If video poker machines were to be classified according to game rules, they would fall most closely to the rules governing standard table poker games, as one might expect. However, in regards to structure, video poker machines have a closer affinity with slot machines than any other gambling game, whether in a land-based or online casino. Simply put, a player puts down a stake (changing the payout as more coins are put into the machine), and clicks a button with the mouse, thereby setting the machine into motion. It would be even more apt to say that multiple spin online slots are most similar to online video poker machines in structure.
Video poker, like multiple spin slots, require a player to engage the machine twice, as well as employ an opportunity to use strategy (Albeit much less for multiple spin slots). In other words, after a player is dealt a hand of cards, they must choose what cards they will be discarding. After doing so, the machine will replace the discards, and the hand will be weighed in correspondence to a standard poker hand scale. The player acts twice and the machine acts twice. (In actuality, there are more opportunities to engage the machine on a single hand, for if the player initially wins, they have the option of doubling their money by picking one of five face-down cards. If the card is higher than the randomly selected face-up card the machine picks, the player wins double his or her initial earnings. This can go on, doubling earnings each time, until the player loses the high card battle)
There are several types of video poker machines, which all operate in the same manner described above. The original video poker game, Jacks or Better, as well as Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild, are the three most common machines found in an online casino. Most machines have progressive jackpots that payout winning hands according to scale, divulging the jackpot when a Royal Flush is hit. Like slots, video poker machines usually have multiple lines and offer multiple bets and betting amounts. Depending on the software manufacturer, each game will operate under the same rules, from casino to casino; However, the machines themselves may have simple cosmetic changes related to a particular theme each casino will brand for its own recognition.
The major difference between the several varieties of video poker are the payout tables:
The rules only vary slightly. If a player has a grasp of poker already, all video poker machines will be familiar territory. Strategy, on the other hand, is a different story, and should be studied on an individual basis. If a player is not familiar with poker whatsoever, a quick and simple look over the poker hands ranked and listed below will be sufficient to get started playing. The following information will describe the exact protocol for playing an online video poker machine, no matter the variety. Thereafter is a description of the poker hands, followed by a brief synopsis and the payout tables for Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild video poker.
After loading up an online video poker machine, a player will immediately see the playing screen , consisting of a space for cards, offset to one side by the payout table and the game logo. Underneath the card section (near the bottom of the screen) are a series of buttons used to set stake amounts saying the words 'Bet One', 'Bet Max', 'Deal' and a plus/minus button to finely tune wager amounts. The Bet One button will make $1 bets, whereas the Bet Max button will engage $5 bets. Pressing the Bet One tab multiple times will increase the wager by $1 each time. If the machine has multiple paylines, like progressive jackpot slot machines, players will probably have to click on an icon that says 'Payout Table' to see all the payouts for the different sized wagers. Most machines will allow wagers in denominations of $0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00 and $5.00. The payout tables are usually in $1,2,3,4 and $5 denominations, whereas the wager size adjuster (which usually has a plus and minus sign on it) will only permit in-between betting amounts. If the wager size adjuster does not enable in-between wagers like $3 or $4, all the player needs to do is click on the corresponding wager column of the payout table itself or on the Bet One tab multiple times.
After setting the wager amount, the player then clicks on the Deal button, which will set the machine into motion. After all cards have settled, another series of buttons saying the word 'Hold' as well as a larger, solitary button labeled 'Deal' will appear. The Hold buttons will appear directly underneath each card, and are clicked to keep cards in the hand. Once they are, the word 'HELD' will be stamped over the card selected. If hands are winners from the initial deal, the winning cards will automatically be held. After making all 'Hold' selections, the player will click on the 'Deal' tab for a second time, after which, all discards will be replaced. The final hand will be shown, and all winnings will be automatically paid out according to poker hand rank and payout scale. If the hand wins, the player will have the opportunity to engage in a high card showdown with the machine, consisting of one upturned card representing the casinos, and five face-down cards which the player must choose one card from. If the players card outranks the dealers (ties going to the player), the player will earn doubling winnings. If so, the player will be given another opportunity to double winnings again. This will keep going until the player decides to collect his or her winnings (by pressing the 'Collect' tab), or is beat by the casinos high card. If the player loses, all original winnings, including the original stake, are lost.
All poker hands are ranked according to the following (from lowest to highest):
Pair - Two cards of equal value or face. i.e. 7,7,4,Jack,Ace - the two 7's are the pair.
Two Pair - A total of four cards making two pairs. i.e. 5,5,9,9,King - the two 5's and two 9's make the two pair.
Three of a Kind - Three cards of equal value or face. i.e. Queen,4,8,Queen,Queen - three Queens are the three of a kind, also called triple.
Straight - All cards are in numeric order or consecutive value. i.e. 7,8,9,10,Jack.
Flush - All cards are uniformly suited. i.e. 7h,3h,Aceh,9h,5h (h stands for Hearts)
Full House - Hand composed of a pair and a three of a kind. i.e. 5,5,5,8,8
Four of a Kind - Four cards of equal value or face. i.e. 2,2,2,2,7
Straight Flush - Combination of a straight and flush - All cards in numeric order and uniformly suited. i.e. 6h,7h,8h,9h,10h
Royal Flush - Highest straight flush possible. There is only one Royal Flush for each suit: Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.
Jacks or Better
This is the original video poker game that plays like standard poker, except that the lowest winning hand must be at least a pair of Jacks, hence the name. Jacks or Better is known for delivering the best payout percentages. The payout scale for each winning hand is as follows:
| Final Hand | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout |
| Royal Flush | $1 | $250 | $2 | $500 | $3 | $750 | $4 | $1,000 | $5 | $4,000 |
| Straight Flush | $1 | $50 | $2 | $100 | $3 | $150 | $4 | $200 | $5 | $250 |
| Four of a Kind | $1 | $25 | $2 | $50 | $3 | $75 | $4 | $100 | $5 | $125 |
| Full House | $1 | $9 | $2 | $18 | $3 | $27 | $4 | $36 | $5 | $45 |
| Flush | $1 | $6 | $2 | $12 | $3 | $18 | $4 | $24 | $5 | $30 |
| Straight | $1 | $4 | $2 | $8 | $3 | $12 | $4 | $16 | $5 | $20 |
| Three of a Kind | $1 | $3 | $2 | $6 | $3 | $9 | $4 | $12 | $5 | $15 |
| Two Pair | $1 | $2 | $2 | $4 | $3 | $6 | $4 | $8 | $5 | $10 |
| Jack or Better Pair | $1 | $1 | $2 | $2 | $3 | $3 | $4 | $4 | $5 | $5 |
Deuces Wild
Known for being slightly more unpredictable than Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild pays out all poker hands above a three of a kind. Both Pairs and Two Pairs are not paid out since all two's (deuces) are considered Wild Cards. This means that every two can be substituted for any value or suited cards. By default, the machine will automatically assign the best possible value to a deuce when it is drawn. Payouts are as follows:
| Final Hand | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout |
| Natural Royal Flush | $1 | $250 | $2 | $500 | $3 | $750 | $4 | $1,000 | $5 | $4,000 |
| 4 Deuces | $1 | $200 | $2 | $400 | $3 | $600 | $4 | $800 | $5 | $1,000 |
| Wild Royal Flush | $1 | $25 | $2 | $50 | $3 | $75 | $4 | $100 | $5 | $125 |
| Five of a Kind | $1 | $15 | $2 | $30 | $3 | $45 | $4 | $60 | $5 | $75 |
| Straight Flush | $1 | $9 | $2 | $18 | $3 | $27 | $4 | $36 | $5 | $45 |
| Four of a Kind | $1 | $4 | $2 | $8 | $3 | $12 | $4 | $16 | $5 | $20 |
| Full House | $1 | $4 | $2 | $8 | $3 | $12 | $4 | $16 | $5 | $20 |
| Flush | $1 | $3 | $2 | $6 | $3 | $9 | $4 | $12 | $5 | $15 |
| Straight | $1 | $2 | $2 | $4 | $3 | $6 | $4 | $8 | $5 | $10 |
| Three of a Kind | $1 | $1 | $2 | $2 | $3 | $3 | $4 | $4 | $5 | $5 |
Jokers Wild
Like the name says, the Joker serves as a wild card in Jokers Wild video poker. Two types exist: Either the more common Kings or Better version, which pays out nothing less than a pair of Kings, or the One Pair version, which pays out on all pairs, no matter the value. Using a standard 52 card deck and a single Joker, this variety of video poker is starkly different than the rest - as far as payouts are concerned. Since there is only one wild card, certain hands are harder to come by, resulting in larger payouts. Other than game-specific hands like the Five of a Kind or Joker Royal Flush, payouts on the standard hands are relatively the same from game to game.
| Final Hand | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout | Wager | Payout |
| Natural Royal Flush | $1 | $750 | $2 | $1,500 | $3 | $2,250 | $4 | $3,000 | $5 | $5,000 |
| Five of a Kind | $1 | $200 | $2 | $400 | $3 | $600 | $4 | $800 | $5 | $1,000 |
| Joker Royal Flush | $1 | $100 | $2 | $200 | $3 | $300 | $4 | $400 | $5 | $500 |
| Straight Flush | $1 | $50 | $2 | $100 | $3 | $150 | $4 | $200 | $5 | $250 |
| Four of a Kind | $1 | $17 | $2 | $34 | $3 | $51 | $4 | $68 | $5 | $85 |
| Full House | $1 | $7 | $2 | $14 | $3 | $21 | $4 | $28 | $5 | $35 |
| Flush | $1 | $5 | $2 | $10 | $3 | $15 | $4 | $20 | $5 | $25 |
| Straight | $1 | $3 | $2 | $6 | $3 | $9 | $4 | $12 | $5 | $15 |
| Three of a Kind | $1 | $2 | $2 | $4 | $3 | $6 | $4 | $8 | $5 | $10 |
| Two Pair | $1 | $1 | $2 | $2 | $3 | $3 | $4 | $4 | $5 | $5 |
| King or Better Pair | $1 | $1 | $2 | $2 | $3 | $3 | $4 | $4 | $5 | $5 |
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