Over the years, many video poker variants have made their way online. In fact, if you make an attempt to count, you will find about 50 different variations of video poker. So, it goes without saying that one needs to adopt different playing strategies for the different video poker variants. 

 

The average payouts for the different variations of poker are clubbed within a narrow range. Therefore, if you are playing with a small bankroll and wagering just small amounts, then you do not have to worry which variant of video poker pays well and which does not. Here, you will be playing video poker for the sheer pleasure of the game and entertainment.

 

Variants of video poker were basically introduced to ensure players do not get bored with playing Jacks or Better all the time. So, the variations in video poker allow you a wider choice of the game and you can select any one. And, if you are bored with one variant, you always have the option of switching to the next one.

 

Video poker requires the player to take decision. This automatically means that that a player requires to have a strategy in place. As mentioned earlier, different variations of video poker require different strategies. Hence, if you play several kinds of video poker variants, then you will be required to learn several kinds of strategies in order to ensure you get a higher ratio of payouts.

 

Therefore, if you are playing with a moderately sized bankroll, you should concentrate just a few video poker variants; and only on those where you are certain about the strategies.

 

On the other hand, if you are playing with a large bankroll, you should select the variants that have the highest payouts. As you keep playing, even a small difference in the payout will translate to significant amount. This also means that you should have all your strategies in place to win the maximum amount each time you play a hand and also have an eye on the payout table.

 

Some variations of video poker have wild cards, while others have Joker wild cards. There are still other variations that have both the options. Then, there are video poker games that are played with more than one deck of cards; and some may even give the players bonuses for getting certain card combinations. Some of the most popular video poker variations are Jacks or Better variants, Aces and Eights, Aces and Faces, All Aces, Deuces and Joker Wild and Bonus Poker.

 

Here are some strategies for two of the most common types of video poker variants:

 

Jacks or Better:

·         If you have four cards to a Royal Flush, it is best to discard the fifth card.

·         If you have three cards to a Royal Flush, keep the winning combination of straight flush, full house, four of a kind of three of kind. Alternatively, you can hold on to the three cards, and choose to draw two new cards.

·         If you have two cards for Royal Flush, then hold on to the cards

·         If you have a pair, especially if they are high value cards, hold on to them unless you have three cards for Royal Flush or Straight Flush.

·         If you have a low value pair, then keep the cards if you cannot make any other winning combination.

·         If you have no winning combination, but have high cards, then you should hold on to them. You may end up with a high pair.

·         If you have cards without any winning combination and they are of low value, it would be better to discard all of them and draw five new cards instead.

 

Deuces Wild:

·         If you have five of a kind, you should always keep the cards. The same is also true for Royal Flush.

·         If you have four deuces, then make sure you keep the cards.

·         If you have three deuces, retain the deuces and discard the other two cards for two new ones.

·         If you have two deuces and two cards for Straight Flush or Royal Flush, you hold on to all the four cards and then draw a new card for the fifth one.

·         If you have two deuces and a pair, then hold on to the four cards and discard the fifth one for a new card.

·         If you have two deuces and one card for Royal Flush, then keep the three cards and discard the other two for two new cards.

·         If you have just two deuces in your hand, then hold on to them and draw three new cards.

·         If you have one deuce and three cards for a Royal Flush, you should hold on to all the four cards and draw a new fifth card.

·         If you have no deuces in your hand, but have a winning hand, you should hold on to the winning hand.

·         If you have 2 pairs, then always keep the pair with the higher value and draw three new cards from the deck.

·         If you have four cards in your hand for Straight Flush, then retain them and draw a new fifth card.

 

 

Video poker is one of the most popular casino games today that allows people to win pot loads of money provided they know how to play the game correctly. However, no matter how skilled you are at playing video poker, money management is something that you should never ignore. Like any other gambling game, the chances are always high that you will end up losing your money as you play the game. Even though video poker has quite a low house advantage, it is very easy to lose your entire bankroll if you are not careful.

The house advantage for video poker is under one percent if you end up playing the game correctly. This basically means that out of every $100 you play, you will end up losing around $1 or less than that depending on your playing skills. However, if you go through your $100 in no time, then you will definitely need a large bankroll to sustain you through a losing streak.

Unfortunately, the majority of people tend to lose more often that they win. Rather than getting upset over your losses, you need to first acknowledge the fact that losing and winning is part of the thrill of playing video poker. And, you should be a responsible player, so that you do not end up losing more than you can afford to. Remember, video poker, like any other gambling game, is a type of entertainment, but often you have to pay the price to avail this entertainment. So, be prepared. This doesn’t mean that you won’t get lucky and win big however and this is what keeps us coming back again and again.

When you are planning on spending an evening playing video poker, make rules for yourself and stick to them. Set a time limit for yourself and stick to it. Remember, the longer you play, the higher the chances of you losing. Once you have determined the hours you are going to play, it will give you a fair indication as to how much bankroll your should have. This way, if you have an extended losing streak and you end up finishing your money, you will be able to leave without being too remorseful.

Whether it is time or money, having limits is necessary and important when it comes to video poker and money management. Once you have exhausted your bankroll, learn to walk away from the game. Or, set a limit for yourself when it comes to winning. Once you reach that limit, stop playing.

If you truly want to enjoy the different types of video poker games that are available, then keep a track of what you win and lose. This may mean maintaining some kind of a journal. Before you start playing, jot down the amount of money you are starting with; and after you finish each game, jot down the money you have on you. This will give you an accurate figure as to how much money you have won or lost. This is very important as it will allow you to judge how much longer you can play based on the bankroll you have with you. Also, if you are losing, you will end up playing a little more sensibly to ensure that you can play the video poker as long as possible.

Rather than playing continuous for hours at a stretch, it is better to take breaks in the middle. This will give you an opportunity to freshen up and clear your mind. Usually video poker players tend to lose track of time and by taking breaks in the middle, you avoid this from happening. Also, if you are on a losing streak, the break will do you good. You will be able to replan your strategies and see where you are going wrong. Above all, taking breaks will allow you to have more fund and enjoyment when you return to the game with a fresh mind.

The most common problem that video poker players face is not knowing when to stop playing. Most players get so involved in the game that they do not want to stop. Also, do not be under the misconception that by playing continuously you will be able to recoup your losses. Invariably this does not happen. Instead you end up losing more money than before.

Video poker is a fun and enjoyable game that has the potential to make you win a lot of money. However, you need to be a responsible player wherein you need to set rules for yourself and stick to them. Do not let your losses or winnings cloud your judgment. Learn to manage your money in a sensible and prudent manner. This will allow you to enjoy video poker for a long time and without feeling guilty or miserable.

Be Ready to Stop Playing When Your Time or Money Runs Out

Same as playing slots, one of the most common problems that video poker, and all kinds of gamers have is being able to say "enough is enough" when playing. This kind of attachment people develop for wanting to keep the game going is what causes the vast majority of financial problems as a result of gaming. If you want to make sure that you can continue to enjoy video poker for years to come, all you have to do is walk away from the machine. When you run out of money resist the urge to go to the ATM machine and take out more money. When you run out of time resist the urge to call home and tell the family that you'll only be another 3 hours. Sometimes this can be difficult because a lot of players get into a spot where they believe that by playing a little more they'll get the winnings they're looking for. If they've lost money, people have a tendency to believe that they can win the money back by playing more. If you've won money the tendency is to believe that you can win more money by playing more. This is all false! The fact is that the longer you play, the greater your chances are of losing more money. Make the promise to yourself before hand that you WILL stop playing when you reach your limit of time or money. If you follow these steps you will stay a profitable player forever.

Top 10 Casinos for Video Poker

If you have played poker, then you will enjoy playing video poker. In fact, today it is one of the most popular online casino games. It may not sound challenging, but it is. You do need to have strategies in place if you want to win. In video poker, you play against a video poker machine. Here rather than trying to beat the machine, you have to make the best possible poker hand with your five cards. There will be a payout table on each machine that will give you details on the payout for that particular machine. So, your hand may change depending on the machine you are playing with.

Even if you have never played poker, you will get the hang of the game once you start playing video poker. You will get the idea of the game play as you keep playing. However, there are many versions of video poker and all online casinos try to bring the most popular versions and variations for their players.

Some of the versions of video poker have specific rules and this will determine the money you will win.

As mentioned earlier, video poker is immensely popular on the Internet. This has led to numerous video poker sites being established. So, it can become a difficult task to determine which video poker sites are good and which ones you should be avoiding.

To make your task easier, here are the top 10 casinos for video poker:

 

1. The first place goes to Caribbean Gold. This casino has 7 versions of video poker and these include Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, and Tens or Better. You can play single hand or a 2 to 4 hand variations. When it comes to Deuces Wild, Caribbean Gold offers 10, 50 and 100 hand variations. In addition, there is something known as 'Double Up'. This is a feature that is offered when you hit a payout and want to double your winnings. While the graphics may not be out of this world, the reason that Caribbean Gold takes the first place is the value of its payouts. It offers one of the highest payouts on the World Wide Web.
2. Bodog Casino is next on the list. This is a US based casino and allows US players. They have excellent customer support and the max time the support takes to respond to an email is around 15 minutes. While the graphics are not great, the bonuses offered to players is very generous. A player is entitled to 10 percent bonus on his initial deposit. You can get as much as $1,000 bonus on your first deposit.
3. William Hill Casino is one of the oldest casinos on the Internet. It is honest and reliable site that has excellent graphics and customer support. You get a welcome bonus on registering to a max of £150 and hordes of other bonuses as you increase your deposit amount. You get a 60 percent bonus on your second deposit, limited to a maximum of £500. Just the bonuses for video poker make this site among the top five of all casinos offering video poker.
4. If you want really good online graphics while playing video poker, then Cherry Red Casino is for you. The graphics at this online casino are the best out of all the casinos. If that is not incentive enough, then you should play video poker just to get their huge welcome bonus of 400 percent limited to a maximum of $2400.
5. While English Harbour is well known among slots players, many do not realize that it has a good selection of different versions of video poker machines. In addition, the site is known for this fair play and outstanding customer support. It has a 100 percent matching welcome bonus for new players that does not exceed $800. In addition, whether you want to play video poker or not, you get a free entry into one of their world famous slots tournaments.
6. If you want real time gaming technology, the Aladdin's Gold Casino is the place to be. If you are new player, the casino will give you $10 free without requiring any deposit. You can use this money to play video poker and get a hang of the machines. However, if you do make an initial deposit, you will get a 100 percent welcome bonus of up to $70.
7. Next on the list is Casino Classic. It is certified by eCOGRA and offers a secure and fair game play to all players. It has a good collection of video poker machines which are powered by Microgaming. The graphics are good and the casino has lots of bonuses and promotions. A new player is entitled to free play credits worth $500 the moment he signs up. Anything that you win beyond the $500 is yours and you can withdraw it. The customer support is also good with live chat, email, telephone and callback services.
8. VIP Casino makes it to the top 10 casinos for video poker because of its bonus programs and its generous progressive jackpots, which can be worth more than $100,000. The casino has 8 variations of video poker ranging from single hands to multi-hands; and wagers can range from $0.25 to a maximum of $250 in each round of the game. The casino has 2 progressive jackpot video poker games that are very exciting and entertaining to play.
9. Go Casino makes it to this list on account of its bonus program. A player is entitled to a welcome bonus of $20,000 on his first twenty deposits. Now that is something to look forward to when you are playing video poker. The casino offer 24X7 customer support and has one of the highest levels of security ensuring safe transactions.
10. Last on the list of top 10 casinos for video poker is Golden Tiger Casino. If you are new to video poker, you need not worry. Golden Tiger Casino offers detailed information on the game and reading it, you can easily pick up the beginner's strategies in no time. In addition, you will get a welcome bonus of up to $1,500 which can be used for an hour. Any time beyond the $1,500 is the player's to keep. Golden Tiger Casino has three variations of video poker -- single hand, multi-hand and level up. The maximum payout that you can win is 4,000 coins and you can play up to five coins in each game. Besides this, the casino has good customer support available right round the clock.

 

The reason that all these casinos made it to the top 10 casinos for video poker list is due to the following:

 

• They have the best possible pay table for the video poker games that they host
• The speed of play is fast with virtually no lag time between hands. This way you can play a lot of hands in just an hour.
• The casinos on this list offer a wide array of video games. You can opt for single or multi hand game variations.

 

You can find all of these top-rated Video Poker sites at VideoPokerProphet.com.

 

The Best Video Poker Bonuses

If you love playing poker, it goes without saying that you will adore video poker. The art of playing video poker is slightly different. Instead of playing against players, you play poker against a machine. The game is very simple -- just wager the coins you want and then press the button. You are automatically dealt cards and then you decide which cards to keep and which ones to discard. Thereafter, you are dealt more cards based on the number of cards discarded and then, if you have a winning hand, you are entitled to a payout. The idea is not to beat the machine, but to have a winning hand. That is why video poker is seen as a challenge and is so popular.

There are numerous online casinos that are now catering to rising demand of video poker. However, when it comes to online casinos and video poker, you should check out a reliable source to ensure that the casino you are playing at is reliable and trustworthy. This is where VideoPokerProphet.com comes in.

It is the ultimate source for all information related to video poker, online video poker bonuses and the casinos that offer the best bonuses. All the casinos are personally reviewed after VideoPokerProphet.com plays in them. This way you get the latest promotions, the best bonuses and the best online video poker games in the industry.

Some of the casinos that offer the best video poker bonuses are listed on VideoPokerProphet.com. These casinos are as follows:

GoCasino is known for its high video poker bonuses. It offers new players a welcome bonus amount to $20,000 on the first twenty deposits made by the players. This is usually not the trend, but GoCasino has managed to offer this. The casino is known for its security measures and latest state-of-the-art technology. It accepts all major credit cards, so making your initial deposit to get your video poker bonus is not that problematic.

The next casino offering the one of the best video poker bonuses is the Golden Tiger Casino. If you are a new player, you can get a matching bonus of up to $1,500 on your initial deposit besides one hour of free play. That could be interesting for players who want to check out the video poker machines without wanting to risk or spend any of their money.

VIP Casino is another site that offers video poker bonus to players. The site offers eight different variations of video poker and wagers can range from a mere $0.25 to a max of $250 in each round of the game. In addition, VIP Casino has two progressive jackpot video poker games. Coming to the video poker bonus -- on the first deposit, a player is entitled to a 50 percent bonus not exceeding $480. In addition, on a monthly basis, there is a cash back reward program that the casino has.

If you are a video poker fan, then you already know the name of the next online casino. This is William Hill Casino. It has quite an array of video poker bonuses, and most probably, they are the best bonuses you will every find on the Internet. This is an English casino, so all bonuses are paid out in Sterling Pounds. A player gets a bonus of £30 and one hour of free play as a welcome bonus. Then, he is entitled to a bonus of 150 percent limited to a max of £150 on the first deposit. A deposit of £500 will gain the player a bonus of £350, while a deposit of £1,000 will fetch a bonus of £500; and a deposit of £3,000 gets a player a bonus of £1,000. In addition, for the next 12 months, on every monthly deposit, the player gets 100 percent bonus limited to £100. The second deposit fetches a bonus of 60 percent, limited to £500.

Casino Classic is another casino popular for its video poker bonus. It has been operating for more than 10 years and offers an entertaining environment to play video poker. All players are entitled to a welcome bonus of $500.

Cherry Red Casino is known for multiple video poker bonuses. On the first deposit, a player is entitled to 200 percent bonus up to a maximum of $1,200. The casino also has weekend bonuses for video poker players which is 100 percent, but limited to a maximum of $750.

These are the best video poker bonuses that you will find on the Internet. Check out the detailed review of all these casinos on VideoPokerProphet.com and then play the game and get your bonus.

Jacks or Better Tips

Jacks or Better is often called the original video poker game. Players must collect a pair of jacks or better in order to win thus the name. Any sort of lower card pair is useless in the game so it’s important to keep that in mind when looking at different strategies.

In this article we’ll cover a few of the basic strategies that can be used for the game.

• First of all never keep a kicker when playing jacks or better, or any video poker game for that matter.
• Hold on to any paying hand you have unless you’ve got a chance at “the big one” (a.k.a. a royal flush) in which case it’s probably worth the risk.
• Do not chase after gutshot straights (a.k.a. inside straights) because in the long run they will only damage your bank roll.
• Do not break a full house to go after a four of a kind. It’s not worth it when you already have a good hand.
• If you are lucky enough to draw four of the cards of the same suit especially when a potential straight flush is involved hold on to them and go for the flush.
• If you have the chance to choose between going for a regular straight or a straight flush go for the straight flush.
• Always choose four cards to a straight flush over three cards to a royal flush.
• If you have three cards for an open straight pursue it unless you have four cards of the same suit in which case go for the flush.
• If given the option between keeping a high pair or going for a gutshot straight keep the high pair and go for the three of a kind.
• If given the option between keeping a high pair or pursuing a flush with only three cards of the same suit keep the high pair and go for the three of a kind.
• Always play full pay games when possible
• Always make the max bet when it’s economically reasonable
• Practice and understand the ranking of pay out of each hand
• Always let the machine deal you a winner

There are some much more thorough strategies out there but by sticking to these simple ones you should see some improvement on your returns in the long run. The main idea is to weigh the risk and rewards of pursuing each hand.  

View our recommended video poker casinos

For more tips and articles on video poker, check out Predictem.com

Video Poker Basic Tips

Despite its relatively short existence video poker has found itself among the most popular casino games today. Believe it or not the odds of winning in video poker are actually pretty high. The main thing is to have an appropriate betting strategy and try to avoid the temptation to simply wing it. Keep in mind however that even the best strategies will fail at times, if they let you win every time it certainly wouldn’t be much of a gamble after all so try not to let it keep you down or make you stray too far from some of the better strategies out there.

• Before you even start to play it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules of the game especially when playing a special variety of the game which you may not be entirely familiar with. It is recommended that players learn to play at least two or three different varieties of the game. There is a huge selection of different kinds of video poker out there, a few of the more popular variations are Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Jokers Wild and Pick ‘em Poker.
• Whatever the type of game you choose remember practice make perfect so especially when dealing with a new type of strategy you should try and get plenty of game time in. There are a plethora of sites out there that will allow you to practice the games for free so it’s probably a good idea to use one of those until you have a handle it rather then put your money down right away. When you do finally decide that you are ready for it, it is also good to get an idea of the pay tables for the different games out there. This way you can be sure to choose a game or machine that provides the highest returns while fitting your budget. Try to play a full pay game whenever possible.
•  Budgeting is also key. Make sure that you have enough in your bankroll at the start of the game to deal with its natural ups and downs. While this may not seem to be as important in online casinos where you can add credit relatively quickly compared to having to walk away from a machine, in both cases it can help you from overextending your budget or focus too much of it on one particular game.

Remember that you are playing against a machine not another player since this will affect your game play. First of all there is no bluffing, plain and simple, there is no chance of winning if you don’t have a good hand so be sure to discard all of the cards that do not fit into your strategy including kickers. Due to the fact that you are playing alone there will not be as much pressure on you in many ways so it’s a good idea to keep yourself motivated and focused on making the most out of your game play. 

View our recommended video poker casinos

Progressive video poker is when the value of the jackpot on the machine increases by a set amount every time the game is played. Usually, a number of gaming machines or software networks are linked together so that more people contribute to the pot and stand in line to win the jackpot. When the royal flush is hit, the jackpot is won. In some cases, another hand will win the jackpot and players should ensure that they are aware of what jackpot they are playing for.
We take as an example one of the more popular progressive video poker versions – 8/5 Jacks or Better. Although the payout rate is the same on a progressive game as a non-progressive one, players still have the added advantage of being able to win the progressive jackpot if they hit the top payout. The house edge on this version of video poker is 2.7% but the payout percentage increases beyond 97.2% on the progressive machines.  As the jackpot increases in size, the payout percentage can even move beyond 100%.

In a video poker game such as the one above, it would take over 8500 coins to reach the break-even point. Every coin over and beyond that will be to the player’s advantage. The downside to video poker, of course is that casinos will not break down the jackpot into coins on the progressive meter. As such players will need to make the calculations by converting the dollar amount into a coin amount see whether the break-even point has been reached or not.   Players need to be aware, too, of the strategies pertaining to a particular video poker game if they want to maintain their advantage in the game.

Some video poker machines may offer payouts of 102%, for example. How do casinos make a profit on positive expectation situations? Casinos have enough business-savvy to know that they always maintain the house edge. As such, their calculation with positive expectation video poker machines is that the bulk of the jackpot has already been paid for by earlier players and thus, they are able to offer advantage players the opportunity of playing beyond the break-even point.

Unfortunately, it is common in gambling circles for players to work in teams and monopolize the positive expectation video poker machines. These teams will occupy the machines just when the rates are in the player’s favor and play until there is a win. Professional teams are also known to work around the clock in shifts. As such, many casinos have adopted a policy that forbids teamwork at the video poker machines. If players are suspected of working in teams, they run the risk of being removed from the casino and not being paid out.

Experts suggest that players should go for the highest hand when aiming for the video poker progressive jackpot.  Even if they come up with a high pair, they still need to break up the pair to go for the higher hand. Simply put, if players have a pair, and then draw, they will not qualify for the progressive jackpot. The reason being that to win the biggest payout, players need to get a royal flush. Players need to decide whether they are going after any payout or THE jackpot payout. If they retain their pairs, they may receive a number of payouts along the way, but they will never win the big jackpot payout.

In the same vein, players are advised to keep a section of their money to use towards progressive play. This is because, the chances of winning the jackpot are lower than regular – albeit smaller – payouts and players run the risk of not being paid out at all if they only go after the jackpot.  Keeping a separate budget for progressive play and regular video poker play will ensure that players have variety and still stand in line to win some money.

Progressive video poker machines add an exciting element to the game and are hugely popular in the casino world – both online and off. Good knowledge of the various strategies connected to the more popular versions of video poker, along with a healthy dose of luck, can go a long way in ensuring hours of fun and excellent return rates when playing this game.

The video poker industry has come a long way since the 1970s when only a handful of games were available.  Today it is quite possible to find over 100 versions of video poker and the number rises every year thanks to the competition that exists between online casino software companies.  Thus, with so many different versions out there, how can newcomers to this great form of entertainment make their choice and what should they base their decision on?

Experts agree that new video poker players should first learn how to play Jacks or Better as most games are a variation of this version.   Other than this simple fact, however, new players need to understand the advantage that video poker has over regular slots – the pay tables that are located with every machine. By understanding the facts drawn up on the pay tables, players can make educated decisions regarding their choice of video poker game.

Players need to understand that video poker is made up of a combination of hands from a standard deck of 52 cards. It has been shown that a deck of this kind can produce 2,598,960 hands.  Therefore, a payout calculation can be made according to how much the video poker machine will pay for each winning combination.  Random number generators (RNG) are programmed to simulate the possibilities of reaching any one of these combinations.  So how do casinos get their edge over the players? They adjust the pay tables of these video poker machines.

Obviously players cannot calculate these numbers without some help. They can find assistance through a number of channels, including software, internet and even books to determine payouts for each table.  To maximize your edge in video poker, you need to learn how to read pay tables to ensure that you are getting the best return on a machine.  Players should be on the look out for machines that look identical at first glance, but a better look at their pay tables will shows that they actually have different expected returns (known as ER).

In order to get a general idea of the payouts for some of the more popular video poker games out there, we will take a look at a few examples.
Jacks or Better

Looking at the pay table, if the Royal Flush is shown as 250/4000, this means that the Royal Flush will pay 250 per coin and an additional 4000 per coin when the maximum five coins are played. This bonus is calculated in the overall return. The estimated return for this machine is 99.5% and the amount is shown on the pay table.   
Deuces Wild

If players play five coins in the four-of-a-kind in this game, the return will be 100.7%.  If only four coins are played, the return is reduced by over 6% - certainly a significant drop.
Double Bonus Poker

Over and beyond the standard bonus poker game, this game pays double for the four-of-a-kinds.  In addition, an extra coin is given for the straight.  When all this is taken into account, double bonus poker offers over 100% return if the full pay machine is played correctly.

Software can assist players to determine and analyze the expected return of most video poker machines. This will help players determine which machines will eventually offer the best returns overall.  Casinos take into account that most players won’t bother with the calculations attached to the payout rates; however, smart gamblers, who want to increase their chances of beating the video poker machines, will learn how to read the pay tables and understand them.

Video poker is the ingenious marriage of two well-loved games – poker and slot machines. Video poker includes the best elements of these two games – the strategy and structure of poker with the thrills and excitement of slot machines – and has become one of the most popular floor games in land and online casinos. In order to understand the history of video poker, one must take a glimpse at the history and development of its parent games – poker and slots.

Poker is believed to have developed from many medieval card games, among them Poche, Anas and Brag. After several adaptations, poker as we know it today began to appear in the United States in the mid-1800s, and was first documented by Jonathan Green who referred to a game that was gaining immense popularity on the Mississippi riverboats. As America was settled to the west, the game moved with the settlers and poker became a major pastime in saloons. Some of poker’s best features were added during this period such as jokers, wild cards and flushes.

Slot machines themselves were also founded on the basics of poker, with the first slot machines feature poker card face combinations. Sittman and Pitt Company from Brooklyn were the developers these coin-operated betting machines during the late 1800s. The uniqueness of these machines was that they did not pay out actual cash, but rather provided prizes such as liquor and cigars from the establishment in which they were located (bars, saloons and liquor stores).

In the late 1800s, Charles Fey developed the first slot machine which was known world-wide as Liberty Bell. Launched in 1887, this machine took the market by storm. Fey was so overwhelmed with the response to his machine that he worked non-stop to fill orders. After going solo for a few years, Fey finally joined forces with the Mills Novelty Company. Unbeknownst to Fey, he developed one of the first features of video slots in the form of the ‘draw’ feature. By allowing players to use their poker skills, players were able to stop some of the drums from spinning, while pulling on the lever to spin the remaining drums.

Video poker developed on the back of the thrill of slot machines and the love that people have for poker. During the early and mid 20th century, mechanical poker machines had various bouts of popularity and in 1964, the first electronic game machine was produced by Nevada Electronics. Other manufacturers saw the hype that the ‘21’ machine caused and began producing similar machines for roulette, poker and horseracing.

Technological innovations and the introduction of PCs in the mid-1970s were the backbone of video poker development. Fortune Coin Company introduced a video bell slot machine in 1975 which ultimately transformed into a draw-poker machine. This machine was the epitome of video poker gaming and the masses were introduced to video poker through it. In 1979, SIRCOMA developed the Draw Poker machine and its popularity was also unquestionable.  

Video poker has since become all the rage and is an essential feature in every land casino. Video poker machines allow people to cut themselves off from the rest of the casino bedlam, to focus only on their game and to minimize human contact. At the same time however, players are exposed to the exhilaration of slot machines and the brilliance of poker.

When the online casino industry exploded in the late 1990s, video poker was a natural contender to be included in the casino game line-up. Due to the already minimal human interaction needed for the game, and the fact that it was already completely computerized, it was extremely simple to create an online version of the video poker.

The online casino industry has facilitated millions of people around the globe to be introduced to the excitement of video poker. Several elements have been added to the game in the online form and classic forms of video poker include Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better and All American.

Thank you for using the Video Poker Prophet News and Discussion Blog.