Top-Rated Online Casinos for Real Money Video Poker in 2023

Now, we take a look at all the different wagering options you have at your disposal when playing video poker. This is more of a “How To Play Guide” with a quick overview of video poker betting sessions. Most video poker games have the same fundamental betting rules so these apply no matter which video poker game you choose to play.

Each gaming session starts with setting your stake. The denominations for video poker greatly range, so the game works for everyone’s budget. Keep in mind that the payouts on all the different winning hands are determined by your betting range. At the start of each betting round, you also decide how many coins you want to bet on each hand. Most video poker games allow betting up to five coins per hand.

the top-paying hand in all video poker games is the glorious Royal Flush. Payouts on the Royal Flush are usually 250 to 1 when betting fewer than five coins and generally 800 to 1 when betting at the maximum stake. Once you have decided on your stake, you click the "Deal" button in the lower right corner of your gaming screen to see your deck of cards.

After you have examined your cards, you can remove any cards you want. Cards that are discarded are replaced by new cards. Once again, the main goal is to get a strong five-card poker hand and the goal remains the same no matter which video poker variant you play. And this is how video poker betting rounds unfold. Because there are not many wagering options, the game is suitable for all players, regardless of their prior gambling experience.

In the section that follows, we present you with a couple of simple and easy-to-follow video poker strategies you can use to boost your winning odds. The game of video poker is very simple, so you do not need to rely on advanced winning strategies to profit in the long run.

Make Sure You Understand the Paytable

As you probably know by now, not two hands are the same when playing video poker, and this is why it is crucial to understand the paytable related to the game you are playing. You also want to familiarize yourself with all the different winning hands and how they compare with other possible winning combos.

Play at the Maximum Stake

If your budget allows, you should also play at the maximum stake. As we briefly discussed in one of the previous sections, most video poker games accept maximum bets of five coins, with larger bets yield larger payouts. Essentially, you want to place the highest stakes possible whenever your budget allows in order to be eligible for larger payouts.

Know When to Get New Cards

You will also want to know when you should get new cards to help strengthen your hand. For example, if you only need one card to complete a Straight Flush, it makes sense to get one new card. If you have five cards that do not fit into any of the winning categories, it makes sense to get five new cards. You want to keep all of your cards when you have a strong winning hand.

Now we will look at the basic hand rankings system used in video poker games. While there are many different video poker games available online, most of them use the same poker hand rankings system.

• Royal Flush: Royal Flush is the strongest video poker hand and it consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same color and suit.
• Straight Flush: A Straight Flush features five cards in a sequence, such as Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, and King. All winning cards in a Straight Flush are of the same color.
• Four of a Kind: A Four of a Kind features four same-ranked cards, such as four Aces. Four of a Kind cards do not have to be of the same color or the same suit.
• Full House: If you have a Full House then you have a Three of a Kind and a Pair, such as three sevens with two nines. In Full House, cards do not have to share the same rank and color.
• Flush: A Flush consists of five cards that have the same suit.  In a Flush, five same-suited cards do not have to appear in a sequence.
• Straight: In a Straight, there are five cards in a sequence, such as a three, four, five, six, seven, and eight. The cards do not have to be of the same color or the same suit.
• Three of a Kind: There are three same-ranked cards in a Three of a Kind winning combo, such as having three eights with two random cards. You need three cards of the same rank and their colors do not have to match.
• Two Pair: In a Two Pari, there are two same-ranked cards paired with two other same-ranked cards, such as having two nines and two Aces. They do not have to be of the same suit and color.

So, what is the main appeal of online video poker games when compared to playing the game in land-based casinos? There are quite a few benefits and we listed down below the most prominent.

The Game is Easy to Play: The game of poker is one of the easiest online casino games, alongside slots and instant-win gaming options. There are far less complex rules involved, especially when compared to standard poker games. Essentially, if you know the basic rules we discussed in the previous sections, you are ready to start playing. The best part, the payouts are always clearly displayed on the screen, so you always know what to expect with each winning combo.

Fast Gaming Sessions: Playing video poker online also provides faster-paced gaming sessions and greater overall convenience. The fact that you can play from the comfort of your own home is unparalleled. While many players prefer the atmosphere of gaming at land-based casinos, the convenience of online gaming sessions cannot be matched.

Benefit from Bonuses: While playing video poker in a land-based casino can result in bonus rewards, these cannot compete with the generosity of online casino bonuses and promotions. Furthermore, some of the best video poker real money online casinos have special bonuses designed specifically for video poker fans, allowing you to play with a large amount of bonus funds.

Greater Variety of Video Poker Games: Online gaming also provides a wide range of video poker games, ranging from basic Jacks or Better to more advanced Bonus Poker Deluxe options and everything in between. When you walk into a land-based casino, you will find a somewhat limited selection of video poker machines because the space is limited and other gaming tables must be accommodated.