Play video poker online at top-rated Australian online casinos. Learn how to play, which games and variants are the most popular, and which casinos are our recommended picks.
Playing video poker at an online casino is simple. If you’re new to the game, here is an easy-to-follow guide:
Video poker is a simplified version of online poker, so the rules are basic, and you won’t need much knowledge in order to succeed. All you really need to know to play are the hand rankings, as the various hands will determine your payout.
We’ll here go through the standard rules for video poker, but note that all versions of the game have different rules. So make sure you read the game rules, or check the paytable, before trying out a new game.
Video poker is usually played with a standard 52-card deck. However, some variants, like ‘Joker’s Wild,’ include additional cards such as a joker. The random number generator that’s used in online video poker will, virtually, shuffle the deck for each game round. This means that using strategies like card counting is impossible.
Traditional poker hand rankings are used in all standard video poker versions. From highest to lowest, these include:
Note that some versions have additional hands, or hands that are ranked differently from the standard.
The minimum hand you can get to win depends on the game version. For example, in Jacks or Better, you won’t get a payout unless you get a hand equal to, or better, than one pair of Jacks. The better the hand you get, the more you’ll win. Some games also offer bonus payouts for specific four-of-a-kind hands or a Royal Flush achieved with a maximum bet.
In some variants, specific cards are designated as wild, meaning they can substitute for any other card to form a winning hand. For example, in Deuces Wild, all deuces can replace any other card in your hand. If a joker is used in the deck, this as well is considered a wild card.
The betting limits in a video poker game depend on the minimum and maximum set by the game provider that created the game. Often, you’ll use credits while playing, which is a substitution for the chips used when playing “real” poker. Note that some games offer a higher payout multiplier if you bet the maximum number of credits per hand.
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To win when playing video poker, you need to beat the machine, be it a mechanical machine at a land-based casino or a digital machine you play online. The best strategies to use when playing we’ll come back to shortly, but first, let’s look at what you can potentially win, and what your theoretical chances to do so are.
The paytable lists the payouts for each possible hand in the game. Typically, it lists hand rankings from the highest to the lowest. The potential wins can be displayed as either a multiplier of your bet or as Australian Dollars or credits, depending on the in-game currency.
Some hand rankings, like the Royal Flush, will give you a win of anything between 250x and 800x your bet, while other hands, like a low pair, won’t pay anything. Not all wins will cover your bet.
Since all video poker versions have different rules, this will also affect the paytable. One specific hand can give vastly different payouts between the various versions.
There is no standard RTP in a game of video poker. The exact RTP of the game you’re paying should therefore be checked, preferably before you start betting. Both the game provider settings and the rules of the game will affect the RTP.
Some video poker versions will have an RTP of more than 99% if you play a perfect game. Compared to other casino games, this is high, as online pokies typically range between 95% and 96%. However, to achieve the maximum RTP possible in the game, you have to make the right decisions when choosing which cards to hold and which to discard.
You should always be able to find the applicable RTP in the game information.
The possibility of playing free video poker online is a great advantage, especially for new players. Even experienced players will find this beneficial when trying out a new strategy. Luckily, most Australian online casinos offer all their RNG games in free demo mode, and this includes their selection of video poker.
While playing video poker for free, you can, typically, play for as long as you want without any time restriction. The game will be funded with a fun money balance, and if you run out of credits, you can simply reload the game. As soon as you’re confident enough, you can switch to real money gameplay.
Before choosing a casino to sign up with, you should make sure that it’s a safe and trustworthy casino that has all the features and services you’re after. Some of what you should consider have been outlined below.
If it’s video poker you want to play, make sure that the casino has the selection you want. You shouldn’t just look at the total number of games, but also the various game types. Furthermore, make sure that the casino operator offers free demo games, so you can try the games before deciding to bet real money.
You might want to play other games as well, in addition to video poker. Therefore, have a look at the overall game selection. The best online casinos offer thousands of table games, live dealer games, and pokie machines.
It’s important to make sure that the casino you’re playing at has a valid and reputable gambling licence. The licences that are considered the safest for Aussie players are issued by the Malta Gaming Authority or Curacao Gaming Control Board. Other licences include Kahnawake Gaming Commission and Pagcor.
To get the most from your money and deposits, make sure that you get to play video poker using a casino bonus. Check the bonus terms to verify that video poker contributes to the wagering requirement. Typically, you can expect that between 5% and 20% of video poker wagers are counted towards the bonus turnover.
It should be possible to get help in a reasonably quick and efficient manner, so check the customer support department’s opening hours. The casino should offer multiple contact options, such as live chat and email, and preferably also have an FAQ on their website. Naturally, the support team should be English-speaking.
It’s always well worth your time to check the reputation of the casino operator. Read feedback and reviews from other players, as well as casino experts’ opinions. Here at Australian Online Gambling we have published in-depth reviews of all the video poker operators we recommend.
By default, video poker is a game that’s played on a machine, so playing real video poker with a live dealer isn’t possible. However, there are many poker versions you can play with a dealer, and these games are called casino poker. These table games differ from real peer-to-peer poker in that they are played against the house instead of against other players.
Live casino poker comes in many versions, and they are a mix between real poker and video poker. As in video poker, the goal is to get the best possible poker hand, but the difference is that you won’t win unless your hand also beats the dealer’s hand.
To make the most of your bankroll, you should be claiming an available bonus to play video poker. All online casinos offer bonuses, and there are many different kinds of offers you can get. But, before you partake in a bonus, make sure that you’re allowed to use it for video poker games.
There are some casinos that only offer bonuses for pokies, and video poker, and other games, will be restricted. Read the bonus terms to find the applicable rules at your online casino. Now, let’s have a look at some common bonus types you might come across.
When you get a match deposit bonus, you get a percentage extra on top of the money you fund your casino account with. As a welcome bonus at a new casino, you’ll typically get at least a 100% bonus match. For ongoing promotions and campaigns at the casino, you can expect anything from 25% upwards.
Using a match deposit bonus is simple because all you have to do is play. The bonus will usually come with a wagering requirement, which means you have to play through the money a certain number of times. Once that’s done, the bonus funds will be converted into real money that you can withdraw.
A cashback is a great bonus type because it won’t restrict which games you can play. Rather than giving you a bonus to boost your bankroll when you deposit, you can receive a cashback if you’re unlucky with your deposited funds. As such, it’s almost like an insurance.
There is no standard cashback percentage you can get at casinos, as some offer 5% while others give you 30%. It’s not uncommon that the percentage you get depends on your VIP level at the casino.
Video poker was first created in the mid-1970s, as a mix of traditional poker and electronic gaming. The first video poker machine was introduced by Dale Electronics in 1970, and this machine was called the Poker-Matic.
It wasn’t until the late 1970s that the game began to gain popularity, with the release of more advanced machines by companies like SIRCOMA, which later became International Game Technology (IGT). The machines featured simple graphics and gameplay, combining a television-like screen with a computerised poker game.
By the 1980s, video poker games could be found in most land-based casinos in the US. Its popularity then spread to other countries, including Australia.
In Australia, video poker machines became widely available in clubs, pubs, and casinos throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Known locally as “pokies,” these machines are often grouped with slot machines. However, video poker is very different from slot machines, as skills and decision making is an integral part of the game.
Video poker continues to be popular in Australia, with both physical machines and online versions available. The game has evolved over the years, incorporating better graphics, diverse game variations, and progressive jackpots. Since it’s a game type, rather than one specific game, new versions frequently enter the market.
Yes, video poker online is fair when played at reputable and licensed casinos. The use of Random Number Generators (RNGs) ensures the cards are dealt randomly. This means your chances of winning are exactly the same as every other player’s, assuming you play using a perfect strategy.
Yes, most online casinos offer free versions of video poker. These allow you to learn the game and test strategies without risking real money. You play with fun money, and there are no time restrictions for the demo games.
Jacks or Better is often considered the best video poker version, due to its high RTP, simple rules, and availability at most online casinos. Other games that tend to be popular include Deuces Wild, Aces & Faces, Double Double Bonus Poker, and Joker’s Wild.
Yes, video poker strategies work online just as they do in physical casinos. Learning the optimal strategy for your chosen variant can improve your chances of winning. Start by learning the hand rankings, bankroll management, and how to pick the right game.
Yes, you can win real money by playing video poker online as long as you play for real money. To increase your chances to win long term, make optimal game decisions and choose games with favorable paytables.
At reputable, licensed online casinos, video poker games are not rigged. They use RNGs to ensure fairness and comply with regulatory standards. However, as a casino game, the house always has an advantage over the player.
If you win when playing video poker, you can withdraw your money by navigating to the casino’s cashier. There, select your withdrawal method, enter the amount, and follow the instructions. Processing times vary depending on the casino, while the transaction time varies depending on the chosen payment method.
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