Video Poker

Video poker first made its debut in the United States in the 1970s and since then has become the hottest casino game, both online and offline. Video poker is the combination between two of the most popular forms of gambling entertainment, namely slots and poker. The inventors of video poker joined the two to bring players the excitement of slots and the challenge of poker, making this a truly exceptional game.

The video poker industry has grown to incredible heights in the last few decades, and software companies continue to offer players exciting themed games, with better prizes and bonuses. Progressive video poker games are all the rage, especially at online casino sites, with prizes reaching into the millions of dollars.

Video poker enjoys immense popularity for a number of reasons. It is less intimidating than regular poker yet still requires players to use a certain amount of skill to make decisions about their hands. On the other hand, while not as simplistic as slots, it is still simple enough to enjoy without having to memorize lists of strategies. However, if players learn to use the optimal strategy, they can even develop an advantage over the house edge.

As mentioned, video poker is a combination between slots and poker. The history of slots – a true red, white and blue invention – goes back to the late 1800s, when Charles Fey invented the first machine. As soon as the Liberty Bell hit the scene, it took the entertainment world by storm and slot machines can be found in practically every gambling establishment around the globe today. One of the features of Fey’s machines that was a direct contribution to video poker was the “hold and draw” combination that allowed players to keep some drums after their first spin and then continue to spin other drums to see what luck brought them.

While card games surfaced in the Middle Ages, the popularity of poker really began in the United States and was first recorded in the 1800s as a popular pastime among riverboat men. While the first versions of poker were relatively scanty, the game soon became more and more exciting as more cards such as the Joker and wildcards were added.

The machine that is seen as the father of all video poker machines is the 1975 video bell slot machine produced by the Fortune Coin Company. This is the machine that made video poker so popular amongst the gambling population and its creation soon brought about other developments in the field. In 1979, Draw Poker was invented by SIRCOMA and the game was finally on its way to mass popularity.

Video poker made a very successful and easy transition into the world of online gambling, thanks in part to its popularity and also because most of its features are computerized to begin with. Millions of people regularly play online video poker and alternative forms such as Jacks or Better. If the statistics of the online gambling industry are anything to go by, the future of video poker looks very promising.

Average Payout: The standard payout that can be expected from a machine if played over a long period of time. Boat: A full house.

Complete Hand: A poker hand that uses all the cards in a combination.

Credits: The amount of money deposited into the machine and the sum of the money won – recorded on a meter on the video poker machine.

Deuces: Cards that have a face value of 2.

Discard: The option to ‘throw away’ a card if the player doesn’t want to use it; done by pressing the discard button.

Draw: To summon replacement cards.

Double Up: To double the wager on a winning hand.

Fish Hooks: Another name for Jacks.

Flush: A hand that contains five cards that are of the same suit.

Four of a Kind: A hand that has four cards that are of the same denomination.

Full House: A hand that contains three cards of the same denomination plus a pair.

High Card: Any card that is a King, Queen or Jack.

Jackpot: Offered by some video poker games as an extra prize for hitting the highest hand.

Ladies: A Queen.

Max Bet: The maximum amount of coins that can be bet on a particular machine.

Multi-Play: The type of video poker machines that allow players to hold more than one hand at a time.

Pat Hand: A hand that is made up of a perfect combination from the initially dealt cards.

Pay Off: The amount of coins paid for a winning hand of cards.

Payout Schedule: A list posted on every video poker machine that explains the number of coins that are paid for winning hands.

Rag: 3 or 4 cards that come from different suits.

Royal Flush: Considered the highest hand in poker and consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit.

Straight: Cards that are in numerical order but that do not belong to the same suit.

Three of a Kind: A hand of cards that consists of three cards with the same denomination (eg. 3 Fours).

Trips: Two of a kind.

Wildcard: Usually a Joker, but can be any other card that substitutes for all cards in the deck.

Winning Hand: Any hand of cards that the video poker machine will pay the player out for getting it. The payout schedule will list the winning hands and their payout amounts.

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