Poker doesn’t have to be this shared setting with a bunch of other players. For players who want a 1-on-1 experience, video poker is for you. This is exactly as it sounds — poker played on a video machine sort of like slots. In this article, we’ll give you the full breakdown on playing video poker while in Las Vegas!
Las Vegas is the place in the world for gaming, with 120,000 slot and video poker machines there is nowhere else like it on earth. It’s not just the wealth of casinos and endless betting facilities, the best video poker is found in Vegas.
Wherever you are in the neon capital, you will find it hard to avoid the various machines and gambling facilities. Some of the best video poker is on the Vegas Strip, but equally you can find many venues offering 9-6 video poker in Las Vegas.
You’ll find games in all denominations, from penny machines where you can play for almost nothing, to 100-line poker machines charging $125 per spin. Video poker has been a favorite within the betting community for a long time now, having first emerged in the 1980s.
But the game has evolved, with top-tier betting sites now offering Las Vegas casinos standard video poker odds. Let’s explore the best options available to you.
How to play video poker in Las Vegas? Well, you don’t have to look far. With a wealth of machines available to aspiring gamblers, it’s fairly straightforward. Finding the best Las Vegas video poker machine may be more difficult, but this is largely dependent on the bettor’s needs.
With different machines offering different values, it is largely down to the bettor and how much they aspire to wager. There are no specific Las Vegas video poker tips that we can give, which will differ from what you’ve already heard about any other poker. The best advice we would give is be aware of how much you’re spending per spin, as it can quickly rack up. The number-one rule of Vegas (whether playing video poker or something else): stay in the game. That requires managing your money before you’re wiped to zero!
Video poker online is a staple feature for almost all online bookmakers. Finding your way around the poker rooms online is often a case-by-case situation, with each bookmaker providing a unique service. Nonetheless, generally speaking, all the poker rooms function and are set up in more or less the same way.
Video poker is computer-driven. Each machine has a motorboard controlling the functions and producing random number generations (RNG) that controls the winning combinations. Be sure to deposit with a verified and reliable sportsbook, before you start betting on the live video poker tables.
The game is fairly straightforward, much like poker that is played on physical tables. It uses a standard 52-card deck, with players making a wager then pressing “Deal”. If you’re unhappy with cards you can discard them. Once this decision is made, press “Draw” and the machine will replace them. From there the game begins, in the exact same way poker is normally played.
Video poker is played using RNG, meaning that any hand combination is available at any time. Every starting hand has five cards you can see on the video screen, with a second card available if you discard and draw. The RNG feature means that a hand like a Royal Flush is highly unlikely; in fact, it has a 1/42500 possibility of coming up. The RNG system is entirely fair, but it can be frustrating. You could hit two Royals in a row or go a year between hitting two.
Given that video poker has only been around for around 30 years, there is quite a bit of strategy that players used – although it’s mostly adopted from conventional poker strategy. You have control over how the game is played, as you’d expect. The only exception is when you hit a royal flush and the machine locks out your buttons.
The higher the sum you wager per betting coin, the more you are eligible to win. So, it’s advisable to work out if you want to play a high-risk game or keep things more simple. We’d advise avoiding play lines like Triple Play, Five Play, etc.. as any errors made will be multiplied by the number of lines in action.
For those players that have never played poker before, or don’t even know their betting 101 basics, take a look at our betting guide and at the payout lines which are displayed on the machines. This will tell you what you’re aiming to find. A Royal Flush is the best hand, then it trickles down from there. The worst hand you can get is cards below a jack and only two of the same suit, though this isn’t common. Following that is just a single high card (picture card), which is far more common. Discard the low cards and hope for the best!
Let’s take a look at the complete list of hands in order:
For any video poker player, it’s imperative that they get to grips with the machines’ pay table. Each game and each casino has their own rules. Some machines require very specific cards in order for the machine to pay out on certain things, such as a pair of Aces or better in order to be paid out.
Certain other machines pay 2 to 1 for two pairs. Some machines will pay out for 4-of-a-kind as the top market. Either way, the most important thing to recognize is that each machine has its own standards, which you must pay attention to.
Ultimately, remember to have fun. Don’t start wagering until you know what video poker rates you’re working with at that time. A common habit is to play on multi-game screens at the same time, but don’t do this until you’re confident working with one. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
There are many different brands of poker machines, so it’s difficult to say which is the best. However, what we’d say is pay attention to the amount you must wager in order to play, as this will be the most relevant stat.
The best place for video poker is without a doubt Vegas. It’s the city for gambling and provides bettors with the best opportunities to gamble anywhere in the US, and arguably the world.
Take a look at our recommended list of sportsbook providers. In that list, you’ll find a broad range of online betting providers. Take a look at which suits you best.
Video poker was first introduced in the 1970s, but this was at a very early stage. It wasn’t until the 80s and 90s when things first developed.
Absolutely. Video poker is all about how much money you stake. The more you stake, the more you can make.
