Your Guide to Video Poker at PokerStars Casino
Video poker combines elements of slots and poker to create a unique gaming experience. It's also famous for having an incredibly high Return to Player (RTP) of up to 99% RTP!
Video poker features complex gameplay where your decisions directly affect your win rate, similar to blackjack. In this article, we’ll explore the best PokerStars Casino video poker games and show you how to give yourself the best chance of winning.
PokerStars Casino Video Poker Games
As you might expect from an industry leader like PokerStars, you can find a plethora of video poker choices available to play online. The video poker choice includes:
All of these video poker variants have the same basic concept as the classic game of Jacks or Better, where you receive five cards and then hold or draw new cards (more on this below). However, there are some key differences which alter the gameplay. For example:
- In Deuces Wild, every two can be substituted for any card in the deck, similar to a wild symbol in slots.
- In Tens or Better, as the name suggests, a pair of tens is a winning hand.
Some of these video poker variants have a jackpot. For example, when you land a royal flush in Bonus Deuces Wild, you win way more than the typical 800x payout. Some of these variants also have a 'Double Up' feature similar to a gamble round in slots where you can double your payout.
Before you play a new video poker type, make sure you study the pay table, as the payouts for certain hands can be different compared to Jacks or Better. For example, in All American, flushes, straights, and straight flushes all have boosted payouts.
Also, if you ever get bored of video poker or are looking for additional challenges, then PokerStars Texas Hold'em and PokerStars Casino Hold 'em are worth playing.
Don't know your Aces & Faces from your Double Double Bonus? Confused about Casino Hold'Em?
Might be time to check out the PokerNews How to Play Video Poker Guide!
Read morePlay Classic Jacks or Better at PokerStars Casino
In their video poker selection, you’ll be happy to know that PokerStars Casino has the classic Jacks or Better game. Jacks or Better has the highest RTP of any video poker game at PokerStars, at an impressive 99.54%, which is slightly better than blackjack.
To play Jacks or Better follow these simple steps:
- You first select your bet size, and then you’re dealt five cards face up.
- You then choose to hold or discard the cards.
- If you hold a card, it remains in your hand while discarded cards are replaced by new ones.
- You then use the five cards to create the best poker hand possible. You’re only allowed to draw new cards once.
The payout you receive is based on the strength of the hand, with a royal flush paying out the most and a pair of jacks paying the least. High cards and pairs lower than jacks don’t pay anything, so don’t celebrate if you make a pair of 10s! Here is the pay table for Jacks or Better at Pokerstars Casino:
PokerStars Casino Live Dealer Games: Play Video Poker at Home
PokerStars Casino has a unique live video poker game powered by Evolution Gaming. Instead of playing on a machine, this video poker game is run by a real dealer, and you connect to the game via live stream.
Live video poker is played with an actual deck of cards rather than reels. However, the gameplay is still the same, where you discard and draw cards with the goal of making the strongest poker hand possible using five cards. The payouts are also the same, with a royal flush generating 800x wins!
A cool aspect of Live video poker is the ability to switch between variants. You can play Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Double Bonus. It's worth noting that Live Jacks or Better has the best RTP at 99.54%!
While the gameplay in Live Video Poker is much slower than the online version, you can play up to 100 hands at the same time. Also, playing with a professional dealer adds a fun social element, especially as you can chat to them via instant messenger. This game actually plays more like Live PokerStars Casino Poker rather than standard online video poker.
Improve Your Video Poker Skills
Video poker can sometimes be viewed as more complicated than other casino games, and one where strategy has more of an impact. However, here are some quick and easy tips that will level up your video poker play:
- Stick to Jacks or Better: Jacks or Better is not only the simplest video poker variant, but it also has the highest RTP, coming in at 99.54%.
- Always bet the maximum number of coins: Video poker is interesting because the payouts change based on the number of coins you bet. So you should always bet the maximum of five coins per hand, this ensures that a royal flush pays out the max 800x.
- Hold any winning hand: If you have a pair of jacks better in your hand, don’t get greedy. Hold the winning cards, and you’re guaranteed a payout, you never know, you may even improve when you draw other cards. We’ve turned a lowly pair of jacks into a full house on more than one occasion!
Now, things get a little more complicated when you don’t have a winning hand. If you find yourself in this position, do the following:
- When you have a pair, hold it and discard the remaining cards.
- When you have four cards to a straight or a flush, hold them and discard the last card.
- Always hold a low pair over a single high card.
- When you have three cards to a royal flush, hold them and discard the other two cards.
- When you have two suited high cards, hold them and discard the others.
- When you don't have any of the above combinations, discard all five cards and draw new ones.
If those drawing and holding instructions are way too complicated, don't worry. You can simply use a free video poker calculator to help you out. A video poker calculator works just like a blackjack calculator; you simply enter in your cards and their suit, and it will instantly reveal the optimal play. Unfortunately, using a video poker calculator to play optimally won’t eliminate the house edge, but it will shrink it as much as humanly possible.
PokerStars Casino Promotions and Bonuses for Video Poker
PokerStars Casino US is available to players who are 21+ and are physically located in PA, MI, and NJ. When you sign up and bet just $1, you’ll receive $100 worth of free play.
The $100 free play is split into six different prizes, which are dished out over five days. This is how it works:
- Day 0 from completion - 2 x $5 Spin & Go (SAG) tickets (poker)
- Day 1 from completion - $10 casino instant bonus (casino)
- Day 2 from completion - 2 x $5 SAG tickets & 1 x $10 ticket (poker)
- Day 3 from completion - $10 casino instant bonus (casino)
- Day 4 from completion - 2 x $10 ticket (poker)
- Day 5 from completion - $30 casino instant bonus (casino)
So you’ll end up with $50 worth of free play, which you can use to play all video poker games at PokerStars, including Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Live Video Poker!
For most of PokerStars.com's new customers, the best bonus is a 100% match up to $600 using the PokerStars bonus code "STARS600". Your first three deposits made within 60 days of your first qualifying deposit are matched 100% up to a combined maximum of $600.
For UK and US players who are new to PokerStars Casino, you have the choice between these bonuses or our exclusive PokerNews bonus, available below:
PokerStars Casino Video Poker FAQ
What are the differences between Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild?
The difference between Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild is that in Deuces Wild, 2s are wild and can be substituted for other cards, and only three of a kind or better pays.
Which video poker game offers the highest payout at PokerStars Casino?
Deuces Wild and Joker Wild is the video poker game that offers the highest payout at PokerStars Casino. When you land five wild cards, you can win up to 2,000x your stake.
Can I play live dealer video poker with low stakes at PokerStars Casino?
You can play live dealer video poker with low stakes at PokerStars Casino, the minimum bet is just $0.10 per hand, while you can bet as much as $10,000 per hand.
What are some advanced video poker strategies I can learn?
Some advanced video poker strategies include drawing five new cards when you have no drawing potential or no jacks or higher and never folding a pair.
How can I practice video poker for free at PokerStars Casino?
You can practice video poker for free at PokerStars Casino by playing the game in demo mode. In demo mode, the gameplay is exactly the same, the only difference is you play using virtual credits, which have no monetary value.