The Core of Video Poker
The best video slots and the classic five-card draw game are combined in the trending title — video poker. The activity is equivalent to pokies, except it is not entirely chance-based, as you need to know which cards to keep getting to make the most profit. That’s why playing in free mode and using betting strategies is a must to get the best results.
After being given five cards, players must decide which ones to retain and which to discard to create the best hand. The last hand of the game decides the payoff according to a predetermined paytable after fresh cards have replaced the discarded ones.
It’s just you against the machine, and every action you take affects the outcome of the hand. This is what makes video poker a fun game to play.
Why Should You Try Free Video Poker Online First?
Online video poker offers one of the lowest house edges among casino games, but achieving this advantage requires an ideal playing technique. You must understand the different hands, their corresponding payouts, and the odds of getting each hand. You can significantly improve your victory perspectives by deciding which cards to hold and discard. Applying the right strategy minimises the house’s advantage, bringing you as close as possible to breaking even or securing gains.
Practice makes perfect in this case, so it is a wise decision to play video poker for free first. Some game variants have separate rules and features, so you must test them before involving real money.
Free vs. Real Money Online Video Poker
Some users prefer playing free online video poker to have fun and pass the time. Others, however, like the excitement any real money video poker machine can bring and the potential for big payouts. It’s entirely up to you which one you like most. To help you choose, here’s a comparison table highlighting the key differences.
| Free Version |
Real Version |
| No deposit is required, you can play as long as you want |
Real money involved |
| Chance to play popular video poker games on a risk-free basis |
Possibility of losing |
| No actual money wins |
You can secure gains and make a cashout |
| No bonuses to claim |
Numerous incentives to lift the victory odds |
Play Poker for Free Online: How to Get Started
Playing free video poker games is very simple. Follow the steps below to start enjoying them without risking any cash:
- Choose a casino offering free online video poker from our list.
- Pick your game option.
- Set your bet.
- Hit the ‘Deal’ button.
- Choose which cards to keep.
- Hit the ‘Deal’ icon again.
- You get your final hand!
Usually, you select your bet in credits, where one credit is a predetermined denomination, for example, NZ$5. Many games offer an ‘Auto Hold’ feature, automatically suggesting the best cards to hold based on the highest potential hand. This simplifies decision-making and helps players improve their outcomes.
Popular Video Poker Terms
All video poker game variations come with some standard terms. You will need to learn them to quickly understand what’s happening in front of you and master the gameplay. Here are the ones you must know:
-
Action: It refers to playing the game or the total bets within one session.
-
Credits: These are the amount of money you bet per hand on a video poker machine.
-
Draw/Deal: You can use this button to get the cards dealt and shown before you.
-
Hold: With this option, you choose which cards to hold.
-
Discard: This icon allows you to remove the selected cards from your hand, which are then replaced with new ones from the deck.
-
Paytable: It shows the payouts for each possible hand.
-
RTP: Such value shows the percentage the game is predicted to give back in the form of winnings.
-
House Edge: This term refers to the percentage advantage that the casino holds over the player in the long run.
-
Max Bet: This refers to the highest amount you can wager on a video poker machine in a single hand.
Payout Potential of Video Poker Game
This game has several winning hands with predetermined payoffs depending on the variant. Below is a list of poker hands you can land while playing.
| Winning Hand |
Cards Required |
Description |
| Royal Flush |
A, K, Q, J, 10 All Suited |
The biggest payout you can land in any video poker game |
| Straight Flush |
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 All Suited |
Any combination of cards, except the ones in the Royal flush |
| Four of a Kind |
K, K, K, K |
Four matching cards |
| Full House |
A, A, Q, Q, Q |
Combination of 3 of a kind and a pair |
| Flush |
3, 6, 1, 9, 4 All Suited |
Any 5 cards of the same suite |
| Straight |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
5 cards in order, not suited |
| Three of a kind |
J, J, J |
Any 3 matching cards |
| Two Pairs |
J, J, 10, 10 |
Any two pairs of cards |
| One Pair |
3, 3 |
Any pair of cards |
| High Card |
A |
Any single high card |
Disclaimer: How to Play Video Poker Like a Pro and WinOur research shows that to play like a pro, it’s essential to have a deep understanding of the game mechanics. While knowing the winning hands is crucial, using a cheat sheet can also be helpful. It lets you quickly reference which hands are most valuable, helping you decide which cards to hold. Additionally, practising free slots video poker at Australian poker sites is a great way to familiarise yourself with the gameplay and improve your speed and strategy without putting anything at stake.
Sharpen Your Gameplay with Free Online Video Poker
Before launching into the video poker game with actual funds, training in demo mode is highly recommended. Here, you can play on higher bets and even test betting strategies, safe from losing cash. Here are key areas to focus on as you master your gameplay:
-
Use a cheat sheet: Develop your intuition and enhance your decision-making using a cheat sheet in free video poker.
-
Know which cards to keep: If you learn to hold the right cards all the time, you can increase your chances of making a profit in the long run with actual funds involved.
-
Master specific video titles: You can come across many poker variants at Australian casinos. Choose one and become a cut above the rest. Consider the free Multi-Hand option, as it is a great way to play numerous hands quickly.
-
Play video poker games with the best payouts: Pay tables show how much money you can win with different hands. Knowing which games have the best payouts can make your winning chances better. Free video poker is a great way to understand this.
Finest Video Poker Variants at Australian Casinos
The great thing about this game is that there are many options you can find on Australian gaming platforms. Some are simple, sticking to their roots, while others come with extra features and payouts. Learn about them in detail and test free online video poker games on our list of leading sites!
Jacks or Better
It is one of the oldest variants in online casinos. It got its name because the lowest winning hand you can land is a pair of Jacks or anything above a pair of Q, K, and A. If you play this game with an optimal betting strategy, you are looking at an RTP value of 99.5%.
Deuces Wild
It is a trendy alternative, primarily because of its impressive RTP of 100.71% when played with optimal strategy. All Deuces (2s) act as wild cards, meaning they can substitute for any other card to help form victorious hands. This feature enables to land strong hands, and increases the frequency of payouts compared to other game versions.
Double Bonus
This activity also has a high RTP value of 100.17%. Interesting here is that you can play 1, 5, 10, 50 or even 100 hands simultaneously. The lowest payoff comes from a pair of Jacks or better, while the highest is a Royal flush.
Double Double Bonus
It has a relatively high RTP rate of 98.87%, but it’s smaller compared to previous game formats. You can play up to 50 hands at once here, and the lowest payout is a pair of Jacks or above.
Joker’s Wild
This activity offers an RTP of 98.42%. Depending on the variant, the lowest-paying hand is either a pair of Kings or Aces. The game gets its name from the two joker cards added to the deck, which act as wilds. These can substitute for any other card, helping to uplift the chances for success.
Other Types of Video Poker
There are many more variants of the game like Aces and Faces or Tens or Better, you can find. Check out the pay tables and know the rules for each title before you play these less popular games. Payout variations for specific hands can significantly impact your plan and potential returns. Some entertainments may offer higher rewards for four-of-a-kind hands, while others may prioritise different winning combinations. Knowing such details in advance can assist you in making informed choices during the session.
Traditional vs. Video Poker Slots
Unlike traditional pokies, video poker slots combine the excitement of the card game with the mechanics of slot play. The latter are run solely on RNG, so whatever you do, you can’t affect the game’s outcome. In contrast, video poker adds a skill component, as users must make choices about which cards to hold and which to throw away. Hence, they can influence their outcomes through video poker strategy approaches. Your main aim is to form the best hand possible from the cards you receive.
Play Video Poker for Free on Mobile
The offer of video poker free and real money games across AU platforms is much smaller than other casino titles. Some variants where you can play up to 100 hands simultaneously make it harder to see the results while acting via your smartphone or tablet. Still, you can find many such entertainments across mobile websites. Some even have the function to filter for mobile games, which makes it easier to find the ones you want.
Conclusion
Video poker is undoubtedly an exciting activity at Australian online casinos. You can find many game variations, and it’s relatively easy to master. Experienced players prefer it to other activities because of the high house edge. You can play video poker for free in demo mode compared to live casino titles at our recommended casinos. This allows you to gain experience and test various betting strategies without risking any cash.
Once you gain an understanding of how to play, you can easily browse our rating of the top real money sites, pick one and start the gameplay with the odds of pocketing some gains. There are also lucrative customised bonuses, so you start the action with a bigger bankroll from the get-go. Use this to your advantage by playing the game with bigger bets and getting more significant payouts in return.
