Everything You Need to Know About Ultimate X Video Poker
Created by IGT, Ultimate X Video Poker is the ultimate way of playing classic Video…
Best Video Poker Sites
Video poker is a fun online casino game which is thanks to a thrilling mix of poker (which we’ll describe as a community card game requiring skill), and slots, (a single player casino game with fully random outcomes). This combination sounds like a blend that is very hard to resist if you ask us, which is exactly why most casino sites have their fair share of video poker games. There are some different variations of the game available, but each video poker title largely follows the same idea. If you enjoy online casino games with low house edges as much as you like fast paced action — video poker might be the game you’ve been looking for.
The next challenge is to join a website that offers the best video poker games available while it also gives players the overall service they were hoping for. To help you find the best video poker sites, our skilled team of poker experts decided to go ahead and come up with this complete guide on the best websites in the UK. This guide includes things to consider when choosing a video poker site, the most popular video poker games, and of course: the latest bonuses that are either fully or partially valid for video poker titles. As we frequently update this guide with new info, top video poker sites, and casino bonuses, we advise you to make sure to add this page to your favourites and visit us every now and then.
Best Video Poker Sites For [datetoday format=”F Y”]
A lot of big casino websites have added video poker games to their assortment which is why it won’t be an easy task to pick the very best one. Luckily, our team is always updated about the newest video poker sites that hit the internet and will only add them to our top list if there is any reason to. Below you will find our selection of the best poker sites for this month:
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Why Are These the Best Sites For:
The best websites are the ones that score the highest rates after we evaluate them according to a large number of performance metrics with the most important criteria listed below. Please note that the performance metrics featured below can be divided into several subcategories. The information should give you an overall idea of our criteria:
Mobile optimisation
The best video poker sites should meet the same criteria as the best slots websites, the best blackjack websites, or the best roulette websites: they should be mobile optimised. This means players should be able to enjoy the same fun, thrills, and functionality on each type of device. While some operators choose to develop a dedicated app, others prefer to stick to a responsive website that adapts to the device being used. Either way, it should give players a similar experience on all devices: whether it’s a desktop, phone, or tablet. The websites recommended by CasinoWebsites.com have been visited on both a laptop and smartphone. We make sure to go through the overall functionality and the game lobby as well. This makes sure we get to a proper evaluation of the mobile service being provided.
Banking
People play casino games with an objective and this particularly holds for video poker as it requires skills. Poker players are the ones that can make a difference, so most users will be looking for real money play and real money websites. In fact: some players have turned to professional poker. This means the payment platform of the operator should give you all the options that are popular in the UK, including e-wallets and traditional banking methods such as a bank wire transfer. Credit cards are not accepted by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), which is why PayPal has managed to become the most preferred payment online casino method in recent years. Other criteria than having a large list of banking solutions are transaction fees, processing times, and bonus terms. The latter tends to apply for e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller that get excluded from bonuses by some operators. A rule of thumb should be that both deposits and withdrawals should be free, fast, and stress-free.
Bonuses
Welcome packages and other bonuses are some of the most important incentives video poker websites have to offer to both newbies and experienced gamblers. There are so many video poker sites available today, so handing out a promo gives operators a way to show some appreciation to their players for either signing up or sticking around. A lot of the casino bonuses are fully valid for slot games, while video poker games sometimes are left out when it comes to the promos. All of the websites we recommend in this guide do have valid bonuses for video poker games, meaning you’ll have to worry less about the validity. We do always suggest you double check the bonus terms so you’re sure about all the conditions that come with them. Common video poker promos are deposit bonuses.
Customer service
The customer service department is one of the most vital departments of an online operator as offering good customer service will make the difference, especially if you’re a frequent player. We hope you don’t need to contact customer service, but in case you do, you want to count on instant and professional help. Most video poker sites we include on our sites give their players instant, 24/7 support and have been tested by our own review team, meaning they have proven to be professional and prompt. You should be able to contact our featured poker sites via live chat, email, and sometimes even by phone or on their social media. If a customer service lacks a minimum service, we will point this out.
Trustworthiness
Online gaming all starts with trust which is particularly important when it comes to real money wagers. As online casinos deal with a lot of money, they should give their players and stakeholders a trustworthy platform. Trustworthiness can be recognised by the safety certificates used to guarantee safe storage of data and financial transactions, but is also found in the licence used by the online casino. For websites that are aimed at the UK this means that they hold at least a licence by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) or a licence that is considered equivalent to this British gaming licence. To give you the best possible experience, the best video poker site should also take maximum responsibility when it comes to customer data protection. This includes a safe https://connection and secure banking methods to give you some examples. Lastly, knowing who the operator’s owner is, is also a way to get a better understanding of the trustworthiness. At CasinoWebsites.com we look into every single detail when it comes to the brand’s reputation and owner.
Online Poker vs Video Poker
A lot of people who are not yet familiar with video poker always ask themselves the same question: what is the difference between online poker and video poker? The major difference between the two is that in online poker you deal with other players, while in video poker you only have to play against the house. In online poker, skills make a huge difference which explains why it is a lot more difficult than video poker which is a lot more flexible in that sense. Experienced players will normally win from less experienced players.
Stress level
Online poker can definitely become very stressful, even if you consider yourself a skilled player. Every move you make in online poker is subject to time constraints and if you fold your hand too often, your bankroll will probably get devoured by either the big blind or the small blind (or even both), which are mandatory bets that rotate around the table. Video poker, on the contrary, resembles the way standard slot machines work. You just need to choose which poker variation you prefer after which you select your bet size, before starting with a new round. Five cards are then dealt to the player, which gives you a choice to either hold or discard the playing cards. The cards that are discarded by you are then replaced. In the end, the game pays you according to the value of your poker hand.
Jackpots
Video poker games also work with pay tables like slots do, showing yet again one of its many similarities with slots. Some video poker games even offer progressive jackpots which explains the popularity of video poker games. If you factor in promos, cashbacks and other special video poker offers, it can (theoretically) become possible to play a game of video poker with an RTP of close to 100%. Although casinos are less keen to see these numbers, players love them. The best video poker sites give their players fair bonuses and fair bonus terms. They also feature a nice selection of video poker jackpots.
How to Play Video Poker?
Video poker starts with every player being dealt 5 poker cards. Based on the strength of the playing cards you will need to make a decision: keep them, give them away, or at least stick with a few of them. Cards that are given away are replaced by new cards. In one round you can receive cards and in the other you can replace them. After you have a total of 5 cards you will be paid out according to the pay table we mentioned above. The results are generated by a Random Number Generator (RNG) and thus not by a dealer. The RNG software basically creates a series of numbers that represent a particular card and this RNG causes the cards to appear randomly. The video poker game is usually played with 52 cards, which are ranked according to their value:
- Ace (A).
- King (K).
- Queen (Q).
- Jack (B).
- 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 , 4, 3, 2.
In addition: the Ace can also be used to complete a low straight; A, 2, 3, 4, 5. The 4 suits (spades, clubs, diamonds and hearts) also play a role in determining the value of the hand.
Poker Hands at Video Poker
The poker hands are ranked by strength. Below, we’ll start with the highest (and rarest) hands and then move on to the more common hands that are clearly less valuable as well.
- Royal Flush: A, K, V, B, 10 of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: five cards, same suit in order.
- Four of a kind: four cards of the same rank.
- Full House: three of a kind plus a pair.
- Flush: five cards of the same suit.
- Straight: five consecutive cards.
- Three of a kind: three cards of the same suit.
- Two Pair: two pairs of different values.
- One Pair: two cards of the same rank.
If you take a look at it this way, you’ll start to understand why there is some poker to be found in a game of video poker. Some players may relate it more to slots than to poker, but there are definitely some good old poker features in video poker.
RTP
A game’s Return to Player (RTP) is the percentage of total wagers paid back to players in winnings over a longer period of time, over a large number of spins, or a large number of sessions. For example, a game with an RTP of 97% will pay back to players £97 of every £100 wagered. However, because each game outcome is random, the RTP is a statistical payout percentage calculated over a long period of time, which means that short term differences can occur. On the other side of the RTP spectrum we find the house edge is the casino’s built-in advantage, which is basically how the casino generates a profit. Simply put, the house edge is calculated as 100% of the wagers minus the RTP. In the same example above, in the long run, the casino will gain £3 of every £100 wagered. As every outcome of a video poker game is fully random, odds will vary across different hands dealt, and bets made. Still, the average house edge for video poker is considered low, making it a high-yielding game compared to other casino games. For example, the RTP for Jacks or Better 9/6 video poker is 98,181% and 99,543% for a four and five-credit bet, respectively. This translates to a respective house edge of 1,819% and 0,457%.
Most Popular Video Poker Games
This brings us to our next section, that of the most popular video poker games. Video poker games aren’t as popular as slot games or pure table games such as roulette or baccarat, but they still manage to attract the crowds. This is mainly thanks to a few popular video poker games that we have included in the table below. This should give you a better idea of which games to stick to or look for when exploring a new online casino. These games are listed in alphabetical order and don’t show the game’s popularity:
| Game | Description |
|---|---|
| Aces and Faces | Aces and Faces works with increased payouts for different 4 of a kind hands. Do note that the payout for both a full house and a flush is slightly lower in comparison with other popular variants. |
| All American | The most important difference with other popular video poker variants is the paytable. In the game of All American video poker, the payouts are significantly higher for both middle hands and straight flushes. |
| Deuces Wild | Deuces Wild literally means that all deuces (2s) are wild, giving players more options to create hands like four of a kind and even five of a kind. As it is a lot easier to create a royal flush, the best hand in this video poker variant is a "Natural Royal Flush", which is a royal flush without the need to use wild deuces. |
| Jacks and Better | Jacks and Better is arguably the most popular video poker game that considers a pair of jacks as the lowest winning hand. Jacks and Better is very easy to learn and doesn’t have any special rules players of other variants will need to learn. All you have to do is to make sure you understand the paytable to see what every poker hand pays. |
| Joker Poker | Joker Poker is sometimes referred to as Joker Wild. The biggest difference is the inclusion of a joker in the deck that has the function of a wild. Since it's a lot easier to create strong poker hands, the paytable of Joker Poker is very different from the previously mentioned Jacks and Better. The lowest winning hand in this popular video game is usually two pairs. |
Other Types of Poker Games
If you enjoy playing video poker, you’ll most likely enjoy other versions of poker games as well with the most popular versions being Casino Holdem and Caribbean Stud Poker. What these games have in common is that the house is still your opponent and your main task is to create the best poker hand possible. The other rules are comparable with those in video poker and are therefore easy to learn for those that already have some knowledge of the game. A lot of online casinos feature casino poker in their live dealer casino which should give you a similar experience as going to a land based casino. Live poker games are guided by live dealers who are there to welcome you and interact with players. Live dealer poker would probably be your best bet if you’re interested in feeling the same vibe as in your local casino and if you consider yourself skilled enough to play with real money.
Real Money Video Poker Games
Speaking of which: making a wager on the best video poker sites should obviously first be about the thrills and the fun, real money play can turn out to be a lot more exciting as players can earn themselves some real money, which is why many players turn to poker and their variants. When there’s money to win, things get serious and players try to give even more to make a win. This is why real money video poker games are widely available in the UK and the good thing is that you’ll find them with all sorts of betting limits. We believe that real money video poker games are a lot more popular than free demos which we will touch upon next as they are very important too in our opinion. If you’re looking for real money video poker websites we are happy to give you the UK’s very best options.
Play Video Poker for Free
All of these websites should have a free demo section as well as players should get a chance to get familiar with a game without risking their own money. Testing a video poker game in the free demo mode is a perfect way to apply your skills and see how you do. Do note that video poker implies a lot more randomness which for some players may seem comforting, while others find this rather frustrating. Whatever sort of player you consider yourself, free video poker games are a way to play without risking any of your own credits or deposits. Almost all the video poker websites we list on our website give you both demo and real money games so make sure you are aware of your own skills before you decide to move up the ladder and make real money wagers. Either way, have fun and go get ‘em!
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