Real Money Video Poker
Video poker’s popularity has grown so much in recent years because savvy players know the game offers some of the best odds found in land and online casinos. Plus, the variety of video poker games can cater to both beginners and hardcore poker players. If you want to play a few hands of poker at the fast pace of classic casino table games like blackjack or a slot machine, look no further than the real money video poker games we have to offer at our online casino.Real money video poker is one of the best ways to gamble in a casino. Many beginners overlook video poker machines because they’re overshadowed by the slots, which tend to be flashier. It’s a mistake to do so, because online video poker USA games have a much lower house edge. One advantage of online video poker is the game is based on draw.
Our online casino offers a wide variety of real money video poker games that are accessible to all skill levels. Create an account today and take advantage of the highest odds in casino gambling with a complimentary welcome bonus and spins on the house. If luck is on your side, it won’t be long before playing our real money video poker games leads you straight to our exclusive VIP rewards section. All from the comfort of your own home.
- Play Top Video Poker Games Online in 2021 - We compare the BEST real money online casinos & games. Offering high-quality gaming, jackpots & bonuses!
- Free video poker and video poker for real money are some of the most popular games to play online. Our page offers you a rich selection of video poker games which you can start playing instantly – no download or registration is needed.
- Real Money Video Poker Video poker is in the Hall of Fame of gambling activities; at least, it would be if such a thing existed. The game finds a perfect mix of chance and strategy, combining aspects of slot machines and poker to create this prevalent form of real money gambling.
- Real Money Video Poker Video poker is in the Hall of Fame of gambling activities; at least, it would be if such a thing existed. The game finds a perfect mix of chance and strategy, combining aspects of slot machines and poker to create this prevalent form of real money gambling.
Why You Should Play Video Poker
Video poker was first introduced to casinos in the 1970s and it’s been going strong ever since simply because it’s one of the few games where players have high odds while also having a chance to influence the game’s outcome. Unlike a game like roulette where you don’t have much say over where the ball will stop, players can use their skills to create winning outcomes, which is likely to happen given the low house edge.
Another reason why real money video poker has been a staple of both brick-and-mortar and online casinos is due to the lack of psychological warfare that is a key component of live poker games. Being an expert at reading body language is not a prerequisite for success in video poker. You don’t have to worry about hiding tells or calling bluffs in these popular casino games. There will be no pit bosses, dealers or players breathing down your neck. It’s just you versus the machine to claim a big fat jackpot.
And because your only opponent in video poker games is a machine, it makes each hand very winnable. All you need is a little bit of skill, strategy, knowledge of the game and, of course, luck and you are, on average, five times more likely to hit a royal flush when playing online video poker games than you are in just about any other kind of poker game.
How to Play Online Video Poker
The first step to playing, and winning, real money video poker is creating an account at our online casino. Once your account has been verified, you will be eligible to claim an exclusive welcome bonus and you can start playing any video poker, slot machine or classic casino table games on our dime. Whether you’re a new or experienced player, there’s nothing better than getting your feet wet on someone else’s bankroll.
Once your account is created and your welcome bonus has been collected, playing real money video poker is just a few simple clicks. It’s important to note that we offer many variations of video poker. And it’s a good idea to use the cushion of our exclusive welcome bonus to figure out which video poker variation you like best since your Jacks or Better strategy will be different from your Deuces Wild strategy.
Even though we offer a huge variety of real money video poker games that will require different approaches, virtually all video poker games are built on the mechanics of five-card draw poker. So, whether you want to play a popular variation like Jacks or Better or something a little bit more obscure, the first thing you should do to start winning at our real money video poker games is to understand these mechanics.
The objective of 5-card draw poker is to make the best five-card poker hand. For those of you who don’t know, these are the combinations from weakest to strongest:
High card One pair Two pair Three-of-a-kind Straight Flush Full house Four-of-a-kind Straight flush Royal flush
In real money video poker games, players will first place their wager and then press “Deal”. When they do, they’ll be given five cards at random. At this point, players must choose which cards to keep and which ones they’ll throw away.
Once players have selected which cards they want to keep, players will hit the “Draw” button and their cards will be replaced. Most games only allow for one round of discards, so choose your cards wisely.
After the discard, the amount players win is determined by the poker value of their hand and the posted paytable of that specific poker game. If you want to make real money playing video poker, the first thing you need to do is review the paytable. The paytable allows players to know the expected return before they are dealt a single card. And this is crucial information for all players since you’ll know whether or not any given video poker game is worth your time.
How to Play Jacks or Better Video Poker
There are tons of video poker variations on our online casino, but the one you’ll find no matter where you play is Jacks or Better. It is probably the most popular video poker variation, which is why it’s worth going over how to play so you’re equipped to win wherever you’re playing video poker.
Jacks or Better remains one of the most popular variations because it’s one of the simplest video poker games around. It’s perfect for new players to get a feel for real money video poker games. With Jacks or Better, players will receive an extra point for every pair of Jacks or higher they receive.
It may seem insignificant on paper, but the fact is that just by receiving a bonus for any pair of Jacks or higher can dramatically increase player’s earnings because the probability of getting a hand of at least a pair of Jacks or better is a lot higher than you might think.
Like any other kind of video poker game, it’s critical that you take a look at the paytable as well as get familiar with any kind of bonus you might be eligible for as it may influence which cards to keep and which ones to throw away. The reason this variation has become standard is that it offers players better odds. With better odds at a game that already offers some of the best edges over the house, Jacks or Better is the perfect place for newcomers to get familiar with the flow of the game and develop a strategy to win big.
How to Win at Video Poker
At the end of the day, the reason we all play is to win. Video poker, of course, is no exception. And so, how do you win at video poker? There are a number of ways to do it. As we’ve mentioned several times, winning begins with reviewing the paytable, going over the specific rules of any given variations and making sure you’re familiar with the bonuses you might be eligible for. Play with these principles and you’re set up for success.
That said, there are a few more tips that new and experienced players can benefit from.
Never discard a winning combination. If you have a pair of Jacks, but you throw it away for the chance at a flush, you are guaranteed to regret it. We all want to catch that white whale, but there’s no shame in playing it safe and building up your balance incrementally.
Never discard a wild card. If you’re playing Deuces Wild or some other kind of game that contains wild cards, it’s foolish to get rid of any card that can make your hand stronger, no matter what it ends up being.
Never keep three cards to chase a straight or a flush. Keeping three cards with the hope of grabbing a straight or a flush will leave you in a losing situation. The only time you should keep three cards is when you have a chance to get a straight flush or a royal flush. Otherwise, you’re better off discarding more or less cards. Getting rid of three cards to chase a straight or a flush puts probability against you, which is never a good thing in any kind of gambling.
Go slow. It’s important to remember that no one is going to call a shot clock violation on you when you’re playing video poker. A lot of players make the mistake of thinking that this is like any old poker game where other players or the dealer will push you to make timely decisions. You’re up against a machine who is always on the clock, so if you’re not sure what to do, take your time. Panicked, rushed decisions are rarely good ones, so make sure to slow down from time to time and make sure you’re making smart, deliberate choices on how to play.
Practice makes perfect. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that if you want to win at video poker, you have to invest some time into learning the minutiae of the game. You can read all the articles and books on video poker strategies you want, but eventually, you’re going to have to play. Ultimately, the best teacher is experience. So, if you want to win real money video poker, you need to play.
Of course, not everyone wants the process of getting familiar with a particular online video poker game to cost them. That’s why we offer players free play modes where they can get a feel for the interface and pace without risking a dime.
This is just one of many features we offer our players to ensure that they are having the most enjoyable online gaming experience possible. If there is anything we can do to improve upon your gaming experience, please do not hesitate to contact us. Otherwise, please sign up for an account today, collect your welcome bonus and start enjoying our games responsibly. We are proud to offer a huge variety of casino staples, including real money video poker games, that are compatible with desktop and mobile platforms.
Best Free Video Poker Games
Video poker is in the Hall of Fame of gambling activities; at least, it would be if such a thing existed. The game finds a perfect mix of chance and strategy, combining aspects of slot machines and poker to create this prevalent form of real money gambling. Furthermore, there are numerous styles and rulesets available to suit any preferences.
The player is dealt a series of five cards from which they attempt to create poker hands. You may hold or discard any of those initial five. Whatever is dumped is then replaced by cards of random value. If a winning poker hand is made, you win.
Our Top Recommended Video Poker Gambling Sites
| Rank | DE Gambling Site | Sign Up Bonus | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Betway Casino | 100% up to €250 | |
| #2 | Europa Casino | 200% up to €500 | |
| #3 | Jackpot City Casino | 100% up to €400 | |
| #4 | Spinia | 100% up to €250 | |
| #5 | Spin Casino | 100% up to €400 |
The best strategies for determining which cards to hold and which to have re-dealt is dependent upon the version of video poker being played and the probabilities. Each ruleset has a unique recommended playing style that maximizes the players’ odds. We will share some of these systems later in the article.
Whichever style of video poker you inevitably enjoy, the most critical matter is finding the right places to play. That’s why we’ve scoured the web for sites offering the best real money video poker online. Where you gamble is just as significant as what game you choose and how you play it; we’ll explain why in the next section.
Why These Sites Are the Best
Legitimate and Trustworthy
There’s no single factor that we value more than the safety of our readers as they venture into the world of online gambling. After an unfortunate encounter with a rogue site, LegitGamblingSites.com was founded with a mission to prevent this from happening to anybody else. There are too many high-quality, ethical gaming operations out there to have our readers wasting time with any frauds.
Our team of experts digs deep into every website we rate and review. They comb through a site’s past, analyze their reputation with previous customers, and examine the terms and conditions for anything troubling. If an online casino finds itself on our list of recommendations, you can be sure it passed all of our tests with flying colors.
Variety
Having a wide range of games and options available to our customers is another quality that we take extremely seriously. This becomes even more significant when discussing forms of gaming like video poker, where there are many similar versions with slightly different payouts, odds, and rulesets.
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We want there to be plenty of choices when you sign up with an online casino so that you may find a version that best suits your needs. The websites found in our recommendations are where you’ll find a bevy of the best real money video poker games anywhere on the net.
Good Betting Odds
Sure, having tons of variations of video poker to play on a safe website is fantastic, but it won’t be fun for long if it’s impossible to ever win! That’s why our team looks into the rates of return for games offered at the online casinos we vet. While it’s expected that the house will always have an advantage (Vegas wouldn’t have all those beautiful buildings otherwise), if the balance is too far in the casino’s favor, it stops being fun.
The locations found on our recommended list offer the best real money video poker online by setting fair betting odds that allow readers to get the most bang for their buck. In some regions, the winning probability of gaming machines is regulated by the licensing authority in the jurisdiction, while in others, it’s not. Our experts take all of this into account when formulating our rankings.
Unique Versions of Real Money Video Poker Online
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is the most commonly found video poker game in existence. Its lasting power can be attributed to its simple ruleset and decent payouts. The full house pays 9 to 1, while the flush returns 6 to 1, making this a reliable option, especially for beginners.
Jokers Wild
In Jokers Wild, you’re trying to build the same poker hands as always, only joker cards are added to the deck as well. When one of these jokers is dealt, they become a wild card, capable of being any other card necessary to help create a winning hand.
The inclusion of wild cards makes getting a five of a kind possible, which pays out more than anything other than a natural royal flush. However, it means many of the other hands pay less. For example, three of a kind only pays 2 to 1, and a straight is only 3 to 1.
Deuces Wild
The most popular form of video poker is arguably Deuces Wild. Instead of only having a couple wild cards like in Jokers Wild, in this game, all 2s are considered wild. This makes winning hands much more probable but drastically reduces most hands’ payouts as well. For example, four of a kind only pays out 5 to 1. However, getting four 2s pays 200 to 1, which makes things interesting.
Double Bonus
Double Bonus Poker is a thrilling variation because following every win, the player has the option to participate in a mini-game to either double or lose the cash they just won.
If you chose to go for the double, you’re dealt five new cards, with only one facing up. You then select one of the remaining four, and if the value of your pick is higher than the face-up card, you’ve doubled your earnings from that previous hand.
In the absence of any wild cards, the payout table is higher than many variations, with four of a kinds becoming much more valuable. Four aces pays 160 to 1, which alters the optimal strategy somewhat.
Double Double Bonus
Double Double Bonus Poker is unique in the way it values four of a kind hands, including special kickers that significantly increase the size of the winnings. For example, four aces pays 160 to 1 odds regularly. But if you are dealt four aces, and the fifth card is a 2, 3, or 4 (called the kicker), that payout balloons up to 400 to 1 instead.
The game trades some lower-paying hands like two pair, which only results in a push in this variation, for more substantial rewards at the top of the pay table. If you can find a game with full houses paying 10 to 1 and flushes returning 6 to 1, you can actually eliminate the house advantage by following the optimal strategy.
Real Money Video Poker Online Strategy
The ideal strategy to use for any real money video poker game will depend on which version you have selected. However, while the payouts for particular hands may change, and the introduction of “wild” cards in some versions will alter the optimal way to play, the basics of video poker always stay the same. You’re trying to create the following hands using the five cards that you’re dealt.
Royal Flush
A royal flush is the best hand in poker. It’s made by getting the ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 all of the same suit.
Straight Flush
The second-best hand also involves five suited cards in sequential order, but they do not have to be face cards. For example, the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, all of spades, is a straight flush.
Four of a Kind
As the name suggests, the third-strongest hand is comprised of collecting four of the same card. For example, four kings. In most cases, the fifth card doesn’t matter, but in some versions of video poker, the fifth card may significantly increase the payout of this hand.
Full House
Online Video Poker Real Money
A full house is made when a hand consists of a three-of-a-kind and another pair. For instance, if one is dealt three queens and two 4s, that’s a full house. If Uncle Jesse and Stephanie Tanner are there as well, even better.
Flush
A flush consists of five cards all of the same suit. In this case, the value of the cards doesn’t matter, only that the suits match. It’s the fifth-best poker hand.
Straight
A straight is when a poker hand is made up of five cards in sequential order, with differing suits. So, a hand consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 would be a straight if the 2 and 4 were spades, the 3 was a diamond, and the five was a heart, for example.
Three of a Kind
Three of a kind is the seventh-best hand in video poker, and it’s relatively common. It’s when you hold three of the same number or face cards.
Two Pair
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Two pair is a relatively weak poker hand comprised of two separate pairs. For example, a hand may look like this: 5, 5, J, J, 9. The two fives and two jacks make it two pair.
Pair
A pair is merely two matching cards. In most video poker games, the couple must be face cards or aces to receive any payout. Often it results in a push, with only the credits that were staked upon being returned.
Legality of Real Money Video Poker Online
You may be worried that the best real money video poker online won’t be available in your region due to local gambling laws. The truth is, online gaming is still a gray area for many countries, while others have accepted and regulated the industry to great success. In regions like the European Union or the United States, things can get confusing due to there being one set of overarching laws or federal laws at one level, and then individual state or nation laws as well.
For example, when Italy tried to block all forms of internet gambling within their borders, the EU stepped in and made them accept online betting sites from the UK and other treaty nations in accordance with a law which prohibits blocking access to services from other member countries. Now, Italy has allowed citizens to access these websites while also legalizing some forms of gaming themselves.
In the United States, you can live in a legalized gaming state such as Nevada, yet companies are still not allowed to host online casinos and sportsbooks from within the country. Citizens that could walk down the street to a land-based establishment are forced to utilize offshore sites for their betting. And while the laws block companies from hosting a website in the US, there are no laws against residents of the States accessing these alternative locations.
As you can see, the legalities of online gaming can get quite confusing. That’s why we’ve dedicated an entire section of LegitGamblingSites.com to the different jurisdictions and wagering’s legal status in these various regions. For more information regarding what’s allowed in your area, check out the following link.
Other Real Money Casino Games
Video poker is one of the leading gaming activities found in both brick-and-mortar and online gambling establishments throughout the world. In person, you’ll see rows and rows of these machines taking up vast swathes of casino floor space. Online, where they don’t have to worry about things like square footage, betting sites are able to provide more variety and rulesets than ever before.
A neat feature of playing video poker is the ability to find a version of the game that best suits how you like to play. For the more cautious players who prefer to gamble for long durations of time, Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild are ideal. It’s difficult to hit any massive payouts on these games, but the rate of returns is reasonable, and you’ll win much more often.
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The online gamblers that are more interested in chasing the dream of huge earnings and big jackpots may get more excitement from Double Double Bonus Poker, where the pay table is mostly distributed to the stronger hands. Whichever style best fits how you like to play, video poker provides an excellent combination of chance and strategy, with some eliminating the house advantage altogether when playing to maximize probability.
Free Video Poker
If you’re interested in other forms of online gaming beyond video poker, check out our page dedicated to other real money casino games. We’ve found the top online gambling sites for each individual activity, including blackjack, slots, baccarat, and craps. Follow the link to any of those pages to see the best recommendations, information regarding how to play, and even winning strategies you can employ.
For the best real money betting sites, look at this table:
Video Poker Online Real Money
Real Money Blackjack
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Real Money Roulette Online
Real Money Keno
Real Money Craps Online
Real Money Online Pokies
Real Money Baccarat
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