Video poker online

Those who feel intimidated by playing against other players, or simply don’t like table games that much, have had the option to play video poker since the 80s. Also, not surprisingly, video poker is very popular in online casinos too.

If you’ve never played online video poker, continue reading as we will explain the main rules and features of the game, explore odds and possible betting strategies, and discuss the different types of video poker so that you can try your luck for real money or via a free version.

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Best websites to play Video poker for real money

Below are the best online casinos where you can easily find video poker options to test your skills. Before you start playing, read our casino reviews, which contains all the relevant information about the bonuses, offered games, and more

Online Video Poker Main Rules Explained

Online Video poker - main rules

Playing video poker is very similar to the standard 5-card poker game, except that you are not playing against other players or a dealer. The objective of the game is to get the best possible 5-card combination.

In this sense, video poker is similar to slot machines, where there is a predetermined return to player percentage. However, in video poker, you are making decisions that can positively influence the outcome of the game. Many casinos offer a free video poker version, which can be great for practice.

Here is how the flow of the game goes:

  • Place your bet by clicking on the bet button
  • Click on the deal button and you will receive five cards
  • Hold any (or all) of your cards, but discard the ones you don’t want to keep
  • Press the deal button again to replace the discarded cards
  • You have your final poker hand
  • Payout – if your hand qualifies

Video Poker hands & payouts

Online video poker hands & payouts

Just like in a standard poker game, you’ll receive five cards and you can swap any or all of them to get a winning poker hand. The video poker table will explain what the winning poker hands are in the game. The payout will depend on your card values if you have pairs of consecutive card values, the same suits, etc. The highest payout comes with a Royal Flush, followed by a Straight Flush and Four of a Kind.

Video Poker: Payouts

We took the most popular type of video poker and made a tabula with payouts for each possible hand.

The columns list the payoffs for how many coins you’ve wagered if you get a specific hand. All the payoffs save one are multiplied by the number of coins you’ve wagered. That’s an important distinction.

Let’s start with a classic pay table for Jacks or Better:

Online video poker payouts
Hands 1 Coin 2 Coins 3 Coins 4 Coins 5 Coins
Royal flush 250 500 750 1000 4000
Straight flush 50 100 150 200 250
4 of a kind 25 50 75 100 125
Full house 9 18 27 36 46
Flush 6 12 18 24 30
Straight 4 8 12 16 20
3 of a kind 3 6 9 12 15
2 pairs 2 4 6 8 10
Jacks or better 1 2 3 4 5

Always Play max Coins.

Understanding Video Poker main features

Understanding Video Poker main features

The buttons and the display on poker slots are easy to understand. You can make simple commands with the buttons for placing your wager amount, as well as starting the game and drawing new cards while the display will tell you how much credit you have left. Plus, you can see how much you’ve wagered for the current game and whether you’ve won anything.

Buttons

With the buttons, you can select your wager and draw the cards.

  1. Bet one: wagers one coin of the selected denomination
  2. Deal/Draw: starts the game and draws new cards
  3. Hold: keeps the selected card
  4. Max. Bet: places maximum credit available

Displays

The display tells you about the current game and your remaining credits.

  1. Coin: the denomination of bets
  2. Credits: how much credit you have left
  3. Bet: how much you’ve bet on the game
  4. Paytable: explains how much winning hands pay
  5. Win: how much you’ve won in the game

Bonuses for Real Money Video Poker

Video poker machines are very popular all around the world. When you play poker slots, you’re playing against the computer and the objective is to have a better hand. Video poker has a very low house edge and, therefore, you can boost your bankroll with this game. There are several variants of the game, with Deuces Wild giving you the best odds. The game requires some skill so different strategies can be used to improve your chances. The best video poker is also a great way to practice poker hands before sitting down to play with other people.

Choose your bonus for the best video poker titles.

  • decoration
    Lemon Casino logo
    Welcome package: 100% up to C$600 + 200 Free Spins
  • decoration
    rooli casino logo
    Welcome Package: Up to C$4,000 + 475 Free Spins
  • decoration
    sg-logo-big-105x105s
    Welcome package: C$750 + 200 Free Spins
  • decoration
    just-casino-105x105s
    Welcome package: C$5,000 + 400 Free Spins
  • decoration
    jokersino-logo-white-105x105s
    Welcome package: up to C$2,500
  • decoration
    spinfever logo
    Welcome package: C$2,000 + 200 Free Spins

All about Odds, RTP & House edge

Online video poker odds and payouts

Playing video poker online gives you one of the best return-to-player figures of all casino games. Usually, you’ll find the exact RTP information in the game description and it should be around 97–99%. Although there are elements of luck in this game, the skill of the player is far more important.

The best odds are offered with the Deuces Wild version of video poker. This game can even exceed 100% RTP if the player is skilled, so the advantage is clearly on the player’s side. With the popular Jacks or Better game, even inexperienced players can get an RTP of 99.52%.

Odds at any poker casino online can differ slightly from casino to casino so it is worth checking out the paytable before starting the game.

Online video poker odds
Online Video Poker: Odds
Hand Odds
Royal Flush 649,740:1
Straight Flush 72,193:1
Four of a Kind 4,165:1
Full House 694:1
Flush 509:1
Straight 255:1
Three of a kind 4:1
Two Pairs 21:1
Pair J,Q,K or A 7.69:1
Any Pair 2.37:1

Interesting betting strategies

Following a strategy in video poker makes all the difference. With this game, you already have good chances of winning so, with a working strategy, you might even eliminate the house edge. Before you start wagering money, however, it is worth practising your strategy.

Strategy 1: Use strategy tables

Strategy 1: Use strategy tables

To succeed in online video poker you’ll have to make the right decision every time. It is hard to keep poker hand combinations in mind so strategy tables have been created by mathematicians and poker professionals.

  • Find the right strategy table for your game online, by googling it.
  • The charts will show you what to do in different situations.
  • Don’t rush with your decisions, as in video poker you are not under pressure from fellow players.
  • While playing online, you can always have these charts handy.
Strategy 2: Deuces Wild strategy

Strategy 2: Deuces Wild strategy

The Deuces Wild strategy is easy to follow and only depends on whether you’ve been dealt any deuces. You’ll have to have the strategy table handy as it will be very difficult to remember each situation.

You get instructions on what to hold and what to discard if:

  • No deuces are dealt with you
  • One deuce is dealt
  • Two deuces are dealt
  • Three deuces are dealt
  • Four deuces are dealt
5

How to Start Playing Video Poker for Real Money?

  1. Choose a casino from our list

    It is important to play on a legitimate, honest casino’s website where your money and data are secure.

  2. Choose a good welcome bonus

    Most casinos online offer welcome bonuses when you sign up. Although you should always check the wagering requirements.

  3. Make a deposit

    Making a deposit is easy as most casinos accept debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and third-party wallets.

  4. Choose a game and wait until you get your cards

    Now all you have to do is pick your favourite game and start to play video poker.

  5. Take a win

    Video poker machines will display your win and you have the choice to cashout any time you want.

Tips that Might Help You to Save Money

  • 1-bet-maximum-coins-50x50s

    Bet maximum coins

    Getting a Royal Flush will give you a disproportionally bigger payout for 5 coins than for 1. You’ll get 5,000 times your wager. Perhaps start with free video poker to practice.

  • 2-mind-the-paytables-50x50s

    Mind the paytables

    The same poker types can offer slightly different payouts for certain hands and poker slot machines will display these. Check the paytables so you’re not missing out.

  • 3-start-with-low-variance-games-50x50s

    Start with low variance games

    A low-variance game gives you better chances to win. The payouts are smaller but if your payroll is small you can enjoy these games for longer.

  • 4-learn-basic-strategy-50x50s

    Learn basic strategy

    In poker, the player’s skill has a great influence on the outcome. By learning a basic strategy you can increase your odds significantly.

  • 5-manage-your-bankroll-50x50s

    Manage your bankroll

    It is easy to start chasing losses. Predetermine how much money you can afford to lose and, if you reach that limit, stop playing.

  • 6-target-the-right-promotions-50x50s

    Target the right promotions

    Promotions can give you free money, but some of them have such strict wagering requirements that it is practically impossible to cashout on them.

Choosing the Best Video Poker Canadian Casino

To play video poker online, Canadians can pay attention to a range of factors, such as a range of video poker games on the site, an opportunity to claim casino bonuses for this software type, progressive jackpot game variations, and other gambling tricks to help players in Canada. Of course, creating an account on a decent casino site is the key step to cover all these needs. Here’s our guide to choosing the best video poker online casino!

Parameter Importance How to check
Video poker catalogue Video poker variations should be diversified to meet the needs of those fond of Double Bonus Poker Game King, Ultimate X, Draw Poker, and others. In order to check the video poker machine variety, open the casino’s catalogue and use filters or a search bar to estimate the current value.
Payment methods To make a payment, you should access Canadian-friendly methods that guarantee fast and secure transactions in the country (e.g. Interac and crypto). The selection of payment options to play online video poker can be checked via the cash desk after registration. Plus, make sure to check current limits and fees.
Promotions Video poker bonuses are desirable yet quite rare since the high RTP of this game is the reason for excluding this software from promos. Open the promotional page to check deposit bonuses and scroll down to check T&Cs and their game contribution (e.g. 0% or 5% for video poker).
Security Withdrawals of your winnings at video poker casinos should be flawless, while safety tools should protect personal data and money, as well as guarantee fair results. The casino should be licensed (Kahnawake logo or licences from other markets) and equipped with safety tools like AML and SSL encryptions.
Other games You may want to play other games on the same site, so the presence of roulette, blackjack, slots, a sportsbook, and a variety of other casino games is a plus. Customers can check the gaming library or even a sports betting section. Thus, users can even access sportsbooks (any sport type, including football).
Customer support Though the industry is quite understanding, bettors may have questions about VIP membership and rewards, deposits, and other things, so a 24/7 chat is a must. Top video poker casino sites usually have chat widgets in view so that the casino team can be accessed instantly. Plus, you can check the contact form or find the phone number.

Mobile Gameplay: Video Poker on the Go

This casino game can be played both on desktops and mobile gadgets, including apps and browser versions. You don’t need to install an app when you don’t want to since the browser version of your platform will be enough to enjoy any video poker game and feel no differences compared to desktops and applications. Thus, there are many ways to try out different online video poker versions on the go and make a spin on any device.

Video Poker: Facts & Numbers

To understand the game a bit better, we’ve got some numbers and facts about online casino video poker over here:

  • The game is played with all standard cards (Face cards five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces), as well as Wild cards.
  • The most popular casino video poker game providers are IGT and Games Global (Microgaming).
  • Prizes on video poker pay tables are based on traditional poker hands (Flush, Royal Flush, etc.), so the suit is also considered.
  • Payouts for wins on poker slots start from x1 (Jacks or Better) and reach x250 (Royal Flush).
  • The RTP exceeds 99%, so the house edge is below 1%.
  • The game is popular not only in Canada but also in other countries and among people of any legal age.
  • Your video poker deck can have a wild card. For example, the Deuces Go Wild variation will feature deuces as Wilds.

Summary

When looking for something action-packed yet easy to play, this review should indicate how video poker stacks up. Also known as slot poker, this game is quite simple and catchy. Relying on reviews from other players and our research, we can name the best video poker games online, as well as the casinos where you can play them. You can trust our expertise as we name all the advantages we consider and don’t hide weak points. On the sites we recommend, Canadians can take part in different events that operators run regularly, play alternative games (e.g. make spins on games with jackpots), enjoy a fast withdrawal process, and actually have fun, like in Las Vegas!

Other Games

Lucas Goldberg
Lucas, a seasoned site editor at CasinoCanada, boasts a decade-long journey in the gambling industry with a focus on providing players with meticulous reviews and insights of online games and casinos.
Site Editor
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Digital Media, and Journalism, PlayTech Analytics career, communication with users through high-quality gambling content.
Expert in:
  • iGaming Content
  • Bonus Incentives Theory
  • Trend Analysis
Reviewed by Head of Content:
Dmitry Rogalchuk
Last updated on: 20.02.2024

FAQ

🎮 Can I win at video poker?

You certainly can. By using the right strategy, video poker slots give you a surprisingly good RTP. Certain types even give the player the edge.

🎮 How to play video poker in Canada?

Once you’ve picked the right casino and deposited, enter the game, start the round, set the cards you want to keep (an Ace and tens sound good) and push the ‘deal’ button.

🎮 What video poker gives the best chance of winning?

The best RTP is associated with the Deuces Wild game. A full-pay Deuces Wild game offers 100.76% RTP.

🎮 Should I play video poker in a casino or online?

The advantage of online video poker is that it can be played from the comfort of your home. Although playing at an actual casino may still provide a thrilling experience some won’t want to pass up.

🎮 How many winning poker hands are there?

This will depend on the type of poker but these are the basic ones: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Two Pair, and One Pair (Jacks or Better).

🎮 What kind of video poker shall I play as a beginner?

If you’re new to the game, the best games to start with are Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, as they have a higher RTP compared to Joker Poker.

Please turn your device for the best gameplay
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