Your Ultimate Guide to Online Video Poker in 2026

If you want to truly understand what makes online video poker tick, we have to start with its history. The latter shows us where the game came from and where the game is going, which can help us prepare for future gaming endeavors.

It all started in the mid-1970s when the first video poker machines appeared in brick-and-mortar casinos. These machines were shooting big, as nobody had combined the concept of poker with the automated nature of slot machines before. The video poker posterchild of this era was Draw Poker.

Video poker then branched into several themes and was consistently building an audience of avid punters. Games became computerized and more sophisticated, with an emphasis on better graphics and sounds.

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw an explosion in video poker gaming, which was propelled by a steep increase in online video poker titles. The fact that basic video poker was among the first online casino games fueled this rise immensely.

The game captivated the world, with new titles in various themes appearing on a monthly and then on a weekly basis. As smartphones and tablets became powerhouses, mobile gaming exploded. When a relatively recent idea of streaming live dealer video poker games hit the mobile market, there was nothing that could stop video poker.

Progressive jackpots were one of the greatest gems that appeared during video poker's evolution. These became notorious for offering the biggest wins in gaming, with each wager contributing to a growing jackpot. While we cannot say precisely what the future of video poker holds, we can predict that VR and AR gaming are going to start taking center stage. A revolution such as that of mobile gaming is upon us. Stay tuned to prepare your video poker knowledge and make the most of it!

Your objective in video poker is rather straightforward. You have to create the best possible poker hand using a standard 52-card deck. However, you need to be familiar with the gameplay that gets you there, which in this case includes:

• Betting - You select a bet size by adjusting the coin denomination and number of coins.
• Dealing - You click the “Deal” button and receive your first five face-up cards.
• Choosing Cards - You take stock of your five-card hand and see which cards you want to keep (hold) and which you want to discard. The actual number of kept and discarded hands depends on the variant at hand.
• Drawing - After you select your cards, you need to click the "Draw" button. Discarded cards will be replaced by new ones from the deck.
• Final Hand - Your hand is now complete. You will receive a payout based on the game's paytable if it matches predefined winning hands.
• Optional Gamble Feature - Some video poker gambles will allow you to risk your winnings in an attempt to double them. The feature is typically called “Gamble” or “Double Up”. Note that it is entirely optional.

You also ought to know the typical video poker hand ranking so that you are never left in the dark when payouts are dished out. Video poker hands typically ranked from highest to lowest are:

• Royal Flush - A hand consisting of A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.
• Straight Flush - Five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of hearts.
• Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank, such as four Kings or four 3s.
• Full House - Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, such as three Jacks and two 7s.
• Flush - Five cards of the same suit that do not have to be in sequence, such as 2, 4, 6, 9, and K of spades.
• Straight - Five consecutive cards of different suits, such as 3 of hearts, 4 of clubs, 5 of diamonds, 6 of spades, and 7 of hearts.
• Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same rank, such as three 10s or three Queens.
• Two Pair - Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, such as two 8s and two Jacks.
• Jacks or Better - The lowest-ranked hand in most video poker games. It consists of a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces.

The best strategy that we can showcase is one that gives you suggestions on how you should approach different hands. Knowing which cards to discard and which to hold can be game-changing, especially if you are a beginner. Check out the following recommendations:

• Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind - Always hold these hands as they are the best around.
• Full House, Flush, Straight - It is best to hold these hands as they are strong and can result in good payouts.
• Three of a Kind - Hold Three of a Kind and discard any other two cards. This will put you in the running for Four of a Kind.
• Two Pair - Keep both pairs and discard the fifth card. This sets you up for a Full House.
• Pair of Jacks or Better - Hold the pair and discard any other three cards. This hand is the minimum you need to win in most video poker games.
• High Cards with No Pairs - Keep the highest-ranked cards and discard the rest.
• Four to a Royal Flush - If you have four cards towards a Royal Flush, so 10-J-Q-K or A of the same suit, hold these and discard the fifth card.
• Four to a Straight Flush - If you have four cards towards a Straight Flush, hold those and discard the fifth.
• Three to a Royal Flush - If you have three cards towards a Royal Flush, hold those and discard the other two.
• Low Pair with Three Unmatched High Cards - Hold the low pair and discard the other three cards.

Now that you are familiar with the gameplay, hand rankings, and optimal video poker strategies, it is time that you become familiar with video poker terms. The most popular ones include:

• Action - The total amount of money wagered by a player during a session of video poker.
• Bet Max - Betting the maximum number of coins allowed in video poker on a single hand. Note that this qualifies for the highest payouts, including jackpots.
• Discard - Removing one or more cards from your initial deck is referred to as “discarding” in video poker.
• Hand - The five cards that a player receives at the beginning of a video poker game.
• Hold - When a player decides to keep cards and not discard them.
• Jackpot - The highest possible payout, often given to those that hit a Royal Flush whilst betting maximum coins.
• Payback - The percentage of bets that a video poker machine is destined to return to punters in the long run. It is more commonly known as RTP or return to player.
• Payout - The money awarded to a player for winning a hand. It is based on the paytable and bet size.
• Pay Table - A table that displays payout rates for possible video poker hands. Payouts are based on wagered coins.
• Winning Hand - A hand that qualifies for a payout based on the respective game's rules and paytables.