Real Money Video Poker

Learn About Real Money Video Poker in 2024

Real Money Video Poker

Video poker is the backbone of the gambling industry and one of the most exhilarating games you’ll find in both land-based and online casinos. Ever since Dale Electronics introduced the world’s first video poker machine back in the ‘70s, variations like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Bonus Poker have captivated the hearts of millions of gamblers across the globe.

Why do so many players engage in real money video poker online, and how did the game manage to remain so popular after all these years? Well, for one, video poker has the lowest house edge out of all casino games.

Apart from delivering the best payout odds, another appealing aspect of this game is that it is based on 5-card poker, which is a highly sought-after version among recreational players. If you add the fact that there is a skill element to it as well (unlike slots, per se), it becomes easy to understand how it has stood the test of time for more than five decades.

With the inception of iGaming, video poker’s popularity has soared to even greater heights. Players can now take advantage of massive bonuses and get a head start while playing video poker online for real money. This not only gives them a huge bankroll boost but also increases their overall chances of winning.

On this page, we’ll get you up to speed with all the video poker details you should know before getting started.

How to Play Video Poker and Win Real Money

Video poker resembles slots in many ways. Still, it comes with one huge difference — it involves a skill component. To make the biggest bang for your buck, you need to come up with an optimum strategy, one that will allow you to play the hand that you’re dealt with in the most efficient manner.

There are many different variations of video poker, but they all derived from the 5-card draw, which is by far the simplest version of poker. In it, players receive a 5-card poker hand, and they can choose to keep the cards or swap them for new ones. Once they’ve exchanged their cards, that’s it — this is the final hand that gets paid if it appears on the paytable.

Here’s what a typical round of video poker looks like, step by step:

STEP 1

After loading their real money video poker game, players are required to adjust the stake. The betting limits vary among different casinos; on average, they are in the $0.20–$20 spectrum.

STEP 2

Once you’ve set up the stake, press the ‘Deal’ button to get the initial five cards. Depending on the variation, you can discard one or all five cards in order to make the strongest hand combination possible.

STEP 3

The newly-formed hand gets paid according to the paytable.

These are the fundamentals you need to know to get started — if you want to rely solely on your luck, that is. If you want to play video poker with real money and maximize your profits, then there are a few terms that you need to come to grips with.

The most important term that you need to get familiarized with is ‘full pay,’ which refers to the highest-paying version of a video poker machine. Each poker variation comes with several pay tables with unique payout structures and house edges. The full-pay mode of the most popular video poker variation, Jacks or Better, pays 9x the stake for a full house and 6x the stake for a flush, which is why it’s often referred to as 9/6 Jacks or Better.

All video poker games that pay real money have their own full-pay versions. The general rule that applies here is that the first number indicates the payout for the full house, and the second number shows the payout for the flush. Needless to say that you should look for versions that offer the highest payouts for a full house and flush because the house edge for these games is more favorable than that of low-paying varieties.

Although the rules and the objectives of each poker variation are the same, there are some subtle differences among them that you should learn in order to devise an optimum strategy. Top video poker games online to play with real money include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Aces & Eights, Bonus Poker, Joker Poker, and Faces and Deuces.

Real Money Video Poker: Bonuses and Promotions

Every online casino in the US that features online video poker for real money offers a number of bonuses and promotions to attract new clients and retain the existing ones. These gifts come in various shapes and sizes, but ultimately, they all serve the same purpose — to incentivize customers.

All online casinos welcome their newcomers with an introductory offer that usually comes in the form of a match deposit bonus. It’s called a ‘match bonus’ because the casino matches a certain percentage of your deposit in bonus credits. For instance, if the site offers you a 100% bonus up to $1,000, it will give you an extra $1,000 of bonus money if you deposit $1,000. The matched percentage and the total value of the bonus differ in different casinos.

Some online casinos take player incentivization to a higher level by offering special bonuses for newly-registered players without them having to make a deposit. These are aptly called no deposit bonuses. To claim this type of bonus, you merely need to sign up for an account, and the casino will give you a small amount of bonus cash, usually $10–$20.

Other than welcome bonuses, most video poker casinos have a promotional package designed for their existing customer base. From rebates to reload bonuses and free spins, there are all kinds of promos you can claim to boost your budget.

It’s important to point out that these gifts, in all their awesomeness, come with a few strings attached — stipulations that players must meet before they make a cash withdrawal, that is. The most important item in the bonus T&C is wagering or playthrough requirement, which is expressed as a multiplier and indicates how much of the awarded bonus money you need to spend on the site before being allowed to request a cashout. The unwritten rule is — the bigger the bonus, the higher the wagering requirements.

However, not all games contribute to the completion of playthrough requirements equally. As a rule of thumb, slots have the maximum (100%) contribution, whereas other games contribute less. Casinos usually reduce bonus contributions for video poker because these games have a low house edge, and it would be relatively easy for players to clear the wagering requirements by playing them.

That said, it would be extremely difficult to get rid of the playthrough requirements when playing online video poker for real money. Our advice — stick to video slots, at least until you’ve cleared out the bonus.

Can You Play Free Video Poker and Win Real Money?

Getting started with video poker is as easy as falling off a log. On the off chance that you can’t find your way around, feel free to use our mini step-by-step guide below, as we’ll navigate you through the entire process.

  1. Find a trustworthy casino that offers video poker games.
    Our team has already done the homework for you and found the top three US casinos for real money poker. Feel free to use our links to get transported there.
  2. Once you arrive, you’ll need to sign up for an account.
    The registration process is straightforward and takes only a few minutes to complete. After that, go to the cashier to top up your account with funds. Select the payment method, input the required details, and confirm the payment.
  3. Go to the video poker lobby and choose the variation you wish to play.
    You should be able to find the best online video poker real money games, like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, regardless of the casino you chose. Adjust the stake and start pulling in the big bucks!

How to Play Real Money Video Poker on Mobile

An added benefit of online gambling is the possibility of playing the games remotely, from a mobile device. Every online casino in the US is mobile-friendly and compatible with a wide range of iOS and Android devices. That means that you can win real money when playing video poker online, wherever you are and whenever you want. Better yet, you won’t need to download any piece of software to enjoy mobile video poker. You can access the library via your mobile browser and get in on the action straight away.

Some casino operators will take your real money video poker mobile experience to another level via standalone apps for iPad/iPhone and Android mobile phones and tablets. These apps are more customizable and personalized than the mobile version of the casino but usually offer fewer games.

As for the iOS vs. Android mobile video poker comparison, there isn’t much to discuss. Both operating systems are equally great and allow for some seamless mobile poker action on the go.

Pros and Cons of Playing Video Poker Online

Online casinos have many competitive advantages over their brick-and-mortar counterparts, but they’re not exactly flawless either. There are still many players that prefer playing real money video poker on traditional casino floors, mainly due to the authentic atmosphere these establishments provide.

Below is a summary that highlights the pros and cons of playing video poker online.

Pros

  • Bonuses and promotions
  • Convenience and accessibility
  • Flexible betting options
  • Wide variety of banking options to choose from
  • Exquisite loyalty programs
  • Astonishingly diverse game selection
  • Top-notch security

Cons

  • Cashout fees
  • Lack of thrilling casino ambiance
  • Legal and safety concerns
  • Delayed withdrawals

Playing for Free vs. Real Money Video Poker Comparison

The table below displays the perks of playing video poker for free as compared to playing the game for real money:

Free Video Poker

  • No account registration is required.
  • You can learn the basics and test out different strategies without any financial risks.
  • There’s no need to download any software to play the games in demo mode.

Real Money Video Poker

  • You can grab massive bonuses and collect loyalty points.
  • You can win big on progressive jackpots.
  • The experience is more thrilling with real money on the line.

5 Tips for Winning Real Money Video Poker Online

If you want to get the best value for your money, use our five expert tips to learn how to be a winner at real money video poker. If you follow them and become proficient at them, you should be able to break even, at least. With some practice, you will hopefully become a long-term winner at video poker:

  1. Claim as many bonuses as you can.
    Casino bonuses can increase your overall chances of winning and scoring some risk-free profits. You can get thousands of dollars of bonus cash, which could provide a great head start in your video poker endeavors.
  2. Always check the paytables.
    In video poker, you can know exactly what a particular game is set to pay back by looking at the paytable. Make sure that you’re playing the optimal paytable for that particular game.
  3. Play variations with the lowest house edge.
    You should always opt for the variation that gives you the best possible payout percentage, regardless of whether you’re a fan of that particular game.
  4. Learn the optimal strategy.
    The only way to make mathematically correct decisions is by using strategy charts. These will help you make the best possible hands in every situation.
  5. Practice the game for free.
    Make sure to learn the game adequately before engaging in real money action. Once you think you have a grasp of it, you can easily switch to real money mode.

Online Video Poker For Real Money FAQ

Below are some of the questions players frequently ask about real money video poker online.

Absolutely. Online video poker sites are highly secure and protected with the most advanced safety protocols on the web, including SSL encryptions, data protection officers, firewalls, and so forth.

Unfortunately, no. Free play platforms can be used for training when you want to become more proficient at the game, but they don’t offer the possibility of winning real money.

Although there are some video poker variations that offer an expected return that exceeds 100%, they are incredibly difficult to come by. Positive expectation is possible only on full-pay tables of some video poker variations, and most online casinos don’t offer the games in full-pay mode.

Yes, video poker has been a topic of interest for many casino experts and analysts who have created useful guides with detailed explanations regarding strategy, rules, payouts, and other relevant aspects of the game.

Yes! Some video poker games offer progressive jackpots or other unique bonuses for premium hands.

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