Online Video Poker: finding out about payouts
Finding out about online video poker payouts can be fascinating because each machine is individually set in accordance with the demands and expectations of the casino. Therefore, even if you have identified your preferred game, such as "Deuces Wild" or "Jacks or Better", your chances of winning big (or at all) on your preferred game might also be reliant on where you choose to play! Let's explore more about payouts and how to maximise your own chances for success:
- Shop around. There's no getting away from it, trying out a range of video poker games across a variety of casinos will help you to identify those which offer odds that are more in your favour. Many casinos offer free play, which can be useful in helping you to get to grips with new games or to suss out which games seem to pay out at a better rate or at least pay out more frequently.
- Whether playing online or in casino, the pay table is important to each player. Often there will be an indication which signifies whether the machine is a 9/6 or 8/5 machine. Basically, this tells you the odds of payout, eg: 9 to 1 for a full house and 6 to 1 for a flush on the 9/6, or 8 to 1 for a full house and 5 to 1 for a flush on the 8/5 game – so you know immediately that the better poker games for winning are the 9/6 video poker games. Casinos often advertise these as "full pay" games, because if these are played with a perfect video poker strategy, the house edge is erased and players can maximise the odds for themselves.
- The "Jacks or Better" version of video poker tends to offer the acceptable possibilities of achieving the odds, and generally tends to offer an average return of over 99% to players' bankrolls, in return for the fun of the game! The more perfect your poker strategy, the more this percentage rises!
- The best video poker pay out possibilities tend to come with full pay "Deuces Wild" machines, with which it is possible to erase the house edge even with a simple poker strategy – so it really pays to hone your skills and play on free play versions to perfect your poker! Where it's possible, try to always play on a game which offers wild cards – walking on the wild side could make a significant difference to how long your bankroll lasts you!
- Don't get complacent if you find your 'ideal' machine, as often casinos will adjust these. However, if adjustments are made, the pay table has to reflect this, so check the pay table each time you log in to ensure that your 'lucky' machine is still likely to be lucky for you! If it isn't, then it's time to move on!
- Lastly, if you want to maximise your chances of getting the big jackpot payout in the progressive jackpots, make sure that you always bet the game's maximum, as this is the only way of ensuring a chance at grabbing the big one. If you don't max it, you won't be entitled to the jackpot money, even if it's the right hand!