Here we consider different types of video poker, rules, strategy and house edge. We also show you which online casinos offer video poker and which ones are the best in this field!
Video poker is the digital version of regular poker, which is played online via PC or mobile. Instead of playing against real opponents, you play “against the machine”. The rules work in the same way as in all poker; it's about making the best card combinations, playing smart and winning every single round.
It was in 1970 when the first poker machines began to appear in land-based casinos (about the same time as when the first computers came out to the public). The poker machines quickly became popular. Later, they have appeared in completely different places as well; for example in arcade rooms, nightclubs and not least at online casinos.
House Edge in Video Poker
Although Video Poker games often offer the player one of the lowest House Edge options available in a casino, be aware that small changes to a payout table can make a big difference to the potential return. Look here:
Among the largest software vendors, House Edges have been found ranging from 0.06-6.26% when playing with the maximum number of coins in the bet and up to 9.27% when playing with fewer coins. In comparison, this latest measurement gives worse odds for the player than with the most available online slot machines.
It should also be mentioned that compared to many other card games offered in casinos, video poker has a very high variance in winnings. A large part of the game's payout is related to rare hands (such as a Royal Flush or four aces), which means that players may have to wait a long time between the really good hands (and the really big wins).
The rule of thumb is that: The less often the top prize (jackpot) is paid out statistically, the more likely it is that the player will experience significant losses before the big payout comes. Consequently, video poker games with progressive jackpots are played with a high risk of losing, but also with the potential for big wins (this applies to most casino games, not just video poker).
Video Poker Strategy
Apart from knowing the rules fully and playing strategically correctly (based on the rules and probability calculation) there is little you can do with House Edge when it comes to video poker. But there are ways to gain benefits when playing video poker games anyway. They largely involve using promotions, bonuses, and earned points for all they are worth.
In short: play with bonus money when you have the opportunity, and redeem any casino points in free games when you can.
Be aware that even if you can play with cashbacks, bonus money or other benefits, the wagering requirements will have a big impact on how “advantageous” the bonuses really are:
Many online casinos today emphasize video poker games low in relation to the wagering requirements, so it may be worthwhile to choose, for example, live games or other types of games when you are going to wager your winnings. Slot machines are often the only games that count 100% in turnover.
Therefore, check the bonus terms in your online casino before you start playing, to avoid nasty surprises!
Different Video Poker Variants – different rules! 
Since Poker comes in so many varieties, there is little point in trying to describe the rules as if they were just one set of them. Therefore, we consider all the most well-known poker variants and explain the rules for each of them below. In general, it's about getting the best card combinations, playing them smart and winning each round over your opponents.
Common to all poker variants is that they can be played with three different betting rules:
- Pot Limit Poker: The player can bet up to the corresponding amount in the pot (this is the most popular form of Omaha Poker).
- No Limit Poker: The player can bet up to all their chips, regardless of the pot (the number of chips is determined in advance).
- Fast Limit Poker: The player can only bet up to a specified amount (bet limit).
Below you will find information about rules and house edge in the following video poker variants:
- 5 Card Draw Poker
- Texas Hold’Em Poker
- 7 Card Stud Poker
- Jacks or Better Poker
- Deuces Wild Poker
- Multihand Poker
5 Card Draw Poker – Rules
Five Card Draw is the game that many grew up playing around the kitchen table, and is probably the most famous poker variant of them all.
In this game, your goal is to make the best five-card hand after one move. It is a game that is easy to learn, but difficult to master.
Gameplay: Your first move is an Ante bet (you buy into the game). Then you get five cards from the dealer. You get to see all the cards at once, and decide based on these whether you want to bet further (call), raise the bet or fold.
When all players have made their move, anyone who joined (those who did not fold) can exchange one or more of the cards you have in your hand. This can only be done this one time. When all opponents have received their new cards, a new round of bets comes. Again, you can choose to call, raise the stakes or fold.
When the betting round is over and all players have made their move, it's time to show their hands. Unless all the other players have withdrawn, you win automatically. The strongest hand wins the round and the pot.
Texas Hold’Em Poker – Rules 
Gameplay: Your first move is an Ante bet (you buy into the game). The dealer will deal 2 cards to you and 2 to himself. You will then see your cards immediately, and decide whether to call (join) or fold. If you choose to fold, you have lost the round, and will not get your bet back (but it can save you from losing much more).
If you choose to call, you must place a new bet, often double what the Ante bet was. Then the first 3 community cards are placed visibly on the dealer's table. You now have the choice between raising the bet, “turn” (see the fourth card) or pass (check).
To “fit” is the same as betting 0. So you do not make any new bids, but you still have the opportunity to call or raise at a later time. When the fourth community card is drawn (the “turn”), you can again choose to “bet” (bet more), or pass.
The fifth and final community card is called “River” (hence the term “drowned in the river”). When this is drawn, both you and the dealer choose which 5 cards give the strongest hand (2 of yours, and 2 of the dealer's cards are discarded, and these are not counted, not even if there is a draw).
In the end, the hands are compared, and the strongest of them wins. If it's you, you get the pot lying on the table. If you lose, or fold, the dealer gets the pot and you lose all your bets.
House Edge – Texas Hold’Em
With the standard payout table, the whole round taken into account (Ante, Call, Turn and River), and assuming that the player's strategy is completely optimal, the house advantage in Texas Hold'em is calculated at 0.53% (figures taken from The Pogg). If, on the other hand, the player's strategy is not completely optimal, this number increases.
7 Card Stud Poker – Rules
Seven-Card Stud Poker is a classic poker game, but quite different from regular five-card poker. The most important thing to remember when learning this game is that you get seven cards to make your final five-card hand, instead of five. Note that the first two cards are invisible until the very end.
Game progress: To start the game, you must first place a bet (an Ante). Often you get to choose how many coins you want to bet and how much they should be worth. Possible bet values depend on the software/game you use, but you can often choose up to five coins.
Then you are dealt three of seven cards, instead of five, as in regular poker. Only the third card is made visible to you. Based on this one visible card, you can choose whether you want to increase your bet.
Then you will be dealt the fourth card (the turn). This is made visible, but you still do not know what card number two is. Again, you get the chance to raise the stakes. This continues until you have seven cards in total. Only five of them are still visible.
If you do not want to increase the bet after each card is drawn, you can select the “deal all” option. Then you will see all the cards immediately.
The stronger the hand you end up with, the bigger the payout. So make sure you know the rankings of the different poker hands. Many game developers add a feature to the games that shows you the winnings of different, possible outcomes.
But if you actually win something, you do not know until the first two cards are shown. This happens all the way to the end, when all efforts have been made!
Bonus Bets
In 7 Card Stud Video Poker you often get the opportunity to place an extra bet (bonus bet) during the game. The bonus bet significantly increases the payout if you actually win.
Bonus bets come in two variants:
- You can bet that you hit Royal Flush, Straight Flush or four. You get this opportunity just before the seventh (last) card is to be drawn. If you win on this bonus bet, (ie you actually hit the Royal Flush, Straight Flush or four likes after betting on it), the payout will be much larger than if you did not place the bonus bet.
- You can bet “double or nothing”. Before drawing the seventh (last) card, guess whether the card is high (8 or higher) or low (6 or lower). If you guess correctly, your winnings are doubled. If the last card shows 7 or you have guessed wrong, you lose the entire win.
Omaha Poker – Rules 
Omaha Poker is an exciting poker variant that originates from the classic Texas Hold’Em. This poker game comes in several variations, but the basic rules are the same:
- There are several players around the table (in video poker these are virtual players) and fighting for the same pot (so you play against other players, not against the House).
- You will be dealt four own cards (instead of two, as in Texas Hold’Em) and five community cards (these are visible on the table). You use two of your own and three of the community cards to form the best possible poker hand.
Game progress: To start the game, you must place a first bet (Ante). Then you are dealt four cards in your hand and the first round of betting begins. You can call, raise your bet or fold. Then the first three community cards are dealt (these are visible on the table) and it is ready for a new round of betting. This continues until the fifth community card is on the table.
When the fifth community card is on the table, you choose which three of the five community cards you want to combine with two of your own to create the best possible poker hand. A final betting round is made, before everyone's hands are revealed. The one with the best hand wins.
Note that since playing with two more cards, the hands in Ohama are often stronger than in Texas Hold’Em.
Jacks or Better Poker – Rules
Jacks or Better is one of the three most important video poker games, because the rules are the basis for a number of other variants, such as Aces and Eights and All American Poker. Online casinos that offer video poker will in most cases also offer Jacks or Better.
The rules are basically the same as for regular five-card poker. But in this variant, the house (casino) is your only opponent, and there is no possibility of raising or bluffing. You only place a single bet (a bet) when the round starts, and the goal is to get a hand that contains a pair of jacks or higher. If you do not get it, the house wins.
Game progress: To start the game, first select the number of coins you want to bet (up to five). The coins can be worth from €0.20 up to €1 or more – this depends on which software/game you use.
Once you have placed your bet, you will be dealt five cards where you choose which ones you want to keep and which ones you want to fold, just like in regular five-card poker. Then you get your new cards, which replace the ones you threw away. This is the final hand, which determines whether you lose or win, and if so, how much.
The stronger your hand, the higher the payout, so make sure you know the ranking of the different poker hands.
House Edge – Jacks or Better
As with most casino games, it is almost impossible to make a profit in the long run. The odds are always against you. But in Jacks or Better, the odds are better than in some other well-known casino games – provided you choose the right software! Below you see the overview of House Edge from various game developers (figures taken from The Pogg, calculated with five coins in stake):
- Amaya – 1.64%
- BetSoft – 1.75%
- Microgaming – 0.46%
- NetEnt – 0.44%
- Play n ‘Go – 5.00%
Deuces Wild Poker – Rules 
Deuces Wild is one of the three most important video poker games, because the rules are the starting point for a number of other variants, such as Jackpot Deuces and Sevens Wild. Online casinos that offer video poker will in most cases also offer Deuces Wild.
The rules are basically the same as for regular five-card poker. But in this variant, the house (casino) is your only opponent, and there is no possibility of raising or bluffing.
In addition, twos count as “Wild Cards”. This means that all twos can represent any of the other cards, you choose which one. For example: if you have three queens in one hand and two, then the two can count as an extra queen. Thus you stand with four queens on hand.
You only place a single bet (a bet) when the round starts, and the goal is to get a winning hand (Three Like, Flush, House, and so on). If you do not get it, the house wins.
Game progress: To start the game, first select the number of coins you want to bet (up to five). The coins can be worth from €0,20 up to €1 or more – this depends on which game you use.
Once you have placed your bet, you will be dealt five cards where you choose which ones you want to keep and which ones you want to fold (just like in regular five-card poker). Then you get your new cards, which replace the ones you threw away. This is the final hand, which determines whether you lose or win, and if so, how much.
The stronger your hand, the higher the payout, so make sure you know the ranking of the different poker hands.
House Edge – Deuces Wild
As with most casino games, it is almost impossible to make a profit in the long run. But in Deuces Wild, the odds are a little better than in some other well-known casino games – provided you choose the right software!
Below you see the overview of House Edge at various game developers (figures taken from The Pogg, calculated with five coins in stake):
- Amaya – 0.63%
- BetSoft – 1.09%
- Microgaming – 0.63%
- NetEnt – 2.03%
- Play’n Go – 5.03%
Multihand Poker
Some video poker games come with the ability to play multiple hands at once (like sitting at multiple poker tables at the same time, but with the same poker hand).
You then choose how many hands you want to bet on (usually 1, 3, 5, 10, 25 or 100, but this can vary) and how many coins (ie how many bets you want with each hand). This means that if you play with 10 hands and choose 5 coins, you bet a total of 50 coins.
In practice, you are only dealt one hand, and as usual, you choose which cards you want to keep and which you want to fold. The cards you keep will be valid for all 10 tables. But those that are discarded are replaced with new, separate cards (thus you stand with 10 slightly different hands on 10 different tables).
The multi-hand function thus gives you a greater chance of both winning and losing.
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