Video Poker Online Payouts and Odds

Video poker online is a cracking casino game for players in Ireland, blending the strategy of poker with the instant fun of slots. What makes it particularly engaging is that you can actually influence your chances of winning. Based on the first cards dealt, you can make smart decisions, meaning it's not just down to pure luck – your strategic moves can significantly boost your potential winnings.

However, like all good casino games, video poker is designed with a house edge. So, while strategy helps, you'll still want a bit of luck on your side to see a profit from your session.

In this guide, we'll delve into the odds and payouts typical for video poker. You'll discover which variations offer the best returns for Irish players and what the standard paytables look like.

What Are the Odds in Video Poker for Irish Players?

The odds of winning in video poker aren't set in stone; they change depending on the specific game you're playing. Generally speaking, though, video poker offers some of the most favourable odds you'll find at online casinos in Ireland. It typically trumps the odds you'd get from standard slot machines or online roulette.

For most online video poker games available to players in Ireland, the house edge usually sits between less than 0.5% and just over 5%. Reputable online casinos in Ireland will typically display this information in the game details, so it's always worth a quick click to check.

Decoding Video Poker Payout Charts

While understanding the odds is crucial, knowing what payouts you can expect for each winning hand is equally vital.

Depending on the specific game, you might get a decent return from lower-ranking hands, or you might need to aim for those high-value combinations to see the bulk of your winnings over a longer playing session.

So, always take a moment to study the payout charts for the variation you're playing. These charts clearly show the rewards for each hand combo, helping you devise a video poker strategy that’s best suited to your situation.

Next, we’ll go through some example payout charts for the most popular video poker games available to Irish players.

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is a firm favourite and one of the most popular video poker variations around. It boasts a straightforward paytable, making it a great choice for beginners in Ireland. Here’s a typical chart you might see:

• Royal Flush: 1 to 250
• Straight Flush: 1 to 50
• Four of a Kind: 1 to 25
• Full House: 1 to 9
• Flush: 1 to 6
• Straight: 1 to 4
• Three of a Kind: 1 to 3
• Two Pairs: 1 to 2
• Jacks or Better: 1 to 1

The lowest-paying hand is a pair of jacks (or better), and the highest-paying hand is a Royal Flush. The odds of hitting a Royal Flush in Jacks or Better are approximately 1 in 40,000.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is another popular variation of video poker that offers players the chance to hit big payouts. In Deuces Wild, all twos are considered wild cards. It means that they can be used to substitute any card to create a winning hand.

See an example of a Deuces Wild payout chart:

• Natural Royal Flush: 1 to 800
• Four Deuces: 1 to 200
• Wild Royal Flush: 1 to 25
• Five of a Kind: 1 to 15
• Straight Flush: 1 to 10
• Four of a Kind: 1 to 4
• Full House: 1 to 4
• Flush: 1 to 3
• Straight: 1 to 2
• Three of a Kind: 1 to 1

The highest-paying hand in Deuces Wild is a Natural Royal Flush. But players can also hit a Five-of-a-Kind or a Wild Royal Flush, which can be even more lucrative.

Joker Poker

Joker Poker is a variation of video poker online that includes a joker card as a wild card — the 53rd card in the deck. See below an example of a payout chart for a Joker Poker Kings or Better game:

• Natural Royal Flush: 1 to 400
• Five of a Kind: 1 to 200
• Royal Flush with Joker: 1 to 100
• Straight Flush: 1 to 50
• Four of a Kind: 1 to 18
• Full House: 1 to 7
• Flush: 1 to 5
• Straight: 1 to 3
• Three of a Kind: 1 to 2
• Two Pairs: 1 to 1
• Kings or Better: 1 to 1

The highest-paying hand in Joker Poker is a natural Royal Flush. Players can also hit a Five-of-a-Kind or a Wild Royal Flush — that is, a Royal Flush with a Joker.

Best Video Poker odds

The variations of video poker with the best odds are, at the same time, the ones with the lowest house edge. See below the average odds for the most popular variations played online:

• Jacks or Better: 99,54%
• Deuces Wild: 99,42%
• Joker Poker: 98,47%

Have in mind that there are different versions of the same variant. Those are the odds for a standard game, without any extra features that could impact the results.

Video Poker online casino Jackpots

Many online casinos offer video poker games with progressive jackpots. A progressive jackpot increases every time the game is played — if the jackpot is not won.

That can add some emotion to a game. Actually, you can ignore all the best video poker odds available in online casinos if you ever hit a jackpot. But have in mind that, even though the potential payout can be huge, the odds of winning it tend to be very low.