Video Poker

Video poker is a mash-up of two of the gambling world’s most popular pastimes: slot machines and draw poker. It has a long history in casinos, both land-based and online, and is immensely popular for its elements of fun and skill as well as the fact that it is perfect for players who feel intimidated by playing at tables.

What is video poker?

Video poker is the classic game of draw poker played on a screen. In land-based casinos this is normally very similar to a slot machine (and normally found on the slots floor). For online casino visitors, it can be similar to online slots or played at a simulated table.

How do you play video poker?

Once you have deposited money into your online casino account and chosen the video poker game you want to play, it follows the basic rules of draw poker.

• Choose how much you want to bet.
• Press the ‘deal’ button.
• You are given five cards (just like draw poker).
• You choose which cards you want to keep and which cards you want to discard in favour of new cards. You can choose to keep your hand as is (get zero new cards) or choose to discard one or more cards (unlike the table version, you can choose to discard and change all five original cards if you want).
• You may only discard cards and get new ones once per hand.
• Once the draw is complete, you get paid out if you match one of the winning combinations (found in the pay table).
• Start play again.

What are the winning combinations in video poker?

Payouts are based on how rare your hand is and what variation you may be playing. The normally poker hand combinations apply but payouts only start if you have a minimum of two jacks. In other words, a pair of jacks is the smallest payout (a pair of threes or a pair of tens, for example, are not a winning combination).

The rest of the poker combination apply from here on, with the payouts increasing based on the rarity of the hand: two pairs, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush.

What are video poker wilds and bonuses?

Video poker games often feature ‘wild cards’. These are cards that function as substitutes for any other card to make a combination. Joker’s wild, for example, means that a joker will substitute for any card you need to make a stronger hand.

Deuces wild is a game where the two’s are the wild card. Check the gameplay instruction to see what, if any, wild cards your game offers.

Some video poker games offer other bonuses such as a progressive jackpot, similar to progressive slots, where there is a rolling big prize jackpot if certain conditions are met. Find out more about progressive slots and jackpots here.

Where can you play online video poker?

Our Online South African Casinos reviewers have compiled a list of the best and most trusted online casinos for South African players to try their hand at video poker. These online casinos have gone through a strict vetting process so you know that you can play for fun or money in comfort and safety. Find out about our review process here.

At OSAC, our goal is to help you navigate the world of online casinos. Our staff are dedicated players who are committed to bringing the best of the online gaming world to you. We think like players. We review like players. Because we are players.

Always gamble responsibly and know when to walk away.