Video Poker for Real Money in South Africa Online Casinos
Video poker games is a frequent choice of SA players who like diversity and high winning chances when they play in reliable and trusted online casinos. Video poker is a simple game to master. It has no complicated rules and involves no complex strategic thinking as every piece of information required to make the right gaming decision is clearly visible on the pay chart above the cards. Extremely high player returns are an undeniable advantage of video poker online over other games. Video poker with a 99.5% player advantage is not uncommon and this is one of many reasons why gamblers from South Africa take a shot at video poker games over and over again. Browse our website to find out a suitable video poker strategy that will really work.
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Page Contents
About online video poker game
You guessed right if you thought video poker is based on the classic poker game. In this game, the main task is to form the best possible poker hand after being dealt five cards. Now, the game doesn’t come with a live human dealer. Instead, the game uses an RNG (Random Number Generator) to deal cards, and you can see the action on a virtual screen like a slot machine.
So how did video poker come to be? Its origins go back to the 1970s when the first electronic video poker machine entered casinos. You can already guess how primitive these machines were compared to today's modern technology. From the functionality to the graphics, everything was down to the basics. But as the years went by, the technology advanced, and the game became even more enhanced, featuring better gameplay mechanics, improved sound effects, and more impressive graphics. Ultimately, this has given way to the development of many video poker variations, each with varying payouts and rules.
One of the biggest reasons online video poker games are so popular among gamblers is its generous RTP. These games offer a higher RTP than most real money online casino games. For instance, you can find a variation that offers as high as 99%. Of course, this will depend on the variation and the player’s skills. Therefore, consider video poker if you’re interested in enjoying the game and bagging a big win.
Online video poker interface
Rules of online casino video poker
If you’ve played poker, getting the ins and outs of video poker will be a breeze. And even if you’re a beginner to this exciting game, no worries. This section will guide you on what you need to know about the game's rules.
Choose a preferred online video poker variation from the casino lobby. Afterwards, you can place a wager using the “+” and “-” buttons. Next, you will be dealt five cards facing up. Note that the game uses an RNG to deal the cards. You then have time to choose which cards to discard and keep. Click or tap on the cards on the game interface to keep them. New cards from the deck will replace the cards you discard.
The next step is evaluating the player’s final hand. Remember that the payout is based on the paytable of the particular video poker variation. A paytable outlines the payout for each hand, starting from the lowest to the highest. This comprehensive guide will give you more details about the paytable and payouts later.
If you win, you can collect your winnings or try to earn more by gambling your win in a double-or-nothing bonus game. For the daredevils, the bonus game is simple. You will receive a card facing up, and your task is to choose a higher-ranking card from four face-down cards. If you win, your winnings are doubled. However, if you lose, you lose your winnings.
Video poker hands
We’ve mentioned “hand” since the start of this guide. But what does a poker hand mean in video poker? Well, this is simply a combination of five cards dealt to a player at the start of a game round. Once you’re dealt the cards, you must use your skills to form the best hand from these cards.
Here’s the deal, hands are ranked from the lowest to the highest, as are the payouts. That means the higher the hand, the bigger the payout. But we’ll discuss the payouts in the next section. Meanwhile, the hands are similar to the traditional poker hands in ranking, as explained below:
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High Card
This is the lowest possible poker hand, consisting of any five cards that can't be used to make any other poker hand.
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One Pair
Two cards of the same rank, such as two aces, is called a "one pair."
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Two Pair
The term "two pair" refers to two sets of identical cards, such as two kings or two aces.
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Three of a Kind
A hand of three identical cards, such as three jacks, is called a "three of a kind."
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Straight
A straight hand consists of five cards of consecutive numerical value, regardless of suit.
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Flush
Five cards all of the same suit, such as five hearts, is called a flush.
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Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair, such as three jacks and two sevens, is called a full house.
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Four of a Kind
For example, if you have four queens, that's a four-of-a-kind.
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Straight Flush
A straight flush consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit (6-7-8-9-10 diamonds).
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Royal Flush
The highest possible poker hand is a royal flush, which consists of the ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit.
Video poker games highest RTP
| Online Video Poker Game | RTP (%) |
|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Full-Pay Deuces Wild (Microgaming) | 100.76 |
| 2️⃣ Full-Pay Double Bonus Poker (Microgaming) | 100.17 |
| 3️⃣ Full-Pay Double Double Bonus Poker (Microgaming) | 100.07 |
| 4️⃣ Full-Pay Jacks or Better (NetEnt) | 99.56 |
| 5️⃣ Bonus Poker Deluxe (Microgaming) | 99.64 |
| 6️⃣ Double Jackpot Poker (RTG) | 99.63 |
| 7️⃣ Super Aces Bonus Poker (RTG) | 99.94 |
| 8️⃣ All American Poker (NetEnt) | 99.38 |
| 9️⃣ Pick 'Em Poker (RTG) | 99.95 |
| 🔟 Tens or Better (Microgaming) | 99.14 |
Video poker payouts
Earlier, we mentioned that paytables vary depending on the type of video poker you choose. A paytable displays the different winning combinations you can form and their respective payouts. The paytable ultimately affects the expected return to player (RTP), and as you go up in terms of weak to strong hands, your payout also increases. Below is a paytable from Jacks or Better:
- Pair of Jacks or Better: 1x your bet
- Two Pair: 2x
- Three of a Kind: 3x
- Straight: 4x
- Flush: 6x
- Full House: 9x
- Four of a Kind: 25x
- Straight Flush: 50x
- Royal Flush: 250x
As stated earlier, the payouts in video poker depend on the specific variation and the paytable. With this in mind, check the paytable to understand the associated payouts. Still, on payouts, the RTP also varies based on your chosen video poker variation.
Best online video poker varieties
Online video poker comes in a few dozen variations that differ in the set of winning hands and paytables. And South African online casinos boast these variations in their lobbies. However, it can be a challenge to choose which variety to play. This section looks at some of the most popular variations you’ll encounter.
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Jacks Or Better
Jacks or Better is online gamblers' most popular video poker variation. The main goal in the game is to form a hand that comprises at least a pair of Jacks. While at it, remember that the standard poker hand rankings apply. You can read more about the rankings in this comprehensive guide.
As for gameplay, the action starts with you receiving five cards. You’ll then have the option to discard or hold the cards. After deciding what to do, the discarded cards will be replaced, and the final hand will determine your payout. Of course, the better the hand, the higher payout, with the highest-ranking hand being the Royal Flush.
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Deuces Wild
This video poker variation is also popular among players. But it comes with slightly different rules. For instance, all 2s (deuces) act as wild cards. That means they can replace other cards to form a winning hand. In this case, these wild cards can alter the hand rankings and playing strategy.
Three of a kind is the minimum hand you need to form a win. However, with the presence of wild cards, the payouts of certain hands can be adjusted. For instance, the paytable includes special bonuses for natural royal flushes (without the wild cards) or a hand known as “Five of a Kind.”
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Joker Poker
From the game's title, this video poker variation includes a Joker card in a deck of 53 cards instead of 52. And similar to Deuces Wild, this Joker Card acts as a wild card, and it can replace other cards to form a winning combination.
Regarding gameplay, players are issued five cards and must choose which ones to keep. Once the discarded cards are replaced, your final hand will determine your payout. As for the payouts, the minimum hand required is a pair of Kings or higher. But including the Joker card increases your chances of achieving a stronger hand.
Aces and Faces
The Aces and Faces video poker variation allows you to increase your payouts through specific combinations of Aces and face cards (that is Jack, Queen, and King). In this variation, your job remains to form the best hand possible for a payout.
The minimum hand you need to win is a Jacks or higher, which is similar to the Jacks or Better variation. However, the paytable in Aces and Faces offers an enhanced payout for hands, including Aces or face cards. For instance, Four Aces or Four Face Cards have higher payouts compared to other four-of-a-kind hands.
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Bonus Poker
With this video poker variation, you can claim big payouts courtesy of certain four-of-a-kinds. Bonus Poker doesn’t deviate too much from the basic rules as it follows the standard poker hand rankings. However, the paytable is adjusted to offer extra incentives for specific hand combinations.
The task in this game is simple; form a hand with a pair of Jacks or higher to win. But should you form a hand with four-of-a-kind, especially four Aces, you will receive increased payouts.
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All American
If you’re familiar with Jacks or Better, you’ll have an easy time playing this video poker variation. The main difference here is the adjustment in the payout structure. In All-American, players enjoy increased payouts for various hand combinations; straight flushes, flushes, and straights.
You must form a hand with a pair of Jacks or higher to win in this game. Note that the increased payouts are balanced by slightly lower payouts for other hands, such as full houses or two pairs. The main idea behind the innovation of All American is to offer players more significant rewards if they form the hands mentioned above. Therefore, prioritizing these hands should be your top game strategy.
Tens or Better
This video poker variation resembles Jacks or Better. However, in Tens or Better, you need a pair of Tens as the minimum hand to win instead of a pair of Jacks. On the other hand, the best-paying combination is the Royal Flush. The paytable in the game is similar to Jacks or Better. But the specific paytables and payout structures vary from one real money casino to another. With tens as the minimum hand required, this video poker variation ranks among the easiest to play.
Mobile video poker
More players are finding the thrill of playing video poker online. And mobile gaming is acting as a catalyst to this experience since players can enjoy these games while on the move. As long as you have a stable internet connection and an updated web browser, you can access many online video poker games on your smartphone or tablet.
You can find many variations, including popular options such as Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Bonus Poker, and Deuces Wild. Moreover, you can play these games in demo mode on your mobile device to test your strategies and learn the different rules associated with each video poker variation.
Playing video poker online for money is an exciting experience, but playing with bonus funds adds more thrill to the gameplay. Thankfully, the best video poker online casino sites offer numerous bonuses and promotions to get a feel of various video poker games. But as is the case with bonuses, there are certain rules to adhere to, including wagering requirements and whether the bonus funds can be used to play video poker games.
Video poker winning tips
Video poker is unique among high roller casino games in that it has some of the best odds in gambling and allows the player to have some control over the outcome, albeit luck is still the primary determinant. The game’s widespread appeal stems from providing players with a low house edge (profit to casinos) while allowing them to participate actively. While the low house edge is an advantage, there’s more you can do to increase your winning chances. So, how do you do that?
Play video poker in demo mode
One of the best ways to grasp the game's rules is to play free online video poker. Today, many online casinos have a free option that allows players to test their preferred video games without spending a dime. Some operators don’t require you to sign up on the site. As such, we recommend using this tip to improve your skills and ultimately increase your winning chances when you start playing for real money.
Take advantage of strategy charts
A video poker strategy chart provides a visual representation of the best decisions to make in various situations when playing online video poker for real money. The decisions are based on mathematical probabilities, presenting the most advantageous moves for the cards dealt. Using this chart, you can improve your winning chances in various ways. You minimise errors while maintaining consistency. On top of that, you maximise your expected value of each hand.
Stake on max coins
When you win, you want to win big. But to do so, you need to wager on the highest number of coins. Doing this unlocks certain benefits while maximising your potential payouts. For instance, the Royal Flush, the highest-ranking hand, comprises an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. Wagering on the maximum number of coins is what’s known as a max bet, and when you hit this hand, you’ll receive the highest payout in the game. Another instance where betting on the highest number of coins is beneficial is when you play a video poker variation with an enhanced paytable. These variations offer players a bonus if they place the maximum bet. As such, a max bet will result in the max possible payout.
Don’t retain your kicker
When playing video poker, a kicker is an extra card that doesn’t contribute to the value of your hand. Retaining the kicker in some cases is not a good move since it lowers your chances of forming a stronger hand. Let’s use an example when playing Jacks or Better.
Retaining a kicker with a pair of Jacks will only result in a payout for that pair. On the other hand, it will disregard the kicker, while drawing three new cards will increase your chances of improving your hand to a three-of-a-kind or higher. Another example where retaining your kicker may be a problem is when you’re playing Deuces Wild. In this video poker variation, the 2s act as wild cards. But keeping the kicker with the wild card can hinder you from forming a stronger hand, such as a Royal Flush or a five-of-a-kind.
Know when not to bet max
Placing a maximum bet may be beneficial. But there may be better times to go all in. One instance is when you have a limited bankroll. In such a case, you want to play with smaller bets to extend your gaming period. Besides, some video poker variations don’t offer bonus payouts for players who place the maximum wager. So, it may not be worth the extra amount.
Straight/Flush
Attempting to keep three cards in your hand to hit a flush or a straight can be detrimental, leaving you in a losing position. The only time keeping three cards is a good option is when you can hit the straight flush when attempting to go for a big payout. In short, when you play online video poker in South Africa, you should never chase a higher hand for a bigger payout when you can cash in a lesser hand.
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Conclusion
Now you’re the wiser regarding online video poker thanks to this in-depth guide. From highlighting some of the best video poker variations, such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker, to discussing the rules, basic strategies, and payouts, you have reinforced knowledge on how to play the game and increase your winning chances. We’ve also explained the poker hands, the paytable, and several tips to increase your winning chances when playing your preferred video poker variation. It’s now time for you to put this information into practice. Discover the best video poker experiences in South African online casinos and increase your winning chances.
