Different Types of Video Poker in the United States

As the United States Casino boom continues to rack up the annual billions, fan-favorite games like slots and Poker gain the majority of attention and the headlines. But it would be a mistake to underscore the role of video poker and how their simple and timeless charm continues to help drive the US gambling boom, especially the iGaming sector. Discover the wonders and rewards that video poker brings.

The History of Video Poker

Video poker combines slot machines with the look and nuances of poker games. It is widely believed that video poker’s roots date back to the 1970s, with IGT, a prolific and highly reputable game developer, getting credit for the first video poker game, Draw Poker. It didn’t take long for video poker games to catch on with American gamblers in casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. One of the reasons for video poker’s enduring popularity is that it accepts flexible wagers, which is especially helpful for those on a budget and offers more favorable odds.

As the initial online casinos launched in the 1990s, video poker found new American players who became accustomed to playing in the comforts of their homes. The iconic game developer Microgaming goes into the history books of developing the first online video poker game. Today, as the US online casino boom spreads, more video poker variants continue to come online.

The Classic Jacks or Better – History and Enduring Favorite

You can’t mention video poker without talking about Jacks or Better. Jacks or Better’s roots date back to the early 1980s. Its charm comes from its simplicity – to win by having a pair with Jacks or Better, thus the title of the game. Jacks or Better deals you five cards, where you can keep the cards or redraw to get a better hand, preferably with Jacks, Queens, or Kings.

Bonus Poker – Variations and Fun

Due to the meteoric rise of Jacks or Better, it became a foregone conclusion that American casinos would host a Jacks or Better spinoff – Bonus Poker. The rules and strategy work like Jacks or Better, but Bonus Poker allows players the chance to win larger pots by getting four-of-a-kind.

The spinoff, Double Double Bonus Poker, came to be thanks to Bonus Poker’s wild success. Building on the strategy to get four-of-a-kind hands, Double Double Bonus Poker raises the stakes by rewarding players that feature Aces in their hands. But players can still win a nice chunk of change with four of a kind with deuces, threes, and fours.

Joker Poker – An Original Twist

Because Jokers are seldom used in poker games, including video poker, the entire concept and charm of Joker Poker, sometimes called Joker’s Wild, revolves around Jokers. All the deck cards are in play, and the Joker is the wild card. The Joker serves the same purpose as a wild icon in a slot game and can replace other symbols. This critical substitution continues to draw more players because they can quickly build massive winning hands, especially with the typical smallest hand beginning with a pair of Kings. Joker Poker also makes winning with five of a kind and even the elusive royal flush more possible than other video poker games.

Deuces Wild – A Truly Wild Affair

Deuces Wild is one of the most popular variants in American brick-and-mortar casinos. Also, many real money online casinos offer the regular version and Deuces Wild Multi-Hand. In a twist, the four deuces (the number 2 cards) can replace other cards to help you form a higher hand. Because of this feature, players flock to Deuces Wild because it offers better chances to build winning hands and, hopefully, more significant winnings. It also keeps players on their toes because the pressure is to win quickly, preferably by getting four or five of a kind.

Aces and Eights – Timeless Elegance

You’ll be hard-pressed to go to any American land-based or online casino without having Aces and Eights on their game roster. Aces and Eights gets its name and loyal following because it features more lucrative payouts and favorable player odds for specific hands. It’s believed that Aces and Eights is in honor of Bill Hickok, who supposedly died in 1876, holding Aces and Eights. Aces and Eights players strategize to have the most substantial hand possible with their five dealt cards.

For poker enthusiasts, Aces and Eights follow traditional poker conventions regarding ranking winning hands. The cards Aces and Eights carry more value compared to other cards and can lead to additional payouts. Unlike other video poker games, Aces and Eights require you to know how to bluff, something essential to traditional poker players, hoping that others will fold potentially higher-paying hands than yours.

Tens or Better – Another Jacks or Better Twist

Tens or Better is another fan-favorite at American casinos because it has ties to Jacks or Better but with a slightly different payment system. As the title implies, Tens or Better requires players to have no pair of tens to win. Jacks, in this game, don’t strike a winning combination. Following Jacks or Better’s gameplay, players can keep their initial five cards or try to get new cards dealt to strike a winning combination.

The Evolution and Future of Video Poker

Since its debut in American casinos in the early 1980s, video poker has come a long way. As technology improves, more American online gamblers can turn to their mobile devices to play their favorite video poker games anytime and anywhere it is legal in their states. And with improved technology comes improved graphics. The razor-sharp graphics and fluid gameplay all help to reimagine classic video pokers, get long-term players to fall back in love with them, and attract new players.