Online Video Poker Guide

Online video poker draws its popularity from the popularity of its predecessor. Different poker variations have been around for centuries now and there is hardly a person out there who hasn’t played a hand or two of poker in their lifetime or at least a witnessed a friendly poker game.

Banking on this fact and combining elements from poker with the thrill of slots, casino game makers have come up with video poker games. As expected, these games had quickly become hugely popular in brick & mortar casinos and, with the advancement of technology, they’ve found their way onto online casinos.

Canadian players are no strangers to online video poker. Chasing that elusive Royal Flush and trying to pick up the bonus payment is as attractive in Montreal as it is anywhere else in the world. Our handpicked online casinos represented below offer a great selection of online video poker games of all shapes and sizes, combined with some nice bonuses and special perks for players from Canada, like allowing for the gameplay in CAD.

Brand No. of games Play Rating Bonus
1.
Logo of Jackpot City casino 550+Total gamesJackpot CityPlay now
100%
  • 1600Bonus
  • Plenty of video poker machines available
  • Big player returns with video poker
2.
Logo of Royal Vegas casino 600+Total gamesRoyal VegasPlay now
95%
  • 1200Bonus
  • Chose between 24 different video pokers
  • Deuces Wild, Double Bonus & more
3.
Logo of Spin Casino casino 450+Total gamesSpin CasinoPlay now
95%
  • 1000Bonus
  • Standard and multi-hand video poker
  • Enjoy more than 50 different variations
4.
Logo of 888 Casino casino 400+Total games888 CasinoPlay now
90%
  • 1500Bonus
  • Ultimate video poker strategy guide
  • Several popular game types available

Video Poker Rules

What sets video poker apart from slots games the most is the fact you, as a player, actually have some choices to make which can influence your final results. If you know the rules of poker in general and are familiar with the hand strengths, you shouldn't have any problems understanding how the game works and what you are after.

At the outset of the game, you will first determine a denomination or a bet size you wish to play. Higher the denomination, bigger the potential payouts, just like with the slots.

Once you've figured out how high you can play, the fun can begin. Pressing the Deal (or Spin) button, you will receive five cards on the screen. These cards will be arranged in typical poker combinations, with better combinations paying more:

  • Royal flush (cards from 10 to an Ace of the same suit)
  • Straight flush (any five consecutive cards of the same suit)
  • Four of a kind (or Quads - four kinds of the same ranking, for example for Kings)
  • Full house (three cards of the same ranking (trips) + a pair)
  • Flush (five cards of the same suite, regardless of the ranking)
  • Straight (five consecutive cards, regardless of the suits)
  • Three of a kind (trips, three cards of the same ranking)
  • Two pair
  • A pair (two cards of the same ranking)

After the initial deal, a player gets to choose what cards he or she wants to keep (as many as they like) and exchange the rest. After the second deal, no more cards can be exchanged and the player gets paid according to the pay table.

Note that in some variations featuring Jokers or Wild Cards there is also a Five of a Kind combo, which is stronger than even a Royal Flush.

 Odds in Video Poker

Just like your common variety slots, not all video poker games are the same. Generally speaking, though, video poker offers very good returns, sometimes even reaching into the 100% category. This makes it one of the more popular games among experienced, professional gamblers, some of whom even successfully make living at the game.

The odds in video poker are mostly dependant on the pay table. Games with the so called "full pay" table, paying 9 to 1 on full houses and 6 to 1 on flushes have expected returns in excess of 99.5%.

Video Poker Strategy

With such a small house edge to begin with, you can turn online video poker games into a profitable endeavor by using a proper strategy. Playing without a plan will not necessarily cost you a lot of money, but it can cost you that 1-2%, making the difference between winners and loser.

Proper strategy depends on the game variation and is covered in dedicated articles found on the site, but in general, you need to know what cards and card combos you want to keep and what draws are not worth chasing in the long run.

Although you may believe your natural "feeling" for the game should do the trick, there is a lot of math behind correct decisions, so you should definitely take time to read through appropriate strategies and take advantage of ready-made calculations, making your life easier.

Video Poker Variations

There is truly a big number of video poker variations out there and every single one of them has something special and unique to offer and requires tweaks in a game approach. While some of the most popular variations are described in detail in our other articles, here's the list of some of video poker games you will encounter at Canadian online casinos.

The main distinction to be aware of is the one between regular video poker games and the progressive ones. While they play the same in nearly all aspects, progressive games also offer a big win for that rare combination like a Royal Flush or Five of a Kind. The payout increases with time, as more players wager their money, chasing the win.

Some of the most popular video poker games include:

  • Jacks or better
  • Deuces Wild
  • Joker Poker
  • Tens or Better
  • Louisiana Double
  • Bonus Poker

Conclusion: Video Poker is for Winners

There is no doubt that online video poker games lack some of the appeal of online slots. There are no flashy lights and sounds, there are no shiny, new bonus features, and overall, the game can seem a bit dull at times. However, one thing that distinguishes video poker from all these other games is the fact that you can actually be a winner in the game.

With the house edge very small to begin with, you could easily turn the tables on the casino by learning some rather simple strategy and chasing good opportunities when they present themselves (big jackpots will often increase your odds).

Add to that the fact that our recommended Canadian casinos will treat you with some nice welcome bonuses to get you started on the right foot and you are all good to go. If you are looking for a casino game that is relatively easy to play and can actually be beaten, then video poker is the game for you!

Check out our recommended brands and spend some time reading about proper strategy to beat particular video poker variations, and you will be well on your way to making some nice additional income - on the house!

1
Logo of Jackpot City casino
Get 1600Welcome bonus
2
Logo of Spin Casino casino
Get 1000Welcome bonus
3
Logo of Royal Vegas casino
Get 1200Welcome bonus
4
Logo of 888 Casino casino
Get 1500Welcome bonus