It’s been a long road to popularity for video poker, which is now played on computerized gaming consoles taking up similar floor space to a slot machine.

The prospect of video poker was conceived in 1891

The origins of video poker begin in the late 19^th century, when Sittman & Pitt devised a five-reel poker machine game. Each drum contained ten playing cards and when a coin was entered and the lever pulled, the drums would spin and the symbols land at random. This is similar to how video poker works today, with the randomized outcome of the cards dealt on-screen.

The earliest instances of the arcade-style consoles we see today for video poker were conceived in 1970 by a firm named Dale Electronics. This company pioneered the world’s first genuine video poker machine, which is still revered in the industry today and known as Poker-Matic.

The Poker-Matic machine was an instant hit up and down the iconic Las Vegas Strip. It was installed in almost every casino in Sin City, around the same time as the boom of Atari’s arcade video games; there is now a new Atari 2600+ set for release in November 2023. It provided inspiration for casino game distributors to pioneer new versions, with Bally Gaming’s Si Redd pitching the Video Poker concept to senior executives in the company’s Chicago headquarters. The pitch was unanimously rejected as executives weren’t keen on diverging from the slot machines that’d proven such a commercial hit through the years.

The birth of SIRCOMA

Bally Gaming’s loss was Si Redd’s own gain. Bally Gaming allowed Redd to forge ahead with the concept himself. He formed a company called Si Redd’s Coin Machines (SIRCOMA) and eventually secured a deal with Fortune Coin Company in nearby Reno to produce his visionary arcade-style video poker machines – which he then successfully patented.

By the turn of the 1980s, video poker had established itself as the most successful new game release on the floors of brick-and-mortar casinos in Vegas. The first version released to the mass market was called Draw Poker. Players needed to make a hand worth at least two pairs to win. Although it wasn’t named after the poker game, the hand rankings used in Draw Poker and future versions of video poker are based on Texas Hold’em poker, the most successful poker variant of all. That’s due largely to its simplistic game mechanics as well as players’ ability to utilize several theories and strategies to try and win.

Minor tweaks were made to Draw Poker’s gameplay, such as altering the lowest-ranking winnable hand to having a pair of jacks. Hence the popular Jacks or Better video poker games you’ll still find in casinos and online. SIRCOMA thrived off the back of the commercial success of their video poker machines, eventually going public and rebranding to International Gaming Technology (IGT), a brand that’s still synonymous with land-based casino gaming today.

The variations of video poker consoles in existence today

Deuces Wild is one of the longest-standing variants of video poker. It uses a single deck of 52 virtual playing cards. The twist in this game is that all four deuces (2s) act as “wild cards”. They can be worth any value you need to build a successful hand. The lowest hand you need to win is three-of-a-kind. Landing four wild deuces carries the second highest win behind a Royal Flush.

Tens or Better was also released to try and lower the barrier of entry to wins, requiring a pair of tens or better to win instead of jacks. Joker Poker is another fun twist which appeals to both beginner and experienced video poker players. The joker is live in this game and a wild symbol, which means it can be whatever card value you need it to be to help you win. The rub is that the lowest-value hand you need to win is increased to a pair of kings. There’s even video poker variants with progressive jackpots triggered when making a Royal Flush.

Online variants of video poker have emerged as the iGaming industry’s evolved, but there’s still nothing quite like the thrill of sitting down to a vintage arcade-style video poker console.

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There is no denying the huge appeal of this game, but how does video poker add to it with a faster and simpler version of poker?

Easy to Get Started With

Maybe you are keen to start playing poker but aren’t sure how easy it will be for you to learn the rules and strategies you need to begin comfortably. Video poker is a great alternative, as it is a simpler way of playing that is set up something like a slot machine.

Instead of playing against a human, you simply hit the start button to receive a hand of cards. The aim is to create a winning hand, to earn one of the prizes shown on the paytable. There is no need to try and beat another hard to try to guess what other players might have.

Therefore, all you really need to understand is what cards you need to complete one of these winning hands. You can then decide which cards to hold onto if you don’t get a winning hand right away and need to ask for some of the cards to be exchanged for others.

Fast and Entertaining

The gameplay we have just looked at shows us how this is a game and highly entertaining type of casino game. It retains some of the best elements of poker but speeds up the action as well as making it easier for newcomers to get started, giving a slick experience that suits many people who haven’t got the time to study poker rules and strategies.

It could also appeal to an experienced player who likes the thought of getting through a lot of games in little time. For example, if you are in a hurry, you might prefer to play a few games of video poker in the same time it would take you to play a single hand of traditional poker.

There is no waiting around for things to happen in this version of poker, as you get to see the results of your hand immediately. This means that you will probably place more wagers than in traditional poker, so having a good bankroll management strategy in place will help you to manage your funds wisely.

Look for Big Prizes

As mentioned earlier, you will see a selection of prizes in the paytable, which is usually shown above the cards or at the side of the screen. These follow the format of conventional poker hand ranking, with the strongest hands like a royal flush or straight flush giving the biggest wins.

Smaller wins can come from hands such as jacks or better, or two pairs.  The payouts and the types of hands that win you prizes vary from one game to the next, so it is always a good idea to take a look at the paytable to work this out before starting.

If there is a jackpot to be won, this can be picked up in different ways. For instance, you might need to get a royal flush on the maximum bet level, or you might need a full house plus a bonus card to trigger this payout. The paytable will tell you how you can win the jackpot.

Lots of Different Versions

Another big advantage of this online card game is that it comes in a wide variety of versions. From Jacks Or Better to Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, and so on.

While the gameplay is essentially the same in these games, you will notice differences such as the payout levels and the bonuses on offer. You can find a website for playing video poker online here.

A good example comes with Double Bonus Poker, where you can get bigger payouts for specific 4 of kind hands with a certain kicker. Differences like this help to keep the action fresh and interesting if you decide to switch between games during a session.

A High RTP

Finally, you will notice that all online casino games mention their RTP. This is the return to player, and we can look on it as being a different way of looking at the house edge. A 99% RTP means that the casino will expect to return 99% of the amount wagered by players, leaving the game with a modest 1% house edge.

Video poker games tend to be among the titles with the highest RTP percentages, meaning that you can hope to win fairly regularly on them. This should help you to play for longer, even if you start with a fairly limited playing budget. It is also worth noting that you can play with small wager amounts, which should you to keep playing for longer if that is your aim. A wide range of staking options is available, meaning that you can choose exactly how you want to play based on your personality and preferred approach

The post Why You Must Try Video Poker appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Video poker has one of the lowest house edges in casinos with some machines having a RTP of nearly 100%. The opportunity to win frequently makes video poker highly attractive for players. However, just like the card game, video poker has a set of rules you should follow if you want to win.

What Makes Video Poker So Special?

Since its introduction to the gambling scene back in the 1970s, video poker has only grown in popularity and there are a few reasons why. First, it allows players to enjoy a game of poker in peace as you’re not competing against other players. Furthermore, video poker offers some of the highest odds in casinos and is a game which is based purely on skill which goes in favor of the players.

What Are the Rules?

If you’ve ever played poker, you already know the rules. Video poker is based on draw poker and the same rules the card game uses apply here as well – you’re just playing the computer, not other players. Once you’ve placed your bet, click on deal and you’ll get 5 cards. You can hold onto the cards that suit you and get rid of the others – they will be replaced with new cards that will hopefully improve your hand.

If your hand is a Royal Flush, a Straight Flush or One of a Kind, you will get the highest payout. You know, just like in real poker. Before placing any bets, however, we strongly advise checking the RTP of the machine and the hit frequency as well. For a wide selection of high paying video poker games check out this casino.

Video Poker Strategies

As there are many different variations of poker, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy for poker. Depending on the type you’ve picked, you can find a basic or advanced strategy online. However, there are some basic rules that apply to all poker variations and should be followed by all players.

The first rule is obvious – always hold a Royal or Straight flush. If you have Three of a Kind, remove the remaining two cards to see if you can get Four of a Kind. You should also go for the maximum bets more often or always – betting the minimum and getting a Royal Flush will definitely be irritating. This can spend burn through your bankroll fast, but the chances of hitting the jackpot will be bigger.

Multi-Hand and Progressive Video Poker Machines

Just like slots, some video poker machines have multiple winning lines (hands) that can significantly increase the payout. There are progressive video poker machines which offer riches beyond your dreams, but both types need a player with a sizeable bankroll as they as the bets multiply with the number of hands. Play your cards right, however, and you could walk home with millions.

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