Video poker has a special place in millions of hearts. Since its invention by Si Redd in 1970, it has become a familiar feature in casinos large and small across America. More than 50 years after “Poker-Matic,” as it was called back then, the game really hasn’t changed much at all so far as general appearance and UX are concerned.
People are as fond of video poker today as they were then for several reasons. First, it is a good, entertaining game, and those always stand the test of time. Second, casino players tend to err on the conservative side when choosing what to play – they know what they like and they like what they know. Third, video poker is the only game the casino offers where the best players can play against the casino on level terms with no house edge at all. It is this third aspect that we will look into now.
The best returns in the casino
Every casino game has its own RTP. RTP stands for Return to Player, and indicates the average amount a game pays out as a percentage of the amount wagered. Most slot games have an average RTP of about 96 percent, meaning the machine pays out at an average rate of 96 coins per 100 wagered.
Video poker games feature some incredible RTPs. However, these vary according to several factors. The first is the game itself. Here are a few examples:
- Full-pay Deuces Wild – 100.76% RTP
- Joker Wild – 100.65% RTP
- 10/7 Double Bonus – 100.17%
- 9/6 Jacks or Better – 99.54%
There are a dozen or more others, but this is enough to get the idea. Different variations of video poker give different potential returns.
Full pay table
You will notice that in a couple of examples, there are numbers preceding the name, such as 9/6 Jacks or Better. This indicates the pay table, and means 9/1 return for a full house and 6/1 for a flush. Some casinos offer 8/6, and this has the effect of knocking the maximum RTP down to 98.39%.
So it is vital to choose not only the right game but to ensure the casino offers full pay. If it doesn’t, find another that does. There are dozens of sites where US poker enthusiasts can play poker online for real money so take some time to find a real money site that offers full pay tables on its video poker.
Play the perfect game
Video poker is not like roulette, where you place your bet and hope for the best. With every hand dealt, you must decide which cards to hold and which to discard. The RTPs we mentioned above assume you make the optimum call every time. Casinos know how hard that is and that even the best players will slip up sometimes, which is why they are prepared to risk exposure to those potential RTPs.
There is a plethora of strategy charts online, and there are training apps you can install on your phone to practice video poker. Invest time in both if you are serious about taking on the house at video poker!