Video Poker Online – How To Play & Best Casino Sites

Video Poker Basics

At brick-and-mortar venues, video poker is a casino game that is played on a console-like machine with several buttons. The very first video poker machines were created in the mid-1970s, although they were incredibly basic compared to the machines found today. The games grew in popularity throughout the late 1990s, and they are now a staple casino game, available at most brick-and-mortar venues across the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally too.

The objective of video poker games is to create the best possible hand combination with five cards across two rounds with the ability to hold cards. When playing at a brick-and-mortar venue, you’ll need to insert money into the machine and then confirm your bet. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to click the ‘Deal’ button to be dealt five cards with the ability to hold them, preventing said cards from being swapped during the second draw. Once you’ve selected your cards, you’ll need to hit the ‘Deal’ button a second time to re-deal all non-held cards.

Once the second set of cards have been drawn, the game will calculate any valid payouts, and a new round can begin. Most video poker games follow the above rules, but depending on the variation that you’re playing, there can be some slight differences, such as the implementation of wild cards and special double up features.

How To Play Video Poker Online

Playing video poker online is similar to playing video poker games at brick-and-mortar venues too. The games all follow the same rules, but one major difference when playing online is that you’ll need to register with an online casino offering video poker games. Once you’ve registered, verified your account, and have made a deposit, you’ll then need to load up the game to play video poker online. From there, you simply play and hope that luck is on your side for some winnings!

Is Video Poker Mobile-Friendly?

Most video poker games are mobile-friendly, meaning they can be accessed and played on your smartphone or tablet device without a problem. However, older games tend not to be mobile-friendly as they were built with Flash technology, which isn’t supported by mobile technology and most web browsers. Modern-day content, however, tends to be mobile-friendly as it’s built with mobile devices in mind and using HTML5 technology, which is supported by mobile devices.

The mobile-friendliness of a video poker game will generally depend on when it was developed and what technology was used to develop the game. If the content is mobile-friendly, it will appear and be available to play on your mobile device, regardless of whether you’re playing in-browser or through a dedicated mobile casino app.

Online Video Poker Games

The main variation of video poker online is a game known as either Draw Poker or Jacks Or Better. As mentioned above, there are several variations of video poker games, and while they all follow the same rules, there can be slight gameplay differences that provide for varied game experiences. You can learn more about the different video poker games below, and work out which games are better suited for you to play.

Tens Or Better

Tens Or Better is a variation of video poker online that is based on the Jacks Or Better game. In this variant, you’re required to create a minimum hand combination of a pair of Tens to claim a payout. Tens Or Better offers improved odds over Jacks Or Better, but the payouts are somewhat lower.

Aces And Faces

Another variation of video poker is Aces And Faces, which is based on the Jacks Or Better game. This version of the game offers higher payouts for Four Of A Kind hand combinations (Four Aces or a mixture of four Kings, Queens or Jacks), hence the name.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is a very popular variation of video poker which uses a normal 52 deck of cards. In this variation of video poker, however, cards valued at Two act as wilds or deuces. These cards hold any value and are automatically counted as whatever will provide you with the highest-paying hand combination.

Jokers Wild Or Joker Poker

Jokers Wild is or Joker Poker very similar to Deuces Wild. The difference between these two games, however, is that in Jokers Wild, the Joker cards act as wild cards, standing for other card values to create the highest possible combination for you.

Bonus Or Double Bonus

Bonus or Double Bonus is a special variation that follows all traditional rules. After you’ve made a win, however, you will be offered a special Double bonus where you can double your winnings by beating the dealer’s card. When playing this mode, you will be shown the dealer’s card and must select one of four face-down cards. If the chosen card is higher than that of the dealer’s, you double your winnings, but if the chosen card is lower, you lose all of your winnings.

Triple Play

Triple Play is much more complicated than the other video poker variations we’ve listed here. When playing Triple Play, you’ll be playing with three hands at once, each of which will have its own bet. Each of the hands are counted separately, which means you can win all, none or a mixture of all three hands when you play. With this in mind, however, it’s important to note that Triple Play video poker is only for those with larger bankrolls as it can quickly become expensive.

Multi-Play

Multi-Play is a variation of video poker similar to Triple Play. Rather than playing with three main hand combinations, however, you are allowed to handle as many hand combinations as you can. Like with Triple Play, these games are better suited to those with larger bankrolls.

There are several other variations available at online casinos, such as Two Ways Royal that offers two ways of getting a Royal Flush. However, the variations we’ve listed above are those that are much more common at online casinos in the UK.

Where Can You Play Video Poker Games Online?

As we previously mentioned, most major UK online casinos offer video poker games, allowing you to play video poker online. The variations available at these online casinos will differ depending on the website, so we’ll stress again that you should take a look before registering with the website. To prevent you from searching across dozens of casino websites, we’ve compiled a list of UK old and new online casinos that offer video poker games. Check out our recommendations below:

Video Slots

Despite its name, Video Slots is a video poker casino that offers a wide selection of games. Hugely popular in the United Kingdom, the website is home to video slots, table games, live casino titles, and video poker games such as Joker Poker, Jacks Or Better, Bonus Deuces, Aces And Faces, All Aces, and Deuces Wild too. The site also offers great promotions for new and long-term users, all of which you can discover in our Video Slots review.

All British Casino

All British Casino is a British-themed video poker casino that is incredibly popular in the UK. Here, you’ll find video poker games such as Jacks Or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Double Bonus, Aces And Faces, All Aces, and Bonus Deuces, as well as other casino content. If the above isn’t enough, the website is also home to a generous welcome bonus and great customer support. Check our All British Casino review for more details.

Dream Vegas

Dream Vegas is another video poker casino offering games like Aces And Eights, Jacks Or Better, and Jacks Or Better Double Up. This Vegas-themed casino website offers a wider selection of casino games, including slots, jackpots, and table games too. If that isn’t enough, there are several promotions available for you to enjoy. More details can be found in our Dream Vegas review.

Genesis Casino

The space-themed Genesis Casino is one of the most popular online casinos in the United Kingdom and a great video poker casino site. The site offers a slew of casino games, including video poker titles like Aces & Eights, Double Double Bonus, and Deuces Wild, and it’s home to plenty of other games too. Alongside its wide catalogue of games, Genesis Casino offers several promotions for new and existing players. Take a look at our Genesis Casino review for more information.

Mansion Casino

Our final video poker casino site recommendation is Mansion Casino. At this website, you can play video poker online such as Jacks Or Better, Jacks Or Better Multi-Hand, and Deuces Wild too. Other games available include slots, table games, and live casino titles too. The website also offers plenty of promotions for you to enjoy, both for new and long-term players. We suggest you take a look at our Mansion Casino for more details.

Choosing The Right Video Poker Casino

There are hundreds of other online casinos available for you to play at, most of which have video poker games. However, the video poker casino sites listed above tend to offer the best selection of video poker games while also providing you with lots of other content for you to enjoy too. Although we’ve suggested the video poker casinos, it’s important that you check whether the casino is right for you.

When it comes to choosing the right video poker online casino, you’re going to need to check the game selection available, including video poker and other titles, like slots, table games, and live casino content too. You should also take a look at promotions to ensure what’s available, check out the accepted payment methods and their processing times, and analyse the customer support available too.

If you’ve checked all of the above factors and you’re happy with what is available or offered, you should consider registering with the online casinos. Searching through hundreds of online casinos for these details is a time-consuming and frustrating experience, which is why we suggest you check our best casino recommendations, all of which have the required information to help you make a decision.

Online Casino Safety

Online casinos looking to provide their services to players based in the UK are required to hold a valid license from the UK Gambling Commission, the country’s gambling regulator. Operators that are licensed are required to follow strict rules designed to keep you protected and to provide you with fair and safe games that offer a decent chance at making wins.

All of the websites we’ve recommended in our video poker online guide and at Casinostoplay.com are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which means they’re completely safe for you to play at. There’s nothing for you to worry about.

Video Poker Casino Bonuses

Almost all online casinos in the United Kingdom offer casino bonuses for both new and long-term users. What’s available with an online casino will differ depending on the website, but bonuses can be spins on select video slots, deposit match bonuses for any or select games, cashback bonuses or no deposit bonuses, although the latter is somewhat rare to find.

Unfortunately, there are no specialised video poker bonuses, but in most cases, the funds obtained from deposit match bonuses can be used towards video poker online, but that will be dependent on the terms and condition of the bonus you’re claiming. Some casinos offering a bonus may limit which games the funds can be used on, so always read through the conditions before claiming a bonus.

Our reviews at Casinostoplay.com offers details on the various promotions available at UK online casinos, and they list the terms and conditions of each promotion too, so you know exactly what you’re claiming and what’s required of you. If you simply want to find the casinos with the best welcome promotions, check out our guide on the best casino bonuses right here.

Free Video Poker Games

Free video poker is the ability to play online video poker for free, without having to spend any money. Playing free video poker games is a great way of practising video poker, allowing you to familiarise yourself with the rules of the game and work out which variations are the best for you. Unfortunately, casinos in the United Kingdom, under their strict licensing rules, cannot offer free video poker games or free casino games in general. This means that there are no specialised free video poker games available for you to play at online casinos, but there is a way around this.

Some online casinos offer new players no deposit bonuses, which are bonuses you can claim without having to make a deposit. These bonuses are usually credited at registration and consist of either spins or funds, the latter of which can be used with online video poker games, essentially allowing you to play for free. However, it’s important to note that not all online casinos offer no deposit bonuses and that these bonuses, if available, are subject to incredibly strict terms and conditions. Finally, you’ll still need to verify your casino account before you can play with these bonuses. If you’d like to know more about no deposit bonuses, check out our guide here.

Video Poker Strategy

Like with most other online casino games, there isn’t really a video poker strategy you can use to improve your odds, and since betting works different with online video poker, using coins, you can’t really use a betting strategy either. However, we have compiled a list of tips that you can follow to make the game more enjoyable for you to play. Check them out below:

#1 – Understand Hand Combinations

Before you start playing online video poker or any type of poker game, it’s hugely important to try to understand and memorise the various hand combinations. Doing so will help you better understand what hand combinations provide you with bigger winnings and what cards you should look for when holding and dealing.

#2 – Think Before Making Decisions

When playing video poker, always think before confirming decisions. There is no time limit on the games, so examine all of the cards available to you before you make any decisions. Even though the game has a fast-paced nature, you can absolutely take your time when playing, and don’t be afraid of doing so. Remember, it’s just you against the casino!

#3 – Change Your Bet Accordingly

Due to the fast-based nature of online video poker, it can be easy to lose yourself and quickly spend a lot on bets. That’s why it’s important to change your bets accordingly and keep an eye on them. To help, most casinos allow you to implement loss limits, deposit limits, and time limits, helping you control your gambling habits.

#4 – Try The Different Variations

When playing online video poker, don’t be afraid of trying out the different variations. As we’ve mentioned above, these games all follow the same rules, but they have unique gameplay mechanics that make the games much more fun for you to play. So, if you ever get bored of one variant, go ahead and play video poker online variants!

#5 – Be Careful With Wild Video Poker Games

While it can be fun to play all of the different video poker variants, it’s important to understand that these games tend to have lower payouts than games with no wild cards. Playing with them can be fun, but don’t expect massive payouts from them.

The above tips won’t improve your odds at winning and they’re certainly no video poker strategy, but if you chose to follow them they can help keep the game entertaining while also keeping you safe, which is incredibly important when it comes to gambling.

Video Poker Hand Combinations

There are numerous video poker hand combinations in poker, and as we’ve suggested it’s a good idea to learn what they are to make it easier for you to identify potential winning cards. We’ve put together a list of all possible hand combinations below, so take a look and memorise them:

• Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, and 10 cards in the same suit
• Straight Flush: Five cards in a sequence in the same suit
• Four Of A Kind: Four cards of the same rank
• Full House: Three cards of a similar value with a pair
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit but not in sequence
• Straight: Five cards in a sequence but not of the same suit
• Three Of A Kind: Three cards of the same rank
• Two Pair: Two pairs
• Pair: Two cards of the same rank

The above hand combinations are those that will appear in online video poker and other poker games too. However, it’s worth noting that some video poker games may include other poker hand combinations too, such as Jokers Wild in which you can earn a pair of Jacks. The available hand combinations will differ depending on the game, so it’s always worth taking a look at the game’s paytable before hitting the ‘Deal’ button.

Is Online Video Poker Better Than Traditional Online Poker?

While video poker and traditional online poker all have similar roots, they are incredibly different. Online video poker titles feature rudimentary graphics, basic betting options, and simple rules which remain the same, albeit with some small changes, across all games. Traditional online poker, however, consists of numerous poker-based titles, each of which has its own set of rules and gameplay mechanics too. What’s more, online poker tends to feature improved graphics, but these games play much slower than video poker, and they involve much more complicated betting options. Finally, online poker is much more widely available than video poker, which can sometimes be a huge incentive.

It’s also important to note that online poker is a much more complicated game when compared to video poker. As mentioned above, each variation of online poker will have its own rules and gameplay mechanics which you will need to learn in order to win at the game. Some of the most popular online poker variations include:

• Texas Hold’em Poker
• Casino Hold’em Poker
• Omaha Poker
• Caribbean Stud Poker
• Casino Stud Poker
• Three Card Poker

Like with video poker, not all of the above games will be available at all online casinos in the UK. Some websites will offer a selection of these games and some may offer none of them, which is why it’s important for you to check before registering at the website.

It’s also worth pointing out that there are numerous live casino poker games available for you to play. These live poker games feature live dealers that are streamed directly to you over the internet, and they can be interacted with via an online messaging service. These live poker games are based on the popular poker variations we’ve listed above and follow their rules, though there might be some design or gameplay changes.

What’s better between video poker and online poker will greatly depend on your preferences. If you enjoy playing fast-paced games with simple betting options, then video poker may be for you. If you prefer something with updated visuals and more complicated gameplay, online poker is the better choice. And if you’re interested in interacting with real people over a computer, you should check out live casino poker.

If you are interested in playing online poker, check out our guide to online poker sites where you can discover more about all the different poker variations we listed and learn their rules.