Video Poker Casinos

The video type of poker is a symbiosis of pokies games and regular poker with its conventional combinations. While in other types of poker, you are playing against opponents, in video poker, you win by getting the highest possible combination of five cards. Depending on the type of video poker you play, the gameplay, hands required to win, as well as payouts will be different.

Unlike pokie machines, video poker involves an element of skill. Players are dealt five cards, and after assessing their hand, they can choose to discard one or more cards in hopes of improving their hand. The key to maximising winnings lies in knowing which cards to hold and which to discard, based on the played variant. So, it's important to get to know different types of video poker and strategies to them to increase your odds of winning.

Overall, the game's main principle lies in getting winning combinations and remains unchanged across its variations. The random number generator calculates a hand of five cards you get at the beginning of a round. Your task is to choose which ones to keep and which ones to swap. Despite that, different types of video poker have unique features. Below is brief information about the most widespread variations.

This type is the one most played by Kiwis and people all over the planet. Jacks or Better is also one of the best versions for beginners. It is played with a standard 52-card deck. To win, a player's hand must have a pair of jacks or a better combination starting from a pair of queens. Based on the strength of your final hand, with payouts ranging from 1x for a pair of Jacks to 800x for a Royal Flush. We recommend you opt for the 9/6 version, as it implies bigger payouts and a higher RTP rate of 99.5%.

This version of video poker is almost no different from its twinned Jacks or Better variant. It is the same one-hand video poker, with the only difference being that the payouts start with a lower requirement for winning hands. In this game, the player needs at least a pair of tens or better to win. The hand rankings follow traditional poker rules, with a royal flush as the highest hand. The RTP level of Tens or Better is slightly lower, but we recommend you to look for "full-pay" versions of Tens or Better for higher RTP

Many New Zealand video pokie lovers prefer Deuces Wild. It is so popular thanks to its unusual twist: all the deuces here are wilds that can be used as a replacement to form a winning combination. This significantly increases the chances of forming winning hands. The minimum winning hand is Three of a Kind. There's also a unique paytable that includes hands like Five of a Kind and Wild Royal Flush. Besides, Full-pay Deuces Wild offers a theoretical Return to Player (RTP) of 100.76% if you use the optimal strategy.

The gameplay in the Aces and Faces variant is no different from Jack or Better. So, the gameplay is usual: you are dealt five cards from a standard 52-card deck, and you choose which cards to keep and which to replace to form the strongest poker hand. However, this version has increased bonus payouts for a four-of-a-kind combination of any of the face cards (jacks, queens, kings, aces). It is quite easy to learn, especially for the players who are familiar with Jacks or Better.

Liker Poker, also known as Joker’s Wild, is an exciting video poker variant that incorporates a Joker card as a wild card. Unlike the conventional Jacks or Better, the lowest winning combination in Joker Poker is Kings or Better. Being a wild card, the Joker is a replacement for drawing up winning hands and creating new ones (like five of a kind). The wild card adds excitement and increases the frequency of winning hands.

Bonus Poker is a type of video poker that offers increased payouts for certain Four of a Kind hands, making it distinct from standard games like Jacks or Better. This type of poker boasts increased winnings for some four-of-a-kind combos. There are quite a few versions of Bonus Poker, but the differences between them eventually come down to payout rates for various winning hands. For instance, Double Bonus Poker features even larger bonuses for Four Aces (800 coins) and smaller bonuses for 2s-4s (400 coins).

The underlying principle of winning in video poker is the same as with other poker types, which is getting a hand, allowing you to win. That said, there are some tips that will help you improve your results in the game.

RTP states the theoretical percentage of wagers returned to all players over time, not individual guarantees. For instance, with an RTP of 95%, you’ll win back $95 out of the $100 you wagered. Video poker has one of the highest RTPs among casino games. However, it’s important to note that the RTP varies depending on the specific game variant. Therefore, always choose a video poker game with a higher RTP (aim for 99% or above) to maximise your returns.

After the cards have been dealt, if you have a pair, even if it is low, it is better to keep it rather than a single high card. The reason is simple: with a low pair in your hand, you can still get a three or four, two pair or a full house. So even if the odds are lower, the potential payout is worth it.

Sometimes you might be dealt an already winning hand of flush or straight. Is there any scenario where you would break up that hand? The only situation where you can break up straight, or flush is when your hand lacks one card to a royal flush. In this case, you will still have good chances for other winning hands even if you don't get it. However, do not break up a straight or flush unless you are one card away from achieving the royal flush, as the chances of completing a royal flush, while good, are still relatively slim.

To become a master in video poker, you have to know the terms used to describe a certain move, phenomenon, or detail. Below, you can find a glossary of the most useful terms.

Video poker winning combinations are similar to those in traditional poker but may vary slightly depending on the specific game variant. So, let's learn the winning combinations you can usually get in video poker.

As all gamblers know, video poker has a real-money version, and there is a free version of the game. Should you risk your funds in video poker or play just for fun? Let's compare both of these ways to see which one would serve your needs better.

When choosing a video poker title, we recommend you to look for the games that were developed by the most reputable providers in the industry. Reliable providers ensure a smooth, fair, and engaging gameplay experience. So, let's look at some of the best video poker providers in the industry.

Microgaming is one of the most known names in the online gaming industry, famous for offering a wide range of video poker games with excellent graphics, user interfaces, and smooth gameplay. They provide various video poker variants like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Aces and Faces. Besides, the titles from Microgaming offer progressive jackpots on select games and high RTP and payout percentages

NetEnt is another leading provider known for delivering top-notch online casino games, like pokies, table games, live dealer games, and, of course, video poker. NetEnt’s video poker games are known for their sleek, modern designs and user-friendly interfaces. Their versions of popular games like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild come with customisable features that enhance the player's experience.

Playtech is known for developing high-quality software for online casinos over a long period of time. The provider offers pokies, table and live games, including a variety of video poker games. Among video poker titles from Playtech, you can find Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Aces and Faces, and Joker Poker. Playtech also offers games with progressive jackpots, and their video poker titles come with high-quality graphics and soundtracks that enhance gameplay.

It's time for us to sum up everything about video poker and highlight all the main advantages and disadvantages of the game for Kiwi players.

Many players have different approaches to playing video poker. There are multiple tips and strategies about how to improve your odds and overall gaming experience. Therefore, our author, Charlotte Wilson, has prepared the best expert tips to video poker that can be extremely handy for Kiwi players.