The Right Equation: How To Play Video Poker At NJ Online Casinos
Visit any of our top five recommended NJ gambling websites, and there’s one game that’s almost as visible as slots.
Although nothing comes close to video slots in terms of quantity, video poker is right up there when it comes to variety and diversity. Indeed, if you log in to 888 Casino, you’ll find everything from Double Bonus Poker and Double Double Bonus Poker to Jacks or Better.
Skip over to Golden Nugget and it’s a similar story. As well as classics like Deuces Wild and Tens or Better, you’ll find an array of interesting innovations, including Regal Poker and Destiny Poker.
Basically, when it comes to variety, video poker is fantastic. However, as much as it’s great to have tons of options, it does make it tougher to make a choice. In reality, the type of video poker you choose to play should be a matter of personal preference.
In fact, if you use the practice options at our top-rated NJ online casino list, you’ll be able to test out the main games for free and see which ones suit.
However, if you’re looking for a little more in the way of guidance, it’s important to study the facts. In the rest of this week’s guide, we’re going to tell you what some of the best video poker variants are and how you can improve your earning potential.
The mathematics of video poker
Like all casino games, video poker has a numerical core. In other words, the outcome of any given game is determined by mathematics. Because of this, it’s possible to say XX game is statistically more profitable than YY.
Now, before we give you some examples, it’s important to clarify that statement. In the gaming world, return rates are always theoretical. Because the outcome of a single betting round is random, it’s impossible to say you’ll win this many times out of 10, for example.
However, by looking at games in terms of infinity, it’s possible to say that, in the long-run, you should expect to win XX% of the time. While that’s helpful as a general marker, this percentage should be taken as a guide for a single session.
For example, if a video poker’s return-to-player rate was 97 percent, that doesn’t mean you’ll win $97 for every $100 you bet. What it means is that you should expect to win around 97 percent of the time if you played forever.
Basically, the point to understand here is that just because a certain game has a better return rate, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll win more money. In fact, you could play a statistically inferior game and win more in the short-term.
The best video poker payback percentages
Following on from those points, the following overview of the best video poker payback rates shouldn’t be taken as an indication of how much you’ll win each time you play:
Deuces Wild
According to professional video poker player Bob Dancer, deuces wild should be the go-to game for any aspiring player.
Even though the minimum winning hand is three-of-a-kind, the wild deuces mean that you can make a ranked combination a fair amount of the time. Assuming the game has a full pay structure – i.e. wins are 25X/15X/9X/5X/3X/2X your stake – this variant has a theoretical payback percentage of 100.76 percent.
Bonus Poker
This category can include variants such as Double Bonus and Regal Bonus poker.
The benefit of bonus poker is that you can win additional prizes when you make certain hands. Depending on how the payouts are structured, it’s possible to see payback rates of 99.64 percent in these games.
Jacks or Better
A video poker classic, jacks or better is a game that does what it says on the tin.
Put simply, if you have a pair of jacks or better, you’ll win some money. If you can find a game with a 9/6 payout structure, i.e. a full house pays 9X your bet and a flush 6X (as opposed to 8/5 etc), the theoretical return rate is 99.54 percent.
Learn to think like a poker pro
Now, it’s important to note that the above return rates are based on perfect play.
So, if you made all the right moves at all the right times, the amount you win over a long period of time should fall in line with these figures. Of course, playing perfectly isn’t easy and we can’t give you a masterclass on how to do it right now. However, if you choose the right variants, that’s a good start.
Beyond that, you need to think like a poker player.
In practice, this means understanding how likely a hand is based on the cards you hold and the number of cards left in the deck.
For example, if you held four spades, you’d need one more to make a flush. Based on a 52-card deck with five cards already dealt, there are nine spades left to help you. With a single draw, you’d have a 19 percent chance of hitting your flush (9 spades / 47 cards left in the deck = 0.19 X 100 = 19%).
By analyzing situations in this way, you can start to see which hands are worth chasing and which ones aren’t. See? It really is all about math.
The best video poker at the best NJ online casinos
Of course, it will take some time before you become a video poker master. However, if you follow the above principles, you should find that video poker is a game where logical plays can help turn things in your favor.
With this in mind, make sure you check out what our top NJ online casinos have to offer.
To give you a flavor of what’s out there, we’ve listed some of the best sites and games below. Once you’ve found a few options that tickle your fancy, follow the accompanying links and start playing video poker today:
Caesars Casino
- 100 Hand American
- Deuces Wild
- Jester Poker
- Triple Play Draw Poker
Follow this link to check out Caesars Casino’s other video poker games.
Betfair Online
- Five Play Draw Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Jacks or Better
Follow this link to check out Betfair Casino’s other video poker games.
Ocean Online Casino
- Deuces Wild
- Jacks or Better
- Bonus Poker
Follow this link to check out Ocean Casino’s other video poker games.
Golden Nugget
- Destiny Poker (exclusive to Golden Nugget)
- Regal Poker
- All American
- Tens or Better
Follow this link to check out Golden Nugget online casino’s other video poker games.
888 Casino
- Bonus Poker
- Jacks or Better
- Double Bonus Poker
Follow this link to check out 888 NJ online casino’s other video poker games.