Free video poker and video poker for real money are some of the most popular games to play online. Our page offers you a rich selection of video poker games which you can start playing instantly. No download or registration is needed.
If you’re looking to play real money video poker, we also have an expert guide showing you the best South Africa casino sites for video poker. We'll also give you the lowdown on how to play free video poker games, the hand ranks of video poker, top tips to improve your chances of winning, and much more.
Ready to start playing? Check out our free video poker games:
With years of experience in the gambling industry, our expert team at VegasSlotsOnline has picked some of the best South African online casinos. If you’re ready to start playing video poker online, either for free or for real money, then you don’t need to look much further. Here are our trusted casinos to play online video poker:
At VegasSlotsOnline, we may earn compensation from our casino partners when you register with them via the links we offer.
All the opinions shared are our own, each based on our genuine and unbiased evaluations of the casinos we review.
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With so many online casinos in South Africa, it has never been easier to access your favourite video poker games for fun or real money. For most online gamblers who want to enjoy a world of video poker and other games like free slots and table games, the number one concern is whether online casinos provide players with a safe experience.
That’s why all our recommended sites undergo a rigorous series of tests to ensure that the only online casinos that make it onto our list are safe, reliable and offer players the highest quality experience:
Safety is paramount, no matter if you’re playing free poker slots or real money games. It’s essential that online casino sites use SSL encryption and are licensed by reputable gambling authorities. To ensure a safe environment for players, licensed sites conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) checks to confirm the identity of users. Other safety measures we look out for include fair games and clear terms and conditions for our players.
If you prefer playing free video poker, you don’t need to worry about this option, unless you can find no deposit bonus codes. However, for those who play real money video poker, we ensure that the sites we list have the best bonuses with fair wagering requirements.
We only recommend online casinos that have a vast selection of video poker games from the top providers for South African players. These include iSoftBet, NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, and many more. Whether you favour the old school classics or prefer your video poker to serve up bonuses or jackpots, you’re always seconds away from playing the top video poker games on the web.
Our team has reviewed and tested hundreds of online casinos and the video poker games they offer on every device. Are you wondering if an online casino is easy to navigate on your tablet, or whether it allows you to play hundreds of games on your phone? We wouldn’t recommend it if you couldn’t.
When you do cross over from free play video poker to real money games, you will want to use banking options that you can trust. Putting money into your online casino account with a trusted payment method will put your mind at ease whenever you play online. Our sites feature top SA deposit methods such as VISA debit, PayPal, Neteller, Pay by Phone, and more.
It’s important for video poker online casinos to have a wide range of banking methods. But we also check that they have fast, hassle-free deposits and withdrawals. We only choose South Africa online casinos that pay out to your account quickly and have fast processing times.
You may think that free video poker and real money video poker are different, but the truth is, they couldn’t be more similar. The major difference between the two is that one will cost you real money, but allow you to win some too, whereas the other one won’t.
Knowing how one game type is different from the other will help you chose the one that suits you best. We’ve listed the key differences between the two in the table below:
Free Video Poker
Costs you nothing and playing is risk free
Let’s you experience the game
Widespread availability
No need to worry about bankroll
Allows a firm grasp of the rules
Real Money Video Poker
Real money gameplay is more exciting
The opportunity to win cash prizes
The same RNG as free video poker
Often accompanied by real money bonuses
Wider variety of games
While you will find hundreds of video poker games available online, there are some varieties of video poker that are steady favourites among online gamblers. It’s also good to know that although there are plenty of variations on each type of poker, most video poker games are based on two types: Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.
For those who are still unsure which kind of video poker they’d like to play, our experts have supplied a neat guide to the most popular types of video poker. Read on to find out which type of video poker suits you best.
Easily one of the most popular video poker games, Jacks or Better video poker is a load of fun. Players are given five cards, then need to hold as many as they deem necessary, then the ones not held are replaced by new cards. Jacks or better to win!
The advantage of playing Deuces Wild video poker lies precisely in the deuces. These act as wild cards, which can replace any other card and result in a winning hand. While the pay tables for this variation of video poker are typically not as generous as those for Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild remains popular for its fun factor as well as for numerous winning combinations that wild cards offer players.
Based on Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker functions on the same principles as this popular variation. However, some players enjoy the advantage offered by Bonus Poker paytables, which carry higher payouts for hands of four-of-a-kind. This type of poker has a higher variance than Jacks or Better, but if you land four aces the wins could be big!
Double Double Bonus video poker gives you the same bonus from Double Bonus Poker, but then gives you an additional bonus based on the kicker that you have remaining after your four of a kind.
It may come as no surprise that this kind of free poker slots game is played using an additional Joker card. The reason you’ll be happy to see the Joker in this variation is that he can act as a wild card to substitute any other card, as well as boost the payout for certain winning hands. If you’re looking for a Joker’s Wild video poker game with higher winning odds, browse through the Kings or Better varieties.
Video poker, once mastered, is one of the easiest and most enjoyable games to play either online or at a land-based casino. Online video poker uses a 52-card deck and all variants of video poker games are based on the 5-card draw system of poker. In order to play free poker slots, you’ll need to follow a few quick and easy steps:
Choose Your Video Poker Game
There are hundreds of online poker games out there. Whether you’re into classic online poker games with no frills, or more modern ones with bonus features, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste. A few important things to keep in mind when you’re playing online video poker for real money: always check the game’s RTP and the paytable.
Set Your Wager
To start a free video poker game, players must choose how many credits they want to play on each spin. The typical range is anything from one to five credits, or ‘coins’. Prizes scale depending on how much you are playing for. You can increase or lower your wager by clicking/tapping the arrows next to the “Bet/Wager” button on the game screen.
Deal Your Cards
After you’ve set your wager, click/tap the “Deal” button and the video poker machine will automatically deal you a hand.
Choose Which Cards You Want to Keep
Once the video poker machine deals out your hand, it’s time to decide which cards you want to keep (“hold”) and which ones you want to discard. Click/tap on the cards you want to keep and then on the button marked “Deal/Draw”. This will make the game randomly replace your discarded cards.
Know Your Hand
Whether you win or lose, as well as how much you can win, is determined by the value of the hand that’s drawn. In video poker games, this is based on two factors: the value of the hand in the poker hierarchy itself and the value of the hand on the paytable of the game you’re playing.
Video poker is an easy game to learn, but a difficult one to master. Moving from video poker beginner to an advanced player means knowing your video poker terminology. If you learn some of the most common terms before you play video poker, you’ll increase your chances of reacting to game cues in good time from the start.
Below, you’ll find our glossary section for both free slots video poker and real money games. Once you’ve mastered these words and phrases, you’ll be prepared for anything.
Action: The act of using a video poker machine, as well as the total sum you bet on it during one full game session is referred to as action.
Credits: This is the amount of money (for real money) or credit (for free play) you have in your account.
Discard: After the video poker machine deals your initial hand, you can choose to hold or discard any or all of these cards.
Draw:This is the command used to get cards in front of you. You’ll do it once at the start and again after you’ve held the cards you want to keep.
Hold: Following the initial hand you are dealt, you will be offered the chance to keep one or more cards in that hand.
Face Card: A face card is a card with a picture on it. Kings, Queens and Jacks are all known as face cards.
Ace-High: When the player has no other card combinations except a single Ace.
House Edge: Different games carry a different edge for the house. Video poker games have a small house edge, which means that the odds of winning are lower compared to some other games, like online slots.
Inside Straight: When all you’re missing to complete your winning hand is a card in the middle of your run, that’s an inside straight.
Max Bet: This is the highest amount that you can bet or wager on a video poker machine.
Multi-hand: If you like to play more than one hand at once, the video poker games with a multi-hand option are for you.
Pay Table: The pay table is a guide that outlines how much you can win for each hand.
Pat Hand: So, you’ve drawn a hand and there’s no way you could pick a card from the pack which will improve it. You’re pat with what you’ve got and that’s that.
Pay Back: Also known as the expected value of a game, pay back describes the return you can expect from a video poker game after it has dealt out millions of hands.
Do you want to be a smart, informed player when you play online video poker? Having a good knowledge of the different hands you can get makes all the difference. You can shift the game in your favour just by knowing which cards are worth hanging onto.
As you play, you’ll become more and more accustomed to what constitutes a good hand and what could be done to make a hand better. When in doubt, you can analyze the value of your hand by referring to the list below, where you’ll find video poker hand values ranked from highest to lowest:
Hand Type | Cards | Description |
---|---|---|
Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 – Suited | Cards from A to 10, all suited gives you the biggest hand in the game. |
Straight Flush | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - Suited | Almost like a Royal, except it can be any sequential number of cards, as long as they are suited. |
Four of a Kind | A, A, A, A | Four of any type of card. |
Flush | 2, 4, 7, J, K (Any) – Suited | Any 5 cards of the same suit. |
Straight | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | Any 5 cards that are in sequential order. |
Three of a Kind | 4, 4, 4 | Three of the same cards. |
Two Pair | 6, 6, 9, 9 | Two different sets of two of the same cards. |
One Pair | K, K | Two of the same cards. |
High Card | Q | A single high card. |
At VegasSlotsOnline, we help our players get better at video poker. Once you’ve played the game for free, you’ll have improved your video poker strategy and be able to take what you’ve learned into real money play. These expert tips should help you learn both game modes faster:
Practice with Free Online Video Poker
The old adage that practice makes perfect is true in all senses of the phrase. If you’re able to play free poker slots, you’ll not only be having fun, but learning too. You can take these teachings into real money video poker to do well.
Use a Video Poker Cheatsheet
Learning all the different video poker hands by heart can be daunting. Having a cheatsheet next to you when you play is a great way to get used to the game. A cheatsheet is exactly what it sounds like: an overview of video poker hands, giving you the information that you need to intelligently keep or discard the right cards. It’s like video poker on training wheels – and there’s no shame in it. Plenty of the best players today started out with a handy guide by their side.
Know Which Cards to Keep
This is the basis of your strategy when playing video poker online. Once you get dealt your initial cards, you need to figure out which ones you want to hold and which you would like to discard and replace with new cards from the deck. The resulting hand will be final – which is why pro players really study their options. If you get a winning combination of cards, you will receive your payout before moving on to your next hand.
Master Specific Video Poker Games
Video poker strategy is complex and intricate. Because of this, many players enjoy learning the perfect strategies for at least one machine. This helps them get the best odds possible while playing. As you play a particular video poker machine more and more, you’ll find yourself relying on ‘cheat sheets’ less and less. You’ll begin to notice that you have a better handle on the strategies on each different type of different video poker game.
Choose Wisely Between Single Play and Multi-Hand Machines
The gameplay on single play and multi-hand video poker is really the same. However, the variance is often higher on multi-hand games. This means that you’ll need a larger bankroll to play these games, even though you’re likely to win a considerable amount of money if you get a good initial hand. Whichever type you choose, gamble responsibly and don’t play beyond your means.
Play Video Poker Games with the Best Paytables
Depending on your bankroll you may want to search for a lower limit game, or perhaps you’re on the hunt for a machine with a more fruitful RTP percentage. Some of the most popular online video poker games for South Africans include Jack or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Bonus. In any case, you should always check what payout percentage is linked to the paytables and choose the games that offer the highest video poker payouts.
Free video poker is fun, but you can win cash only when playing video poker games for real money. You can enjoy the best quality poker slots at our top real money casinos, while also taking advantage of bonuses. Choose a casino site from our expert list above, or start your video poker journey instantly by joining our #1 casino below:
Where can I play video poker games for free?
You can play free slots video poker games right here on our website. Our experts review and test each video poker game on all devices, so that you can enjoy video poker online from the comfort of your own home, or on your mobile. We have some of the best-rated free video poker online, and once you’ve got your fill, you can head over to the real money side of things.
Where can I play video poker for real money in SA?
You can play video poker for real money at our top online casinos. They cater to players in South Africa and feature fun variations of video poker.
Can I use welcome bonuses to play video poker?
The best SA sites for video poker offer all kinds of bonuses for online gamblers who want to play video poker online. These can include welcome bonuses such as no deposit offers and free money bonuses that let you play video poker with free cash. Daily promotions vary depending on which online casino you choose to sign up to, but the best ones will reward both new and returning players.
What is the best free video poker game to play?
The best video poker game is quite subjective. Some people enjoy playing the bonus games because they offer higher winnings. Others prefer Jacks or Better because it has a bigger payback percentage.
How can you improve your chances of winning at video poker?
As expert poker players will tell you, the best way to improve your chances at video poker is to play fewer hands. Playing against the video poker machine requires you to slow down your game and play for wins rather than volume. Follow our expert tips and practice video poker for free before playing with real money.
What are the odds on online video poker?
The odds on video poker vary per hand and per game. The house edge on something like Jacks or Better when using a strategy can give the player a 99.5 percent return on their money, this is huge compared to other games.
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