Over the last twenty years video poker has become a huge attraction for gamblers. While the number of games in casinos has grown at a remarkable rate, there has also been a proliferation of the different types of games that are available. Multiple-game casinos machine can now have as many as twelve different varieties of video poker on a single machine. In addition, numerous multiple-play models allowing for play of three, five, ten, and even fifty or more hands at a time are now available.  The casino can provide any game in a variety of denominations to provide a huge array of choices for the video poker player. Add to that the explosion in online video poker game availability, and your choices are almost endless.

Why all this interest in video poker? There is some evidence that players prefer playing machines in which they have some control over the result (unlike traditional slots), and that some find the variety of possible wins attractive. Whatever it is, a large number of players are attracted to the game.

As the interest in video poker increases, it appears that the quality of the available games is declining. For example, the original 9/6 Jacks or Better machines returned 99.5% of the coin-in to the player. Today, it is not unusual to find 6/5 Jacks or Better that return only 95%. The difference between these machines is dramatic. On average, you'll get several times the number of hands out of the same coin-in when playing a 99.5% machine versus a 95% machine. This represents many more opportunities for the player to hit the sought-after Royal Flush. Casinos offering these poor quality games should be avoided. It is reasonable to infer that a casino offering poor quality video poker is also offering poor quality slot machines.

As a trap for the unwary, casinos often intermix the poor games with the better ones. For example, you'll see a bank of five Draw Poker machines, where three machines are 7/5 Jacks (96.1472%) and two are 9/6 Jacks (99.5439%). Strangely, at times players show no apparent preference -- the 7/5 Jacks machines will be full while the 9/6 machines are empty.

Use the menu on the left to read about the basics of video poker, some of the more common variations on the game, and the payouts for the most common games.