kerry white | January 12, 2022 | Updated on: September 8th, 2022
Our guide lists the best Video Poker games from top online casinos in Australia. Our goal is to make it easy for our readers to find the games they are looking for so they can spend more time playing and less time searching for quality games to play.
For players new to online Video Poker and seeking a guide to playing, we are here to assist you as we cover all the basics you need to know. We offer information about which games to select and tips on how to play.
Keep reading this guide to learn about video poker rules, strategies and more.
Best-Rated Video Poker Casinos Australia
A Basic Understanding: Online Video Poker
Video Poker is seen as a cross between Pokies and traditional Poker. Players will find that the winning combos are based on five-card community poker and present with similar real-money winning odds. Video Poker can be played with multiple hands of cards which offers higher odds of winning. However, players will still need to learn the skills to make the best wagering decisions to increase their winning chances.
Most Video Poker variations have a low house edge. Wagering in the game is done by selecting between one to five coins for play. The machine then deals you five cards, and you decide whether to hold or discard them.
Players are paid out according to the value of their hand after the machine has replaced their discarded cards. When you play video poker online, make sure you look for the most generous pay tables. This will maximise your chances of landing big wins.
Lastly, while the rules of Video Poker may be based on traditional Poker, players must remain aware that additional rules may be included depending on the game version being played. These rules will change gameplay strategies, winning odds, and payouts.
How to Play Video Poker Online
Below, we share an easy step-by-step guide on how to start playing video poker:
- The first step is to choose an online casino with your preferred variation of Video Poker.
- Start your game by placing your wager. This is usually between one to five coins.
- Once that is done, you should begin building hand combinations such as three of a kind, pairs and four of a kind. Doing so secures a strong winning hand.
- Discard any unpaired cards. Don’t hold your focus on single cards in the hopes that you will get a matching card on the next deal.
- You should make sure your hand matches the highest initial card. You will have the best chance of getting a high-scoring hand this way.
- Hold onto any pairs even if they rank low. You might discard your low pair only to land an even worse combination.
- Always choose a flush over a straight. However, do not break up any hands unless you aim to build a royal flush.
How We Select the Best Casinos for Video Poker
Australia is home to a wide selection of online video poker casinos; finding ones worth your time can be difficult. Most online players want to play safe, top-quality video poker games for free or real money. Concerns for safety and overall quality are of utmost importance to us. Our guide features the best online casinos that meet all our casino selection standards below:
Banking Options
When we choose casinos, we make sure that the casinos offer multiple ways to fund your player account and withdraw winnings. The options are familiar, safe and secure, so you can trust the site with your financial information. Players will be able to make deposits into their accounts and make withdrawals of the winnings from their video poker games.
Mobile Compatibility
The best online casinos are accessible to players on both desktop and mobile. The sites we recommend are optimised for smaller screens. You will be able to play all your favourite games like Video Poker, claim bonuses, fund your account and withdraw funds all on your mobile device. You only need a good internet connection via mobile data or Wi-Fi to access these sites.
Safety and Security
This is the most important feature. The casinos we select need to be secure and safe. The Video Poker gambling sites we recommend are regularly audited. This ensures players receive games like Video Poker that are safe from tampering, and transactions that reach their intended destinations. The best way to check for safe casinos is to ensure they have a license to operate.
Fast Payouts
While the number of options to withdraw winnings is important, it is also important that the casino makes fast payments. The casinos we feature have hassle-free, fast deposits and withdrawals. The processing times are also fast. Players should be able transfer their Video Poker or other winnings quickly and easily.
Top 10 Video Poker Game Variations
Choosing a Video Poker game can be a daunting task. We have compared the most popular game variations and ranked them to make it easier for our readers to decide on a game to play. We cover a short breakdown of each game, which covers the basics of play and the Return to player percentages (RTP).
1. Joker Poker – Payout: 100.64%
This variation of Poker makes use of a deck of 53 cards, this number includes the Joker. The Joker is used as a wild card to complete hands and help build winning combos. One combo that is only possible with the Joker is a Five-of-a-kind hand of cards that offers a 200-to-one payout total.
2. Deuces Wild Poker – Payout: 100.76%
While Similar to Joker Poker, it does not offer the wild card 5-of-a-kind. Deuces Wild is set apart from other pokers with all Cards with the value of 2 counted as “wild” cards. In Deuces Wild, A natural royal flush will pay out 800 to one, while a full house pays out seven to one.
If you’re looking for even wilder Video Poker games, then have a look at these:
3. Jacks or Better – Payout: 99.89%
Jacks or Better, focuses on hands with Jacks or higher to win. A pair of Jacks being the weakest hand that will payout to players on a win. Players can shuffle their hands to get rid of the cards they don’t need to build a better hand. Lastly, players can draw from the community cards to create a final hand of cards. Depending on the size of the players’ wager, A royal flush will pay out between 250 to one and 800 to one.
4. Bonus Poker Deluxe – Payout: 99.17%
Bonus Poker Deluxe varies uniquely in gameplay by not including wild cards. This variant is also the simplest to learn to play. The paytables are easy to understand and offer some great odds.
- Four aces pay at 80 to 1.
- Four deuces, threes, or fours pay 40 to 1.
- All other four-of-a-kind hands pay at 25 to 1.
Other variations of Bonus Poker:
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Super Double Bonus Poker
5. Aces and Eights – Payout: 99.78%
The House edge on Aces and Eights is quite high as it takes a decent amount of practice to master this version of Video Poker, but if you are feeling adventurous, this is a great version of Video Poker to learn and master.
6. All American – Payout: 99.60%
All American is very similar to Double pokers and has a super low 0.04% house edge. Look for the pay table: 35-8-8-8-3-1-1, and you’re guaranteed to play a version with the highest payout.
7. Double Bonus – Payout: 99.37%
We rank Double Bonus a little lower because of the complicated strategy shifts players need to apply as they play. RTPs can also vary widely with this variation. We recommend looking for games that follow the 45-10-7-5-3-1-1 paytable to match our listed RTP
8. Pick ‘Em Poker – Payout: 99.95%
This variation offers great payouts but will require a little more skill and observation. The game is played with eight cards and will need players to focus intently in-game to ensure they secure the best ranking winning hand.
9. Loose Deuces – Payout: 100.97%
In this variation, it’s best to keep track of the 2’s as they stand in for other card values and help to build ranking hands. The only exception to this rule is when applied to a flush. We recommend players find a strategy and keep to it to avoid losing focus on the hands being built and presented in-game.
10. Double Double Bonus – Payout: 100.07%
This variation is set apart for the higher payouts given to players when presenting a hand of four aces and a two. This Hand can pay up to 400x your wager.
Ranking Order of Hand Values in Video Poker
When playing Video Poker, the player aims to build the strongest hand possible with reference to hand rankings. We have covered them here in order from highest to lowest in this guide. We recommend players learn these well. The presence of these hands will vary within the variations of video poker, but knowing these will guide you to securing more wins.
| Five of a kind | The Highest Hand Value possible. Only possible in Poker games played with wild cards. 7♥, 7♦, 7♣, 7♠, 7(Wild Card) |
| Royal Flush | The most difficult hand to build. Uses specific values and must be present as any one suit. In most poker games, it is the highest value hand players can present. 10♥, J♥, Q♥, K♥, A♥.
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| Straight Flush | A five-card set that follows any same-suit numerical sequence. 2♣, 3♣, 4♣, 5♣, 6♣.
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| Four of a Kind | A four-card set that presents four cards of the same numerical value. 10♥, 10♦, 10♣, 10♠.
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| Full House | A hand presenting with two card sets: A two-card and a three-card set. Each set follows its value. 4♦,4♠. And. 9♥, 9♦, 9♣.
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| Straight | This is a numerical five-card set like a Straight Flush. But the cards do not need to follow the same suit. 5♥, 6♠, 7♦, 8♥, 9♣.
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| Flush | A five-card set that presents in no particular order and will all present the same suit. 4♠, 7♠, 8♠, Q♠, A♠.
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| Three of a Kind | A three-card set of the same value in hand. 7♥, 7♦, 7♠.
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| Two Pair | A hand presenting with any 2 two-card sets. 3♠,3♦. And 8♣,8♦.
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| One Pair | A hand with 1 two-card set. 5♦,5♠.
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| High Card | If players at the table cannot present a card set, the winner is determined by comparing the highest-ranking value card in the player’s hands. 10♠. is greater in numerical value than 8♥.
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Tips for Winning at Video Poker
Our team has taken the time to check for the best gambling sites and not only that we check for the best tips to help you win. These tips will not guarantee you a win but they will help maximize your chances of winning. Here are the tips:
Know the Cards to Keep
Knowing the cards to win is a basic video poker strategy. After your first cards have been dealt, you need to quickly figure out which ones to keep and which ones to discard. This tip will help you know the right cards to keep. It’s a trick used by many professional players.
Play Free Online Video Poker
Many Australian online casinos allow players to enjoy free video poker games. This is not only for having fun, but offers players the chance to practice strategies and build confidence while learning to become better at the game.
Use the Video Poker Cheatsheet
It might seem a bit daunting but you need to familiarize yourself with the video poker cheat sheet. A cheat sheet is basically an overview of the video poker hands. It can help you decide on which cards you should hold and which ones you should discard.
Choose Games with the Best Paytables
Whenever you play video poker, you should always ensure you keep your bankroll in mind. Always choose machines that give you a decent RTP. You can opt to play video poker games such as Double Bonus, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild and Jack or Better.
- Consider Multi-Hand Machines
The gameplay on multi-hand poker has the biggest advantage because they allow you to focus on the strategy for a couple of games. Moreover, the variance is higher on multi-hand poker games.
More Tips: Increasing Wins in Video Poker
If you want to maximise your winnings, then look at the points below. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that it will increase winning odds, as no strategies can do this. Using these points of approach can potentially increase the size of the player’s potential winnings.
- Always Take a moment to explain your choices to yourself carefully.
- You can place maximum bets, but you should only do this for short periods.
- Join Forums like Reddit, which offer good advice for play strategies.
- Players can try their luck by playing progressive jackpot machines occasionally.
- Take note of your deposit bonuses, especially the wagering requirements.
Video Poker FAQs
Yes, the best casinos in Australia allow players to enjoy video poker for real money. Before you commit to playing for real cash, ensure you fully understand the game and you are confident in your skill.
Yes, there are numerous casinos that offer free online video poker. The casinos we feature in this guide have this option. Not only are you going to enjoy it but you will have a chance to practise your skill.
The odds may vary depending on the hand per game. For games such as Jacks or Better, the house edge can be 99.5 per cent when you use the right strategy.
The only way to become better at video poker is to practice. You can use the tips we share in this guide. Moreover, we recommend that you follow rules and ensure you know them.
No, video poker is not rigged. When you play at licensed casinos, you will not have to worry about such. The game at these casinos are audited regularly.
Yes, casinos in Australia allow player to download video poker. You will have to get the app from the store. However, you can also choose to play on your mobile browser.