Popular casino poker games
How video poker works
Video poker is a one-player game against a machine. You're dealt five cards, choose which to hold, and draw replacements once. Your final hand is paid according to the paytable on screen. Unlike slots, you can see the paytable and make decisions — so the maths is transparent and your skill matters.
Read the paytable first
The paytable decides the game's return. In Jacks or Better, look at the full house and flush payouts:
| Paytable (full house / flush) | RTP with perfect play |
|---|---|
| 9/6 (full-pay) | 99.54% |
| 9/5 | 98.45% |
| 8/6 | 98.39% |
| 8/5 | 97.30% |
| 7/5 | 96.15% |
| 6/5 | 95.00% |
The game looks identical on every table — only those two numbers change. Always check. These returns assume optimal strategy for that exact paytable and the maximum coin bet: the royal flush jumps to 800 per coin only on a max-coin bet, and simplified strategies return slightly less.
Video poker games compared
| Game | Best common paytable | RTP with perfect play | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better | 9/6 | 99.54% | Low |
| Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 99.17% | Low–medium |
| Double Bonus | 10/7/5 | 100.17% | Medium–high |
| Double Double Bonus | 9/6 | 98.98% | High |
| Deuces Wild (full-pay) | 25/15/9/5/3 | 100.76% | Medium–high |
| Deuces Wild ("Not So Ugly Ducks") | 25/16/10/4/4/3 | 99.73% | Medium–high |
Returns above 100% need flawless strategy and the max-coin bet; they're rare online, and casinos usually offer a reduced paytable. Rule of thumb: start with Jacks or Better — it has the simplest strategy and the lowest volatility.
Basic video poker strategy
- Always hold a pair of jacks or better, two pairs, three of a kind or better.
- Hold four to a royal flush over a made flush or straight.
- Never hold a kicker with a pair.
- Low pairs beat most high-card holds.
Perfect strategy charts exist for each game and paytable; simple rules like these get you close to the full RTP, but not all the way.
Casino poker table games
| Game | How it works | House edge (main bet) |
|---|---|---|
| Casino Hold'em | Play Texas Hold'em against the dealer; fold or call after the flop | ~2.2% |
| Three Card Poker | Beat the dealer with three cards; optional Pair Plus | ~3.4% on Ante |
| Caribbean Stud | Five-card stud against the dealer | ~5.2% |
These are available in RNG and live versions; see our live dealer casino guide.
Online poker against other players
Video poker and casino poker are games against the house. Peer-to-peer poker — Texas Hold'em and Omaha against other players — is a different product: the site takes a rake (a small cut of each pot or a tournament fee) instead of having an edge, so skill decides who wins over time.
In the US, real-money online poker runs in Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and these states can share player pools under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). West Virginia has legalised online poker and joined MSIGA in 2023, but rooms there have been slow to launch. You must be 21+ and inside the state. Elsewhere, check that the poker room is licensed in your country.
Where to play
In the US, BetMGM and DraftKings offer a wide video poker range plus live poker tables in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Internationally, Jackpot City and its sister casinos carry Games Global video poker. See all options on our best online casinos list.
Video poker and bonuses
Most casinos weight video poker at just 2–8% towards bonus wagering, and some exclude full-pay games entirely. See wagering requirements explained.
What we look for
- Full-pay paytables shown clearly (9/6 Jacks or Better or close).
- A range of video poker games — Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus.
- Live poker tables for Casino Hold'em and Three Card Poker.
- Independent testing and fast payouts.
