Casino Poker Games. Alot of poker players who like to play poker online for real money also go to a land-based casino to gamble. For the most part, it ends up being that once-a-month experience where somebody is willing to put up quite a bit more at a casino on a wider variety of casino games than one would at the Home Poker table.

Video poker can be easily deemed one of the most popular games in online casinos. Its popularity can be attributed to the fact the game is more simplified in comparison to its traditional casino counterpart, not to mention video poker is among the few casino games where the house hardly has any edge or advantage over the players.

The game has plenty of advantages to offer. To begin with, video poker is a suitable option for players who like games of skill, but lack the experience, knowledge and composure to attempt a win in a game of actual casino poker. Then again, most video poker variations boast an exceptionally low house edge, pay out well and provide players with multiple possibilities of scooping satisfactory prizes. The game's simplicity itself is the greatest merit, less experienced players can take advantage of.

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Video Poker is based on the traditional five-card draw poker so it follows closely its rules and objective. However, unlike the classic casino game, video poker is not played against other players or a dealer. In fact, the game resembles video slots to a certain extent. There is one major difference between the two, however – in video poker players' decisions can influence the outcome of the game, which is not the case when one spins the reels.

The game starts after the player bets from one to five coins in their preferred denomination. The player is then dealt five virtual cards by the machine and should choose which ones to hold and which ones to discard in order to form a better hand. The aim is to collect a hand containing as many cards of the same suit or rank as possible. Players are allowed to discard all five cards or keep all of them if they so choose. When some (or all) of the cards have been discarded, the player is dealt more cards to replace the discarded ones. At the end, payouts are determined in accordance with the player's hand value. Naturally, stronger hands have better payouts.

The two strongest hands a player can collect are Royal and Straight Flush. A Royal Flush consists of five high-value cards of the same suit in a successive order – Ace, King, Queen, Jack and a Ten. To form a Straight Flush hand, players are again expected to collect five suited cards in a successive order but the cards, in this case, are of lower value – 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4. The Pair consisting of two cards of the same value has the lowest payout which in most cases is even, meaning that players' winnings are equal to the amount of their initial stake.

There are numerous video poker variants players can choose from in online casinos. While each one has its own advantages and peculiarities, they all revolve around the same principle. Some variations of the popular game allow fans to play up to one hundred hands simultaneously. While most variants have lower or no house edge, players are recommended to choose wisely and carefully, if they want to generate proper profits. Typically, the payout schedule is displayed on the main screen when the game loads.

Video Poker Odds

Many players who have never tried out video poker share the common misconception that the game is a money-eating machine because it reminds them of slots. This couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, some video poker variations offer long-term payouts that exceed 100% – a phenomenon that is rarely seen when engaging in other casino games.

While video poker has the potential of huge payouts, some variants of the game offer better odds than others. Of course, if players wish to increase their long-term profits, it would be best if they play video poker with a proper strategy in mind.

Before joining any video poker game, players are advised to first look at the pay-tables of the different variants and look for full-pay video poker games, like the ones mentioned above. Naturally, payouts vary from one video poker variation to another. One of the most popular variants, Jacks or Better, when combined with a good strategy can have a player return of up to 99,54%, sometimes even more. Even if the game is played by less experienced players, who know nothing about strategies and make mistakes in the course of their gaming session, its average player return will still be about 99,52% and correspondingly, the house edge will be almost non-existent at 0,48%.

The best option is to go for Jacks or Better variants with odds of 9/6 as this means players can win $9 with a stake of $1 for a Full House hand. As we have already mentioned above, payouts depend on the players' hand and are displayed on the main screen. So how can one find a video poker variant with 9/6 payouts? Once the game loads, players are advised to check its paytable and more specifically to look for the payouts of the Full House and the Flush hands. If the Full House pays 9 to 1 and the Flush pays 6 to 1, this serves as an indicator the video poker variant in question is a full-pay game and has a payout of 9/6.

Players, who decide to opt for a video poker variation with bonus rounds are recommended to look for variants with minimum 8/5 payouts. Once more, the Full House and the Flush' payouts can serve as a clue. If the Full House hand pays out 8 to 1 and the Flush' return is 5 to 1, you might consider opting out for this Bonus Poker variation. The Average theoretical return of games with 8/5 odds is estimated to be about 99,2%.

Some players find it hard to believe that there are casino games with an average return that exceeds 100%. As weird as this may sound, it is true – some video poker variants boast a potential return of 100,2% or above, which is a great deal for the players. To find these variants, players need to look for games with odds of 10/7/5. The Full House should pay 10 times the amount you've wagered, the Flush should pay 7 to 1 and the Straight hand's payout is required to be 5 to1.

Some video poker variations offer double bonuses and have an average return of about 100,01%, meaning the house practically has no edge and the game's odds are tilted in players' favor. Please note, this percentage is valid only when a given player applies a proper strategy and makes no mistakes in the course of their gaming session. To detect such video poker games, players are recommended to look for odds of 10/6 with the Full House paying 10 to 1. Payouts for the Flush hands should be no less than 6 to 1.

Deuces Wild is, without question, one of the most preferred variations of video poker. If you are willing to give it a try, look for Deuces Wild variants with odds of at least 15/9. Only this time the odds are determined by the payouts for the Five of a Kind and the Straight Flush hands, which should be respectively 15 to 1 and 9 to 1. The average return for these odds is typically about 99,7%.

Aces or Eights is yet another all-time favorite of video poker fans. However, before you put your money at stake, it would be best to find a variant with odds of 25/8. Look at the game's payout schedule and if it pays 25 to 1 for a Four of a Kind and 8 to 1 for a Full House, this is the game you need to go for. However, such odds are difficult, though not impossible to find in both land-based and online casinos, so you might have to settle for games with odds of 20/8 or 25/7. The average theoretical return for video poker with odds of 25/8 is estimated at 99,7%.

Let us finish with the odds you should be looking for if you decide to play a full-pay game of Aces and Faces, which is another favorite of video poker fans. In this case, players are advised to look for Aces and Faces games that pay out 8 to 1 for a Full House hand and 5 to 1 for a Flush, which makes for odds of 8/5 and an average return of 99,7%. In the worst case scenario, you should opt out for Aces and Faces variants with 7/6 or 7/5 odds.

Applying a Proper Strategy

Finding and playing only the full-pay video poker variants is a strategy by itself. However, several other tactics might also prove to be helpful and will increase your long-term profits. As was mentioned above, applying a proper strategy is of crucial importance as payout percentages, no matter how high they are, will fail to make a difference if a given player loses repeatedly in a game of video poker. In addition, the strategy might cause the house edge to drop down even more which will further increase players' profits.

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While video poker is relatively easy to play, especially when compared to the traditional card game, inexperienced players should probably opt for sticking to the most basic strategy, at least in the beginning, until they get a hang of the game. Even more so, when one considers the fact there is a separate strategy for each variation – Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild etc.

In accordance with the basic strategy, players should never discard cards if they are holding a Royal Flush, a Straight Flush, Full House or Four of a Kind. Provided that the player has Three of a Kind, they should discard the remaining two cards. In case you are one hand away from forming a Royal Flush, you should consider increasing your chances of a better hand by discarding the lowest-value card which might provide you with the opportunity to form a Flush or a Straight hand.

The following tips might also be of some help for inexperienced players. As said in the beginning of the current article, most video poker machines allow players to use up to five coins. The wisest thing to do is to bet all five coins but with smaller denominations. Betting five coins of $1 will surely bring you more substantial profits as the machine simply multiples the amount of the bet by a given number. Besides, playing with several coins will increase your overall chances of winning. That is why it would be a better idea to place five $1 bets than a single $5 one.

The most important thing to consider is proper bankroll management. Set a specific sum aside for your gaming session, it would be best if the sum is one you are comfortable with losing as no matter how high the payouts for video poker are, a certain probability of parting with your entire bankroll always exists.

Once you have accumulated satisfactory profits, it is recommendable to walk away. If you wish to extend your gaming session a little more, it is advisable to put aside half of your profits instead of risking the entire sum you have won. Walk away from the casino or quit your online gaming session provided that you lose your entire bankroll without turning a profit. Chasing one's losses is always a bad idea, especially when one is in a state of frustration to cloud their better judgement. And finally, if you are left with absolutely no money to play with, quit, instead of wasting the sum you have allocated for paying your utility bills for example.

Video Poker Games with the Highest Payouts

If you wish to turn more satisfactory profits, making a little research is a nice way to start. Besides, it is always better to do your homework instead of opting for the first video poker variation within eye-shot. We have already explained how to determine which video poker games offer the best odds and the most generous returns in the “Video Poker Odds” section. Finding them will hardly be a problem as a staggering number of web-based casinos have extensive video poker collections to choose from. Do your research and find the game with the best payouts by checking the pay-tables of as many variants as possible.

Below, we have compiled a short list of five of the most popular video poker games with the highest payout percentages.

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Full-Pay Deuces Wild

One of the most popular video poker variations, Full-Pay Deuces Wild attracts players with impressive return rates of 100.76%, which practically indicates the house has no edge in this game. As the name of the game itself suggests, this video poker version features four Deuces which function as “Wild” cards. The latter are of special interest to players as they enable them to complete their winning hands. The Deuce can be used to replace one of the player's other cards increasing their chances of putting together a winning combination.

Deuces Wild uses a standard deck containing 52 cards. The game pays out 5 to 1 for Four of a Kind combinations, while the payout for Five of a Kind is 15 coins per each 1-coin winning bet. Without question, the greatest payout awaits those who bet all five coins and collect a Royal Flush, in which case they will be rewarded with a prize of 4000 coins. Full House and Flush hands pay out 9/6 for 1-coin bets and 45/30 for 5-coin bets.

Double Bonus Poker

Similarly to the first suggestion on our list, Double Bonus Poker uses one standard deck of cards. For best results, players are recommended to look for the version which offers 10/7 odds for Full House and Flush Hands as in this case their theoretical return is estimated to be 100.17%. Players are required to collect at least a pair of Jacks in order to generate a profit, but in this case, winnings will be far from impressive.

While there are no “Wild” cards in this video poker variant, players who collect certain winning hands will be paid out more generously. In the interest of fair gaming, the cards are shuffled after each hand. Auto-Play is also an option, but players must switch to Expert Mode in order to activate it. This will enable them to automatically place the same bet as many times as they choose. Other useful features of the game include the Auto-Rebet, the Play Hints, and the Game Analyzer functionalities.

“Doubling” is also an option – once a player has completed a winning hand, they are given the opportunity to double their winnings. Five cards are dealt, but only one of them is exposed. The player is expected to choose one of the remaining four face-down cards and if it's with a higher rank than the other face-up card, the player wins a double amount.

The Double Bonus Poker offers very appealing payouts for Four of a Kind combinations but these vary depending on what rank the combination is. The maximum amount of 4000 coins is to be won with 5 coins and a Royal Flush.

Pick 'em Poker

Another video poker variation, suitable for players who aim at generating more substantial profits is Pick 'em Poker. Though it is more difficult to find at online casinos, the game still made it on some gambling providers' lists and offers quite a satisfactory player return amounting to 99.95%. Please have in mind, this percentage corresponds to the game's full-pay variant which is not available everywhere. The game's popularity among video poker fans can be ascribed to the fact its volatility is relatively low in comparison with some of the other video poker variants. This will allow players to enjoy a longer gaming session as their bankroll will not be reduced to zero as quickly.

The lowest rank of winning hand is a pair of Nines with a payout of 2 coins per each winning 1 coin bet. The maximum amount players can scoop is with a Royal Flush, which will earn them the impressive amount of 6,000 coins.

Pick'em Poker, too, is played with a standard deck containing 52 cards. This is how it goes – first, the player places their bet and is dealt a total of eight cards. Two of those will be exposed and positioned on the left side of the screen while the remaining six cards are divided into two stacks of three cards each. These are positioned to the right of the screen and their first cards are facing up.

Judging by the two exposed cards to the right, players are required to choose between the two stacks containing three cards. Once the players have selected one of the two stacks, the cards facing down will be revealed and thus, a five-card hand will be formed – three cards on the right side, plus the two exposed cards to the left. Players will then be paid out on the basis of this five-card hand's rank. The impressive payouts are not the only reason why this video poker variant enjoys such great popularity – add its simplicity to the 99.95% return rate and you get the picture.

Full-Pay Jacks or Better

The last suggestion on the list might have a less impressive player return of 99.54%, but nevertheless, Jack or Better is an absolute must if you are a fan of video poker. Besides, many video poker variations are based precisely on this game. Players are advised to look for odds of 9/6, if interested in playing the game and turning a profit. The 9/6 variant pays out 800 to 1 for a Royal Flush and 50 to 1 for a Straight Flush. Bet 5 coins and a Royal Flush will earn you a grand prize of 4000 coins. These are the top prizes, but players are expected to collect at least a pair Jacks (or Better) to be paid at even odds.

Jacks or Better is just as easy to play as the rest of the video poker variants on this list. The game utilizes a standard deck and no “Wild” cards are available. The “Double” feature is available for most variants of Jacks or Better, allowing fans of the game to double their profits provided they collect a winning hand. Another option is to “Double Half” after a winning hand, meaning you will double only half of the amount you have won, while the remaining half is deposited into your balance. Players can choose between Auto-Play and Manual Play. If you wish to generate more substantial profits, it would be best to give the paytable a glance prior to placing your bet.

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Double Double Bonus Poker

Double Double Bonus Poker makes the cut on our list thanks to its full-pay of 98.98%. The game is among the most popular variations based on Jacks or Better and is courtesy of software leader Microgaming. In Double Double Bonus Poker a standard deck containing 52 cards is used. Bet limits range between 0.25 and 25 coins and players are provided with the option to adjust the game's speed.

While there are no “Wild” cards in this game, Double Double Bonus has other advantages to offer to video poker fans. Microgaming's crisp graphics are pleasing to the eye, but without question, the greatest benefit the game has to offer are the impressive payouts. All types of Four of a Kind go hand in hand with large prizes, but the amount depends on the cards' rank. Thus, if a player collects Four of a Kind Aces along with a 2 through 4 kicker, their hand's payout will be 400 to 1, which is far more impressive than what the standard Jacks or Better variant offers. Those, who manage to put together a Royal Flush will collect the highest prize of 4000 coins. But if you wish to scoop the top prize, you will have to bet all five coins. Players, who place a four-coin bet will be paid out only 1000 coins for a Royal Flush.

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Another peculiarity of the game is the Bonus Round, giving players the chance to double their winnings. When the Bonus Round is activated, five cards are dealt but only one of them is facing up. Then players are required to select one of the remaining four cards. If the player has selected a card with a higher rank, their winnings will be automatically doubled.

Conclusion

Millions of players have already discerned video poker is an exceptionally profitable casino game to play, especially if you consider the fact there is hardly any house edge attached to it. Occasionally, as is the case with the Full-Pay Deuces Wild and the Double Bonus Poker variants, the advantage is actually on players' side for a change. The game's simplicity also makes it extremely appealing, especially to poker rookies, who lack the experience and skill, required to win in a game of classic casino poker. What's important to remember is that if you wish to turn some more impressive profit, you will have to do a little research and find the video poker variations that offer the most advantageous payouts as the latter might differ from one casino to other.