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How Video Poker Machines Work

Grand Video Poker

This article explains the basics of video poker, ensuring that every Casinoz reader understands the game's rules, mechanics, and other key features.

If you have seen video poker in offline casinos, you know it resembles a video pokie with a poker game displayed on the screen. Video poker machines in online casinos are the same. The only difference is that they do not have physical bodies; they are simply computer programs.

The Difference between Video Poker and Video Pokies

The main difference between these two games is that video poker is still a kind of poker. It can be considered a variant of five-card poker, where the player has no opponents, and the goal is to form a winning card combination. 

However, pokie machines can also be based on poker. Some Casinoz reviews describe video pokies where you must form a poker combination on an active pay line to get a payout.

  • Those pokie machines are similar to video poker, but they are, in fact, pokies. The results depend on the RNG. You do not have to apply your skills, and you cannot influence the outcome.
  • In video poker, you get five cards and can exchange them. Thus, you are involved in the gameplay. Your decisions influence the RTP and odds of winning.

Thus, in video poker, the player's skills are essential, while in video pokies, almost everything is in the hands of fortune. To play video poker efficiently, you must follow the optimal strategy developed precisely for your chosen game. 

Video Poker Vs. Video Pokies

Video poker is also significantly more profitable for players than video pokies. For example, you can get a mathematical advantage in some titles over the casino, which never happens in pokies. Of course, the benefit is negligible (typically a few tenths of a percent) and only appears in the long term and with correct decisions.

In other words, if you choose the most profitable game of video poker and play it correctly, you can achieve, for example, a payback of 100,3%. In the best case, a pokie machine can offer an RTP of approximately 98%. Video pokies rarely give more.

Video Poker Gameplay

Video poker rules are described in a separate article in the corresponding section of Casinoz, so we will not repeat them here. We'll have a brief look at the main stages of gameplay.

  • Coin value - The casino sets its range.
  • Coin bet - In most games, you can wager from one to five coins. A five-coin bet increases the RTP in many versions because it activates higher payouts or progressive jackpots.
  • Hand number - Some video poker machines allow players to bet on several hands.
  • Card dealing - After you make a bet, press the Play (Start) button. You will get five cards.
  • Exchanging cards - You can exchange up to five cards. You do not have to pay for it.
  • Paid-out combinations - If your cards have a winning combination, you get a payout. It is calculated according to the multiplier set for your combination.
  • Double-up game - If video poker offers this option, you can try increasing the payout by playing the double-up game. Usually, you see one face-up card and four face-down cards. You choose one of the four. If it beats the open card, your payout doubles. If not, you lose the bet. There can be a tie, too.

After that, the round is over. 

Varieties of video poker

Video Poker from Inside

Now that we have described video poker from the outside, we can move to explain its mechanics. All video poker machines are based on the random number generator, so the offline and online games work by the same principles.

Understanding them will be easier if you read answers to frequently asked questions. They are available below the article. 

Tablitsa payments video-pokerov

Picking the Best Video Poker

Today, when many manufacturers produce games, there is a wide variety of video poker games. Even those with the same name, Jacks or Better, may differ in design, payouts, or other features.

In particular, the most common versions of Jacks or Better are the so-called 9/6 and 8/5 games. The numbers mean payouts for a full house and flush, respectively. 

This seems insignificant. However, the difference in payouts influences the RTP badly.

  1. In Jacks or Better 9/6, the house edge is 0.5%;
  2. In Jacks or Better 5/8, it is over 2.5%.

When choosing the game, you should focus mainly on the theoretical payback. But do not forget that you must select the best strategy.

Also, pay attention to the range of bets. You will likely need to play with five coins, so make sure you can afford their minimum bet.

Several reviews about the best video poker games await you on Casinoz. Our articles will help you make informed choices. In a special section of our site, you will find recommendations on basic strategies for the most common video poker games.


Conclusion

Video poker is one of the most profitable games for customers in online and offline casinos. Of course, you must learn to define the most profitable ones, pick an optimal strategy, and study it thoroughly.

But it is not tricky in online casinos. Expert tips from Casinoz will help you. You can use them to find the best video poker games, print out the table with the optimal strategy,y and then play safely using it.

Take the time to do it to achieve the best results in the casino.

Frequently asked Questions

📄 How does a video poker machine determine which cards to deal?

Video poker machines rely on a sophisticated computer program called a Random Number Generator, or RNG. This RNG is constantly generating a sequence of numbers at an incredibly fast rate, often hundreds of times per second. When you initiate a hand by pressing the "Deal" button, the RNG stops at a specific point, and the numbers it has generated at that precise moment are translated into the five initial cards displayed on your screen. This ensures that each deal is completely random and independent of previous hands, just as if cards were being dealt from a freshly shuffled deck.

🃏 What happens after I select which cards to hold?

Once you've made your selections and pressed the "Draw" button, the video poker machine uses the same Random Number Generator to determine the replacement cards for those you discarded. It's crucial to understand that the replacement cards are not influenced by your initial hand or your decisions; they are simply the next cards in the random sequence generated by the RNG. The machine then evaluates your final five-card hand against a predetermined paytable to determine any winnings.

💰 How are payouts determined in video poker?

Payouts in video poker are entirely based on the strength of your final five-card hand and the machine's specific paytable. Each machine has a clearly displayed paytable that outlines the winning poker hands (like a pair of Jacks or better, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush) and the corresponding payout for each. The higher the rank of your hand and the more coins you've wagered (especially for a royal flush), the larger your payout will be. It's essential to consult the paytable before playing, as variations in these tables significantly impact the game's overall return to player.

🎲 Is video poker a game of skill or pure chance?

While the initial deal and draw cards are determined by a Random Number Generator, making a significant element of chance, video poker is not purely a game of luck. There is a distinct skill component involved. Players must make strategic decisions about which cards to hold and which to discard to maximize their chances of forming a winning hand. By understanding the probabilities of different hand combinations and employing optimal strategy for the specific game variant and paytable, players can significantly reduce the house edge and increase their expected return over the long term. This contrasts sharply with games like pokie machines, where player decisions have no impact on the outcome.

❔ What is "Return to Player" (RTP) in video poker?

Return to Player, or RTP, is a theoretical percentage that indicates the average amount of money a video poker machine is expected to pay back to players over a very long period of play. For example, a machine with a 99.5% RTP means that, on average, for every $100 wagered, $99.50 is returned to players as winnings. It's important to note that RTP is a statistical average and doesn't guarantee individual session outcomes. The RTP of a video poker machine is directly influenced by its paytable; "full pay" machines offer the highest RTP, making them more favorable to players. Optimal strategy is usually assumed when calculating these RTP percentages.

Denis Anipchenko
Denis Anipchenko
Editor-in-chief and online gambling expert

Denis is a true professional with many years of experience in the gambling industry. His career started back in the late nineties when he worked as a croupier, pit boss, manager and casino manager. This unique experience allowed him to deeply understand the world of gambling from the inside. Since the late noughties Denis has dedicated himself to writing articles and analyses about gambling, and since the early tens he has become a key figure in the Casinoz team. Here he not only writes and edits content, but also creates reviews, shares his expertise and helps readers understand the intricacies of gambling. Denis combines practical experience and in-depth knowledge, making him one of the most respected experts in the industry. His writings are always up-to-date, proven and useful information for anyone interested in the casino world.

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Facts checked Alex Vasilev Scientific editor and fact checker
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