How to Play Video Poker Online for Free
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Video poker has been around for over half a century now. Back in the 1970s, it was known as ‘poker slots’, but now it’s almost exclusively called video poker. You can play in bars and casinos, like down on the Las Vegas Strip, yet most people prefer to play video poker online.
The great thing about online video poker is that you can actually play it for free. When you go to the right platforms, no deposit is required and you can still win cash and other prizes. Plus, it’s an extremely beginner-friendly game, so even casual players are in with a chance.
So, this guide is going to break down how you can play video poker online for free, the way the game works, and what prizes you can win.
What is Video Poker?
Video poker is the slot machine version of poker. It’s played solo and is based around five-card draw. You spin the video poker machine, receive 5 cards, choose which ones to hold, and redraw the rest to form the best possible hand.
You’ll then get rewarded based on the strength of your final hand. The better the hand, the better the payout. Video poker follows standard poker hand rankings, meaning a royal flush pays out the most and a simple pair pays out the least.
★ The key to video poker is knowing which cards to risk and switch out for new ones. Remember, you only get to do this once. For example, your first hand might be 6♠ 7♦ 8♣ 9♥ K♠, so you decide to discard the King, hoping to spin the machine and land either a 5 or a 10 to complete a straight.
Over the years, video poker has become one of the all-time player-favorite games. Not only is it incredibly easy, but it can also be highly rewarding. Plus, it makes for a fresh change from regular online poker, where the lobbies can be highly competitive and rewards hard to come by.
Where to Play Video Poker Online For Free: Available Options
Luckily, you can play video poker online for free if that’s what you’re looking for. This is possible across online casinos, sweepstakes casinos, and casino demo sites, with the first two options allowing you to potentially win prizes in the process. Let’s unpack them more closely.
✔ Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are a great free-to-play option for video poker players. Inside Stake.us, Chumba Casino, and all of the other sweepstakes casinos, you’re allowed to play any of the available games you like for free using ‘Gold Coins’, including video poker. Or, you can switch to ‘Sweeps Coins’ and potentially win prizes if you collect enough of them. It’s possible to get free Sweeps Coins through sign-up bonuses, daily login bonuses, social media giveaways, and mail-ins. Once you’ve got free Sweeps Coins, play them through at least 1x time and sweepstakes operators will let you redeem prizes like gift cards and cash transfers.
✔ Online Casinos
Online casinos are the most popular and commonly used platforms by video poker fans. The likes of BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel all offer different video poker games, and it’s possible to play for free by claiming sign-up bonuses. Whenever you join a leading online casino, almost all of them offer some type of free cash bonus or matched deposit, sometimes going as high as $1,000 or more in bonus funds. All you have to do is match the criteria, claim your bonus, and then use it for video poker.
✔ Casino Demo Sites
The internet is also home to countless casino demo sites. Across these sites, you can play video poker releases from all of the major software developers. Of course, it’s just for fun and to give video poker a try, so you can’t actually win prizes. However, it’s still a great way to brush up on your video poker skills and start to get to grips with how the gameplay works, from the initial hand dealing to switching out cards.
How Video Poker Works
Before you play video poker for the first time, it’s important to run you through how the gameplay actually works. This way, you won’t be confused and will know exactly what’s coming. Here’s what to expect:
1. Place a bet before the game begins (e.g. $5)
2. Receive 5 cards from the machine
3. Analyse your hand and decide whether to stick with it or switch any of the cards out for new ones
4. Get your new cards
5. A payout will then be given based on the ranking of your final hand
Any money you win will then be credited to your casino account balance. And if you finish the game without any qualifying hand, you automatically lose. Whether you win or lose, you can immediately make another bet and start playing again, with most video poker fans playing at least 10 or more rounds before they stop.
Popular Video Poker Strategies For You to Follow
Even though video poker is quite a simple game and nowhere near as difficult as a regular game of online poker, experienced players will still follow basic video poker strategies to keep them consistent. Here are some to follow:
● Always hold a winning hand unless there’s potential for a royal flush
● If you have K-Q-J suited, keep them over a low pair
● Keep your bets below $5 a round if you’re doing long sessions
● Play high RTP video poker machines of at least 98% or more
● Walk away when you’ve already achieved a solid profit
And, of course, if you’re a first-time player, make sure you have the actual video poker paytables memorized from top to bottom. Without knowing the poker hand rankings, you won’t know which cards to switch out or when to hold.
Is Video Poker Legal?
Online poker is legal in the US, but accessing it depends on which state you’re in and the type of platform you’re using.
If you play video poker for free in a sweepstakes casino, you can do this in the majority of states, although California, New York, Indiana, and a small group of others have recently banned sweepstakes casinos.
Regular online casinos are significantly more restricted, so you can only play video poker in them if you’re living in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, Delaware, West Virginia, or Rhode Island.
With poker game demo sites, they’re accessible anytime, anywhere, so you don’t need to worry about those.
Just remember that if you decide to play video poker using real money, such as with free cash bonuses you’ve received, you’ll need to be above the legal gambling age in your state and a KYC check will be required when you create an account, no matter which operator you choose.
Final Verdict
Video poker is a great option for both poker fans and casual slot players who want a game that’s based around both strategy and luck rather than just one.
Pros of video poker include its fast gameplay, low house edge, high RTP, and wide availability, as you can play online for free or at a local bar using one of its video poker machines.
It’s also one of the best ways for aspiring poker players to start out, as video poker teaches you all about hand rankings and the basic decision-making involved in poker, especially when there’s real money on the line.
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More interesting and useful articles from the world of poker you can read in our blog. Also search for poker clubs in the country or city, get to know about upcoming poker tournaments or cash games at PokerDiscover.com
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