Video Poker
Video poker is one of the most popular casino games.
It is often described as a slot machine in brick and mortar casinos. Online casinos differentiate between the two games.
Video poker is popular because of its speed. A fast video poker player can play 50 hands a minute. It also has a very low house edge, especially compared to slot machines.
A video poker game starts out with a player deciding how much to wager. Modern casinos typically offer different denominations on the same machine. Video poker machines often start with nickel denominations and move up to quarters. Higher limit video poker machines might offer $.50, $1, $2 and $5 coin options.
It is also important to play at least 5 coins per hand. That is because the jackpot hand will pay more when five coins are wagered. The jackpot hand is a royal flush for most games. Joker Poker may have five of a kind listed as the jackpot instead of a royal flush.
There are advantages to playing higher limits. The pay table is often better when betting more per hand. It is important to review how much a full house and flush pay on the game. This is usually where casinos will short-pay lower denomination video poker games.
How to Play Video Poker
A video poker hand starts with a player deciding how much to wager on a hand. There is a button for max bet if the player would like to bet five coins. After that decision, five cards are dealt. A player then decides which cards should be held. There is a button that represents each card that should be pressed when a player wants to hold a card. Modern video poker machines will also be touch screen. Online video poker plays similar except that there is not usually a touch screen option.
Video Poker Games
Video poker games come in many forms. New Jersey online casinos offer fewer titles than live casinos.
Jacks or Better – All New Jersey casino sites offer Jacks or Better. It is the draw poker game that is most associated with video poker. The goal of the game is to make at least a pair of jacks or better.
New Jersey Jacks or Better Pay Table
- Royal flush: 800-1
- Straight flush: 50-1
- Four of a kind: 25-1
- Full house: 9-1
- Flush: 6-1
- Straight: 4-1
- Three of a kind: 3-1
- Two pair: 2-1
- Jacks or better: 1-1
Deuces Wild
Another popular video poker game is Deuces Wild. The four 2’s in the deck are wild in Deuces Wild. A player must make at least three of a kind to win.
Deuces Wild Pay Table
- Natural royal flush: 800-1
- Four deuces: 200-1
- Wild royal flush: 25-1
- Five of a kind: 15-1
- Straight flush: 9-1
- Four of a kind: 4-1
- Full house: 4-1
- Flush: 3-1
- Straight: 2-1
- Three of a kind: 1-1
Bonus Poker Games
IGT licenses games under the Bonus Poker series. The most popular is Double Double Bonus. This game rewards four of a kind aces, 2’s, 3’s and 4’s with a kicker with special payouts. To make up for this extra bonus, two pair only pays even money. Double Bonus is also a popular game that pays extra on four of a kind but also only pays even money on two pair.
Double Double Bonus Poker Pay Table
- Royal flush: 800-1
- Straight flush: 50-1
- Four aces w/2, 3, 4 kicker: 400-1
- Four 2’s, 3’s or 4’s with ace, 2, 3, or 4 kicker: 160-1
- Four aces: 160-1
- Four 2’s, 3’s or 4’s: 80-1
- Four 5’s through kings: 50-1
- Full house: 9-1
- Flush: 6-1
- Straight: 4-1
- Three of a kind: 3-1
- Two pair: 1-1
- Jacks or better: 1-1
Double Bonus Pay Table
- Royal flush: 800-1
- Straight flush: 50-1
- Four aces: 160-1
- Four 2’s, 3’s or 4’s: 80-1
- Four 5’s through kings: 50-1
- Full house: 9-1
- Flush: 7-1
- Straight: 5-1
- Three of a kind: 3-1
- Two pair: 1-1
- Jacks or better: 1-1
Other Video Poker Games
While the above games are the most popular, there are many other variations of video poker available. Joker Poker is the only New Jersey video poker game that uses more than 52 cards. It adds one joker. The lowest winning hand is a pair of kings in Joker Poker. There is also Bonus Poker, which pays 2-1 on two pair and lowers the four of a kind payout compared to other games in the Bonus Poker series.
Best New Jersey Video Poker
All New Jersey casino sites offer Jacks or Better, most with the 9/6 pay table. This is the best regulated video poker game offered over the internet in New Jersey. It has a return of 99.54% when using perfect basic strategy. It is very unusual to find this game on any casino floor in Atlantic City, so online players have a better advantage.
