Online Video Poker Overview

Walk into any casino today and you'll find regiments of Video Poker Machines. Its popularity has grown at an incredible rate, creating a huge demand in the online world. Video poker was created by Si Redd. Redd patented his famous Draw Poker Machine and went on to run International Game Technology (IGT). Draw Poker was originally a simple machine, which looked a bit like a 1970’s television in a tall wooden frame. The lowest hand you could play was two pairs.

Needless to say, Video Poker machines have come a long way since then. Now with bright displays and flashing lights, these machines proposition prospective players with pay-out percentages of 95 – 100%. But that’s not all. Players have a vast array of games to pick from, ranging from the elementary Deuces Wild all the way up to 100 hand games. Each game has the pay table displayed clearly on the screen, and with a straightforward format to these games. Newbies to Video Poker will be able to pick it up really fast. If you’re still not convinced, the majority of Video Poker providers offer free plays for you to acquaint yourself with the game. This allows you to try out every game, decide which one suits you, and then play at your own pace with none of the pressure of traditional poker. Video Poker truly is the siren of online casinos!

Much like traditional Poker, the player needs to be aware of regular hand rankings and actions. You can choose to bet, call, or fold your hand, giving you complete control of the game. Unlike slot machines, poker requires strategy and insight to be a success, and is just as nail biting as its land based counterpart. The majority of all games will also offer players a double up bonus. Now, whilst this may sound like an excellent addition, our advice would be to consider the odds of winning the game before betting all or half of your winnings. These bonus games often include high or low card, matching suits, or colours and require no strategy.

Right now you are probably thinking that with all this useful information on video poker, surely we must have some tips out there for you, so here you go:

First, make sure when you play Video Poker you play a game which has the best return, so check out the pay tables. If one machine offers you 15 coins back for 1 coin on a particular hand, whereas the other offers only 13 back, then naturally it makes sense to play the 15 coin game.

With a little knowledge, you can bring the house edge very close to nothing. Make sure you look carefully at every card in your hand before making a decision. With every new deal there are thirty-two different ways to play the hand; therefore, there is often a statistical “best way” to play.

Some sites will tell you to bet the maximum amount of coins per hand (usually 5), but that really comes down to your budget. The return is higher on a maximum bet, but so is the loss. So, enjoy yourself. Video Poker really is a fast and exciting game. You can enjoy the game on your own without the worry of looking like a fool in front of a table full of your mates or strangers. So give it a go, you will be glad you did!