Slots machines have been among the most popular gambling machines in any casino, be it online or land-based. Of course, video poker is also not too far behind for several reasons. It is less complex than real, traditional poker, where the player has to employ more advanced strategy, psychology, and other tools in order to outplay not the house but other players.

But, since both games are played on machines, there are both similarities and differences that they share. The similarities are enough to get players who lost on slots interested in video poker, but also, the slots are often attracting those who want to play a machine-based game without having to come up with a strategy.

Slots require nothing other than putting in your wager and pulling a lever or pressing the button. While arguably less exciting than other games, the spin of the mechanism on the machine is still more than enough to make the players’ hearts beat faster in expectation, but overall, slots are the simplest games that you can find in any casino.

Despite this, they are also the most numerous. Video poker, on the other hand, also has plenty of versions, and multiple machines throughout each individual casino, as some might find slits too simple, and they want a greater level of participation. If you fit into any of these two categories of players, then join us today as we take a careful and in-depth look into slots and video poker machines, see how they compare to one another, break down crucial aspects of both, and more.

Video poker vs Slots: What is the difference?

Despite video poker and slots both being hosted on similar-looking machines, they are two very different games. In fact, while comparing them ourselves, we found as many as 9 important differences between the two games. So, let’s break them down and see what they are about.

1) Strategy

The first big difference between the two games is based on strategy. Simply put, video poker involves strategy, while slots do not. We mentioned this already, but slots are very simple, and all you need to do is drop in a token, a coin, or a banknote, press the button or pull a lever, wait for the spinning to end, and see if you have won something or not.

Video poker, on the other hand, is far simpler than real poker, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t involve strategy. You see, at the start of each game, you are dealt 5 cards. This is your hand, and the decision-making starts. The first choice that you need to make is whether to keep the hand or discard it. After that, there are additional decisions, all of which depend on what you are dealt and what you wish to play. You can discard the entire hand, or you can only discard a few cards. So, if you are playing 9/6 Jacks or Better, and you hold 6s, 4s, 9c, Js, 10c, the best move that you can make is to keep Js and discard the other cards.

This is a simple example, with the mentioned strategy being the best possible move. In fact, if you do anything other than the recommended move, the house edge will be higher, while your chances of winning would drop.

Meanwhile, with slots, the only strategy that you can focus on is how much money you will spend and which game you will play. Other than that, there are no other choices that you can make, as everything else is on the machine to do. You may find some of the newer machines featuring things like skill-based bonus rounds, but this only accounts for 5% of the overall payback.

In the end, video poker requires greater knowledge from the player, more strategizing, more skill, and a bit of luck.

2) Progressive Jackpot

Moving on, we have a feature that slots have while video poker doesn’t, and that’s progressive jackpots. These can be so rewarding that they can go up to being worth millions of dollars, and winning one truly is a jackpot in the full sense of the word. Naturally, not every slot will offer that much money, and winning a jackpot on any slot is extremely rare.

However, if you are lucky enough, you might make a fortune, and that possibility alone is what drives many slots players to keep returning to the machine.

And, in case you were wondering whether the stories about millions of dollars worth of jackpots, there have been several recorded occasions where it happened. For example, a 25-year-old software engineer once won a $39.7 million-large jackpot in Las Vegas’ Excalibur Casino. In another case, a cocktail waitress Cynthia Jay-Brennan became a millionaire in a second after winning $34.5 million in Desert Inn, also in Las Vegas.

Even online casino jackpots were known to take places, such as the case of Jon Heywood, a British soldier who won a jackpot of 17.8 million EUR, or around $22 million. There have been many other cases, but these are enough to prove our point — you can win a jackpot if you are lucky enough, and the winnings can be life-changing if you find yourself in the right place at the right time.

Video poker doesn’t really offer something like that. The biggest prize that they have are 4,000 coins that you can get if you get a royal flush. To be fair, there are some video poker machines that do have progressive jackpots, but they are rare, and the largest recorded progressive jackpot offered a $670,000 payout. While this is still no small amount of money, it can’t compare to what slots have to offer.

3) Higher payback for video poker players

While video poker doesn’t offer dozens of millions in jackpots, they are generally a lot more rewarding when it comes to regular winnings, as their paybacks are simply higher than what slots can offer.

For example, full-pay Deuces Wild offers a payback of 100.76%. Joker Poker offers a payback of 100.64%. 10/7 Double bonus offers 100.17%, 10/6 Double Double Bonus comes with 100.07% payback, and so on.

In comparison, the highest slots payback that we have on record comes from Mega Joker, with 99% payback, followed by Jackpot 6000 with 98.8%, and then Blood Suckers with 98%. The percentage keeps going further and further down from there. And, it is worth noting that these games offer far better returns than the ones in land-based casinos. But even so, video poker is simply more rewarding, whether online or in a brick-and-mortar casino.

4) Slots are more relaxing

Earlier in this comparison, we mentioned that video poker requires more strategizing, which means that users need to keep their guard up and carefully consider their decisions, decide on which cards to keep and which to discard, and alike.

There are no such things as slots, which is why many find slots to be more relaxing. All you need to do is approach the machine, feed it money, pull the lever, and see what happens. There is no need to think things through, and the only decision that you need to make is whether to keep going or to stop after each round.

Sometimes, you might trigger a bonus round or get free spins, but that’s about it. You may receive some small amount back depending on the symbols that the reels stop on, but that’s about it.

In video poker, you first have to select your bet size, then receive your initial 5 cards. Then you need to decide what to do with them, meaning which ones you wish to keep and which ones should you discard. Then, you click Draw to complete your hand. There is more thinking and considering involved here and at least one extra step than what you need to do compared to playing slots.

In slots, you make a decision to stop or keep going in a fraction of a second and act on it, while in video poker, you will often spend at least 5-10 seconds on average considering your options. Of course, this is not necessarily bad, but it all depends on what you wish to achieve. If you are just a casual gamer who wants some fun and relaxation, then slots are definitely a better option. But, if you are after strategy, deduction, and calculations, then video poker is a great choice for you.

5) It is easier to calculate video poker payback

If you are planning to go gambling on slots, it makes sense that you would want to know all you can about paybacks. For some slots, you can find that information through simple research, but that is not always the case. Sometimes, you might not find the information you are looking for for a machine that you have available in your local casino or the game that you prefer to play in an online casino.

You would essentially have to approach the game blind and try to figure out the frequency of the payouts on your own through countless spins or research of the paytable, at best. However, that would likely cost you a small fortune, not to mention that it would be time-consuming and pretty much the opposite of having fun.

From this point of view, video poker is a lot more organized and easier to figure out. All you need to know is what payouts charge the payback for specific variations of the game and you will be all set. Of course, there are certain things to note here, as well, such as the fact that some variations of the game may have more than two different payouts on the paytable, but as long as you know what to look for in any given game, the rest is pretty transparent and easy to find and figure out.

6) Extra comps at slot machines

Slots machine’s house edge is pretty big, which is an obvious downside of these games. But, this is balanced out by the fact that slots also offer more comps. For example, whenever you lose a game at slots, you earn a 2% comp rate. So, if your game comes with 5% house edge, and you bet $2,000, in theory, your loss will be $100, which is calculated by multiplying the amount of 2,000 by 0.05. As a result, you would get $2 in comps.

The situation is significantly different in video poker, where you earn a 2% comp rate. So, let’s say that in this situation, you are playing 8/5 Bonus Poker, where the house edge is 0.83%. If you once again bet $2,000, you would, theoretically, lose only $16.60. The calculation in this scenario is 2,000 x 0.0083, which would mean that you would get $0.33 in comps.

Now, a common rule is to avoid playing for comps, as you can see that it doesn’t pay that well, and your losses would be $83.40 less than slots if you use the same amount and end up in the same situation as described in the example. The good news, however, is that slots can offer more comps, which will significantly soften the blow.

7) Video Poker offers the ability to make long-term winnings

When gambling, your goal is to take any advantage that you can find. That means learning the best and most successful strategies, lowering the house edge, increasing your own odds, and more. So, since players will need any advantage that they can get, many opt to seek out machines that offer positive expectations (+EV).

These are not so easy to find these days, but it is still possible, especially in places like Las Vegas, if you look hard enough. Unfortunately, this is not the case when it comes to slots. You will not find a single game anywhere with the payback being above 100%. Earlier, we mentioned several +EV video poker games, including Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, Double Bonus, and Double Double Bonus.

The latter two do not offer a particularly big edge, even if you use the perfect strategy. However, if you are a skilled player, then Joker Poker and Deuces Wild can bring a noticeable difference in winnings. The numbers don’t lie, and the probability figures say that Deuces Wild can bring you $7.60 for every 1,000 hands played. For Joker Poker, that amount is somewhat lower, sitting at $6.40. Double Bonus only lets you win $1.70 under those circumstances, while Double Double Bonus has the lowest winnings of $0.70 for every 1,000 hands played.

On their own, these win rates will not exactly earn you a full-time living. However, if you are an expert, you can make a living with Deuces Wild and Joker Poker, provided that you take advantage of double and triple-point promotions. But, if you don’t seek to become a professional and you only want to have a good time while playing, then Double Bonus and Double Double Bonus will let you win decent amounts and entertain yourself along the way.

8) Slots let you win more if you play online

If we are talking about the amounts that you might win in online casinos, then this is the area where slots get another point in their favor. Slots are well-known for offering much greater winnings in online casinos than in land-based ones. There are no specific figures to back this up, but the estimates say that online slots can offer 96% returns on average, while brick-and-mortar casino slots only offer around 93% to 94% returns. This might not seem like a massive difference, but with high enough amounts, it can be quite noticeable.

On the other hand, video poker return to player percentage is pretty much the same regardless of where you play the game. In other words, you may as well stay in the comfort of your home or play on your mobile device on the go. If you play slots, chances are that you will win more than you would in a land-based casino, and if you are a video poker fan, then your winnings will remain unchanged.

9) Video Poker depends on max bets for top payback

The last great difference between video poker and slots lies in how to achieve top payback. In video poker, the rule is that you need to make the max bet of 5 coins in order to get the max payback. As a result, you get to receive a much larger royal flush payout with all 5 coins wagered.

Essentially, a 5-coin bet can grant you a 4,000-coin royal flush. If you were to only bet 4 coins, then the royal flush can only bring you 1,000 coins. For a 3-coin bet, the royal flush rewards you with 750 coins, and you would only get 500 of them for a 2-coin bet. Lastly, a 1-coin bet gets the minimal winnings of a 250-coin royal flush.

As you can see the greatest difference is between a 4-coin bet and a 5-coin bet. In exchange for adding a single coin, you get a 3,000-coin jump for the royal flush payout, which is massive.

If we take a look at slots, on the other hand, there are some machines that require you to make specific bets in order to qualify for the maximum jackpot or to win bonus rounds as well. However, these are not the norm, and you are far more likely to run into machines that don’t have such requirements.

Video poker vs Slots: What are the similarities?

As we have seen, the differences between video poker and slots are many, which confirms our original statement that these are two very different games. However, that doesn’t mean that they do not share a few similarities, as well. For example:

1) Both use a Random Number Generator

In order for casino games to be truly fair and offer equal chances for victory to everyone, they rely on random number generators. A random number generator, as the name suggests, is software that offers completely random sequences of numbers. They cannot be predicted in any way, so there is no way for anyone to cheat, including casinos.

Both slots and video poker machines use this software to ensure that every round is based on nothing but random chance. Of course, there have always been those who believe that they can identify a pattern to the numbers produced by the generators, but that is not possible, and any apparent pattern is nothing but a coincidence. It is important to understand that, because believing that you have identified the pattern can lead to bad gambling decisions where the player bets everything, convinced of victory, only for the supposed pattern to fail and the player loses their entire wager.

Casinos have no need to cheat you. It is in human nature to continue taking risks for as long as we can afford it, and all that casinos need to do is wait. Eventually, your losses will pile up if you don’t know when to stop, which is why you can be certain that these random generators are truly random.

2) Both are great alternatives to table games

Being new to gambling in land-based casinos can be difficult, and it can lead to a lot of awkward situations when you sit down to play a table game. You will make mistakes simply because you lack the experience and you might not be sure how to behave at the table, what to do, what not to do, and alike.

You might even be lectured by other players, or you may cause impatient reactions if you take too long to make a decision. In any event, this can be extremely discouraging, and it can ruin your experience, causing you to give up on playing table games.

Some players may even be intimidated by the very idea of trying for the first time, and they might never even try gambling in the first place. Fortunately, video poker and slot machines offer an alternative. You can try gambling on your own, with much greater privacy, where only you and the machine are included, and the machine will not criticize a bad move, comment on it, and alike.

The worst that can happen is that you will lose your money, and if you follow the golden rule of gambling, which is not to risk the money you can’t afford to lose, then you will be perfectly fine, and you can learn on your mistakes on your own. This helps to reduce the anxiety, encourages players to try again and again until they get it right.

3) The same games, different payback

Another similarity to keep in mind is that the same video poker and slot games can have very different paybacks. This depends on the paytable, and it is typically only the case in brick-and-mortar casinos. Essentially, it means that you can play the same game in two different casinos and in one of them, the payback would be 92% and in another, it might be higher or lower, such as 89%.

Online casinos typically don’t do this, and the payout percentage tends to remain the same. Perhaps this is because it is easier to identify the payback on online platforms and then switch to a different casino if you don’t like what you see while going from one physical casino to another might be too much work, so the players would simply accept that the payback is lower and they will go along with it.

4) Both feature betting options

Finally, our last similarity on the list is the fact that you can choose different betting options in both games, depending on your preferences and capabilities. We mentioned that, in video poker, you can choose to bet from 1 to 5 coins. You can also play multiple hands per turn if you choose triple play, or you can make side bets.

As for slots, you can change the coin size from $0.01 to $1, adjust pay lines, change coins per line, or use the double-up option when you win, which is useful for slot strategies.

Conclusion

So, with all that said, we have seen that video poker and slots share similarities, but they also have their differences. We have been able to identify twice as many differences than similarities, which, as mentioned, confirms our original statement that these are two very different games.

But, these differences are a good thing. They separate the games and define them as unique, different experiences. Meanwhile, players can simply choose the type of game that they wish to play, depending on how involved they wish to be, and how complex they want their game to be.

Slots are also more rewarding if you can hit jackpot, while video poker is more rewarding for standard payouts. Both can be played online or in land-based casinos, they offer different betting options, and they allow you to bet privately, away from other players, which is a great thing for newcomers to the world of online gambling who might be too intimidated by the idea of playing in front of others, especially when it comes to professionals.

But, both are also fine to play online, with even greater privacy. In fact, slots are more rewarding that way, while video poker offers the same chance of winning the same amounts of money. So, if you want to win some cash and don’t really care about the loud and flashy casino experience, then that is definitely a great option to consider.

The post Video Poker vs Slots: Which is Better? (2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

When it comes to online gambling, traditional poker games become very difficult to pull off, as players cannot easily read their opponent's behavior in order to determine what kind of hand they got dealt. Because of that, most people are happy to settle for video poker instead. By playing against the machine, all that players need to do is learn the rules of the game — which you can do in our guide on how to play video poker for beginners — and follow a fairly straightforward strategy that requires you to memorize the combinations of cards you may hold, from best to worst, and know what to do with each hand.

Video poker has seen quite a surge in popularity in India over the last several years, as the Asian sub-continent started seeing a massive expansion of internet coverage. With that said, here are the top 8 gambling sites for Indian players where they can access video poker right now.

1. LuckyNiki

LuckyNiki has partnered with numerous software providers, including some of the largest ones in the industry, such as Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, NextGen Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO; Red Tiger Gaming, and more.

Given the number of partners, we expected quite a lot of games on the platform, and they delivered by featuring over 1,000 casino games, including over 500 slot machines, table games such as blackjack roulette, craps, and baccarat and of course multiple versions of video poker. They also top it off with live casino games, and even virtual sports that you can bet on.

Best of all for Indian players, they offer local fan favorites such as Teen Patti and Andar Bahar — two games that originated in this part of the world, and have therefore seen quite a lot of popularity.

To learn more read our LuckyNiki Review or visit LuckyNiki Casino.

2. Winning Kings

Winning Kings Casino was created in 2020 by LuckyNiki. Players at Winning Kings are part of the King Club, a loyalty programme which offers plenty of  goodies to make playing at the casino even more engaging.

Winning Kings offers lots of live dealer games where players can play against real dealers and watch high-definition streams straight from the casino. Not only can you find all the standard casino staples such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat, but you can also find a number of gameshows.

The best slots collections always have a diversity of features, slots formats, bonus games, and of course, brilliant graphics and themes. Winning Kings ticks all the boxes, with masses of action-packed slots. There are jackpot games, such as Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, Dragon’s Luck Power Reels, or the Goonies, where you have a chance of winning some truly mouth-watering prizes.

They also offer a fantastic selection of video poker games.

Read our Winning Kings Casino Review or visit Winning Kings.

3. Fun88

Fun88 Casino is a platform established in 2009 by a company known as TGP Europe Limited. For a long time now, it has functioned as both a casino and a sportsbook,

It is great when it comes to the wide variety of realistic video poker machines that are offered. You can also play games like roulette, baccarat, craps, blackjack, slot machines, multiple variants of live dealer games, and more. Best of all they feature Indian classics such as Andar Bahar & Teen Patti.

Customer service is also a focus at Fun88, agents are available via several methods, most of which are available 24/7. You can always send them an email if you just have a question or a minor issue that doesn’t require urgency. However, if you need to access support quickly, you can turn to live chat, WhatsApp, and even Telegram, where you will be greeted as soon as one of the agents becomes available.

To learn more read our Fun88 Review or visit Fun88.

4. Bollywood Casino

The last on our list is Bollywood Casino, and as the name suggests, this gambling website is heavily inspired by Bollywood, with its entire theme centered around it. Bollywood Casino is actually India’s first and oldest online casino, so the platform definitely has the first-mover advantage. However, that would not be enough if its service isn’t every bit as good as the best platforms out there.

Bollywood Casino is regulated and holds the Curacao license, it features a minimum deposit of 500 rupees, and it offers 3250 games, so if you ever get tired of video poker, you will still have 10 years worth of games to check out if you only play one game per day. For any potential issues, you can contact its customer support via live chat at any time, but since the platform is very easy to navigate, we do not expect any problems.

To learn more read our Bollywood Casino Review or visit Bollywood Casino.

5. Maharaja Fortune

Established in 2023, Maharaja Fortune has quickly attracted attention from the Indian gaming and betting market. With over 5,000 casino titles and an assortment of sports betting markets that covers over 30 different sports, it is the ideal home for gamers, punters, and those who fancy themselves a bit of both.

The majority of the casino titles are slots and video poker games. These cover all types of slots, from classic 3-reel games to 5-reel video slots and even Megaways. For video poker they have all the traditional games like Jacks or Better. If you have played online slots before, then no doubt you will recognise developers such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play and Playtech.

There are over 50 table games, scratchcards and video poker games. You can find all sorts of Poker games, Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, themed scratchcards and more. Players can also play multiple versions of baccarat, blackjack, or roulette against real live dealers.

To learn more read our Maharaja Fortune Review or visit Maharaja Fortune.

6. PureWin

Pure Win Casino is a popular platform for sports betting, as well as for casino games such as video poker. The casino is only three years old as of 2022 since it went live in 2019. However, that does not mean that its systems, games, or features are in any way inferior to the older platforms. In fact, you could argue that this platform might be superior, as it launched with modern systems, and it didn’t need to upgrade old ones over time.

The platform’s casino section supports Telugu, Bengali, Hindi, as well as Kannada, and there are multiple available withdrawal and deposit options. You can deposit as little as 500 rupees, enjoy a great welcome bonus, and if you decide to stick around, there are also daily bonuses and promotions for you to benefit from.

To learn more read our PureWin Review or visit PureWin.

7. Parimatch

Parimatch is a website that features a rich welcome bonus going up to over 93,000 rupees, a VIP and loyalty program for long-term users, and minimum deposits of only 82 rupees.

Parimatch is actually a bookmaker/casino from Eastern Europe, but it also serves Indian customers. The company itself launched in 1996, and it took its services online in 2000. Since then, the platform has been offering great benefits, such as the quick bet feature, multiple different games, expert customer service, and more.

To learn more read our Parimatch Review or visit Parimatch.

8. Casino Days

Casino Days is a platform best known for offering more than 3,000 different games made available through partnerships with numerous software providers. Casino Days also has mobile support, expert customer service available 24/7, and a number of supported payment methods that you can use for delivering your rupees onto the platform.

Casino Days is as accessible as other platforms on the list, once again featuring a 500 rupee minimum deposit. Of course, its welcome bonus was made to double your deposit, so the more money you send to the platform – the more you will receive from the platform.

To learn more read our Casino Days Review or visit Casino Days.

Conclusion

Giving custody of their money is not a decision that any person should do lightly, and especially not when it comes to online gambling. There are far too many scammers, hackers, and even legitimate but unsafe websites out there, and trusting the wrong platform could end up costing you a lot. This is why we selected regulated, licensed, and trustworthy sites for you to check out, and hopefully, one or more of them will fit your needs perfectly.

The post 8 Best India Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

Video poker has been among the biggest and most popular casino games in the entire world. It is pretty easy to understand why. For those who can win at it, poker can be the most rewarding game, but when you play it, you play the people, not the house or the odds.

With video poker, however, the game is still highly rewarding, but it doesn’t have that people element, which is why it became so popular, especially among the New Zealand gamblers. In fact, we dedicate this guide to the top 7 best New Zealand video poker sites, so if you have any desire to play this game, we suggest reading further, as we will explain everything you need to know. Also, if you happen to need a reminder of video poker rules, or if you are a complete novice to it and wish to learn them, our guide on how to play video poker for beginners.

1. Jackpot City

The first on our list is Jackpot City casino, and this is a great example of a platform that remained in business and highly relevant for over 20 years. The casino has more than 700 games available, supports over 15 languages, and it features multiple payment methods, currencies, and other benefits. However, its real value comes from the fact that it was always looking for a way to improve its service and become better for its users.

This led it to the introduction of great bonuses and loyalty programs, which ensure that the users would keep coming back, and bringing more money to the platform. Jackpot City has been thriving for decades, which means it definitely does the things that it does in the best possible way.

Read our Jackpot City Review or visit Jackpot City.

2. Spin Casino

Next up, we have Spin Casino, which is a premier online platform catering to all types of gamblers, with video poker players, naturally, being included as well. The platform is quite user-friendly and easy to navigate, with a generous welcome bonus and a VIP program that rewards long-term users, as well.

The casino was founded in 2001, so it has more than two decades of experience at this point. It supports multiple languages, currencies, and payment methods, and it has very capable customer support that is available around the clock. If you have any problems, you can contact them via live chat or email.

Read our Spin Casino review or visit Spin Casino.

3. Platinum Play

In the third spot, we have Platinum Play, a casino that launched in 2004, so it is currently approaching to the end of its second decade in business. The platform has grown to be very reputable among online gamblers for a variety of reasons, from excellent service to a great variety of games — over 500 of them.

Other than that, the casino also offers a great variety of games, plenty of promotions and bonuses, and many other features that make it quite attractive to users from all over the world who wish to have a good time and win some money along the way.

Read our Platinum Play review or visit Platinum Play..

4. Gaming Club

Next, we have Gaming Club, which is another platform that made quite a bit of effort to look great, be easy to use, and offer a lot to its users. Launching in 1994, Gaming Club is the oldest casino on this list, and one of the oldest in the online gambling industry. The platform offers access to over 500 top-quality games, it can be used from desktop or mobile, and it supports multiple languages and payment methods.

Gaming club also offers plenty of bonuses and promotions that are available to users upon registration, when they are making their first deposit. The platform’s minimum deposit is only $10, so anyone can benefit from these perks.

Read our Gaming Club review or visit Gaming Club.

5. Mummy’s Gold

In the fifth spot, we have Mummy’s Gold, a casino that offers a massive library featuring over 500 games by multiple software providers. It also holds the license by the Malta Gaming Authority and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, it has a great loyalty program, and it is fully optimized for use via mobile devices.

The platform does have a bit high playthrough requirements in order for people to gain access to the welcome promo, but it is only a bit above average. Other than that, the casino has a very low minimum deposit and a very generous welcome bonus, loyalty and VIP programs, and alike. It supports multiple payment methods and currencies, and it is known for top-notch safety, security, and trustworthiness.

Read our Mummy’s Gold Review or visit Mummy’s Gold.

6. River Belle

Nearing the end of our list, we have River Belle, which is a popular casino with a total of over 20 different languages, a fully mobile-optimized website. Multiple matched deposit welcome bonuses, numerous available currencies, and more. River Belle is a casino established in 1997, and it is a very big, popular, and trusted brand, in the countries where it operates, and particularly New Zealand and Canada.

The casino has a rich gaming library, featuring over 500 games, but that is not the reason its users typically approach it for the first time. No, the reason behind that lies in its welcome bonus, various promotions, loyalty and VIP programs, and more than anything, the casino’s safety, security, and trustworthiness.

Read our River Belle Casino Review or visit River Belle Casino.

7. Ruby Fortune

Finally, the last on our list is Ruby Fortune. This is a casino that has always been quite generous to its users in terms of the things it offers, such as over 650 available games, a generous welcome bonus, new ways to make its platform better, and alike.

The casino was launched in 2000, and over the last 22 years, it came up with many unique features. For example, it is the only casino that offers large daily bonuses, features demo versions, and has custimized gaming menu. Then, there are things like multiple payment methods, high-quality of games, and an expert customer support which are not rare and unique, but very good to see available. If you are considering joining this platform, read our Ruby Fortune review first, and after that you can just go and register on its website by clicking here.

Conclusion

And with that, we conclude our list. As you can see, there are plenty of options when it comes to video poker playing, and the only thing you need to find is the one that looks best to you. After that, read our review about it to learn all of the platform’s details, and if you like what you see and wish to start playing video poker on that website, simply visit its platform, sign up, and have fun.

The post 7 Best New Zealand Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

Gambling has been a part of human society for as long as anyone can remember, and pretty much everyone encountered it at some point in their life. Those who decided to try it out likely experienced a number of different games, seeking the one that is just right for them.

However, if your main goal is to earn money through gambling and not so much to enjoy it, then you may have wondered which game is the best to play in terms of odds, and where you can apply math to boost your chances. Casual gamblers do not usually think about the odds of winning at each game, and often when they lose, they are convinced that the casino cheated them and that it was all a trick.

In truth, however, casinos do not need to cheat, because the odds are in their favor. A casino is a business, and as such, it’s in its interest to earn. However, it is not in its interest to cheat, because getting caught cheating would mean the end of their business. Instead, they give the house an edge, no matter how small, and let the math do the rest.

The edge in the casino’s favor is different from game to game, so roulette players can expect to lose 2.7% of all the bets they have ever made. However, if you turn to slots, the chances of losing are at least double what you encounter at roulette.

However, when it comes to games like video poker, the situation is significantly different. Video poker was among the first games to appear in electronic form, and is easily one of the most popular games in any casino. However, the fact is that casinos have a very, very low house edge in video poker games, which means that this could be the game where you, the gambler, have the best chances at winning.

Your chance to win a majority of video poker games is as high as 99.54%, if you play your cards right, and know what to do with them. However, that means playing the optimal strategy that can help you boost the odds in your favor. Today, we wanted to talk about video poker strategies and teach you what to do, what to watch out for, and what to expect from video poker machines.

Before we switch to that, however, there are a few other things that we would like to cover first, and ensure that everyone is on the same page, starting with:

What you need to know about video poker

Video poker machines are quite popular, and therefore, quite widespread. If you ever visited a casino, you likely saw at least a few of them. They have cards on the screen and look rather dated, with a button under each card that allows you to select the card in question.

Now, it should be noted that video poker is not real poker, which is significantly more complex. However, it is its simplified version that mimics a game of Five Card Draw. There are multiple variants of the game that have emerged over the years, with slightly different rules from game to game.

The most popular version is Jacks or Better, which is the one that new players tend to gravitate towards. This game deals you five cards, and allows you to discard as many as you want, and replace them with new ones. But, after your draw is done, you are paid in accordance to a preset paytable.

Then, there are games such as Deuces Wild, where all four Deuces, or Twos, serve as Wild Cards, which you can use to complete a winning hand by replacing any of the dealt cards with a Deuce.

There are also other games, such as Aces and Faces, which is a version where additional payouts are available for making four-of-a-kind Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces. there are different combinations where you earn more or less depending on the combination. For example, a straight flush will not reward you as much as four aces will, and alike.

Joker Poker is another popular one, where a single joker card is put into a deck that is otherwise a standard edition, and it can be used as a substitute for any other card. In order to win anything, you need, at the very least, a pair of kings in this game, and if you only have one, the Joker card can come in handy if you happen to be holding it as well.

In Tens or Better, the rules are similar to the ones in Jacks or Better, and the biggest difference between these two being that, in Tens or Better, you also have a winning hand if you hold a pair of tens.

Then, there is Bonus Poker, which is similar to Aces and Faces, but it offers a payout for making four of a kind of a certain hand. Lower overall payouts also reduce the RTP rate of the game.

As you can see, there are many different versions of video poker, with these ones only being the most popular options. Depending on the game, there can be more or less special payouts, which might influence your choice when it comes to selecting the game. However, we will explain the best strategies for the most popular games, so you will have the best chances of winning a payout regardless of which game you approach.

Also, make no mistake, while Jacks or Better definitely features the best payouts, other games are definitely worth checking out. For example, some casinos allow users to play a version of Deuces Wild where the casino puts itself at a disadvantage, as unbelievable as it may sound. In other words, if you get to choose between a game that has greater rewards and a game where you have a greater chance at winning, you will have to make a choice about which one to approach, yourself.

Why use strategies for video poker?

It is important to realize that you need to approach each casino game with a different mindset, and a complete understanding of how it works in order to win, or at least, to boost your chances of winning.

Take slot machines as an example. They are extremely popular, and they dominate every single online and physical casino out there because they are extremely easy to use. There is no skill required other than putting in the money and pulling a lever, or pressing a button to start the spin.

All you can do with these machines is rely on pure luck and nothing else. Meanwhile, the result is locked in as soon as the lever is pulled. The spin is completely random, of course, and you can’t do anything about what will happen. In most cases, you will simply lose your money. However, a lot of players experience small wins, and even moderate wins. Jackpots are the rarest of them all, of course, but they do tend to happen. You might win a jackpot first time when you pull a lever, or the 10th, or 100th, or not at all — it’s all pure chance.

When it comes to video poker, however, there are things that you can do to impact the outcome. You still need luck, of course, as you require good cards in order to win a game, but you do have a say in which cards you will keep and which ones you will re-draw, and what your hand is going to look like once you finish.

You have total control over the five cards that you were dealt initially, and it is your choice what to do with those five cards. You can keep them all, discard them all, or only select a few to keep/discard — the decision lies with you. This is why you need to understand the rules of the game, and to know the worth of each hand, as well as the worth of the cards held.

Obviously, knowing the rules of the specific game that you are playing at the moment is necessary to know what to do with each card, as holding any specific card might be worthless in one game, but priceless in another. Different decisions will have a different impact on the overall outcome.

FOr example, what if you held four 3s and an ace. What would you do? Your choices are to save the straight flush consisting of the 9 of spades through the king of spades. Or, you can decide to keep the four cards of a royal flush, and hope for the best when you discard the ace.

Sure, there is safety in the straight flush, but a royal flush could win you a small fortune. If you get it, of course. As you can see, you can easily find yourself in a difficult situation where your choice can change the outcome from the best to the worst, and vice versa. You can always choose to play it safe and at least win something, or you can decide to risk it all for the chance at winning a greater amount.

This is where strategizing comes into play, as you need to understand your odds of winning in a situation that you will find yourself in after each potential move. The choice is yours, and the consequences of those decisions are something that you will have to live with. We cannot offer a solution, but we can show you your options. After that, the decision is yours and yours alone. But, as you can see, the situation is clearly more complex than what you would encounter at any slots machine, no matter what version of the slots game you are approaching.

Video poker strategies

With all that said, it is now time to finally start discussing strategies. The way this is going to work is that we can provide you with advice on what to do, depending on what combination of cards you end up having in your hand after the cards have been dealt. Naturally, the cards that you will want to keep in your hand will differ from one game to another, depending on the rules and what combination can help you win the biggest amount of money.

With that said, let’s start by looking into the strategy for the following:

Jacks or Better video poker strategy

In order to win any video poker game, including Jacks or Better, the first step is to understand how it works, and what your goal is. A large portion of it has to do with math and the odds, probability, which is why those who master these skills seem to always have more luck at the casino than others who just rely on blind luck.

In most situations, the chances are that the casino is going to win in the long run because each of them knows that the games are based on probability. In other words, the casino doesn’t actually gamble. It is just earning the money by playing the long game. If casinos were actually gambling, then this business would not be so profitable for them.

So, when approaching a video poker machine, the first thing that you will want to do is to check its paytable. In Jacks or Better, specifically, you should look for games that offer a 9/6 paytable, meaning that the game will pay 9 coins for a full house, and 6 if you get a flush. This is important to note because not every Jacks or Better machine is the same, and some only pay 8 coins for a full house. The difference may not seem that big at first, but in the long run, it can have a serious impact, and they will massively increase your losses over time.

So, after you find the right machine, the next step is to start playing. Simply press the deal button, and you will receive your initial five cards. This is where you need to make your first decision and figure out which cards you are going to keep, and which ones you should replace. This is also where a lot of players start making their first mistakes. Inexperienced players like to experiment, which leads them to making decisions on the spot, and that is never a good thing to do.

There is a well-established formula here that can help you win money, and all you need to do is memorize a table of possible outcomes. This table will be your go-to solution for winning at Jacks or Better, and it covers pretty much all possible poker hands you might end up getting. In other words, if you stick to it, you pretty much can’t go wrong. Without further ado, here is what you want to keep, in the exact order, to get the best results:

1. The best hands by far include Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, or Royal Flush. Following this, your best options include:
2. Royal Flush via four cards
3. Flush, Full House, Three of a Kind, Straight
4. Straight flush via 4 cards
5. Two pairs of any kind
6. A single pair — Jacks or Better
7. Royal Flush via three cards
8. Flush via four cards
9. A single Pair via tens or lower
10. Open-ended straight via four cards
11. A straight flush via three cards (no gaps)
12. JQKA in one suite
13. Two cards in a single suite
14. A gutshot straight with three high cards
15. A straight flush via three cards (single gap)
16. JQK (single suite)
17. JQ (single suite)
18. TJ (single suite)
19. QK or JK in different suites
20. TQ (single suite)
21. AK, AQ, AJ in different suites
22. TK (Single suite)
23. A single high card
24. A straight flush via three cards (two gaps)
25. And, if you get none of these hands, the best you can do is discard all cards, as your last reserve

As you can see, there are 24 different combinations that can help you make money, plus the bonus option to discard everything and get a second hand, so you definitely have options. However, a lot of players forget to stick to this strategy, and they fall into the temptation of trying some other approach. Many make the mistake of chasing long shots and even pure impossibilities in the desire to win as much money as possible. Doing any of that is a sure way to lose your money.

You should always stick to the strategy, and this one is the best for Jacks or Better. This is because video poker has fixed odds that do not change, and math is your best bet to win any sum of money. Sure, you might get lucky by playing a random game, but that is not a reliable approach, and we do not recommend it, as it will rarely do you a favor. The best you can do by far is to memorize the table above and stick to its approach.

Deuces Wild video poker strategy

Deuces Wild is another very popular version of video poker, and for the purpose of the guide, we will share strategies you can use to win full pay. Deuces Wild machines are very easy to find, and chances are that every casino you will walk into will have this machine. However, remember to check that it is the full-pay machine, as others will either reduce your wins or your chances to win.

Now, as far as the strategy is concerned, the one that we will present here soon was developed to win at full-pay machines, so it might not bring the same results for other machines. But, if you find the full-pay machine, it can help you win nearly 1% against the house in the long run. You will have to go through many hands to realize all your equity, and you will have to stick close to the strategy and ensure that you are doing everything right. Even small mistakes can have a big impact on the size of your winnings, which is why you need to remember the strategy and focus as best as you can.

Like in our previous entry, we will go through the combinations of hands that you can win, starting from the best-case scenarios, and moving down from there.

As a quick reminder of the rules — you will be dealt five cards at the start of each hand. You can decide which ones to keep, and which ones to discard, or substitute for the new cards out of the deck. The deck has 52 cards with no jokers. Every duce dealt is being counted as a wild card, meaning that hands like one pair and two pairs become insignificant and lose their value. But, you can now have five of a kind, straight and royal flushes, all achieved with the deuce.

Now, let’s take a look at the actual strategy. We broke it down into five segments, depending on whether you end up holding 4 deuces, or 3, 2, 1, or none. With that said, here is what you need to keep in order to get the most out of the game.

If you hold 4 deuces, keep them. This is the best hand that you can get.

If you hold 3 deuces, keep the following:

1. Wild Royal Flush
2. 3 Deuces with the non-paired cards discarded
3. 3 Deuces with a pair and 9s or lower discarded
4. Five of a Kind
5. Four to a Royal Flush
6. Straight flush or lower

If you hold 2 deuces, keep the following:

1. Wild Royal Flush
2. Five of a Kind
3. Straight Flush
4. Four of a Kind
5. 2 deuces plus consecutive cards including 6 and 7, or higher
6. 2 deuces

If you hold 1 deuce, keep the following:

1. Wild Royal Flush
2. Five of a Kind
3. Straight Flush
4. Four of a Kind
5. Four to a Royal Flush
6. Full House
7. 1 deuce and three cards to a straight flush, 5, 6, and 7 or higher
8. Three of a kind
9. A Straight
10. A Flush
11. Four to any Straight Flush
12. Three to a Royal Flush with K being the highest card
13. 1 deuce and two more cards, including 6 and 7 or higher, to a Straight Flush
14. Three to a Royal Flush with A being the highest card
15. 1 deuce

If you hold no deuce, keep the following

1. Natural Royal Flush
2. Four to a Royal Flush
3. Straight flush
4. Four of a Kind
5. Full House
6. Three of a Kind
7. Straight or a Flush
8. Four to an Open-ended straight flush
9. Q-J-T (suited)
10. Four to an Inside Straight Flush
11. Three to a Royal Flush
12. One pair
13. Four to a Flush
14. Four to an Open-ended Straight
15. Two to a Royal Flush where J is the highest card
16. Four to an Inside Straight
17. Two to a Royal Flush where Q is the highest card
18. Two to a Royal Flush where K is the highest card
19. Discard the entire hand

And with that, you are ready to approach the Deuces Wild video poker machines and handle them like a professional. Keep in mind that the strategy is quite volatile, although it can be rewarding if you stick to it with patience and discipline.

Aces and Faces video poker strategy

When it comes to Aces and Faces, it is also played with a standard deck featuring 52 cards, with five cards dealt in the first hand. You can hold as many of them as you want with the goal of building the strongest hand. The cards that remain will be discarded and replaced with new ones from the same deck.

As the name indicates, the game’s payoffs are tied to combinations of aces and face cards, starting with a pair of Jacks. The highest payout is for a Four of A Kind combination featuring Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. The game doesn’t have wild cards, unlike our previous entry.

Now, when it comes to the strategy, it is very simple, and once again, we will present it now from the best solutions to the worst ones starting with:

1. Four of a kind, royal flush, or straight flush
2. Four cards to a royal flush
3. Straight, flush, full house, or three of a kind
4. Four cards to a straight flush
5. Two pair
6. High pair with a Jack or better
7. Three cards to a royal flush
8. Four cards to a flush
9. Low pair
10. Four cards to an outside straight
11. Two suited high cards
12. Three cards to a straight flush
13. Two unsuited high cards, where you would use the lowest if you got more than two
14. Suited high cards, including 10 paired with J, Q, or K
15. Jack or Better
16. Discard the entire hand

As you can see, for this game, things are pretty straightforward, and you cannot make a lot of errors if you stick to this table. While it is not as rewarding as Jacks or Better, it can certainly help you win some money if you prefer this game.

Joker Poker video poker strategy

Next, we have Joker Poker, which is sometimes called Joker Wild. It is another variation of video poker, and specifically, of Jacks or Better. The biggest difference between this game and Jacks or Better is the fact that the Joker is inserted as a wild card here.

If there is one rule that you should always follow in Joker Poker, that’s to never discard the wild card. The wild card is your ticket to success, or at the very least, it boosts your chances significantly. As a result, the deck that is used has 53 cards in total, instead of 52 like in previous games.

Other than that, the rules are pretty much the same, which is why we will jump straaight into the strategy. So, when playing Joker Poker, your goal is to hold the following:

1. Royal flush, Straight flush, or Four of a Kind
2. Four to a Royal Flush
3. A pat full house or a pat flush
4. An open straight Flush
5. Three of a Kind
6. Inside Straight Flush
7. A pat straight
8. Two Pairs
9. Discard the entire hand

This is pretty straightforward, and while not the most complicated game, it significantly differs from other video poker games. But, it is easy to learn, so we do not expect it will pose much of a problem for you, even if you are a novice.

Tens or Better video poker strategy

Tens or better is very similar to Jacks or Better. In fact, there are very few differences, with the biggest one being that the payouts are typically lower for things like Royal Flush, Full House, and Flush. Another difference is that the winning hand is a Pair of Tens. However, even if the payout is lower, you can still win some money, and in the end, that is what matters.

Without further ado, here are the hands that you should keep when playing this version of virtual poker, heading from the best to worst, as always.

1. Royal Flush
2. Straight Flush
3. Four of a Kind
4. Four to a Royal Flush
5. Full House
6. Flush
7. Straight
8. Three of a Kind
9. Four to a Straight Flush
10. Two pair
11. High pair (Tens to Aces)
12. Three to a Royal Flush
13. Four to a Flush
14. Tens paired with JQK
15. One pair
16. Four to a Straight with 3 high cards
17. Three to a Straight Flush
18. Three to a Straight with 3 High Cards
19. Two Suited High Cards
20. Four to an Open Ended Straight
21. JQK
22. KQ, KJ
23. Two to a Royal Flush
24. Suited 10J, 10Q
25. Two high cards
26. One high card
27. Discard the entire hand

Clearly, there are plenty of combinations this time, and you can win fairly easily as a result. Again, you will not be winning grand prizes like you would in Jacks or Better, but any win is a good win if it means that you are getting money, rather than leaving it with the casino.

Bonus Poker video poker strategy

Finally, the last game that we have to present is Bonus Poker, which is just another variation of Jacks or Better. However, this one offers bonus payouts for a Four of a Kind, with the bonus depending on the cards’ rank.

With very little being different from Jacks or Better, we will simply proceed with the actual strategy, which means listing a table of the hands you wish to have when playing this version of video poker. Here are the hands you want to hold, from best to worst:

1. Straight Flush, Royal Flush, Four of a Kind
2. Four to Royal Flush
3. Straight, Full House, Flush
4. Three of a Kind
5. Four to a Straight Flush
6. Two Pairs
7. A pair of J, Q, K, or A
8. Three to a Royal Flush
9. Four to a Flush
10. KQJT unsuited
11. Low Pair
12. Four to an Outside Straight
13. Three to a Straight Fush
14. AKQJ unsuited
15. Two suited high cards
16. Three to a Straight Flush
17. Four to an Inside Straight with three high cards
18. Unsuited JQK
19. Unsuited JQ
20. Three to a Straight Flush
21. KJ, KQ unsuited
22. JT suited
23. AK, AJ, AQ unsuited
24. Ace
25. Three to a Straight Flush
26. QT, KT suited
27. Jack, King, or Queen
28. 3 to a Straight Flush
29. Discard the entire hand

With that, we conclude the strategy for Bonus Poker, as well as strategies for video poker variants. Hopefully, these strategies will help you win as many hands of each game as possible, and while there is a lot to remember, once again, with practice, you can become an expert in winning these games fairly easily.

Tips to remember while playing video poker

The mentioned strategies are your ticket to walking away from a video poker machine with winnings on most nights. However, we are not done yet. There are still some tips and tricks that we have to share that are well-known among the professionals. These are not the secrets of the trade, and all of them are based on regular common sense.

However, gambling has a strange way of making people forget about these things, so we decided to put them here, as well, simply to remind you of them and add them to our official list of tips. As mentioned, they are nothing revolutionary, but they will help you make the absolute maximum of your video poker sessions. More than that, you can apply them to any form of gambling, as they are not video poker-exclusive.

Here is what we recommend you do:

1) Remember to use bonuses and promotions

Most, if not all casinos, provide certain promotions and sometimes bonuses of some kind, be they real-life casinos or their online counterparts. Believe us when we say that remembering to use these promotions and bonuses can make a great difference, and it can give you a way better fighting chance.

We mentioned earlier in this guide that the house almost always has an edge, and no matter how low it may be, statistically, it matters a lot in the long run. Some extra cash can, therefore, make a big difference. And, while it is true that promotions usually do not apply to video poker players, it is also true that live casinos typically do not discriminate with their promotions, and you can still make use of them, even if you are only there for video poker.

2) Use progressive bonus machines

Next, you should try to remember that a lot of video poker machines feature some sort of a progressive jackpot attached, which can be very beneficial to you. The trick here is to find a machine with full pay that offers a good chance to win a progressive jackpot.

3) Seek out the best machines

We briefly mentioned this earlier, but not all video poker machines are the same. Even if you are targeting a specific game, such as Jacks or Better, different machines offer different payouts, and they can differ in other ways also. The best machines with the most features are fairly rare, so you might not even find one of those in the casino you visit. However, it doesn’t cost you anything to check the machines out and see what the casino has to offer.

4) Keep a good bankroll

Gambling requires you to keep a healthy bankroll, and that doesn’t only include video poker, but pretty much any and every betting game there is. Video poker is a fairly safe and low-edge game, and by applying the strategies discussed earlier, you can win more often than not. But, this too depends on what version of the game you are playing, what bonuses the machine might be offering and other details.

And then, there is the luck aspect, which some believe might be the most important one for the entire betting process. We believe that skill has more to do with video poker than luck, but no matter what you believe, you should split your bankroll and ensure that you will have access to plenty of bets. That way, you are keeping your options open, and the opportunity to win some of the things you lost.

5) Join the casino’s VIP club

Another thing that can help you out significantly with betting in most live casinos is joining the VIP club and making use of their loyalty programs. In doing so, you will ensure that playing your regular games will start accumulating points, and you can then use these points to improve your overall performance and increase your bankroll.

6) Stay away from low pay machines

This one hardly needs any explanation, but we should once again point out that not all machines are the same, and that some of them offer a lower payout percentage. You should identify them as soon as you walk in, and stay clear from them. Gambling on these machines means that you have a disadvantage.

7) Play at the pace that fits you

In the end, you need to keep in mind what your goals are, and that’s the win money and have fun. Both require you to play at the pace that fits you best. If you wish to win money and you rush the games, you will start making mistakes and lose. If you wish to just have fun and you focus too hard and move too quickly, it will soon become very stressful, and not at all what you came to experience in the first place.

Where to Play Video Poker for USA Players

We recommend these casinos:

Ignition Casino – Our current favorite for players from the USA or Australia. Ignition casino offers eight versions of video poker including Bonus Deuces Wild, Joker Poker 1 Hand, 3 Hands or 10 Hands, Jacks or Better 1 Hand, 3 Hands or 10 Hands, & Double Double Bonus Poker.

The games are supplied by recognized game developers such as Revolver Gaming and RTG. These games have high-definition video graphics that allow gaming across multiple devices. More importantly, this casino has some of the fastest payouts of winnings on the planet, along with responsive 24/7 customer service.

Read our Ignition Casino Review or visit Ignition Casino.

Wild Casino – This is an online casino that caters to USA players by offering a safe gaming experience with responsive customer service. The top notch software includes a large assortment of games with single hand versions of Tens or Better, Joker Poker, Double Joker, Deuces Wild, Faces & Faces, Jacks or Better & Deuces Wild. They also offer multi-hand versions of Tens or Better, Joker Poker, Jacks or Better, Double Joker, Deuces Wild, Deuces & Poker, and Aces & Faces. There’s a generous bonus for all new players, and a myriad of deposit and speedy cashout options.

Read our Wild Casino Review or visit Wild Casino.

Cafe Casino – Established in 2020, Cafe Casino is a relative newcomer to the gaming scene but they have established an impeccable reputation amongst players for offering state of the art video poker games along with responsive customer support, and fast payouts. New players can of course claim a generous sign-up bonus, and they offer multiple deposit options including by Bitcoin.

Read our Cafe Casino Review or visit Cafe Casino.

Where to Play Video Poker for International Players

For readers from other jurisdictions we have compiled the following guides:

Australia Video Poker

Canada Video Poker

India Video Poker

New Zealand Video Poker

South Africa Video Poker

UK Video Poker

USA Video Poker

Conclusion

Video poker can be a lot of fun, as well as a great way to win money, and challenge yourself to think strategically and get rewards for when you do it right. Of course, there is a bit of luck involved as well, but in the end, it all revolves around your ability to remember a strategy and stick to it. It requires discipline, having a cool head, but also knowing when to stop and call it a day, and when to keep going.

Out of all the gambling games out there, video poker offers the best chance to win often and lose rarely, if you “play your cards right.” If you are a beginner, remember that it will take a bit of time and practice to figure things out, and you might be losing a lot at the beginning, which is why it might be good to practice on free games where there is no money involved first, before you start putting real money on the line in real casinos. Once you get a hang of it, however, there will be no stopping you from dominating the game.

The post Best Video Poker Strategies That works in August 2023 appeared first on Gaming.net.

Video poker has been one of the most popular card games around the world ever since gambling emerged in its digital form, just like poker itself is played everywhere in the physical form. In fact, poker is so big that most people think of this game when someone says “gambling.”

Of course, when online casinos emerged, video poker was among the first games to be offered, so it is not that difficult to find if you want to play it online. However, you must also remember that just finding a video poker casino or website is not enough. You need to ensure that it is safe and reliable, that it has as many features and benefits for the user as possible, and most importantly, that it is licensed and regulated by some sort of gambling authority.

So, if you want to pick up video poker and gamble online but you never played it before, we recommend reading our guide on how to play video poker for beginners. Once you learn the rules, or if you already know them, here are the websites that you can visit and start playing video poker for some real money.

1. Ignition Casino

The first on our list is Ignition Casino, which is an online platform that launched in 2016. While it is not exactly brand new, the service is still considered fairly young, but it quickly established a great reputation in this business, which was further boosted thanks to the backing of Bovada, an industry veteran.

The first thing to note about this casino is that it currently only accepts players from the United States and Australia, with the exception of players residing in the states of New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, and Delaware. Other countries are also prohibited, unfortunately.

Ignition Casino offers over 200 titles, including video poker, it features a great welcome bonus, as well as many promotions that make using this platform worth your while. Casino also features multiple payment methods, accepting crypto and fiat currencies alike.

Read our Ignition Casino review or visit Ignition Casino.

2. Cafe Casino

Next up, we have Cafe Casino. The casino is quite young compared to the others, as it went live in 2020, so it is still fairly fresh. However, it has quickly grown to be well-known and it has excellent service, offering video poker, but also slots, various other card and table games, live dealer rooms, and alike.

This casino currently only accepts US players, with the exception of those who live in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, and Delaware. These states and all other countries around the world are prohibited. But, if you are from the US, you will be happy to know that you can access this casino and video poker with a variety of payment methods, including Bitcoin. In fact, there is quite a generous Bitcoin Bonus that it offers to those who choose this route.

It has a regular welcome bonus for first-time deposits, as well as promotions, and loyalty and VIP programs for long-term players. If you want to learn the details of these bonuses, we explained it all in our Cafe Casino Review. Once you read it, you will be ready to go to Cafe Casino and start playing video poker.

3. Wild Casino

In the third spot, we have Wild Casino, which features great bonuses for players from the US. However, unlike our previous entry, this casino accepts players from the US and Canada alike. Unfortunately, players from UK and Australia are not allowed to access and use its platform.

Those who can access it, however, will find its service most rewarding. Wild Casino has been around since 2017, when it got a license from the Panama Gaming Commission. Since then, everyone knew that it is a safe place to gamble, and many used the opportunity to enjoy things like fast payouts, hefty bonuses, access to top-notch games, such as video poker, and a wide range of payment options.

Wild Casino can be accessed from multiple devices, and while it lacks a loyalty program, it still has a decent VIP deal, as well as various promotions, and plenty of different games for you to play and win real money. Learn more about it from our Wild Casino Review, and when you are ready to sign up, head over to Wild Casino’s website.

4. Bovada

Halfway down the list, we have Bovada, which is a sportsbook and a casino at the same time. The platform has been around since 2011, holding a license from the Kahnawake Gambling Commission. However, when the commission had a policy change in 2016, Bovada did not like the changes, so it voluntarily dropped the license out of protest. Even so, it never suffered any kind of drop in quality, security, or any other aspect.

Bovada currently only accepts US players, apart from those living in Maryland, Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. The mentioned states and other countries are not allowed to access its service. However, US players who do will certainly enjoy this privilege for the casino’s benefits and features, including the fact that it is open around the clock, featuring competitive odds from sports markets from all over the world.

It also features very rewarding welcome bonuses for beginners and first-time depositors, while long-term gamblers have access to great loyalty and VIP programs.

To learn more read our Bovada Review or visit Bovada.

5. Slots.lv

Moving on to the fifth place on our list, we have a casino called Slots.lv, which features very generous welcome bonus, as well as the availability of crypto incentives. Slots.lv has been around since 2013, and it holds the license of Curacao Gaming Authorities. However, don’t let the name trick you — this casino has a lot more to offer than just slots, including video poker, tables, and live dealer games. Its minimum deposit is only $10, so pretty much everyone can access it and enjoy its welcome bonus.

Unfortunately, the casino only allows players from the US and Canada to access it, and even then, there are areas that are prohibited, including New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Nevada, and the Canadian province of Quebec, plus all other countries. You can visit Slots.lv to register if you are in one of the supported states or provinces, or if you wish to read up about the platform and what it has to offer, our Slots.lv review is at your disposal.

6. BetOnline

Nearing the end of the list, we have BetOnline, which is a comprehensive gambling site that particularly focuses on the sportsbook offer, but it also features a popular casino section with numerous entertaining game titles, as well. That, of course, includes video poker, as well as many other types of games.

The platform has been around since 2004, and it holds Panama City’s license. Its users can deposit money through several different methods, with a minimum deposit being $20. However, you also get a welcome bonus that, promotions if you use crypto to deposit money and gamble, and if you stick around, you can also benefit from loyalty and VIP programs. The only thing to note is that the casino is accepting users from the US and Canada, while the UK and Australian gamblers are prohibited from accessing the platform.

To learn more read our BetOnline Review or visit BetOnline.

7. Super Slots

Finally, we have Super Slots, a leading online slots-themed casino which, fortunately, also offers video poker, among other games. The casino features an enormous welcome bonus, which immediately captivates newcomers. It also accepts crypto payments, which makes it popular among crypto industry members, and it has live dealer casino games, in addition to its rich slots portfolio.

The casino currently only accepts US and Canadian players, while the UK and Australian players are not allowed to access its platform.

Super Slots Casino offers access to around 200 slot titles, as well as many more other games, so it has quite a large library, despite the fact that it was launched only recently, in 2020. Learn more about it from our Super Slots review, or head over to its platform to start playing video poker today.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of choices among the top-notch casinos, although their availability varies, which is important to note for non-US players, as well as US gamblers who travel abroad, as they are likely not be able to visit some of these platforms, depending on which country they go to.

What we can say with certainty, however, is that our team did everything in its power to check out all the casinos they could find, and the end result is the list of the seven best platforms that we mentioned above. So, if you wish to go to a reliable, safe, and rewarding platform to play your video poker, then the ones we listed here should be your go-to platforms.

The post 7 Best “Real Money” Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

Gambling is one of the oldest forms of gaming, and it may very well be even older than sports. The appeal is quite clear — not only do you stand to earn money, goods, or services by winning bets, but there is also the element of excitement that comes from it. Not knowing what will happen, while knowing that there is a chance of winning a big score is a feeling like no other, and so it is not surprising that gambling and betting never left the human society, and it likely never will.

These days, however, just like everything else, gambling and betting also exist in an online form, as the gambling industry is one of the most adaptable industries out there. South Africa, in particular, developed a taste for this sort of entertainment, which is why we created a list of top 5 South African video poker sites, as this seems to be one of the most popular games for the country’s citizens.

If you are not familiar with video poker but would like to try playing it, we have created a guide on how to play video poker for beginners, so make sure to check it out. Other than that, here are the websites that you can access and start playing today.

1.  YesPlay

YesPlay was originally a Lucky Numbers lottery in South Africa that was founded in 2002. It launched an online casino and sportsbook in 2016, expanding its portfolio to include a vast array of casino games and fixed-odds betting markets for sports. However, the casino also provides a plethora of Lucky Number lotto games from all across the globe. YesPlay is based in the Western Cape and its target audience is punters from South Africa.

YesPlay features a top-range collection of casino games, you will find everything that you are looking for whether it's slots, table games including baccarat, blackjack, or roulette or live games and of course video poker. The slots are extremely well designed and are licensed from some of the top software providers in the world including Red Tiger, and NetEnt.

They are fully regulated, the parent company is SA Sportsbook (Pty) Ltd trading as YesPlay, a licensed betting operator as registered by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board with Bookmaker license: 10180204-010.

Read our YesPlay Review or visit YesPlay.

2.  Bet.co.za

Bet.co.za was established in 2011 and is an online casino and sportsbook that provides an excellent array of fixed-odds sports bets and casino games.

There are over 30 live dealer games at Bet.co.za and they are all supplied by Evolution. Evolution is one of the top live dealer game developers, creating all sorts of fantastic casino games that are brought in HD. Bet.co.za offers players plenty of picks, from classic casino games such as Blackjack and Roulette to games such as Mega Ball, Crazy Time, Dreamcatcher and Fan Tan.

The slots are provided by developers such as Red Tiger and NetEnt. There are over 90 slots, which is not a massive range of games, but these are all carefully picked by the casino for their playability. Games such as Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, Cash Volt, Rainbow Jackpots Power lines, and Starburst are some of their biggest hits.

They also offer multiple versions of video poker.

If you are into lotteries, then Bet.co.za is the place for you. It covers over 160 Lucky Numbers games from around the world, and the action is non-stop.

Its sportsbook covers 30 different types of sports and they are especially popular with soccer and cricket. They offer pulse bet, full and partial cash out, as well as offering a a solid in-play platform where you can bet live on Soccer, Tennis, Cricket and more.

They are fully regulated, the parent company is Betcoza Online (RF) (Pty) Ltd trading as Bet.co.za. They are licenced and regulated by the Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board. Registration Number: 2010/005430/07.

Read our Bet.co.za Review or visit Bet.co.za

3.  Fafabet Casino

Fafabet is a South African online casino and sportsbook that has a lot to offer. It is a proudly local company that was launched in 2022 and is a player favorite amongst South Africans.

The slots and video poker at Fafabet are supplied by Pragmatic Play and AGT. These include everything from classic slots to arcade games that have more complex gameplay and of course to classic variants of video poker. The content provided by Pragmatic Play includes some of the most popular slots such as Gates of Olympus, Big Bass Bonanza, Mustang Gold, Buffalo King Megaways, and more.

They feature multiple variants of all popular table games, including live versions of baccarat, blackjack, and roulette.

Fafabet is licenced by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. This makes it 100% safe for players and punters alike. The company also works with the South African Responsible Gaming Foundation to help raise awareness for gambling addiction and offers deposit limits and self-exclusion tools to help players control how much they spend.

Read our Fafabet Casino Review or visit Fafabet Casino.

4.  Betshezi

Players and punters can enjoy a great range of casino titles and sports betting opportunities at Betshezi. This South African operator was launched in 2022 and is regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, and is based in Cape Town. Betshezi may be relatively new to the industry, but it has already garnered a lot of attention for its fantastic games and sports coverage.

Betshezi’s live dealer games are certainly its main attraction. The casino provides games from CreedRoomz and Vision Casino, which include all the major casino games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, and Baccarat. There are numerous versions of these games that may have slight changes in the rules or special side bets, such as FreeBet Blackjack, Richie Roulette, Super 6 Baccarat, Bet on Poker, and more. Betshezi includes Dragon Tiger, Keno, Sic Bo, and various Lotto-styled live dealer games.

Betshezi has a handful of instant games and lotto-styled games. These titles have free demos which players can try before playing with real money. Be sure to check out Keno, Striker, Blast, Talisman and Power Ball

Read our Betshezi Review or visit Betshezi.

5.  Playa Bets

Established in 1990, this is an established sports book that offers multiple betting shops in KZN and the Western Cape and they offer a mobile betting platform. Playa Bets is considered South Africa’s one stop betting destination for retail and online customer’s country wide.

They are backed by a highly experienced management team which have been registered bookmakers in Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Playa Bets offers a unique world class product to local players across South Africa. With over 12000 live sporting betting events, 378000+ live betting markets and over 1 million Sports Betting opportunities every month, Playa Bets customers will always be in the action.

Playabets MP (Pty) Ltd trading at playabets.co.za is licensed by the by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator under license number 9-2-1-09689.

Conclusion

Gambling in online casinos is, obviously, quite convenient, since you can do it all from the comfort of your home, and most of these casinos can be accessed from a variety of devices, such as tablets, smartphones, desktops, and laptops. All that remains is to find reputable and reliable websites, which is what our team has been doing in order to be able to point the way. All you need to do is pick one of the sites from the list above, and if you like what it has to offer — head over there and try your luck. Remember that gambling offers an equal chance to win or lose, so never use the money that you cannot afford to lose, but other than that, have fun, enjoy yourself, and good luck.

The post 5 Best “South African” Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

The online gaming community has brought a lot of games to the top, but over time, most of them got replaced by something else, as trends changed and people became interested in different things. However, when it comes to video poker, this rule simply doesn’t seem to apply.

Video poker is still just as popular as ever, and it represents an iconic game that will forever dominate the top with maybe a handful of rivals, but no real threat to its reign. Of course, it is a bit complex, so if you are brand new to it, you might have to spend some time learning how to play. We can help speed up that process by offering our guide on how to play video poker for beginners.

If, on the other hand, you wish to go and play video poker on some of the best UK casinos, we have seven of them to recommend.

1. Casino Action

The first on our list is Casino Action — a platform that has been active for 22 years, after going live in 2000. During its time, it was licensed and approved by as many as three raming regulatory bodies, including the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the UK Gaming Commission, officially making it safe for UK citizens.

The platform features more than 500 game titles, and of course, video poker is among them. Other than that, it is very simple to use, it supports multiple payment methods, and it is compatible with a variety of devices, so you can also access it from mobile devices. Finally, it also offers a great welcome bonus for new users.

For an in-depth explanation of how the platform works, read our Casino Action Review. Alternatively, you can just go to Casino Action and sign up right now.

2. Villento Casino

Our second suggestion is Villento Casino, which is one of the most secure casinos for UK players, and it particularly focuses on safety and privacy. The platform has been around since 2006, and it was licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. In addition, it is regularly audited by eCOGRA, which confirmed its quality and legitimacy after every check so far.

The casino offers over 500 games, which run on the software provided by Microgaming, and it allows you to deposit and withdraw funds in multiple ways. It is also very beginner-friendly, and the minimum deposit amount is only 10 GBP, which makes it available to all UK citizens interested in video poker.

The platform has expert customer service that is available 24/7, a large welcome bonus, and once you join it, you are automatically added to its VIP loyalty program. You can see the details of how everything works in our Villento Casino review, and once you are ready to start playing video poker, you can go to the Villento Casino website.

3. Grand Hotel Casino

The third on our list is Grand Hotel Casino, which offers a wide range of casino games for UK players, including video poker. In addition to that, it offers a very generous four-deposit welcome bonus meant to provide new arrivals with a positive experience. Grand Hotel has been around for over 20 years, after launching in 2001, and since then, it has included over 500 games available for playing right now.

It was approved by eCOGRA, and it holds the license from the UK Gambling Commission. All data on the platform is encrypted with a 128-bit SSL encryption, so you don’t have to worry about your information getting into the wrong hands. As for limitations, it has a minimum deposit of 10 GBP, which can be delivered via a variety of payment methods.

Read more about it in our Grand Hotel Casino review, or if you wish to sign up right away, you can head over to the Grand Hotel Casino platform.

4. UK Casino Club

Halfway down the list, we have UK Casino Club, which is a casino featuring very high-quality games — over 550 of them. The games run using Microgaming’s technology, and there is a large variety of each type. Video poker is, of course, right there with the rest of them, and you can start playing with a minimum deposit of 10 GBP.

The platform was launched in 2000, and it was licensed by two different regulatory bodies — Canada’s Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and the UK Gambling Commission. It also holds an eCOGRA certification, so you can be sure that it is perfectly safe and reliable. It also features sign-up bonuses, a loyalty and VIP program, and if you ever have any issue with the platform, you can always turn to its live chat support, which is available at all times.

For more information, read our UK Casino Club review, and once you feel ready to start playing video poker, click here to get to the casino’s website.

5. Zodiac Casino

Next, we have Zodiac Casino, which offers the lowest minimum deposit we have seen among all UK casinos. The minimum deposit is only 1 GBP, which is a great way to access the platform and see what it has to offer. We should note, however, that this minimum is only for your first deposit. For the second and future ones, the minimum will be the industry standard, which is 10 GBP.

With the deposits, you also get a welcome bonus and access to hundreds of games that run using Microgaming and Evolution software.

It is also worth noting that Zodiac is one of the younger major casinos in the UK, which launched in 2018. However, it was licensed by both, the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, plus it holds eCOGRA accreditation. Learn more about it from our in-depth Zodiac Casino review, and after that, head over to the Zodiac Casino website to start playing.

6. Casino Classic

Nearing the end of the list, we have Casino Classic, which is one of the top casinos featuring games from Evolution and Microgaming. There are over 550 of them available, including video poker, of course, and you can access them all instantly with only a 10 GBP deposit.

The website has been around since 2000, and it holds the UK Gambling Commission’s license, as well as eCOGRA’s approval, so using it is perfectly safe. The site also uses advanced technology to keep customer information safe, including their payment details and other personal data. Speaking of payments, you can deposit and withdraw money via multiple methods that are popular in the UK, which makes the casino very accessible.

Access Casino Classic website to start playing video poker today, or if you wish to learn more about it first, check out our Casino Classic Review.

7. Captain Cook's Casino

Finally, the last on our list is Captain Cooks Casino, which features an incredible sign-up bonus for no less than 5 deposits. This is one of the oldest and most popular casinos around, which has operated since 1999. The casino was licensed by the MGA and the UK Gambling Commission, which means that it can service UK citizens from inside and outside the country alike.

There are more than 550 games available, and the minimum deposit needed to access them is only 5 GBP. The casino has a mobile app, an amazing bonus deal, and it doesn’t charge transaction fees on most payment and withdrawal methods, which are only a few of the unique things that allowed it to survive for nearly 2 and a half decades in a highly-competitive online casino sector.

To learn more about it, read out Captain Cooks Casino review, and if you wish to proceed straight to registration, click here to reach its website.

Verdict

Video poker has been one of the biggest and most popular casino games worldwide event since online gaming became available. With that said, it is not surprising that people from all around the world wish to access it, and that includes UK players. Our team has combed the online casino sector to find the best platforms with the most games, lowest minimum deposits, and biggest bonuses, and their efforts resulted in the list you see above.

The post 7 Best UK Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

The post Video Poker appeared first on Gaming.net.

Video poker is an adrenaline-pumping casino game whose admiration among Canadians is only rivalled by slot machines. The two casino favorites have some striking similarities in their history. However, the element of finesse involved in video poker makes it a more scintillating game. That said, video poker is a card game played with a deck of 52 cards. There are extensive video poker variations, but the most popular ones are Jacks or Better, Aces and Eights, and Joker Poker.

To novice players, video poker has challenging rules at first. However, that shouldn't put you off because we've prepared a comprehensive guide on how to play video poker for beginners. Our directory has all the prerequisites to understanding the game. We even threw a few handy tips that'll help you maximize your winnings to boot.

In Canada, playing video poker online is becoming more and more popular. That's because online video poker is fast and exciting. However, the casino market is saturated, thus, we have put together an inventory of the top-of-the-cream casinos for you. All of the sites listed here have the best software, security protocols, licenses, bonuses, customer support services, etc.

We have covered the most crucial information that you should know before embarking on your gaming expedition. So, our top 5 casinos are:

1.  Spin Casino

If you're looking for fun and a massive variety of video poker games, Spin Casino is the place to be. The casino offers an impressive selection of high-quality video poker games from well-respected providers like Microgaming, NetEnt, and Evolution Gaming. Therefore, the video poker games include Jacks or Better, High-Speed Poker, Aces and Faces, and Deuces Wild. Once you register, you will receive a colossal deposit bonus of $1000 to get you rolling.

The Malta Gaming Authority licenses and regulates the casino while eCOGRA monitors the casino; therefore, you're assured of free and fair competition. Also, you'll play with ease, knowing that your information is always safe, thanks to the resilient SSL encryption technology present.

The casino is compatible with mobile devices (Windows, Android, or iOS), making it possible to play on the move. In addition, the operator has an excellent 24/7 customer care team ready to assist you in case of any issue. You can deposit and withdraw money safely via diverse methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Paysafe Card, and Skrill.

Read our Spin Casino Review or visit Spin Casino.

2. Jackpot City

Jackpot City is all about bringing sensational winning ideas to its Canadian players. The casino offers various games, one of them being video poker. Some video poker games are; Aces and Faces, Jacks or Better, Double Double Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild Poker, etc. They offer a welcoming bonus of $1600 with the first four deposits.

The Microgaming software powers the casino, assuring you the best games in high quality. Licensing of the casino is by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. It also comes with the famous eCOGRA approval sticker. So, you can hold and withdraw all of your earned money. Your data is protected as the casino uses the latest 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology.

The site is compatible across multiple devices without downloading any software, making it easy to continue playing with any device. They have 24/7 customer support via the live chat feature. Lastly, you can deposit and withdraw money via Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Paysafe Card, iDebit, and Interac.

Read our Jackpot City Casino Review or visit Jackpot City.

3.  Yukon Gold

Yukon Gold Casino is a platform launched in 2004 which has been around for nearly 20 years now. That gave it more than enough time to establish itself and prove its quality to users around the world. It is licensed by iGO, iGaming Ontario to operate in Ontario, and it also holds an eCOGRA certificate. The platform is known for its minimum deposit, which is only $10. In terms of games, the platform gets its game library from Microgaming, offering slots, table games, live games, and authentic video poker.

As far as payment methods go, there are only a handful, but covers all major methods being used by people all over the globe, including Canada. Things such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, PaySafe Card, as well as direct bank transfers are all supported. Meanwhile, if you encounter any issues, you can contact customer support via email or live chat. While phone calls are not supported, the platform is available on mobile devices, so you can also access it and play from smartphones and tablets.

Android and iOS apps are available for mobile users.

Read our Yukon Gold Review or visit Yukon Gold.

4.  Zodiac Casino

Zodiac Casino gets its games from Microgaming and Evolution Gaming — both massive and well-known companies in game development. Thanks to these partnerships, it can offer around 500 casino games, such as slots, video poker, arcade-style games, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and more. If you wish to play live games, those are available as well. Depositing money is very simple, and you can do it via Interac, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfer, or Paysafe Card. And, as is the case with most reputable casinos, customer support is pretty reliable, and available via live chat and email.

Zodiac Casino is an established casino, launched in 2002. It has a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy platform, holding multiple licenses — Malta Gaming Authority and another by the UK Gambling Commission, iGO (to operate legally in Ontario), plus the eCOGRA certificate on top of that. It is also perfect for first-time gamblers as it offers a minimum deposit of only $1. However, this is only for the very first deposit you make, and all following ones will have a minimum of $10.

The casino offers multiple versions of authentic video poker.

Android app is available for mobile users, the iOS app is in development and should be launched shortly.

Read our Zodiac Casino Review or visit Zodiac Casino.

5.  Casino Classic

Casino Classic partners with gaming behemoth Microgaming to offer over 500 games, including 100s of slot machines and video poker games.

The Casino was established in 1999, it is eCOGRA certified, as well licensed by Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and iGaming Ontario.

Depositing money to the platform is very simple, and you can do it via popular eWallets like PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller; as well as by bank transfers, debit cards like Visa and Mastercard, or by prepaid vouchers like PaySafe Card. The minimum deposit is $10, while the minimum withdrawal is $10 for all methods apart from the direct bank transfer, which has a minimum of $300. And, if you have a question about the platform, we recommend that you check out its FAQ or contact customer support via live chat or email if the FAQ doesn’t offer the answer that you need.

Android app is available for mobile users, the iOS app is in development and should be launched shortly.

Read our Casino Classic Review or visit Casino Classic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you're looking for a fun-filled casino title, video poker is the game for you. It takes learning a few rules and strategies, and you are ready to play for real money. The casinos we have listed above are all approved and certified as responsible gaming sites.

They assure you protection and respect of your data, thus, a conducive gaming environment. In addition to this, all the casinos above advocate for responsible gaming and condone underage gambling. We are confident that this information helps you make informed decisions.  All the best!

The post 5 Best “Canadian” Online Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

The traction video poker has in the iGaming community is out-of-this-realm. Hands-down, it ranks amongst the most enchanting casino games ever. Rivalled only by the popularity of slots machines, video poker, although a bit complex, is easy to understand. However, the two casino favorites often compare to each other. That’s because initially, they had homogenous-looking playing machines.

Also, that’s why you’ll find gamblers from particular regions referring to slot games as pokies. Nonetheless, it’s a totally different game from slots. While slots require little-to-no expertise, video poker needs tamed skill to win. Also, in slot games, you’re usually reeling in blind without knowing your odds of winning. On the contrary, video poker (VP) has the best odds in any casino lobby. Therefore, with the right strategy, you may decide your winning hand at VP.

Now back to our main event; video poker. It’s a card game played with a 52-deck card that’s shuffled after every round. Interestingly, joker cards can be used in this type of game since they don’t count in others, like Blackjack. In addition, video poker is easy to play, even for newbies, because our beginner’s guide will unwrap all the prerequisites. At advanced levels, where you’ll be after we’re done fine-tuning you, you’ll ravish in the euphoria of playing VP.

You can play video poker’s numerous variations at online casino platforms or brick-and-mortar terminals. The rules are the same wherever you decide to play this iconic game. However, most gaming is done online. Therefore, you can try playing at Real Money Video Pokers after acquiring the basics of the game.

In this VP beginner’s guide, we’ll explain the basic rules and strategies of the game. Furthermore, we’ll discuss the odds & payouts of different hands, where to play, and its history.

Video Poker: A Brief History

Let’s roll back years before most of us were conceived. Although video poker isn’t an old guard among casino games, its origin is fascinating. Sittman and Pitt Company innovated the first poker machine in 1891. The machine had 5 drums or reels, and each reel had 10 playing cards. A coin was slipped into the machine to play, and the player would then pull the handle to spin. The five drums would then spin and halt, with each displaying a card coming up with an eventual poker hand.

Charles Fey, ‘The Father of The Slot Machine,’ engineered a poker machine known as the ‘Card Bell’ in 1898. For a Royal Flush, the card bell would pay a max of 20 coins. He then invented the ‘Skill Draw’ machine in 1901, which enabled players to hold cards to improve their hands. That resulted in the first five-card draw machine.

The hold feature appealed to most gamblers, making them feel they could sway the odds of winning to suit them. Poker Matic was the first video poker machine developed by Dale Electronics in 1970. Although it didn’t hit the ground running, it came into fame around 1981, thanks to Si Redd.

Si Redd took his company, SIRCOMA, and renamed it IGT (International Gaming Technology), which’s now a reputable software developer. The video poker machines were gradually accepted among gamblers in gambling houses.

Video Poker: The Modern Shift

The late 19^th century saw the emergence of the very first online casinos. In 1994, Microgaming, a well-known software publisher, was the first to develop online video poker games. The game’s online versions garnered an immense liking from the fresh wave of Internet savvy players.

Online video poker rapidly became admirable among online gamblers. The element of skill and possibility of holding some cards to better your hand made video poker an-industry-dynamite. Steadily, physical casinos began losing video poker clients.

Why visit a land-based casino where you’re likely to miss a VP machine while you can play comfortably at home? Globally accepted game providers like IGT, NetEnt, Microgaming, among others, make that possible. Welcome to the 21^st, where the game has completely morphed, revolutionizing the online gaming arena.

Now, you can enjoy playing the game anywhere you are. You only need an Internet connection and a PC, Tablet, and Mobile (Android or iOS), and you’re good to go. There are enormous variations of the game you can play, which makes it more appealing.

Additionally, the online versions use the Random Number Generator software, which ensures all game outcomes are random. Therefore, all game results aren’t fixed but are honest and fair. With the best odds in any casino, video poker will offer you the best winning opportunities.

Video Poker Rules & How to Play

If you’ve played traditional poker before, video poker would be a walk in the park for you. If you’ve not, the rules are quite straightforward. For starters, video poker has quite a number of its variations. Hence, you’ll need to choose the one that fits you. That will come later in this guide, however. For you to win at the game, you need to have at least the lowest paying hand. For example, if you’re playing Jacks or Better, the lowest hand’s a pair of jacks.

In addition, you’ll need to know the rankings of all the hands you’ll be playing at your ideal VP game. These hands will always be indicated at the top of the paytable, and all hands have different payouts. Also, it’s important to note that the hands are arranged in descending order. The Royal Flush is the most significant paying hand. We’ll also learn about these hands later.

Some of the video poker variants also have a wild card feature. The wild card is usually the Deuces (2) or the Joker. For example, in Deuces Wild, 2 is the wild card. Similarly, in Joker Wild, the wild card is the Joker card.

How to Play

Playing video poker is easy. The holy grail is acquiring a unique batch of cards that’ll give you a winning hand. As a standard to all casino games, you’ll need to wager before the game begins. Unlike other card games like Blackjack that need playing chips, video poker requires credits or coins to play. In casinos, you can bet with up to 5 coins per hand. The coins have different values, with some going as low as $0.20. Some other platforms can also allow a minimum bet of $0.10.

After placing your ideal bet, press the deal button. Based on the 5-card draw rule, you’ll receive 5 cards, randomly selected by the RNG software. Depending on the cards and variation you’re playing, you may decide to hold or discard some cards. Also, you can scrap all the cards to try to have a stronger hand that wins. If you have a winning hand or combination of cards after the draw, you will receive payment according to the paytable.

To simplify, here are the steps of playing video poker:

1. Select how many credits/coins you’ll prefer betting.
2. Press draw/ deal to receive cards on your hand.
3. Select hold to keep any suitable cards. All other cards will be discarded.
4. After holding some cards, click draw/deal to finalize your hand.
5. If you win, payouts are made.
6. Click draw if you want to play another hand after finishing the previous one.

The video poker paytable has five columns with different playing hands. You win according to the coins you’ve wagered (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5). We’ll explain the payouts in the odds section of this guide.

The Different Video Poker Hands

Now you know the rules and how to play the game. Next up are popular hands in online video poker. A hand in VP means the cards you hold that were dealt to you. Depending on the variant you’re playing, these hands will payout differently. Remember: the goal’s always to have the most substantial hand. A round begins after you receive the cards and ends when you win the game or fold.

1.      Royal Flush

A royal is a hand with an Ace (A), King (K), Jack (J), Queen (Q), and a 10. All these cards should belong to the same suit to have a Royal Flush hand. For example, when the A, K, J, Q, and 10 cards are all diamonds. Also, you can have the A, K, J, Q, and 10 cards, all of spades, clubs, or hearts.

It’s the best hand you can get and automatically beats all other hands. However, it’s a golden hand that’s unimaginable to acquire. This hand may activate the progressive jackpot feature in some games if there’s that feature.

2.      Straight Flush

It consists of five (5) successive cards in value. These cards should belong to the same suit to have a Straight Flush hand.

For example, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 cards, all of the spades, clubs (slang: flowers), hearts, or diamonds. It’s also the 2^nd best hand you might have.

3.      Four of a Kind

As its name suggests, this is a hand with four (4) cards of similar rank. For example, four Queen (Q) cards, all of any suit, such as hearts, clubs, diamonds, or spades. Also, it can be Aces (A) of any suit.

4.      Full House

A full house’s a hand consisting of three (3) cards of similar rank and a pair of another rank. For example, 5 (spades), 5 (diamonds), 5 (clubs), and 7 (diamonds), and 7 (hearts).

5.      Flush

It consists of five (5) cards of a similar suit with no particular order. For example, you can win with this hand with an Ace, 6, 3, 8, and 10, all of the hearts, clubs, etc.

6.      Straight

A straight hand is the opposite of a Straight Flush. Instead of having five successive cards in value of the same suit, a straight had has five different suits.

For example, 4 (spades), 5 (clubs), 6 (hearts), 7 (diamonds), and 8 (clubs).

7.      Three of a Kind

As its name suggests, this is a hand with three (3) cards of similar rank. For example, three 7s of any suit, such as hearts, clubs, diamonds, or spades. Simply, it can be 7 clubs, 7 spades, and 7 diamonds.

8.      Two Pairs

Two pairs is a hand consisting of 2 cards of another rank and two other cards of one rank.  For example, Q (hearts), Q (clubs), and 5 (diamonds), 5 (spades).

9.      Pair of Jacks or Better

This is a hand consisting of two Jacks, Aces, Kings, or Queens.

Basic Video Poker Strategy

There’s no cheat sheet to winning at video poker online. Even with the lowest house edge of all casino games, the casino always wins. However, you can increase your winning probabilities by using the proper strategies to try and beat the house.

The strategies come down to whether you’ll discard or hold certain cards from the dealt first five cards. Keeping certain cards will improve your hand, but it can also destroy it. Hence, our beginner’s video poker strategy will guide you on what cards to hold and when to improve your winning chances.

We advise you always to keep/ hold a Straight Flush, Royal Flush, Four of a Kind, Two Pair, Full House, or Three of a Kind. However, with the three-of-a-kind hand, discard the prevailing two cards to have an opportunity at a four-of-a-kind hand. Moreover, by doing that, you’ll also have a chance of getting a full house hand.

If you get two pairs, we advise you to discard the 5^th card. That way, you’ll have a likelihood of acquiring a full house hand. Only split up a straight or a flush when having four cards, remaining with one to a Royal Flush. For example, if you have K, Q, J, A, and a 9, all hearts, scrap the 9. Discarding the 9 gives you a chance at the Hail Mary (Royal Flush) since you’ll need a 10 (hearts). You’ll also have the possibility of a Jacks or Better (JoB) hand if you get any K, Q, J, or A.

In addition, split up a pair of JoB with four cards to having a lower Straight Flush or a Royal Flush. These are the simple techniques for playing video poker. After familiarizing yourself with these tactics, you can use the optimal strategy that’s more accurate but complex.

Video Poker Variants/Variations

Statistically, there are about 100 variants of video poker on online gaming platforms. That’s overwhelming for beginners trying to learn the game, primarily because each features multiple pay tables. Therefore, we won’t glut you with all these variations. We’ll discuss the most popular variations, including Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, and Aces and Eights.

There are other versions of the game, such as Bonus Poker, which have a higher payout. You may also find jackpot and multiplay variants of the game. In multiplay versions, you can wager several hands simultaneously.

1.      Jacks or Better

We advise beginners learning to play video poker to kick off their online play with this variant. That’s because it has a more straightforward paytable compared to the other versions. In addition, it’s a fan favorite, thus being played by most gamblers. It’s based on the 5-card draw poker and uses a single deck of 52 playing cards.

The minimum winning hand in this variation is a pair of Jacks or Better. So, that’s where the version draws its name. The highest/ best hand here is the Royal Flush and pays out 4,000 coins with a max bet of 5 coins/credits. You’ll find others referring to the game as 9/6.

2.      Deuces Wild

Also, amongst admirable VP games is Deuces Wild. In this version, all 2s are wild. So, that means the 2s can substitute any other cards to help you make a better or winning hand. However, in this version, a pair of jacks isn’t a winning hand. Additionally, the Deuces Wild pay table begins with a Three of a Kind.

When a Royal Flush’s achieved with the help of the wild card, the hand’s usually known as a Deuces Royal Flush. The Deuces Royal Flush is the 2^nd best hand after normal/Natural Royal Flush.

3.      Tens or Better

Tens or Better is a desired variation of Jacks or Better. It’s similar to Jacks or Better, but the difference is that the minimum winning/payout hand’s a pair of Tens.

4.      Aces and Eights

Last but not least is the Aces and Eights variation that’s also similar to Jacks or Better. Here, a Four-of-a-Kind of either Eights or Aces will earn you more. With a max bet of 5 credits, the two hands, 4 Eights, or 4 Aces will win you 400 coins.

It’s also played with a single deck of 52 playing cards. The paytable is also similar to the Jacks or Better one.

All the above versions are beginner-friendly, and we advise you to start playing them before advancing to other variations. In addition, before playing your ideal variant for real money, you can practice by playing the free versions of the game available at our casinos.

Video Poker Odds & Payouts

We earlier discussed the different winning hands in video poker. Here, we’ll look at the payouts each winning hand will give you with bets ranging from 1-5 coins. Every VP variant has a paytable that might differ from others. In addition, depending on the software provider and the online casino operator, they may also vary.

Since full pay Jacks or Better is a well-liked variant, we’ll look at its sample paytable. As stated before, JoB is also known as 9/6 JoB. That’s because the payout for a Full House and a Flush is 9 and 6 coins/credits, respectively.

The lowest hand here is the Jacks or Better and pays even money. That means if you wager with 1 coin, you’ll receive one extra credit. Similarly, if you wager with max credits (5), you earn an additional five coins. With a max bet on the Royal Flush, you win a staggering 4,000 coins.

If you’re lucky enough to have that winning hand, you’ll have a bankroll that mere mortals would only dare dream. That’s why you should always bet with max coins. The house edge for this paytable is a minute 0.46%- the lowest of all casino games.

Where to Play Video Poker for USA Players

We recommend these casinos:

Ignition Casino – Our current favorite for players from the USA or Australia. Ignition casino offers eight versions of video poker including Bonus Deuces Wild, Joker Poker 1 Hand, 3 Hands or 10 Hands, Jacks or Better 1 Hand, 3 Hands or 10 Hands, & Double Double Bonus Poker.

The games are supplied by recognized game developers such as Revolver Gaming and RTG. These games have high-definition video graphics that allow gaming across multiple devices. More importantly, this casino has some of the fastest payouts of winnings on the planet, along with responsive 24/7 customer service.

Read our Ignition Casino Review or visit Ignition Casino.

Wild Casino – This is an online casino that caters to USA players by offering a safe gaming experience with responsive customer service. The top notch software includes a large assortment of games with single hand versions of Tens or Better, Joker Poker, Double Joker, Deuces Wild, Faces & Faces, Jacks or Better & Deuces Wild. They also offer multi-hand versions of Tens or Better, Joker Poker, Jacks or Better, Double Joker, Deuces Wild, Deuces & Poker, and Aces & Faces. There's a generous bonus for all new players, and a myriad of deposit and speedy cashout options.

Read our Wild Casino Review or visit Wild Casino.

Cafe Casino – Established in 2020, Cafe Casino is a relative newcomer to the gaming scene but they have established an impeccable reputation amongst players for offering state of the art video poker games along with responsive customer support, and fast payouts. New players can of course claim a generous sign-up bonus, and they offer multiple deposit options including by Bitcoin.

Read our Cafe Casino Review or visit Cafe Casino.

Where to Play Video Poker for International Players

For readers from other jurisdictions we have compiled the following guides:

Australia Video Poker

Canada Video Poker

India Video Poker

New Zealand Video Poker

South Africa Video Poker

UK Video Poker

USA Video Poker

Conclusion

Video poker’s global appeal among online gamblers is exceptional. With a Royal Flush hand, you stand to win crazy sums of money. That’s why we, the experts, advise you always bet with maximum coins (five) on that hand. It’s a Hail Mary opportunity that knocks once, and you wouldn’t want to miss out.

Th game has other multiple hands you can win with at our endorsed online casinos. The best part about video poker is holding certain cards that may give you a winning hand. In a similar fashion, you may also discard the ones not in your favor to improve your hand.

Our beginner’s guide has explicated every detail crucial to give you an edge against other players. The goal is always to have a hand that beats all others to win. Our recommended online platforms have the best bonuses and video poker variants in the industry. Sign up and live the thrill yourself. Soon, you’ll be framing video poker and sticking it on the mantlepiece.

The post How To Play Video Poker for Beginners (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.

In the last two decades, the Australian online gambling market has witnessed a steady increase in the popularity of video poker games in online casinos. Video poker is a digitized casino game that's played using the standard 52-deck card. It's become well-liked due to the numerous variants of the game available at online casinos. The popular variants include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, and Tens or Better.

While the massive variety leaves you spoilt for choices, it's a tad exhausting finding the best platforms to play at. There are hundreds of online casinos in the iGaming industry offering video poker, but that's where we come in. Our industry maestros have cherry-picked only the top-of-the-cream online casino operators with exhilarating in-game features.

Keep scrolling to discover our fantastic list of the top 10 Australian video poker sites.

1.  Wild Fortune

Launched in 2020, Wild Fortune is an online casino that Hollycorn N.V. owns It is a haven for gamers who enjoy playing video poker, pokies, table games, and live games, with an extensive collection of casino games from some of the most respected developers in the industry.

Wild Fortune has a very well-rounded game library. There are over 4,000 video poker games and pokies. You can find classics such as Jacks or Better, Super Video Poker as well as fruit machines, fantasy, adventure or themed pokies. Wild Fortune has a selection of casino games from igaming software leaders such Amatic, Quickspin, Pragmatic Play, Thunderkick, Betsoft, Playtech, iSoftbet, Netent, and more.

There are also progressive jackpot pokies, where the jackpots grow ever larger and players have a chance at winning life-changing sums of money.

For mobile users they offer both Android & iOS apps.

Read our Wild Fortune Review or visit Wild Fortune.

2.  Ignition Casino

Video poker is the most admirable card game to Aussies, and Ignition Casino ignites that flame with their selection. Their VP library has titles that can be played in single and multiple hands. They include Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Bonus Deuces, and Double Double Bonus Poker. RTG and Revolver Gaming hold the bragging rights to these games.

The casino uses the SSL security protocol to protect player's sensitive data. That ensures you play at the casino without fear and focus on winning while playing your desired video poker titles. They offer a decent 200% match welcome bonus of up to 2000 AUD on your 1^st deposit. In addition to providing complete client support services, the casino accepts multiple banking options such as Visa, BTC, and MasterCard.

Read our Ignition Casino Review or visit Ignition Casino.

3.  Boho Casino

Recently established in 2022, Boho Casino offers over 7900 online pokies and video poker games from 98 different providers, including some of the industry’s biggest names, like Microgaming, Yggdrasil, Evolution, NoLimit City, Play’n GO, 1x2Gaming, Thunderkick, and many many others.

The casino offers a user friendly platform that makes trying out the different pokies seamless and easy. They also offer over 760+ live casino games to choose from including blackjack, baccarat, and roulette.

The customer support is also responsive, if you have have any questions you can contact them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via live chat.

Best of all they payout winnings fast, regardless of where you are in Australia.

Read our Boho Casino Review or visit Boho Casino.

4.  Slots Gallery

Established in 2022, Slots Gallery features over 9500 casino games from 98 different software providers, making it one of the biggest casinos in the world. Some of the software brands include all-time favorites like Microgaming, Evolution, NetEnt, Play’n GO, Yggdrasil Gaming, BetSoft, NextGen Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Real Tiger, EAGaming, Thunderkick, 4 The Player, and many more.

This means you can play at all of the most popular pokies in the world including all classical 3-reel pokies, advanced 5-reel pokies, and progressive jackpots.

They offer various deposit methods including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, iDeal, Trustly, PaySafe Card, EcoPayz, and bank transfer.

Read our Slots Gallery Review or visit Slots Gallery.

5.  Ricky Casino

Ricky Casino’s game offering is quite impressive, and it comes from the platform’s partnership with 40 different software developers. These are all major, reputable providers that are supplying their games to casinos around the world, such as Microgaming, Amatic, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, BGAMING, LuckyStreak, Red Tiger Gaming, Spinomenal, Yggdrasil Gaming, and many others.

In total, the platform offers more than 1,500 different casino games, with hundreds of online pokies, as well as numerous table games, live games, video poker, and more. Among the table games are all the popular ones, including roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, Sic Bo, Pai Gow, and alike.

For mobile users they offer both Android & iOS apps.

Read our Ricky Casino Review or visit Ricky Casino.

6.  Joe Fortune

Joe Fortune is a finger-licking online casino with great features, games, and services. Gambling Aussies are promised to have a gaming experience of their lives with the top-shelf VP games at the casino. These games have iconic video graphics and high-end sound animations. They include; Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Bonus Deuces Wild, and Double Double Bonus Poker. They can be played in single and multiple hands.

The casino accepts several banking options like Skrill, Neteller, Maestro, and cryptocurrencies such as BTC. The casino also has a welcome bonus that can reward you up to a maximum of 5000 AUD and an additional 30 free spins. Furthermore, it provides a live customer support feature.

Read our Joe Fortune Review or visit Joe Fortune.

7.  Aussie Play

Launched in 2019, Aussie Play is focused exclusively on serving the needs of the sophisticated Australian gambler. They offer over 200 casino games, this includes a wide variety of state of the art online pokies, and an impressive package of video poker games such as Deuces Wild, Jack or Better, Joker Poker, & more.

They also offer a large selection of table games including multiple versions of blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette.

Customer support is excellent and available in multiple ways including live chat and phone support, and the platform even has an app for those who value speed and easy access.

All in all, we believe that this is a very good online casino for Australian gamblers.

Read our Aussie Play Review or visit Aussie Play.

8.  Las Atlantis

Launched in 2020, Las Atlantis is popular all over Australia but they do seem to have a larger than average fan base in New South Wales and in Victoria.

They offer over 250 casino games including live versions of popular classics such as blackjack and roulette. Pokie players should rejoice as they offer 100s of online pokies, many with large progressive jackpots and stunning graphics as well as multiple versions of video poker.

Las Atlantis fully understands the importance of customer service, players can contact them 24 hours a day 7 days a week using both live chat and phone support.

Overall this is a great option for players who enjoy pokies, or who enjoy playing live dealer games with a special emphasis on blackjack.

Read our Las Atlantis Review or visit Las Atlantis.

9.  Casoo Casino

Casoo Casino is a relatively young online gambling platform launched in 2019. The platform is quite stylish and well-designed, with the intention of making it as user-friendly as possible. This includes ease of navigation, multiple ways of contacting customer support, easy access to its games, and more.

The casino offers over 4000 casino games including 3000+ pokies & video poker games.

Casoo Casino did an excellent job when it came to setting up customer support. Not only does it have a thorough and easily accessible FAQ, but it also has four methods of contacting its support team, which is available 24/7. You can submit a ticket where you can describe an issue that you may have, send an email, contact the team via live chat, or call them via phone.

Read our Casoo Casino Review or visit Casoo Casino.

10.  Cosmic Slot

This is a popular online casino in Australia, one of the reasons for this is that Cosmic Slot has a lot more pokies than anywhere else. The platform actually works with numerous software companies that are supplying it with games – all highly reputable and known for the best games you could find, such as the leader in game development, Microgaming itself. Apart from Microgaming, its software also comes from Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, GamziX, Onlylay, Leander, Concept Gaming, and many more.

In total, the platform has 73 game suppliers, which allows it to offer over 3,100 casino games at the time of writing including multiple versions of video poker. That means that you could play a new game every day for about eight and a half years and never play the same game twice, which is an incredible game library. The games themselves are split into different categories, each of different color to make it easier for gamblers to navigate and find what they need.

For mobile users they offer both Android & iOS apps.

Read our Cosmic Slot Review or visit Cosmic Slot.

VERDICT

Video poker is a skill game that requires gamblers to master the art of playing to maximize their winnings. For that reason, all the casinos on our list provide demo versions of the different variants of the game. For rookies, practice first before gaming with real money. Lastly, all these casino operators advocate for responsible gambling. Therefore, they provide features such as setting deposit limits to help you control your gambling desires.

The post 10 Best Australian Video Poker Sites (August 2023) appeared first on Gaming.net.