How To Play Video Poker Online

Play free video poker online to experience a casino classic without risking money. Playing online video poker for free includes trying the game in instant-play demo mode so you can learn the ins and outs and practice good strategy. You can also win cash prizes by playing free online video poker at social casinos, available in most US states.

If you’re looking to play video poker for real money, almost every brick-and-mortar casino and all legal US online casinos offer the game. After all, video poker is built into practically every bar top in Las Vegas. And playing for free will help you develop your skills to win the real deal.

Play Free Video Poker Online

You can try the nine-in-one Game King Video Poker at Bonus. Click the “play now” button to bring up the instant-play demo practice mode. Choose your favorite video poker variation, or give something new a try. Enjoy unlimited free video poker online below.

Where To Play Video Poker Online?

Free Online Video Poker

You can play free online video poker at Bonus.com. Another option is to visit one of several legal online casinos in the US. Either way, free video poker is accessible via desktop and mobile browser and runs smoothly on either platform. For online casino play, most offer a dedicated app for both iOS and Android devices.

If you choose to play free online video poker at an online casino, set the game to demo mode rather than real-money mode. Some online casinos for real money also let you play for free online before you create an account. Examples include DraftKings Casino and Golden Nugget Casino, which have free video poker available to all site visitors.

Social casinos are a great bet if you are in a state where online casinos are not legal (yet). We love Chumba Casino for its video poker selection, particularly the Jacks or Better game. If you’re looking for social casinos with video poker, you can learn more and get free signup bonuses with the special Bonus.com link.

Legal Online Casinos

The following states offer real-money video poker from licensed online casinos sites:

• Michigan Online Casinos
• New Jersey Online Casinos
• Pennsylvania Online Casinos
• West Virginia Online Casinos
• Connecticut Online Casinos
• Delaware Online Casinos
  

As far as we know, every legal real-money online casino in the US offers video poker. The most common variation is Jacks or Better, but you can usually find “Game King,” which houses several versions of video poker under one title.

The most common video poker is also the one with the best odds, or return to player (RTP) rate. The average RTP for Jacks or Better is around 98.91%, which is better than some versions of online blackjack.

However, other video poker variations offer higher win potential than Jacks or Better. Usually, those with the lower RTP offer the biggest top prizes. Some online casinos even offer a progressive jackpot video poker, though six-figure fixed jackpots are more common in the US.

Social Casinos

Social casinos and sweepstakes casinos are a fantastic alternative if you live in a state that doesn’t offer real-money online casinos but you want to play free video poker for a shot at cash prizes. For that matter, they are a great choice even in states with legal online gambling.

The video poker games themselves do not change at social casinos. What does change are the coins that you use. You play with two different types of coins. One is called Gold Coins (GC), which are for fun and practice. However, you can also play with Sweeps Coins (SC), and you can redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes at a 1:1 exchange rate.

Another key distinction is that social/sweepstakes casinos, can be played for free. Just by creating an account, you get free GC and SC. You can also receive free coins (both types) by logging in, sending a request by mail, winning social media promotions, and more. Of course, you can choose to buy Gold Coins, which will also get you FREE Sweeps Coins, but you never need to in order to access the games.

How To Play Video Poker For Free Online

Playing free video poker online means you don’t have to worry about creating an account or depositing money. Instead, you can simply play in demo practice mode on a website like Bonus.com. You can also find some online casinos that let you play video poker online for free directly on their website (usually not the app), with no account required. These include Golden Nugget Casino and DraftKings Casino, two high-quality options that also boast lucrative casino bonus welcome offers for new players looking to play real money video poker online.

Most online casinos offer Game King, a nine-in-one video poker game developed by software company IGT. This is also the most common option at brick-and-mortar casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and beyond.

The nine video poker variations available via Game King include:

• Jacks or Better
• Bonus Poker
• Bonus Poker Deluxe
• Double Bonus Poker
• Double Double Bonus Poker
• Triple Double Bonus Poker
• Deuces Wild Poker
• Deuces Wild Bonus Poker

But you can also find spins on these options, such as Joker Poker, with extra wilds in the deck, and 10s or Better, a variation of Jacks or Better with a comparable RTP.

Which type of video poker should you choose? It depends on if you’re going for the biggest wins, the best odds, or the most exciting gameplay. So it’s worth it to spend the time to try each one in free mode.

Bonus: you’ll have a great time along the way. There’s a reason video poker is one of the most popular casino games, and it’s not because it’s boring.

Video Poker Rules

How to play video poker is the same at an online casino as it is at a brick-and-mortar casino. Either way, the digital game uses random number generators (RNGs) to determine fair and random outcomes based on the odds.

Know The Paytable And Set Your Bet

For this guide, let’s use the most popular option, Jacks or Better. All video poker variations follow this basic structure.

The paytable above the cards represents how much you win depending on the value of your final hand. Payouts follow standard poker hand values, with a pair of jacks or better winning your money back and a Royal Flush triggering the top prize. Here’s a breakdown:

• Jacks or Better (1x bet) 
• Two Pair (2x bet)
• 3 Of A Kind (3x bet)
• Straight (4x bet)
• Flush (5x bet)
• Full House (8x bet)
• 4 Of A Kind (25x bet)
• Straight Flush (50x bet)
• Royal Flush (800x bet)

When you increase your bet, you’ll notice that the prize value of each increases as well. This is based on the multiplier. For example, if you’re betting the minimum $0.10 per hand, a Royal Flush wins $80.00. If you bet the maximum of $100 per hand, a Royal Flush wins $80,000.

Build Your Hand

Once you’ve set your bet, click the “deal” button. You’ll receive five cards from a single deck. Select the cards you want to hold with a click or a tap, and don’t select the cards you want replaced with new cards from the same deck. You can hold all five cards or replace all five and any amount between.

Then click the “draw” button. The cards you didn’t hold will be replaced with new cards, creating your final hand.

Most players either go for the minimum prize or shoot for the biggest prizes. If you’re part of the former, you would keep a pair of jacks to guarantee your money back. If you’re part of the latter group, you’d replace one or both jacks in the hopes of landing a Royal Flush.

Double Up Video Poker

Some video poker variations allow you to go for double or nothing after a win. So, for example, if you win 2x your bet from a two-pair, you could try to make that 4x with the double up feature.

If you go for it, your card must beat the house’s card. It’s that simple and based on random luck.

Video Poker Odds

Game King Video Poker ranges in odds from 98.91% RTP to 97.80% RTP at most online casinos. At some land-based casinos, you can also find a payback percentage over 99.50%.

Playing Jacks or Better generally gives you the best odds of winning. However, the more special features and the bigger the win potential, the worse the odds become.

For example, it’s more difficult to win your money back on a game like Joker Poker compared to Jacks or Better because your hand value needs to be higher than a pair of jacks. In Joker Poker’s case, the minimum hand value is kings or better, and you can win with unique hands like a “5 Of A Kind” and a “Royal Flush with Joker.”

Video poker doesn’t offer a “cheat sheet” like the basic strategy card for blackjack. Players can improve their odds by practicing strategy with free online poker. 

How To Play Video Poker At Casinos

Video poker is one of the most common games at brick-and-mortar casinos. As mentioned above, almost every bar top in Las Vegas has built-in video poker tables. But all casinos across the US have video poker unless it’s specifically prohibited by law. For example, card rooms in California can’t have video machines, which include both slots and video poker.

One common reason to play video poker at a bar in Las Vegas? You get free drinks. If the bartender sees you’re playing the game, they’ll usually provide complimentary alcoholic beverages until you stop playing. It’s essential to pay special attention to Responsible Gaming best practices when doing this. Alcohol makes it easier to bet over budget, lose track of time, and make costly mistakes while playing.

So if you’re playing video poker to win, it’s a good idea to play it sober. And no matter if you’re playing it online or in a brick-and-mortar casino, play only with money you can afford to lose. All casino games have an RTP under 100%, which means players lose more money than they win.

Free Online Video Poker FAQs