Video Poker Online Payouts and Odds

Video poker online is a cracking casino game that blends elements of traditional poker with the thrill of slot machines. What makes it stand out is that players get to make strategic choices based on the initial hand they're dealt. This means it's not just about luck – you can seriously boost your winning chances with smarter plays.

However, like all casino games, video poker is designed with a slight house edge. So, while strategy helps, you'll still need a bit of luck on your side to walk away with a profit.

Next, we'll dive into the odds and payouts of this game. You'll discover which variations offer the best returns and what the standard paytable looks like.

What Are Your Chances? Understanding Video Poker Odds

The odds of winning in video poker can depend on the specific variation you're playing. Generally, though, video poker boasts some of the best odds you'll find at online casinos in South Africa. It typically surpasses the odds offered by slot machines or online roulette.

In most cases, the house edge for online video poker games in South Africa ranges from less than 0.5% to just over 5%. You can usually find this information by clicking on the game details at any reputable video poker online casino.

Decoding Video Poker Payout Charts

While video poker odds are crucial, knowing the payouts for each winning hand is just as important for South African players.

Depending on the game you're playing, you might get decent payouts for simpler hand combinations. In other variations, you'll need to aim for higher-ranking hands and expect most of your winnings from a few key rounds during an extended playing session.

So, always take the time to study the payout charts for the specific variant you're playing. These charts detail the payouts for every hand combination, helping you devise a video poker strategy that suits the situation.

Next, let's look at some payout chart examples for the most popular video poker games available to players in South Africa.

Jacks or Better: A South African Favourite

Jacks or Better is one of the most popular video poker variations around, and it features a straightforward payout chart. Here's a look at a common chart for this classic game:

• Royal Flush: 1 to 250
• Straight Flush: 1 to 50
• Four of a Kind: 1 to 25
• Full House: 1 to 9
• Flush: 1 to 6
• Straight: 1 to 4
• Three of a Kind: 1 to 3
• Two Pairs: 1 to 2
• Jacks or Better: 1 to 1

The lowest-paying hand is a pair of jacks (or better), and the highest-paying hand is a Royal Flush. The odds of hitting a Royal Flush in Jacks or Better are approximately 1 in 40,000.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is another popular variation of video poker that offers players the chance to hit big payouts. In Deuces Wild, all twos are considered wild cards. It means that they can be used to substitute any card to create a winning hand.

See an example of a Deuces Wild payout chart:

• Natural Royal Flush: 1 to 800
• Four Deuces: 1 to 200
• Wild Royal Flush: 1 to 25
• Five of a Kind: 1 to 15
• Straight Flush: 1 to 10
• Four of a Kind: 1 to 4
• Full House: 1 to 4
• Flush: 1 to 3
• Straight: 1 to 2
• Three of a Kind: 1 to 1

The highest-paying hand in Deuces Wild is a Natural Royal Flush. But players can also hit a Five-of-a-Kind or a Wild Royal Flush, which can be even more lucrative.

Joker Poker

Joker Poker is a variation of video poker online that includes a joker card as a wild card — the 53rd card in the deck. See below an example of a payout chart for a Joker Poker Kings or Better game:

• Natural Royal Flush: 1 to 400
• Five of a Kind: 1 to 200
• Royal Flush with Joker: 1 to 100
• Straight Flush: 1 to 50
• Four of a Kind: 1 to 18
• Full House: 1 to 7
• Flush: 1 to 5
• Straight: 1 to 3
• Three of a Kind: 1 to 2
• Two Pairs: 1 to 1
• Kings or Better: 1 to 1

The highest-paying hand in Joker Poker is a natural Royal Flush. Players can also hit a Five-of-a-Kind or a Wild Royal Flush — that is, a Royal Flush with a Joker.

Best Video Poker odds

The variations of video poker with the best odds are, at the same time, the ones with the lowest house edge. See below the average odds for the most popular variations played online:

• Jacks or Better: 99,54%
• Deuces Wild: 99,42%
• Joker Poker: 98,47%

Have in mind that there are different versions of the same variant. Those are the odds for a standard game, without any extra features that could impact the results.

Video Poker online casino Jackpots

Many online casinos offer video poker games with progressive jackpots. A progressive jackpot increases every time the game is played — if the jackpot is not won.

That can add some emotion to a game. Actually, you can ignore all the best video poker odds available in online casinos if you ever hit a jackpot. But have in mind that, even though the potential payout can be huge, the odds of winning it tend to be very low.