Video poker is one of the best games for those who like online casino gambling. It has great odds for the player, is simple to learn, and affordable to play. Here’s a closer look at finding the best video poker casinos for the UK player.
Top Video Poker Casino Reviews
Any online gambler should get excited when it comes to video poker because it can have a very low house edge. All casinos are not the same, and it helps to know which video poker casinos are the best.
That’s where our top-rated casino reviews are helpful. We do the research and save you time and money. Our expert reviews allow the UK player to find the best games and the best casinos. We even make it possible for you to perform a comparison between the casinos of your choice.
Why do you need a comparison site like ours? The main reason is that we help you sort the scam casinos from the legitimate ones. We only deal with licensed, reputable online casinos. Our highest recommendations are given to the casinos with the best reputations.
We want you to be able to find the perfect place to play video poker online. That means helping you locate online casinos with the best bonuses, simple sign-ups, and more.
Our professional team rates online casinos on many factors. We look at how long a casino has been in business, its overall reputation, and game selection. The banking options and customer service of the casino are examined. No stone is left unturned.
When you have finished reading our reviews, the process is simple. Choose the online casino that you like, sign up, and claim your bonus or welcome package.
What Kind of Game is Video Poker?
Video poker is a game that combines the best aspects of draw poker and slot machines. These are two of the most popular gambling games ever created, rolled into one.
In video poker the player is trying to make the best five-card poker hand. The cards appear on the screen at random, and players can choose to make one draw. The cards are similar to the symbols on a slot machine. This is what attracts both poker players and slot machine players to video poker. That is good for the casino.
By comparison, regular slot machines have a higher house edge that makes it harder for the player to win. The house edge in video poker can be very low. UK players can also use strategies to improve their chance of winning.
Video poker can also be a profitable game when measured against table games like blackjack and craps. Much of this has to do with the inherent nature of poker.
The origins of video poker can be traced to the early 1900s. That’s when a slot machine with playing card symbols first appeared. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the video poker machines players know today arrived in Las Vegas. Now, these games are a major part of every online casino.
In fact, there are several different types played today. Among the earliest to be introduced were Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. These games remain very popular among players.
A reason that video poker is such a fun gambling game is its simplicity. Players who like poker can have the same experience without visiting a live poker room. Our reviews identify the most profitable video poker casinos online.
How to Play Video Poker
Video poker is a game that is easy to learn and play. It has a simple set of rules that can be understood in a matter of minutes. The slot machine element is what makes it less complicated than real poker.
An advantage of playing video poker online is that you can learn from the comfort of your own home. Many of the online video poker casinos that we recommend have free games for players. This allows you to learn the game without risk, on your own time.
The player can switch to real money video poker online whenever they are ready. After a brief time playing the free versions of video poker, players will understand the terminology of the game. Knowing the terms of video poker is important for players risking real money.
A video poker game begins with the player making the minimum bet that is required by the game. This may be just a few pence per hand. The player is then dealt their starting hand of cards.
Players can then make a decision in video poker to discard any or all of their original cards and receive new cards. This draw can only be made once. After the draw, the player is paid for their hand according to the standard value of poker hands.
To qualify for a payout, a hand must usually include a high pair or better. The payouts increase as the difficulty of the hand increases. A typical order of hands that qualify for payouts can often be:
- A Pair of Jacks or Better
- Two Pair
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
- Flush
- Full House
- Four of a Kind
- Royal Flush
The highest hand is the Royal Flush. This is the hand that awards the jackpot when a player is making the maximum bet.
Video Poker Basic & Advanced Strategies
A key to winning at video poker is to use effective strategies because this is a game that involves more than pure chance. It allows the player to make decisions that can affect the outcome of the game.
There are different types of strategies to consider. Basic strategies are for the beginner. Advanced strategy is for the experienced player who wants to win a jackpot. The best strategy is often the one that the player has honed over time spent playing many hands of video poker.
There are odds that relate to all the possible poker hands. For example, if you hold four cards of one suit the odds are one in nine that you will draw a card to complete the flush. Knowing the best odds for each hand of video poker is helpful. Even the best players have difficulty remembering all the odds for poker hands, and many like to use a chart. Such charts can easily be found online.
Above all, the betting strategy may be the most valuable. Knowing when to maximize your bet will increase your chances of hitting the jackpot. Card strategy, dealer strategy, and table strategy are also valid ways to approach the game.
Most video poker games require a player to be making the maximum bet to win the jackpot. Hitting the Royal Flush should be the ultimate goal of all poker players. This rare hand is the A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit. Many players will only play the game when they are able to pursue the Royal Flush jackpot.
Game Types/ Variations
At online casinos there will often be a large variety of video poker virtual machines to choose from. We review both the quality and the quantity of video poker games online. Both are equally important. Our highest ratings are reserved for those casinos that have quality variations of the game.
The best virtual poker games to play online are those which do not require any gaming experience. These games include the classics such as Deuces Wild and Joker Poker. They give players a fair chance to win, and some even offer progressive jackpots.
Winning big at video poker means picking the best games. The verity of our online casino reviews is what you need to find the best online gambling opportunities.
Here is a closer look at some of the video poker variations that you will read about in our reviews. This information should help you get an idea of the games that will appeal to your style of gambling.
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better was one of the first introduced in live casinos. It is still found in physical casinos, and has also become a staple of video poker online. The key premise is that players receive a payout for any hand that includes a pair of jacks or better.
The obvious strategy here is to try for a pair of jacks or better on each play. The pair of jacks will only return the base wager, but these small wins help to keep players in the game. There is no bonus round in this type of video poker.
Aces & Eights
In the Aces & Eights version of video poker, a jackpot is built every time an ace or an eight is dealt. The player can then win the jackpot pool when they satisfy a specific requirement, such as a full house containing aces and eights.
To have the best results at this game, players should bet the maximum when the bonus jackpot pool is high. In some cases, the bonus must be paid by a certain amount which is posted on the game. If the max jackpot is near, wager the maximum credits.
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild joined Jacks or Better as one of the original video poker games. In this game the 2 of each suit is wild. The 2, or deuce, can be used to make any other card that the player needs to make a winning hand.
In Deuces Wild there is a jackpot feature which requires having four 2s. This gives the player a five-of-a-kind and a jackpot payout. On some video poker games it is not necessary to play the max bet to hit the Deuces Wild jackpot.
Joker Poker
In Joker Poker there is a bonus feature that is triggered when a joker appears in a certain position on the game. The player is then given free games with the chance to win an additional sum of money. Jokers are also wild and can be used to replace any other card in the deck.
The player should play the maximum bet on each hand of Joker Poker to have a chance at winning the jackpot. This is one of the varieties of video poker that often rewards players with a royal flush.
Joker’s Wild
In Joker’s Wild the joker card can be substituted for any other card in the deck. This gives the player a chance to make higher value hands more frequently. Players are given the opportunity to make one draw after receiving their initial five cards.
The best strategy is to always try for the five-of-a-kind. This hand is possible because of the wild joker. The five-of-a-kind can often produce the jackpot payout instead of the royal flush.
Casino Software Providers & Graphics
Online casino software is what makes video poker possible. In our casino reviews, we try to identify the casinos which work with reputable software companies. These include companies like Real Time Gaming, Microgaming, and Betsoft.
Partnerships with high-quality gaming companies result in video poker games with better graphics and gameplay. The best companies in the gaming industry also make video poker games that are compatible with most devices. We look for cutting-edge companies that are always trying to improve the quality and quantity of games.
We look for video poker games that have realistic graphics. Players want to experience the same sights and sounds that are found in a live casino. Better graphics also makes the poker games online easier to see and play.
It is also important that software providers develop games that are fair. Most casinos today are using a provably fair model of gaming. This requires software developers to make the results of games available for inspection. Looking at the gaming algorithms and results makes it possible to determine fairness.
Promotions, Bonuses & Jackpots
A big reason for choosing an online video poker casino is its bonuses and promotions. Online casinos today offer bonuses to entice players to sign up. Some also reward existing players for frequent play.
There are different types of player bonuses. Among the most popular of these is the video poker no deposit bonus. This bonus only requires the player to create an account. In return, the casino gives the player a small sum of money to use on any online games.
Another type of bonus is the deposit match bonus. The minimum deposit required to receive this bonus can vary from casino to casino. The casino will match the exact amount of the player’s deposit 100% up to a certain limit. Matching bonuses can sometimes be claimed over and over again. Others are only good once.
We rate the bonuses and promotions of a casino on several factors. We consider the minimum deposit that must be made to receive a bonus. We also look at the wagering requirement that casinos demand before bonus money can be withdrawn.
A wagering requirement is a condition that players must play though the amount of bonus money received before that money can be withdrawn. Some casinos require the money be wagered through 50 times or more. Our highest ratings go to casinos that have a low wagering requirement.
We caution all players to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Our reviews will help you identify scam casinos to avoid losing your money. We will tell you which online casino bonuses are legit.
FAQ
Can I play free video poker and learn how to play?
There are many online casinos that we recommend which offer free versions of video poker online. You only need to sign up with the casino. There is no need to make a real money deposit.
Free video poker games are a useful way to learn how to play the game without risk. When you are comfortable with your skills, switch to a real money game.
Are new games added to the company’s catalogue on a regular basis?
The team at the company is actively involved in the development of new online casino games. New games are added to the company’s catalogue several times each year. Many games are developed which seek to capitalize on themes that are popular at the moment. In addition, NetEnt is always looking for opportunities to improve the existing games in its lineup.
Where can I learn game strategies?
Many websites are available online where you can learn strategies for video poker. We suggest a Google search. You can also find basic video poker online strategy tips in some of our reviews for video poker casinos.
How can I find a reputable video poker casino online?
Using our trusted reviews is the best way to find a legitimate video poker online casino. We have done all the work for you. We only review and recommend the online casinos that give you the best chance to win.
We know that there are many online gambling scams to avoid. It can be difficult to determine the legit casinos from the scams. When you stick with our reviews there is less chance that you will be taken advantage of. You’ll also be playing at the online casinos which have the best odds for video poker.
Can I play for real money?
All of the casinos that we review and recommend have real money video poker online. You should check the legality of online gambling for real money in your jurisdiction. The casinos that we review all accept players from the UK. We suggest that you begin with free games and move to real money games after you have obtained some experience.
Can I play casino games on mobile?
The online casinos with the highest video poker ratings are those which have mobile versions of their games. Most online gamblers today prefer to use a phone or tablet to access games.
A big advantage of video poker on a mobile device is convenience. You do not have to leave home to play your favorite games, and you can play at any hour of the day or night.