The ultimate guide to online video poker at real money casinos
It’s easy to see why online video poker is popular among players in the US. Sure you won’t find as many video poker games online compared with video slots. But if you’re after better odds and a game of skill rather than pure luck — video poker might just be the thing for you.
But where’s the best casino to play video poker online? What about the different types of video poker? What are the best strategies to win?
In our guide to online video poker, we’ll cover all this and more — kicking things off with our list of the best casinos to play video poker in the US.
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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95/100 Games rating by Vule P. 91% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
14 payment methods 
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2
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91/100 Games rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on |
100% match bonus up to $250
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
11 payment methods
|
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3
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90/100 Games rating by Dasha G. 80% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 + 100 free spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
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4
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89/100 Games rating by Denise M. 84% Playscore based on |
100% bonus back up to $1,000
|
Play now players accepted |
8 payment methods
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5
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88/100 Games rating by Dasha G. 86% Playscore based on |
100% up to $2,500 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
11 payment methods
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6
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88/100 Games rating by Vule P. 85% Playscore based on |
Bonus Money reload up to $500
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
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7
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87/100 Games rating by Paul P. 92% Playscore based on |
$20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
13 payment methods
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8
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85/100 Games rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
$25 free + up to $500 in deposit bonuses
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
|
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9
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82/100 Games rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
200% up to $100 + 25 free spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
14 payment methods
|
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10
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81/100 Games rating by Charlie S. 82% Playscore based on |
100% Deposit Match up to $500 + 500 Free Spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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1
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96/100 Games rating by Paul P. 87% Playscore based on |
Up to 120,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
3 payment methods
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2
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95/100 Games rating by Vule P. 80% Playscore based on |
35,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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3
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92/100 Games rating by Dasha G. 89% Playscore based on |
400% Welcome Package Discount, 1M FC + 1M GC Raffle Entry, 20 Weekly Free Spins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
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4
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92/100 Games rating by Paul P. 83% Playscore based on |
Up to 5000 Gold Coins + 0.6 Sweepstake Cash and 3 Treasure Chests
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
10 payment methods 
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5
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92/100 Games rating by Paul P. 81% Playscore based on |
Up to 400,000 Gold Coins + 40 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
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6
|
91/100 Games rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
1,000,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Spree Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
|
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7
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91/100 Games rating by Paul P. 83% Playscore based on |
15,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods
|
|
8
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91/100 Games rating by Paul P. 90% Playscore based on |
57,000 Gold Coins + 27.5 free Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods
|
|
9
|
90/100 Games rating by Paul P. 82% Playscore based on |
7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
|
|
10
|
90/100 Games rating by Paul P. 96% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins + $25 Stake Cash
|
Play now players accepted |
Good to know
10 payment methods
|
We rate our top online video poker casinos based on which are best for video poker players. It’s that simple. We have to look beyond our overall expert ratings to make that decision.
You’ll see that some casinos have a higher overall expert rating but are lower down on this list. Overall ratings do matter, of course, but the list is designed to help you specifically discover the best online video poker experience in the US.
How we rate video poker casinos
At Time2play we consider a number of things when we put together our best online casino video poker list. We’ve broken them down into different categories for you. The more you know, the more you can find the best casino for you. Check out some of our most important rating criteria:
Games
Video poker games online come in different variants. We want to see casinos offer the largest number of online video poker games possible. These always include Jacks or better and Deuces Wild — two of the most popular forms of video poker. If they have jester poker and ten draw, multi-hand poker for experienced players, then we’ll rank them higher on our list. Overall, we’d hope to see around 15 types of video poker games at the best casinos in the US. Quality matters just as much as quantity when we rate any online casino game. We want to see decent graphics, smooth gameplay, and more for casinos to make it to the top of the list.
Online casino promotions
Finding specific video poker bonuses will be rare, even at the best online video poker casinos. What we’d expect to see is that any casino welcome bonuses, in the form of no-deposit and deposit match bonuses, are available to use with video poker games. We’re on the lookout for a 100% deposit match, ideally up to $1000 — as at BetMGM — although maximum deposit matches can be $250 (which is the case with SugarHouse). When it comes to tournaments, we’d like to see operators with dedicated poker sections, like BetMGM, listing tournament dates, rules, minimum buy-ins, and more important info.
Software
What about the best video poker software providers? We’d expect to see Spin Games, IGT, and SG Digital represented. Spin Games titles are usually available at the best US casinos. IGT and SG Digital have pushed things forward in terms of graphics and gameplay — so if their video poker titles are available we’ll give extra points to a casino. For a higher ranking, we’d hope to see casino-exclusive online video poker games, as you can find at 888 casino.
App/ mobile interface
When it comes to video poker at the best mobile casinos in the US, availability matters to us, and we’d expect to see all online video poker offerings available to play mobile. But usability matters to us as well — we want to know how well video poker functions on a casino’s mobile app. We want to see video poker games with decent graphics, smooth gameplay, and glitch and crash-free.
Overall casino rating
Video poker offerings, with some exceptions, tend to be similar across different US casinos. That’s why we consider overall casino offerings when we rate the best online video poker casinos. We want to see live casino and a decent range of payment options — allowing you to make real money casino deposits with PayPal, for instance. Customer service should also be easy to contact and quick to respond. Overall safety features like two-factor authentication, geo-locators, and encryption for transactions are also features we’d expect to see. When we’re picking the best, we’d expect to see all this and more.
Video poker games online – different variants
Video poker games online come in various forms, but most are five draw, fixed-odds poker games. The three most common types of online video poker are jacks or better, deuces wild, and joker poker. There are some minor but significant differences between these games. There are also variations on these types of video poker games that’ll suit players with different levels of experience. It might seem a bit confusing to new players, but we’ll break them down for you in the next section.
Jacks or better
Are you new to video poker? Jacks or better might be your best bet. It’s the most popular form of video poker and pretty much the easiest to grasp for new players. How it works is this, you’ll get a winning hand if you get a pair of Jacks or higher. A royal flush (ten, jack, queen, king, and ace all in the same suit) will give you the maximum payout. The RTP% for Jacks or Better video poker can be over 98% — as is the case at Golden Nugget NJ — which is higher than the average RTP% of other online casino games like slots.
Deuces wild
Another favorite among new players — the game mechanics are favorable, with 2s, or deuces, becoming wild cards. That means out of a deck of 52 cards there are 4 potential wilds. This means winning combinations or hands are that much easier to achieve.
Single hand
Single hand poker is a form of poker where you play with the one hand you’re dealt. It’s more a form of poker rather than a type of poker — so single hand Jacks or better will differ from single hand Deuces Wild. The rules and payouts will depend on what kind of poker game you’re playing. With single-hand poker winning hands like flush and full house will be rare — so the payouts are potentially much greater.
Multi-hand
In multi-hand online video poker, you play with more than one hand at the same time. Multi-hand poker is probably best left to experienced players. While you’ll have more chances to get a winning hand, you’ll end up paying out more for each bet than with single-hand poker. The higher variance means there’s a chance there will be big wins and big losses. Again, as with single-hand poker, the rules of the game will differ depending on what type of video poker game you’re playing.
Tens or better
Tens or better online video poker is similar to jacks or better. The only key difference is that you need tens or better to win. However, your chances of winning big aren’t as big as with other video poker games, so it’s probably best suited to new players who are happy with regular but smaller wins.
Ultimate video poker
Ultimate video poker isn’t a type of game in and of itself. Instead, it’s a branded set of games by IGT, which includes a feature you can activate with IGTs series of Ultimate Video Poker X games. These games include jacks or better, deuces wild, joker poker, bonus video poker deluxe, and more. Ultimate video poker also comes in five and ten, multi-hand draw. Once you’ve activated the ultimate x multiplier, you’re betting that your following hand will be better than your first.
Aces and faces
Another variation on the classic jacks or better video poker game, aces and faces are pretty self-explanatory. You’ll win big if you get four-of-a-kind hands with aces or faces (jacks, kings, queens).
Joker poker
Unlike jacks or better or deuces wild, this game uses a pack of 53 instead of 52 cards, including the joker card. The joker becomes the wild card in joker poker, meaning you can use it to make a winning combination.
Progressive jackpot video poker
Progressive video poker is ideal for players looking to bet and potentially win big. You have to bet the maximum amount of credits to be in for a chance of winning the progressive jackpot. To win the progressive jackpot, you must hit a royal flush.
Bonus video poker
Another variation on jacks or better, bonus video poker offers a bonus when you hit four of a kind. The rank of the cards you get will determine how big your bonus will be. IGT’s Game King video poker offers bonus video poker and bonus poker deluxe for high rollers.What’s the best video poker game for you?
Ready to play a video poker game online? Maybe you’re a new player looking to bet small while you learn the ropes — then jacks or better or deuces wild will be for you. You could be an experienced player or a high-roller, then multi-hand poker and bonus video poker might be more your thing. Check out the types of video poker, who they’re best suited for, and where to play them!
| Video poker game type | Best for | Where to play |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks or better | New players | Borgata casino |
| Deuces wild | Beginners | BetMGM casino |
| Single hand | New players | BetMGM casino |
| Multi-hand | Advanced players | SugarHouse casino |
| Tens or better | Beginners | BetMGM casino |
| Ultimate video poker | Advanced players | Borgata casino |
| Aces and faces | Beginners | Harrahs casino |
| Joker poker | Advanced players | BetMGM casino |
| Bonus video poker | High-rollers | BetMGM casino |
Online casino video poker bonuses
You won’t find video poker-specific bonuses at most casinos in legalized states – like NJ, MI, PA, WV online casinos — but you can find bonuses that you can use to play video poker games.
At the best US casinos, you’ll find two types of welcome bonuses for players: deposit match and no-deposit bonuses. Those online casino bonuses, generally speaking, can be used to play video poker games.
A deposit match bonus means however much you deposit, the casino will match with a bonus that you can play with (usually 100%, up to a maximum amount). A no-deposit bonus is money you can play with just for signing up. Sometimes a deposit match and no deposit bonus will be available. That’s the case at BetMGM, which offers a 100% deposit match up to $1000, as well as $25 on the house.
All sounds good, right? Well, you should always read the terms and conditions before you get too excited. There you’ll find the wagering requirements — at SugarHouse it’s referred to as play-through requirement. Wagering requirements refer to how much you have to wager before you can withdraw your winnings as real money, and it can be up to x15. In that instance, for every $1 you get as a no deposit bonus, you’ll have to put down $15 before you can pocket the cash.
On top of this, only a percentage of what you wager counts towards meeting your wagering requirements at most casinos. That’s usually around 25% for video poker, which is the case at Golden Nugget NJ. In this case, if you wager $100 at video poker, only $25 would count towards meeting your wagering requirement. Caesar’s offer a better deal with 50%. These additional requirements are there because the house edge is smaller for video poker, and the RTP is higher (compared with, say, online slots).
What should you look for in the best video poker bonuses?
- The bonuses can be used with video poker (check the T&Cs)
- Decent wagering requirements (the lower the better)
- The highest percentage possible, of what you wager at video poker, should go towards meeting the wagering requirement
Playing online video poker for free vs for real money
Choosing to play online video poker for free versus playing with real money really depends on what you want out of the game. When you play for free, you’ll be able to practice your strategies without losing out financially. However, there’s something about playing with real money that adds an element of risk, reward, and excitement. There are advantages to both, and we’ve collected them for you:
Real money video poker
- Play with real money, win with real money
- Bonuses and rewards and loyalty programs
- Unique rush from the risks of playing with real money
Free video poker
- Sharpen your playing skills, develop your strategy
- Master the rules and the game mechanics
- Play without losing money in a risk-free setting
Tips on how to win at video poker
New to video poker? The rules, at the beginner level, are pretty simple to master. We’ve collected some top tips on how to win at video poker for new and advanced players. Online video poker is a game of luck and skill, but if you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself and potentially get some nice wins. Want to find out more about video poker? Our how to play video poker guide dives deep into the rules and strategies of the game.
Beginner tips:
Learn the rules
What are the basics? First, you place your bet, then you hit ‘deal’, and you’ll get dealt five cards. You can hold or discard whichever cards you want, and get draw cards from the deck. Depending on the type of online video poker you’re playing, winning hands usually start at jacks or better, going all the way up to a Royal Flush (ten, jack, queen, king, and ace) for big wins. These are the basics, but you’ll need to master the rules of whatever type of video poker you’re playing.
Know your video poker terms
Before you part with your hard-earned cash, you should learn some of the terms that’ll come up again and again in video poker. There’s way too many to list here, but you should get acquainted with terms like deuces wild, which refers to games where 2s act as a wild card; hold, when you decide to keep cards after you hit ‘deal’ for the draw round; and jacks or better, where you have to get jacks or higher to get a payout.
Master the paytable
You need to learn all the paying combinations — you can find all winning combinations on the paytable. The higher the ranking of the combination, the more money you’ll win. Knowing what a straight (five connected, consecutive cards in order) or a flush (five non-consecutive cards of the same suit) looks like, for example, will help you strategize for the best possible winning hand.
Advanced tips:
Use video poker strategy charts
Whenever you press ‘deal’ and get five cards, you have 32 ways of playing each hand. That means you can strategize to maximize your potential wins. But how do you do that without holding a math degree from MIT? Thankfully, video poker experts have created strategy charts to help you do just that, with tips on what cards to keep to get a particular winning hand. Of course, these strategy charts aren’t going to be 100% foolproof, so do your research and pick a reliable source before you start using them to make bets.
Practice makes perfect
You can read all the guides, watch a bunch of YouTube tutorials, and play demo games for hours — but genuine mastery of video poker comes from direct experience. You may have learned a particular strategy, but how do you actually play when real money is at stake? To beat the game, you’ll need to play regularly, obviously within budgetary constraints. Pick a form of video poker, and a strategy that you’re comfortable with and stick with it.
Study the pros
There are professional video poker players out there who have the wins to prove it. If you want to progress beyond the beginner level, you should learn from them. A big example is Bob Dancer, who has won major tournaments and penned books on video poker strategy for players of all levels, including Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner (2009). You can check out his YouTube tutorials on basic and advanced video strategies. There are plenty more experts out there, but make sure you do your research here, too, and learn from the genuine pros with real tournament wins under their belts.
US online video poker —is it safe and legal?
Online video poker is legal in the US in certain states and has been since 2013. But if you want to play at the best legal online casinos, you should make sure they’ve been granted licenses by the correct state authorities, like the DGE in New Jersey. Alternatively, you can play at sweeps cash casinos, which are legal in all states.
Although users are technically allowed to play video poker at offshore casinos in the US, we’d recommend you pick from our list of the best legal online casinos in the US. Everywhere we recommend in our online casino reviews has had to go through a rigorous process to get licensed. Legal casinos are regularly audited, which also means their games are tested for fairness. You want to know the game isn’t rigged before you play online video poker with real money, right?
In New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware, you’ll find video poker games available at pretty much all online and offline casinos. The range of games and software providers varies from state to state, with NJ coming top of the list and PA video poker following narrowly behind it.
Smaller states like Delaware offer video poker titles at all three of its online casinos — but only IGT’s video poker titles are available for players. In West Virginia, which is newer to the online casino scene, BetMGM and Golden Nugget feature a small number of video poker games. But you can find video poker machines in the form of VLTs (Virtual Lottery Terminals) at the majority of their five, licensed, land-based casinos.
FAQs
What is video poker?
Video poker is a fixed-odds poker game that can be played at the best US online casinos. It’s also available on machines at land-based casinos in the US. Unlike slots, there’s an element of skill involved, as you decide to hold or draw more cards, with the aim of getting a winning combination.
Where can I play online casino video poker for free?
At casinos like Golden Nugget NJ you can demo play video poker for free. The advantage of playing free video poker is that you can learn how to play, hone your skills, and develop a strategy. There are advantages to playing for free and playing with real money — check out our list here.
How do you play video poker games online?
First, you place your bet, then you hit ‘deal’, and you’ll get dealt five cards. You can hold or discard whichever cards you want and get new cards from the deck — if you strategize, you can get a winning hand. Want to know more? Check out our online video poker tips.
How to win at online casino video poker?
Online video poker has an element of skill as well as luck involved — you’ll find it hard to win big without developing a strategy. You should read up on strategy and practice for free before you play with real money. We’ve collected some tips for beginners and advanced players to help you win at video poker.
