2018's Best Free Online Video Poker Games
If you want to master poker, video poker will be the perfect game to hone your skills and perfect your strategy. You can even play video poker for free. By doing so you can begin to understand why poker is the king of games.
If you want to learn the rules, develop your strategies and test out some new variations, stick around. We’ve found the best casinos to play video poker online for free, plus you can take advantage of:
- The opportunity to enjoy all of the excitement of staked games with no risks
- Free video poker games on a PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, or tablet
- Low stakes real money video poker games whenever you are ready
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Pick Your Favorite Type of Video Poker
The standard poker hands apply in most video poker, and it is important for players to understand them before beginning to play, even if you're playing for fun. One reason video poker is so popular is that each player only plays against the dealer/machine, not everyone else at a table, so it is a “one-on-one” experience, and the odds are much better. There’s no bluffing, or need to stress over other hands. Video poker makes the whole game of poker a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience.
When it comes to video poker, there are many variations to choose from. The most popular being Jacks or Better machines followed by Double Joker Poker, multi-play, and jackpot games.
On the surface video poker looks simple, and it can be. However, as you learn the game you might find that it can be a game rich in skill, variance, and opportunity. Your preferred video poker game will depend on different elements including your tolerance for variance, desire to learn, whether or not you want to incorporate a strategy, and your need to chase after a jackpot or settle on fixed payout games.
Explore the Variety
There are two primary ways video poker games will vary from one another. Most games are based on Five Card Draw. Jacks or Better is the most popular and was the first video poker game ever to be released. Another variation is Deuces Wild where players can use the 2 card as a wild card. Other variations of Five Card Draw include Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, and Joker’s Wild.
The second type of video poker games is how the payout schedule attached to the game is used. For instance some games have higher payouts than other video poker games. Full play games have the highest payouts, but can be difficult to find. Full pay Jacks or Better is known as 9/6 Jacks or Better. This is because the payoff for a full house is 9 times the bet and a flush is 6 times the bet.
Multi Deck Video Poker
In this variation your screen will be filled with different hands. Payoffs will depend on the game being played. In general, the more you are betting the larger the payout will be.
Jackpots in Video Poker
Some video poker games have a jackpot or progressive jackpot attached. With standard jackpot games you will have to land a Royal Flush or make a specific hand. Other games might pay a bonus to you when you make a hand with a joker for example. Progressive jackpots work like progressive slot machines. A portion of every bet you and other players make will be added to a pot. When a player makes the specific wining hand, they will win the jackpot.
The Payback Percentage
Video poker machines will give players the highest payout percentage when the max number of credits is bet. Theoretically you will have to play the game perfectly to receive the best payout which is around 99%.
Popular Types of Free Video Poker Games
Jacks or Better - The most common variation, Jacks or Better players will win if their final 5 card hand holds at least a pair of jacks or better. This is the game of choice for most beginners. It pays out on minimal hands and the big payout is usually at least 4,000 coins for a Royal Flush on a maximum bet of 5 coins. The payout on anything above a pair of jacks or better is 99.46%.
Deuces Wild - A popular version, the 2 cards are most important because they act as a wild card. A royal flush with at least one 2 card yields an ample payout, but a natural royal flush is still better. The full pay version of this game has a return on 100.7% which means players have the upper hand.
Bonus Poker - A common free video poker game it has some of the best paytables even when minimum bets are made. With an optimal strategy a player can expect a return of 99.1%. Some say Bonus Poker is the most profitable video poker game available online.
Joker Poker - Jokers act as a wild card and a pair of kings or greater are required to receive a payout. With a basic strategy the return is 100.6%.
Double Double Bonus Poker - This video poker variation offers increased payouts for four of a kind hands with specific combos. The return is approximately 100% when a basic strategy is used.
Two Other Variations to Know About
Jokers Wild - Jokers Wild is a little more to keep track of because while it still uses a standard 52 card deck, you have to remember that the Jokers are wild cards and can be held at face value, or be changed to meet any other value needed in a hand.
However, the limit there is that because of the wild cards, there is no “high card” or “two of a kind” winning hand. You must have at least two pair to win this game. The same is true for Deuces Wild only substituting Deuces (2s) for Jokers as the wild card. Deuces Wild is the more exciting of the two because there are four wild cards as opposed to the two Jokers in a deck.
King of the Decks - King of the Decks is perhaps the most complicated and because of that, the most exciting of the video poker games. It uses five full decks of 52 cards, and the grand hand is to get 5 king of clubs in your hand. In King of the Decks, the common poker hands still win, but the kings of clubs pays out an additional progressive bonus. Minimum in this game is two pair as well.
How to Play Video Poker Online
Video poker is a wonderful alternative to the classic poker table which requires you to sit with other players and a dealer. With free video poker, you play at your own pace. Follow these steps to start playing video poker for free:
1. Choose Your Game
Casinos you find recommended on this site offer a very large selection of video poker games. Nearly all variations offer a free mode to play as often as you want. We suggest trying out different variations before playing with real money. You can review the pay tables, minimum betting options, and rules to help you decide. If you are not sure where to begin, start with the most popular game Jacks or Better. This is a good choice for beginners and it offers a high payout with low risk.
2. Place Your Bets
When playing for free, video poker will still have you place “fun” money bets. Choose how much you want to wager on the round. You do not have to bet all your money at once and can add money to your bet. If you want to bet the highest amount possible, press “Max Bet”. The more you bet, the more you can win.
3. Press Deal
The machine will deal you five cards. You will need to click or tap the card you want to keep. If you change your mind, click or tap the card again. Any card you do not hold will be discarded. Once you have held all the cards you want to keep, press ‘Deal’ again. In any given round you can press deal two times. On the second deal you will be given new cards in replace of the discarded ones. If you are lucky you will have winning hand combinations. Unless you choose ‘Auto Hold’ you will manually have to hold your winning hand. Be sure you have reviewed your cards well before pressing ‘Deal’.
Possible Winning Hands
| Royal Flush | A- K- Q- J-10 | A, K, Q, J, and 10 all of the same suit |
| Straight Flush | Q- J- 10- 9-8 | Five cards in sequence and all of the same suit |
| 4 of a Kind | J-J-J-J-3 | Four cards of the same rank |
| Full House | J-J-5-5-5 | Three of a kind, plus a pair |
| Flush | J,10,4,6,3 | Five cards of the same suit |
| Straight | 6,7,8,9,10 | Five cards in sequence. (Ace can be high or low) |
| Three of a Kind | 7,7,7,9,3 | Three cards of the same rank |
| Two Pair | K,K,2,6,6 | Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank |
| Jacks or Better | J,J, 2,7,4 | A pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces |
4. Receive Your Winnings
If you have won, the machine will pay you according to the paytable. Of course with free video poker games you are winning play money only.
Before You Play
Before you enter an online game, free or otherwise, make sure you use the “help” or “info” tabs and learn the rules of the actual game you are playing.
It also helps to look up the rules of the particular version you are playing and get familiar with them. Stick to one version if possible until you feel comfortable with the rules before moving on to a different version.
Our Quick Tips
- Look for basic combinations like pairs, three of a kinds, and four of a kinds
- Don’t hold an unpaired card in the hope you will get a pair on the next deal
- Match your hand to the highest initial card
- Always go for a flush over a straight
- Avoid discarding a low pair
- Always play with max bets
| Royal Flush | A- K- Q- J-10 | A,K,Q,J, and 10 all of the same suit |
| Straight Flush | Q- J- 10- 9-8 | Five cards in sequence and all of the same suit |
| 4 of a Kind | J-J-J-J | Four cards of the same rank |
| Full House | J-J-5-5-5 | Three of a kind, plus a pair |
| Flush | J,10,4,6,3 | Five cards of the same suit |
| Straight | 6,7,8,9,10 | Five cards in sequence. (Ace can be high or low) |
| Three of a Kind | 7,7,7,9,3 | Three cards of the same rank |
| Two Pair | K,K,2,6,6 | Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank |
| Jacks or Better | J,J,2,7,4 | A pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces |
History of Video Poker
- 1898 - The history of video poker is rich and dates back to the late 1800s. It was in 1898 that Charles Fey invented the first slot machine The Liberty Bell. It was an instant success.
- 1901 - Fey continued to create more variations including Skill Draw, a poker machine that had a hold feature that allowed players to hold cards and re spin to create a stronger winning hand.
- Early 1900s - 5 Card Draw poker machines continued to be developed by Fey and his competitors. Money was never given as a prize, but rather drinks, cigarettes, cigars, and sweets.
- 1970 - Moving forward to the 70s the first electronic video poker machine was released in most Vegas casinos. It was not a popular game.
- Mid 70s - Si Redd who held a patent for video poker partnered with Fortune Coin Company to create SIRCOMA, a machine that was mass produced, but slow to catch on with gamblers.
- 1981 - SIRCOMA was getting the attention it deserved and by 1981, Si took his company International Gaming Technology (IGT) public. Today it is still a leading developer of games.
- 1980s - 1990s - Video poker was nearly as popular as slots throughout US casinos. Machines were slowly being reduced in size and a house edge was introduced. Today the same algorithm is used to calculate payouts.
- 2000s - Today, video poker is hugely popular and there are a massive number of variations that give you a huge range of choice. Video poker is continually evolving, with new and fun games being released on a regular basis. Free video poker games therefore allow you to do a little window shopping and find the perfect game before you start gambling your own money.
Time to Start Playing Video Poker for Free
Get started today and find out what all the fuss is about. You can build up those poker skills and learn the game, or just relax and have a blast playing for fun with free video poker games. Give it a shot and see how easy it is to win a big virtual pot at video poker without taking any risks. All you need to do is hit the play button to start creating the perfect hand.
Once you think you have conquered free video poker games and are ready to take the action up a notch, head to one of our recommended casinos to indulge in the best video poker games available. All the sites you find here are safe, trusted, and fair on every game including video poker. Free variations can lead the way into nonstop gambling fun from your computer, mobile, or tablet.
Want to play more than just video poker? Discover more free casino games including roulette and blackjack.
