Best Real-Money Video Poker Sites

Are you tired of regular poker? Have you been in training mode on video poker for ages? Good, then you are ready to play for real money and we are here to tell you how and where to do it. First, we need to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into and we will, therefore, introduce you to the basics of video poker.

If you are already familiar with them, feel free to skip ahead and check out the features this type of game offers. And in case you feel completely confident in your knowledge of video poker and you are here only for the website recommendation, then skip down to the bottom section where we will review our top five casinos for playing real money video poker.

Best Casinos for Video Poker

It is hard to pinpoint the perfect casino for video poker, so instead of settling for one, we have decided to present you with five different casinos. We strive to find the best fit for you and your needs and you will find that all of these casinos offer not only a great selection of video poker games but also an overall wide variety of all types of games. Their diverse collections, certificates, design and player-approval rate is what determined our choice. So, here are our recommendations.

What Is Video Poker

Video poker is an electronic variation of the classic game. Poker can be a bit intimidating to new players, so if they would like to first try something slightly easier but still play with real money, video poker is the right choice. The main difference between regular poker and video poker is that you do not have to keep your poker face on. There are no other players, so you can relax and enjoy the game itself or use the game to train your poker face and catch anything that may give you away.

The rules of the game are still the same unless you are playing a variation with Jokers or Wild Cards in it. Overall, there are 2,598,960 possible hands in both regular poker and video poker. A game of video poker begins with the player bet being placed and then 5 cards are handed out. Out of those, the player may decide to keep none or all. Then there is a second draw and the player either has a winning hand or not. Then, the same thing is repeated over and over. But which hands are winning hands?

Hand Rankings

The highest ranking hand is the Royal Flush. It consists of A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit. Then there is the Straight Flush, which is actually any five card sequence of the same suit. Four of a Kind comes after and is made up of four cards of the same rank. Full house is a combination of Three of a Kind and a Pair. A Flush is five cards of the same suit but not in sequence. A Straight is the opposite – five cards in sequence but not of the same suit. Then, there is Three of a Kind and Two Pair, both of which are quite self-explanatory. A Pair is also pretty straightforward.

Features

Some distinct features of video poker are the paytable at the top of the screen, the different betting options, and the overall look. It is basically a crossing between a slot game and poker and yet, it is unique. It is neither quite like slot games nor quite like poker. With slot games you get no say in the outcome of a spin, it is all down to luck or the RNG machine’s outcome. With poker a lot more skill is required while with video poker only a basic knowledge of the rules can result in a winning hand.

Most video poker games have pretty much the same look with the large paytable on top and the cards down right in front of the player. Not only that, but usually when you are dealt a winning hand, the combination you have is highlighted in the paytable. This is really good for novice players who are only now getting the hang of all the different combinations in poker.

Another feature present in all video poker games is the gamble one. This gives you the opportunity to either double your win or lose it based on whether you manage to pick a higher card than the dealer’s. Then, if you have guessed correctly you can keep playing this way in the so-called ‘Double or Nothing’ round. The catch here is, that you can win a solid amount and lose it all with just one click. But, after all, where is the thrill otherwise?

Video Poker on Mobile

Video poker games look just as good on mobile, if anything, they look even better. They are usually not heavy with graphics so there is no chance of lagging or glitching. They are easy for mobile phones to handle no matter which OS they are equipped with. Even older mobile phones can handle a game of video poker which does not mean that they are bad or boring, it simply means that they are more accessible. It is far easier to play a game of video poker than sit through a live poker game because you need to keep track of things with it. Unlike live poker, video poker is a few-clicks game – it is easy, quick and efficient.

Nowadays, there is hardly any game you cannot play on mobile thanks to the brand new developments in HTML code and the endless efforts of providers to provide players with the best experience possible. With innovators such as Quickfire and Playtech, the software for video poker is constantly being improved to work with the newest updates for all mobile operating systems.

Best Software Providers

The best software providers for this type of game are Microgaming, Playtech, and RealTime Gaming (RTG). There are also some less familiar names that are stepping up such as NYX and Betsoft. There is also a great number of other video poker software providers, not to mention that you can download some software to your personal computer instead of visiting a casino website every time you wish to play.

Microgaming has been a leader in gaming software development since 1994. It has established itself as a reliable and trustworthy provider by acquiring different licenses, quality guarantees, and awards. The variety among its creations is amazing, so you can expect to find anything you are looking for in this collection. And when it comes to specifically video poker, it offers a selection of 18 different games, including 2 progressive ones.

Playtech is another well-known name to experienced gamblers worldwide. It has become known as a pioneer in the industry and has the most seamless gameplay across platforms. They strive for bigger and better things constantly and incessantly provide innovations in game design, software, services and all sorts of other optimizations. They offer 9 video poker games, one of which is progressive. Their most popular video poker game is Two Ways Royal, which presents a stunning RTP of 99.80%.

RTG offers a thrilling experience with each game and owns a collection filled with hundreds of different games. Within that collection, you will find 16 different video poker games. These games have gained popularity as they continue to impress with some of the best odds at casinos nowadays. Their software is highly customizable so paytables vary across different casinos that are RTG-powered. In any case, the video poker games by RealTime Gaming deserve a shot as they are most likely to give you a big payout. Their most popular game is Joker Poker Single Hand as it has a great RTP percentage and includes, as the name would suggest, a Joker, which acts as a wild card, substituting all others. This gives you a better chance to get a winning hand and makes the game more fun.

NYX, now known as SG Digital as it joined forces with SG Interactive, has established itself as a creator of a large variety of products. So, SG Digital offers some great possibilities for operators because they constantly add new improvements and developments. They have some great highly customizable bonus systems that allow operators to create unique gaming experiences for each player.

Betsoft has been making its way to the top gaming software providers for more than a decade. With its team of talented individuals in each field required to create an
outstanding gaming experience, Betsoft has managed to establish a library of games that can easily rival any other big software provider nowadays. This brand likes to keep up with the times, hence its use of HTML5-based technology.

Related Articles
• Aces and Faces
• Best Payout Video Poker Games
• Deuces Wild Video Poker
• Double Bonus Poker
• Jacks or Better
• Mobile Video Poker
• Odds and Return to Player
• Pick’em Poker
• Progressive Video Poker
• Tens or Better
• Video Poker Online Casinos
• Video Poker Rules
• Video Poker Strategies
• Video Poker Variations