Video Poker Review

This site is about playing video poker and winning.  Or, at the very least, playing and losing less.  Winning (or minimizing losses) at video poker requires not only that you play the game properly, but that you carefully choose the games and the places at which you play.   Here, we examine techniques for making the most of your video poker playing, and help you to choose games that put more money in your pocket.  Check out our Where to Play section to find the best games, whether you like to play online or in land-based casinos around the South -- including Tunica, Shreveport, Biloxi/Gulfport, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and other areas. 

Video poker is different from other slot games in at least two ways.  Unlike most slot games, the player's actions will determine to some extent the outcome of the game.  This gives the player a more "interactive" experience which many find entertaining.  Secondly, video poker games are different because the "expectation" (or "payback") can be readily determined by looking at the game, if you know what to look for.  The goal, for most players, is to hit a Royal Flush or other high paying hand, and cash out as a winner; by carefully choosing the games you play, you can increase the likelihood of this happening.

Over time, most video poker games can be expected to return 95-100 percent of the money played to the player (occasionally, you can even find games that return more than 100% with perfect play).   But the expected payouts of games can vary widely between casinos as well as between games in the same casino.   The difference between a game returning 96 percent and one returning 99 percent is dramatic.   This is because we tend not to play just one hand, but in fact usually play tens, hundreds, or even thousands of hands over the course of a casino visit.   On average, a $20 deposit will pay for four times as many hands on a 99 percent game as it will on a 96 percent game (at five quarters per hand).  Put another way, the 25c player will lose $720 in a typical weekend on a 96% game, but will lose only $180 on a 99% game.  The more hands you can play given your bankroll, the more likely you are to hit a Royal Flush or other high-paying hand.

It is not unusual to find a bank of games having one or two higher paying games with the others offering much lower paybacks.  Yet, you'll often find players at one of the lower paying games sitting next to an available full-pay game. 

If you want to maximize your winnings and minimize your losses at video poker, it is critical that you play only the best games.  Here, we'll help you select casinos and games that will make you a winner, and avoid those that take your hard-earned cash.  Check out our Games page for more information on the games to play (and those to avoid).

Many people find it difficult or inconvenient to visit a casino with any regularity.  Today, you can play video poker online from the convenience of your own home (or anywhere you have an Internet connection).  Online play is very similar to casino play, and in fact, the games work very similarly to those in casinos.  Online play is now much easier and safer than it was only a few years ago, and if you are interested in playing online you should visit our online play pages for more information.

Is Gambling Online for You?

Over the last few years online gambling has become big business.  A significant part of this website is devoted to online gambling.  But is it right for you?

Online gambling can be enjoyable, but there are both positive and negative considerations before choosing to gamble online.  There are several differences between gambling online and gambling in a land-based casino, and we will discuss some of them.

Playing online is done from your own PC via Internet. You can do it anywhere you have an Internet connection -- at home on your PC, at work, or even from your hotel room while on the road. However, convenience is a double-edged sword -- while it is a positive consideration for many, for others online gambling may be just too convenient. Players who are apt to be unable to control their gambling should definitely avoid playing online.

Many people have to travel long distances to visit a casino; as a result, playing online may be less expensive. Since you are playing from home, you save the travel expenses connected with a casino trip. People who are shut-in or unable to travel can enjoy the benefits of playing online. Playing online can be a great getaway when you aren't able to take time off for a trip to a land gambling destination or for those who are not up for the travel.

For many, the land casino experience is a "getaway" that online gambling simply doesn't replicate. If this is important to you, online gambling may not be right for you. Online casinos now offer "comps" and/or "cash back", but they are limited and don't usually give rise to the kinds of "expense paid vacations" many players have grown accustomed to.  Online casinos do routinely offer deposit bonuses which you can take advantage of.

In the case of video poker, you can often find better games online than you can in many land-based casinos (you can see our "Where to Play-Online" section for more information). Progressives can sometimes get quite large online. Slot players may find these progressives to be more attractive than those at their local casino.

Getting money into and out of the online casino isn't always as easy as simply cashing out a ticket in a land casino, but this has been made easier with the the introduction of services like Neteller.  Many credit card companies no longer allow charges from online gambling establishments.  You'll want to have a look at our funding page under resources -- this page discusses the methods for getting funds into and out of your online casino accounts.

Online casinos are not as well-regulated as are the casinos in Nevada or Mississippi. Early in the history of online gambling, there were casinos that were not financially secure or who were cheating players with unfair games. This problem has largely abated as such casinos have failed. Still, we recommend playing at casinos with a good reputation and a history of performance. When playing at an online casino you aren't familiar with, we recommend starting out small until you become familiar with the casino's cash-out process and reliability.  Most of the software for online gambling is developed by a few big players -- for example, Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, and Cryptologic.  One can be reasonably assured that the games are fair from any of the major software companies.

If you play video poker, please check out our listings -- you'll find the best video poker games are covered. If you find a good online game you would like for us to evaluate, please use this form to provide us with details and we'll check it out.