Internet Video Poker Tactics
The bonus play-through percentage figures for internet video poker are an indicator of online casinos profit expectations. On average, bonus play-through stipulations at online casinos are approximately
25x on Slots
40x on video Poker
50x on Roulette
60x on Blackjack
Slots to Blackjack
This confirms that internet casinos make the most money from slot machines and the least from blackjack players.
Overall video poker payouts are considerably better than returns on slots, even on video poker machines with poor pay tables. This is especially true for those of us who have learned to play expertly and know how to select the best available payout schedules.
To my mind, video poker should be rated the same as blackjack. The reason internet video poker is not categorized equally with blackjack is because too many video poker games have substandard payout tables. People play them anyway, because they don't know better or can't be bothered to care.
Bet 5 Coins
Note that all percentage figures given in this article pertain to maximum bets (5 coins per hand). Betting less than five coins lowers the calculated return percentage because you receive the Royal Flush bonus of 4,000 coins only with 5 coins bet.
Don't assume you won't ever get a Royal Flush! Regretfully, it happened to me on two occasions when I hadn't wagered maximum coins!
'Full Pay' Games
It pays to search for the best video poker pay tables available. Don't be tricked into playing second-rate games. Below we'll discuss the merits of some popular Internet video poker versions.
Jacks or Better
In Jacks or Better the standard payout for every coin bet is 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush. Substandard games pay 8 coins and 5 coins respectively, and worse. The percentage difference in payout is 2.26%; the 8/5 game pays 97.30% - more than an extra 2¼% goes to the casino! Play 9/6 Jacks or Better only!
Deuces Wild
If You're lucky enough to find a "full-pay" Deuces Wild game, the best possible payout percentage is 100.76%. Unfortunately, the best version online casinos offer is what's called 'Not So Ugly' Deuces Wild, rated at 99.73% payback. You've found a 'Not So Ugly" game if the table reads like this:
Royal Flush 4,000
Four Deuces 1,000
Wild Royal Flush 125
Five of a Kind 80
Straight Flush 50
Four of a Kind 20
Full House 20
Flush 15
Straight 10
Three of a Kind 5
There are several other Deuces Wild pay table variations with payout percentages ranging from 98.9% down to just under 96%. I suggest you avoid all of those, particularly when you're aiming to fulfill bonus wagering requirements.
Double Double Bonus Poker
This is one of my favorite internet video poker games. You won't find the best paying Double Double Bonus games online. Even in Las Vegas, full-pay versions (paying 100.07%) can be found in only a few casinos, often only in 25-cent denominations and not on the Strip.
If you choose a game with a pay table the same as, or almost identical to the one below, the return will be a respectable 99%, give or take a few percentage fractions:
Royal Flush 4,000
Four Aces with 2,3 or 4 2,000
Four 2's, 3's or 4's with Ace 800
Four Aces 800
Four 2's, 3's or 4's 400
Four of a Kind 5's to K's 250
Straight Flush 250
Full House 45
Flush 30
Straight 20
Three of a Kind 15
Two Pair 5
Pair of Jacks or higher 5
Note that the two easiest to get hands only return your bet, but line up one of the top four hands and be elated! Compared to Jacks or Better, this game and Deuces Wild are high volatility, that's why they are exciting to play.
Joker Poker
Another popular internet video poker variation is Joker Poker, sometimes called Joker Wild. In this game there is an extra card in the deck, the joker. It is a wild card that substitutes for whatever card is needed to produce a winning hand.
Because of this, payout amounts are lower than for the same hand in games without a wild card. The best pay table you will find online looks like this and is rated at around 99% payback:<br>
Natural Royal Flush 4,000
Five of a Kind 1,000
Royal Flush with Joker 500
Straight Flush 250
Four of a Kind 90
Full House 35
Flush 25
Straight 15
Three of a Kind 10
Two Pair 5
Pair of Kings or Aces 5
Note in this game you need a pair of Kings or two Aces to have your bet returned. Personally, I'd opt to fulfill my wagering obligations by playing one of the other three games mentioned above. I've never had any luck playing Joker Wild.
There are at least a dozen more types of video poker games to choose from. If you want to know pay table and percentage numbers for other than what's on this page, simply type your query into Google or other search engine; the information is out there.
Thank you for reading and good luck meeting your bonus play-through obligations.
