Video poker is one of the most popular casino games. Many real-money online casinos offer it. When available, it is almost always better to play online video poker than games offered by live casinos in the same area.
Just like at live casinos, it is important to bet five coins at an online casino. That is because it increases the royal flush payout from 250/1 to 800/1. This adds over 1% to the return on the game. It is also a good idea to master the strategy of a video poker game before playing. This will help you get closest to the expected return of the game.
Related: Online casinos with video poker
Video poker pay tables are often better than live casinos
The video poker pay tables available at casino sites are usually better than what is found at live gaming establishments. Most online video poker returns 99%. Full-pay Jacks or Better is plentiful. It is almost impossible to find this 9/6 Jacks video poker game in retail casinos these days.
Its best game is 16/10 Deuces Wild, often referred to as Not-so-ugly-ducks. The return on this game is 99.73% with perfect play and five coins wagered. Other quality online video poker games include 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, 9/7 Triple Double Bonus, 9/6 Jacks or Better, 18/7/5 Joker Poker, 8/5 Bonus Poker, 9/7 Double Bonus, and 9/6 Double Double Bonus. All of these games return 99% or more. Fanduel also offers these pay tables.
The best game available in most live casino markets, including Atlantic City, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania is 9/6 Jacks or Better. It is only a fraction of the casinos in these markets. In fact, most online video poker games return at least 99%. That is not true at live casinos.
Online video poker offers lower denominations than live casinos
Online and mobile casino video poker denominations usually start at a penny, nickel, or dime. This includes single line games. The pay tables are typically the same from the lowest to the highest denominations. This means that you can play 99% or better video poker for a nickel or quarter per hand online.
Live casinos typically start single line video poker at a nickel or quarter denomination. Most choose the latter. If nickel is available, the pay table is often terrible. You may find some video poker variants that start at a penny at live casinos. However, those pay tables will be awful, too. Online casino video poker variants like Ultimate X, Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play, often offer the best pay tables available for the game, which is typically over 99%.
Online video poker bonuses usually match players card returns
All online casinos offer new player bonuses. For real-money video poker, the wagering requirement is usually about the same. A 75-times wagering requirement on the bonus returns an additional 1.13%. A 150-times playthrough returns 0.67%. This is within the typical range for video poker loyalty club payouts at casinos.
Live casinos will often issue mailers based on a player’s action. Online casinos may do the same. That makes the players club return similar. However, note that pay tables are almost always better at online casinos. And there is no cash or time expense in connecting to one like there is with driving to a live casino.
Availability of video poker games at online casinos
Live casinos win the comparison of video poker availability. Some online casinos do not have video poker at all. Those that do may only have a few games. The largest variety of video poker at online casinos has 10 titles with only a handful of variants that include multi-hand and Ultimate X.
If you enjoy playing many video poker variants, live casinos are your best bet. That is where you are more likely to find games like Super Times Pay, Split Card, Dream Card, Ultimate X Bonus Streak, Good Times Pay, and Spin Poker. These games are usually not available at online casinos.
Don’t need to leave your home to play online video poker
Gas prices are through the roof. Casinos can be crowded and smoky. You don’t need to worry about that when playing video poker at an online casino. You can stay at home and avoid all of that. And with the lower denominations and better pay tables, your chances of winning increase without buying gas or dealing with other players on your favorite machine.
Differences between online poker and online video poker
Online poker and online video poker sound similar. However, they are quite different.
Online poker is played with other players. The typical game is Texas Hold’em. Omaha and seven card stud are other typical options. Players try to win money off others at a virtual table by either having the best hand or winning a bluff. The online poker room makes money by taking a portion of the pot. This is called rake.
In online video poker, there are no opponents. The player tries to make the best hand. The payout by the game is based on the hand strength. There is no bluffing. The house edge is built into the pay table.
Online video poker FAQs
What is the minimum age to play real money video poker online?
Players must be at least 18 years old at most online casinos. Some have a requirement of 21 years of age.
Do online video poker games have good odds?
Most online video poker games return at least 99% with perfect play and five coins wagered.
Are online video poker games better than the ones at live casinos?
In most cases, online video poker returns 1-2% better than games found at casinos.
What are the types of video poker games available online?
Deuces Wild, Deuces Wild Bonus, Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Triple Bonus Poker, and Joker Poker are among the types of online video poker games available.
Can I play multi-hand video poker online?
Online casinos usually have Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play.
Last Updated on September 17, 2023 by John Mehaffey