Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw: you hold the cards you want, draw once and get paid according to the pay table. Full-pay Jacks or Better returns about 99.54% with perfect strategy, making it one of the best-paying casino games. You can play real money video poker at casino apps such as Slots LV, Bovada and Cafe Casino.
- Five-card draw against a fixed pay table, no dealer
- 9/6 Jacks or Better returns about 99.54% with perfect strategy
- Games include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Double Bonus and Joker Poker
- Multi-hand versions with 3, 10 or 52 hands
Video poker combines the speed of a slot machine with the decisions of poker, and it offers some of the best odds in any casino. You get five cards, choose which ones to hold, draw new ones and get paid according to the strength of your final hand. There’s no dealer and no opponents, just you and the pay table. It’s the most searched casino poker game of all, and players increasingly look for a video poker app to play it for real money on their phone.
This review explains how video poker works, the most popular games such as Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, how to read a pay table, basic strategy tips and where to play real money video poker online.
What is video poker?
Video poker machines appeared in casinos in the 1970s and quickly became a favorite of players who wanted more control than a slot machine offers. Every game is based on five-card draw: you’re dealt five cards, hold the ones you want and replace the rest once. Your final hand is then paid according to the pay table on the machine.
Unlike slots, the odds in video poker are transparent. The pay table and a 52-card deck (or 53 with a joker) fully determine the return, which means you can calculate the best play for every hand and know exactly what a game pays in the long run.
Popular video poker games
- Jacks or Better: the classic game and the best place to start. You need at least a pair of jacks to get paid
- Deuces Wild: all 2s are wild, so the hand rankings start at three of a kind and include five of a kind and four deuces
- Double Double Bonus Poker: based on Jacks or Better, with big bonus payouts for four of a kind, especially four aces
- Joker Poker: a 53-card deck with one joker as a wild card; the minimum paying hand is a pair of kings
- Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe: variants with higher payouts for certain four of a kinds
- Multi-hand video poker: play the same starting hand on 3, 10 or even 52 hands at once
How to read a video poker pay table
The pay table is everything in video poker. A full-pay Jacks or Better machine, often called 9/6, pays 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush per coin bet. That version returns about 99.54% with perfect strategy. A full-pay Deuces Wild game can even return slightly more than 100%. Lower versions, such as 8/5 Jacks or Better, return noticeably less, so always check the full house and flush payouts before you play.
The royal flush usually pays 250 coins per coin, but jumps to 4,000 coins when you bet the maximum of five coins. That’s why video poker strategy guides advise playing max coins, ideally at a lower coin value so it fits your budget.
Video poker strategy tips
- Play five coins to qualify for the full royal flush payout
- Never hold a kicker next to a pair
- In Jacks or Better, a low pair is usually better than holding high cards
- Keep four cards to a flush or an open-ended straight over a single high card
- In Deuces Wild, never discard a deuce
- Use a strategy chart for the exact game and pay table you play
How to play video poker on your phone
There’s no need for a separate video poker app: real-money video poker runs inside casino apps and in your phone’s browser.
- Pick one of the casino apps below and create an account
- Open the video poker section and choose a game, such as Jacks or Better
- Set your coin size and number of coins
- Tap Deal, tap the cards you want to hold and tap Draw
Most casinos also offer free video poker in practice mode, which is the best way to learn the hold decisions before you play for real money.
Where to play video poker for real money
Slots LV has one of the deepest video poker lobbies for US players, with Jacks or Better in 1, 3, 10 and 52-hand versions, plus Deuces Wild, Double Double Bonus, Joker Poker, Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe and Aces and Faces. Single-hand games accept coin sizes from $0.05 to $5, and multi-hand games from $0.01 to $1. Bovada and Cafe Casino also have dedicated video poker sections. Below are the casino apps we recommend for video poker.
Mobile experience
Video poker is made for touchscreens: you simply tap the cards you want to keep. Single-hand games are clear and fast in portrait mode, while multi-hand versions are easier to follow in landscape. Because it’s an RNG game, it also runs smoothly on a weaker mobile connection.
Is video poker better than slots?
In terms of odds, usually yes. A slot machine hides its return behind random reels and bonus features, while a video poker game shows you exactly what every hand pays. On a good pay table and with correct strategy, video poker returns more than most slots, and your decisions actually matter. The trade-off is that the biggest prize, the royal flush, is rare: with perfect Jacks or Better strategy you’ll see one roughly once every 40,000 hands. That’s why video poker suits patient players who enjoy making the right decision on every hand more than chasing a quick jackpot.
Video poker vs other casino poker games
Video poker gives you the most control and, on good pay tables, the lowest house edge of any casino poker game. If you prefer playing against a dealer, Three Card Poker is the simplest table game, Ultimate Texas Hold’em offers more decisions, and Pai Gow Poker is the slowest and steadiest.
More poker apps
See all real-money and free options in our poker apps guide. Interested in the regular game against other players? Read our Texas Hold’em app guide. Want to practise for free first? WSOP Poker and Governor of Poker let you play with virtual chips.
Pros and cons
- Some of the highest RTPs in the casino
- Transparent pay tables
- Your decisions directly affect the return
- Many variants, including multi-hand
- Perfect for touchscreens
- Lower pay tables can cut the return noticeably
- Royal flushes are rare
- Need max coins for the full royal payout
- Strategy differs per game
Play Video Poker in these 3 casino apps
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Features
Video Poker app FAQ
Can I play video poker for real money on my phone?
Yes. Real-money video poker is available in casino apps and mobile browsers at casinos such as Slots LV, Bovada and Cafe Casino.
Is there a real-money video poker app?
You don't need a separate app; video poker runs inside online casino apps. Free video poker apps exist for practice.
Which video poker game has the best odds?
Full-pay Deuces Wild and 9/6 Jacks or Better are among the best. 9/6 Jacks or Better returns about 99.54% with perfect strategy.
Why should I play five coins?
The royal flush pays 250 coins per coin with one to four coins, but 4,000 coins with five coins. Playing fewer coins lowers the return.
What is a 9/6 pay table?
It means the game pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush per coin. Lower tables such as 8/5 return less.