on to a low pair is ideal whenever the chance presents itself. While most variants don’t pay for pairs below Jacks or Better, you can still get great value from these low-value cards. Starting pairs put you in a better position to draw more cards for stronger hands, such as three or four of a kind or a full house.
Know When to Break Up a Straight or Flush
Landing a straight or flush is a fun experience. You can lock in some decent returns; however, if you can hit a royal flush and bag the jackpot prize, you should consider breaking up the hand. For example, if you land a straight flush with 9d, 10h, Jh, Qh, and Kh, you could hold the 10 - K and draw to get the Ace of Hearts for a royal flush jackpot.
Winnings Hands in Video Poker
All video poker machines will list the possible payouts for their games. Prizes can vary from game to game depending on the rules.
Essentially, hand ranking is according to standard five card draw. The Royal Flush is the best hand, followed by the straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, and one pair. In a standard game of Jacks or Better, the lowest paying hand is a pair of jacks.
Payouts are made for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 coins. A special jackpot is reserved for a Royal Flush with 5 coins.
Here are the basic payouts for a game of 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Video Poker Games with the Highest RTP
Video poker games each have their own RTP (Return to Player percentage). The value can vary dramatically from game to game.
For example, a game of Deuces Wild video poker actually offers an RTP of 100.7% if you play optimally. However, most casual gamblers will find the real RTP around the 96-97% mark. As with slot machines, video poker titles may offer slightly different returns depending on the developer.
Here are some of the best RTPs found in video poker games.
FAQ
What is the best strategy to win at video poker?
The best advice to win video poker online real money is to learn the rules, study the hand values, and start practising with free video poker games. Stick to a budget if you play for real, and follow basic strategies like finding higher RTP 9/6 games, holding onto low pairs, and betting max coins for potential jackpots.
How often do video poker machines pay out?
Video poker players can receive regular wins based on poker hands. Each variant has a slightly different RTP rate that can change depending on the basic strategy used. For example, playing optimally in some Deuces Wild variants can present an RTP of 100.7%. However, most players don’t follow a perfect strategy, and the average RTP drops to 97.16%.
What are the best odds for video poker machine?
The best odds for a video poker machine are in full-pay Deuces Wild games. Playing this game with optimal strategy gives an RTP of 100.76% and an excellent chance for strategic players to win money. It has increased odds thanks to all 2s acting as wild cards and providing more opportunities for a winning hand.
Can you make money with video poker?
It’s possible to win real money playing video poker, and learning different strategies and practising can increase chances. However, it’s still a form of gambling and should be treated as entertainment. We recommend practicing for free, setting a budget, and gambling responsibly for the best experience.
Are video poker games safe and legal?
Yes. Approved labs test legit video poker online games before they arrive in the lobby of a licensed and regulated casino. Some casinos will even display testing certificates for every video poker player to read.
Where can I play video poker games for free?
Most legal online casinos offer free video poker. You can also play free games at regulated casino sites in the US. Simply select the Demo Play option in the casino lobby.
Can I use welcome bonuses to play video poker?
Yes, you can. Most welcome bonuses let you contribute video poker gameplay so you can clear the funds quicker. Always check the bonus terms before you sign up.
Are there different variations of video poker?
Yes. The best online casinos may offer over a dozen different video poker variants. Play classic Jacks or Better or play with jokers in the exciting Deuces Wild poker variation.
Can I play Deuces Wild or Jacks or Better for free?
Popular video poker online games such as Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better are free to play in demo mode. Free video poker games let you test drive the title without depositing money. With no upfront risk, playing video poker free is perfect for beginners to learn the rules.
Do I need to make a deposit to play video poker?
Most casinos let you play free online video poker without depositing any money. To win real money, however, you will need to make a deposit and play for real stakes.
Can I play video poker on mobile?
Yes, of course. Most software developers have adapted video poker games to work on smartphone or tablet. Download a game to your device or play through a mobile web browser.
