Video poker is one of the most loved online casino games. There are tons of significant variations so that you can approach Poker from different angles.
Video poker is always available, and you can play quick games whenever you like. The casino bonuses give you a leg up on the house.
Read below to find out all you need to know about video poker.
Find the Best Online Video Poker Casinos in New Jersey
Every legal online casino in New Jersey offers video poker, and many offer the same games. So how do you choose?
These are our top choices based on these criteria:
- Game variety
- Good casino bonuses
- Great user experience
SugarHouse
If you love video poker, SugarHouse has the best deal available! SugarHouse has an outstanding welcome bonus offer: up to $250 matching deposit with just 1x wagering requirement. And even better news, the contribution of video poker games toward the wagering requirement is the same as for slots (1-to-1)!
SugarHouse is not as large as some of the other casinos, but they have all the video poker variations you could want:
- Bonus Poker
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Jacks or Better
- Triple Play Draw Poker
- Five Play Draw Poker
Borgata
Borgata has a great selection of video poker, including these variations:
- Bonus Poker
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Double Regal Poker
- Double Double Regal Poker
- Regal Poker
- Five-play Poker
- Jester Poker
- Jacks or Better
- Deuces Wild
- Deuces Wild Elite
They also consistently have fantastic welcome bonuses and promotional events for members.
Golden Nugget
When it comes to variety, no one beats Golden Nugget!
They have 17 different kinds of video poker! From small bets to high stakes, you’ll find whatever you want at Golden Nugget. And right now they have two enormous bonuses for new customers.
What is Online Video Poker?
Video poker allows you to play poker against a computer. The rules are precisely the same as physical Poker, and there are variations online like those you’ll find in casinos or at your local tournaments.
Many poker players use online video poker to keep their skills sharp between games. You can play for low stakes if you like, but you can also have enormous wins online.
How to Play Video Poker Games
Playing video poke is relatively easy. All you need to do is register with the online casino of your choice.
Most online casinos have a search bar. You can type in “poker” to see the availabilities. If they don’t have that, hit the Casino or Casino Games tab. Then scroll down to see the available games.
Pick your minimum bet amount; then, you can get started. The same rules apply – from folding strategies to the order of wins. So play as you would typically play.
What is the difference between video poker and online poker?
Video poker and online Poker (as played in poker rooms at poker sites) are similar in that you’re playing with virtual cards for both. Instead of shuffling a physical deck, a software program called a Random Number Generator (RNG) makes sure the deck is random and fair.
In video poker, you play against the software only. In online Poker on poker sites, you play against other live players.
Online Video Poker Strategy
Your video poker strategy is essentially the same as the strategy for video poker for online or physical Poker. You play your best game according to your hand. However, there is a significant difference between online play versus physical Poker in reading other players.
There are no other players in video poker, so you can forget about reading them. The computer will be using the perfect strategy to calculate whether to fold or stay in the game just as you should.
In addition to using perfect strategy, you should pick the games with the highest RTP. That is, find the match that forks over the largest payout when you win. This lets you recuperate from losses and work toward beating the house.
For more video poker strategies, check out this page.
Strategies for Winning Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is one of the most popular forms of video poker. Limiting the high cards to jacks or better makes the game quicker as you can grind out poor hands.
Jacks or Better has a 95.5% RTP with perfect play, which means you stand to lose little as you’re working toward that big win.
Some guidelines (though we hesitate to call them rules) are statistically robust for Jacks or Better. These all bear in mind 1) the chart of winning hands, and 2) incline toward forming the Royal Flush where possible.
- If you are dealt a Full House, Three of a Kind, Four of a Kind or Two Pair, always stick. If you’re holding onto a Flush, Higher Pair, Straight, or even Three of a Kind, those are all going to beat three cards that lead up to a Royal Flush.
- Unless you are one card away from a Royal Flush if you are dealt a Flush or a Straight, always stick.
- If you’re one card away from a Royal Flush, discard that card (and cross your fingers).
Royal Flushes are ideal; however, scoring Four of a Kind can win you 25x your bid, which is also not too bad.
The following are essential guidelines that advise toward making a firm hand. In many of these cases, you are trying not to focus on 1) pairs, 2) suits, or 3) flushes.
Even a lower pair can win. If you have three unsuited high cards, you might see their value and start dreaming of flushes and high pairs. Discarding that pair with the hope of pairing one of those high cards is very unlikely? Hold on to that low pair. This might not (and hopefully won’t be!) your most substantial hand of the night, but you want to play the most substantial hand you’re able to with what you’re dealt.
Types of Online Video Poker Games
For types of online video poker, you’ll find that Hold’em is the most popular. But then there are more variations. Many of the types of Poker available differ in the available bonus options.
Here are some of the most popular types:
- Bonus Poker
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Double Regal Poker
- Double Double Regal Poker
- Regal Poker
- Five-play Poker
- Jester Poker
- Jacks or Better
- Deuces Wild
- Deuces Wild Elite
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better has a favorable RTP (95.5%). And it is enjoyable due to its faster action.
Players love Jacks or Better when you want to get in a few quick games. It’s also a great introduction to Poker. Many players start on Jacks or Better and keep going back due to that warm place they’ve preserved for it.
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is another prevalent video poker variation. No doubt its popularity is partly due to that fantastic RTP: 97%! Unlike in regular Poker, all 2s (deuces) are good news. That’s because they’re wild, which can turn a losing hand into a huge winner.
Of course, wild deuces cut both ways. It can also give your opponent a firm hand.
Bonus Poker Variations
Bonus poker is played according to the rules of Jacks or Better. But the bonus is that if you have 4 of a kind, you get a bonus payout.
Like in Jacks or better, you get paid 25-to-1 for Four 5s through Kings. But four 2s, 3s, or 4s payout at a rate of 40-to-1!. Even better than that, four aces are payout at 80-to-1!
Payouts are better with double poker variations than you’ll find with most Jack or Better variations. If you are planning on winning, it’s the better bet.
Why play Online Video Poker?
There are several reasons to play video poker online. But they all boil down to this: You make more money playing online.
The reasons are:
- Better Bonuses
- Better Odds
- Smarter Playing
Let’s look at these points individually.
Bonuses
A great bonus from the casino lets you start ahead of the house. Get free bonus dollars, or see your money double with a matching deposit offer.
Online casinos know that offers for free money are the best way to beat their competitors. So start with some free cash.
We think SugarHouse has the best deal right now. Up to $250 deposit match on your first deposit. And, unlike some other deposit match offers, each dollar counts 100% toward that low 1x wagering requirement.
Better Odds
You have better odds in online video poker than in other kinds of Poker for a few reasons. It’s easy to find a version with a lower house edge (or, what amounts to the same thing, a higher Return to Player (RTP) percentage).
The best you’ll find are 3- and 5- Draw Poker. These allow you to play multiple hands at once. Keep the good ones and fold the duds! There’s no rush – no one is breathing down your neck when you play online.
Deuce’s Wild is the big winner here because the Not-So-Ugly-Ducks version is held. The higher RTP percentage comes from some vast payouts: 16 coins for a 5 Kind and ten coins for a Straight Flush!
Find these at Virgin and Tropicana!
Smarter Playing
You can also play smarter with video poker. Why is that? Because you can use your strategy cards and notes with no problem!
When you play online, you should be playing perfectly. That doesn’t mean you’ll always win. But it does mean you should be making statistically informed decisions.
Practice perfect play online, and bring those skills to the table when you meet with your friends as well!
Is Online Video Poker Legal in New Jersey?
Yes, you can play online video poker 100% legally in New Jersey. All of the casinos we list are legal.
This means you can use your credit card for payments and receive payments legally. You also have 100% legal protection as a consumer.
Are Online Video Poker Games Rigged?
Every legal online casino operating from New Jersey must obey New Jersey state laws. The Division of Gaming Enforcement regulates online video poker games.
Can You Play Online Video Poker for Free?
Yes, you can play online video poker for free. Just use a bonus from an online casino. Grab a prize from one of the links on this page, which can let you play online for free with a casino bonus.
You can also try out video poker by playing in demo mode. However, you cannot win money in demo mode.