First gaining popularity in the 1970s, video poker is one of the youngest forms of gambling. The combination of slot machine features and poker rules has made video poker the most popular form of gambling available at many Canadian online casinos. With stunning game action, an authentic look and an exciting soundtrack, video poker feels terrific on desktop and mobile screens. Although it is a skill-focused game, it can be an excellent option for novice players wanting to step outside the world of simple slot machines and try something new.
Wellcome Offer:
C$5000 + 300 FS
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First deposit only. Min. C$20 deposit.
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Get up to:
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for C$30 deposit
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to C$3000. This bonus only applies for deposits of C$30 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your Skycrown account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Bonus up to:
$1500
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based on first deposit of $10+.
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Wellcome Offer:
C$750
Bonus for New Players
First deposit only. Min. C$20 deposit. 35X wagering requirement. T&Cs apply.
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to C$750. This bonus only applies for deposits of C$20 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your casino account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Get up to:
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New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to C$1200 + 220 Free Spins. This bonus only applies for deposits of C$10 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your casino account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Get up to:
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for every C$30 deposit
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 200% bonus on your first deposit up to C$2000 + 100 Free Spins. This bonus only applies for deposits of C$30 or higher!
Bonus up to:
C$675
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based on first deposit of CA$30+.
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to C$675. This bonus only applies for deposits of CA$30 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your casino account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Bonus up to:
$1500
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to $1500. This bonus only applies for deposits of $10 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Bonus up to:
C$1600
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based on first deposit of C$10+.
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to C$1600 Unless otherwise stated. This bonus only applies for deposits of C$10 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your casino account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Wellcome Offer:
C$1000
Bonus for New Players
First deposit only. Min. C$10 deposit. 35X wagering requirement. T&Cs apply.
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100% bonus on your first deposit up to C$1000. This bonus only applies for deposits of C$10 or higher! All you need to do is just deposit the money in your account and you will receive this bonus instantly!
Basics of Online Video Poker
Although the history of video poker dates back to 1898 when a famous inventor introduced the slot machine prototype, it has been many decades since the game has received the attention it deserves from the gambling community. The first wave of video poker dates back to the 1970s when Poker Matic was introduced, the first electronic version of the video poker machine. A decade later, video poker games had become so popular that they were second only to regular slots. Having migrated from the floors of land-based casinos to the world of online gambling in the 2000s, this gambling option has become even more accessible and thriving today.
With a low house edge, the ability to play alone and high winning potential, video poker is a game where you have to play between 1 and 5 coins, while the machine will give you 5 cards with the option to hold or discard any of them. By replacing your discards, the video poker machine will make your payout according to the value of the resulting poker hand. While most game options are played with a standard 52-card deck, there are also versions with jokers included. Remarkably, video poker classic free game offers a house edge of over 100%, which means that the advantage is given to the player as long as he implements the perfect strategy.
Types of Video Poker Slots
Among the many variations of the game, real money video poker casinos have several options offering the most exciting game action plus potentially big payouts. While they all use similar rules, they differ in several ways, such as the winning odds they offer, hand rankings and how many cards are in the deck. So, here are the most popular video poker slots that are worthy of playing them.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Slots
This option is one of the most popular at online casinos, and for several reasons. Judging by the name, the game aims to get a pair of jacks or higher to get prize money. However, if you’re aiming for a big payout, you need to collect the most valuable hand available. So, once getting 5 cards at the start of the game, you may change some of them or accept the current hand if it is a winning one. Starting with a 5-coin prize for Jacks or Better, you can win up to 4,000 coins if you land a Royal Flush. We have a few online casinos offering the best Jacks or Better video poker options – check them at our casino list.
Deuces Wild Online Video Poker Machines
Inspired by the atmosphere of the old-world gambling venues of the Wild West, Deuces Wild video poker is one of the easiest and most potentially lucrative options. The basic idea is that deuces act as wilds, replacing any other card to help form valuable poker hands. Otherwise, the game rules remain the same, so you’ll be interacting with five cards, holding or changing them to form the highest hand. Although you can win money by landing some unconventional combinations like Five for a Kind, Royal Flush is still the key to the highest payout. Notably, you also have access to the ‘Gamble’ feature with which you can at least double your prize money.
Aces and Eights Video Poker Games
Designed by a group of students in the 1970s, Aces and Eights video poker is one of the simplest versions of the game. Once you start playing, you’ll see the slot reels displaying the poker cards and a paytable showing poker hand rankings, so in theory, you don’t need to know the rules of poker to play this variant of the game. The game is played with a 52-card deck. In the beginning, you will get 5 cards, which you can keep or trade as you wish. The resulting hand will be the final, and you will get a payout if you have at least Jacks or Better.
Double Bonus Video Poker
Played with a 52-card deck shuffled after each hand, Double Bonus video poker is a J or B-based game that offers larger payouts on some combinations. Undoubtedly one of the most popular video poker games, Double Bonus, has been introduced by several different providers, with Microgaming excelling among them.
Joker Wild Video Poker
When playing the Joker Wild version, you can use the same video poker strategy as the above options. However, the difference is that you will be playing with an additional 53rd card that can replace any other ones. Plus, this version of the game also offers a ‘Gamble’ feature that lets you double your winnings.
Video Poker – Real Money vs Free Games
Although it is an easy game to learn if you are a beginner, free poker machines are ideal for building video poker strategy and preparing for the real game. So, by wagering for free, you can avoid risks if you don’t know the game rules or some video poker strategy doesn’t work. Once you’re ready, you can choose any of our real money video poker casinos.
So, while free video poker can be a great option to learn and practice, playing for real money has plenty of advantages:
- The first reason to join any of our real money video poker casinos is that you can win big money, thousands of CAD, by playing video poker.
- Great promotions and bonus offers for those who prefer to play the popular game.
- High winning odds. Having much in common with online slots, video poker machines boast a much higher RTP, which can exceed 100% (assuming you use the perfect video poker strategy).
- Fast cashouts. All of the websites on our video poker casino list allow players to withdraw their winnings quickly.
- The ability to play on the go. There are many video poker games compatible with mobile devices powered by both Android and iOS.
Before choosing a video poker option, check the payout table to find the potential winnings. Also, start with small bets, as if luck is not on your side, you run the risk of losing a large sum.
How to Play Video Poker
No matter where you prefer to play, video poker is one of the easiest games to learn. If you want to explore the rules and features of the game quickly, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play video poker:
- Decide which version of the game you want to play. Above, we have presented a few options worth trying. We recommend that you start with Jacks or Better or Aces and Eights as they are the easiest versions and do not require any special skills or knowledge from you.
- Check the payout table to find out what odds and potential payouts are offered to you.
- Find out what betting range is offered to you. Although you can choose from 1 to 5 coins to place your bets, they can range in value from CAD 0.01 to CAD 100.
- Launch the game app and click ‘Deal’ to get the first 5 cards from the deck.
- Try to gather the most valuable hand from the cards available. You can discard cards that don’t suit you and save a few by clicking on the ‘Hold’ button.
- Once you have chosen which cards to keep, you need to redraw the cards and click ‘Hold.’
- Now, the algorithm will match your hand with the available options according to the payout table and transfer the money to your casino account if you’ve got something of value.
Give preference to options with the highest payback percentage to have the best winning odds. Also, avoid the video poker multi-hand versions if you’re new to the game, as you’ll need to focus on learning the game rules in the early stages.
Video Poker Hands
Because – unlike slot machines where you build combinations of matching symbols – in video poker, you’re targeting poker hands; you need to know which ones will bring you prize payouts. So, here’s a ranking of video poker hands you need to remember:
- Royal Flush, a combination of A-K-Q-J-10 cards of the same suit, is the video poker player’s main target, as it brings out the highest possible payout.
- Straight Flush, a 9-8-7-6-5 card combination (all the same suit), is the second most valuable hand in the poker hand hierarchy.
- Four of a Kind is a Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-5 combination with cards of all the same suit.
- Full House is a K-K-3-3 combination that includes a pair and three of a kind.
- Flush, which includes 5 cards all of the same suit, is only in fifth place in the hand rankings, so the payout is significantly lower than for the Royal Flush.
- Straight is a combination of K-Q-J-10-9, and the cards can be of any suit.
- Three of a Kind consists of three identical cards (e.g. 3-3-3) plus two unpaired cards.
- Two Pair consists of two sets of paired cards, with any fifth card in the hand.
- One Pair is a combination of two paired cards and three of any kind.
- High Card is the lowest-value combination consisting of Ace plus 4 any card of at least two different suits.
The poker hand hierarchy shown above is basic, but there are video poker games with jokers in the deck that affect the ranking of poker hands.
How to Win at Video Poker
As well as understanding the rules and choosing games with the best winning odds, there are a few tips to help you become a better gambler:
- Start with the video poker classic free version to check your understanding of the game in practice. Also, learn basic video poker strategies to make the best play decisions and increase your winning odds.
- Use the opportunity to take a pause available in any video poker game to make informed game decisions. Being able to play at your own pace is one of the important advantages of the game.
- Make the most of video poker casinos bonuses so you can use your bankroll more frugally.
- Stick to smart bankroll management to avoid spending too much – limit your playing sessions in terms of time and how much money you are willing to spend.
- Only switch to the video poker multi hand version when fully comfortable with the game.
Also, ignore the advice to make maximum bets, especially if you are in the early stages of mastering video poker, as this could hit your wallet.
Video Poker Basic Strategy
Since the video poker format assumes that you will only be playing against the computer, the game is completely devoid of a psychological component. So, any video poker strategy is based on mathematics and probability theory. Although there are many different tips on how to win video poker, the best thing you can do to succeed is to avoid the mistakes many beginners make. So, you don’t need to try to save the kicker, and you don’t need to leave three cards looking for the highest-value hands. However, you should also be prepared to risk keeping three cards if a Straight-Flush is your main focus.
Closing Thoughts
Video poker, especially Jacks or Better, perhaps the most promising option, can be your best bet when it comes to playing on a trusted Canadian-friendly online casino website. With plenty of options and twists unavailable at traditional slot machines, video poker will provide your best gambling experience.
