Video Poker Guide
Video poker is a machine game that blends poker hands with slot-style, push-button play. You are dealt five cards, decide which to keep, and draw to complete your hand. There is no dealer and no other players, just you against a fixed paytable. What makes video poker unusual is that, on the right machine and with correct play, it can offer one of the highest return-to-player (RTP) figures in the casino. That return is not automatic: it depends entirely on the paytable in front of you and on making the mathematically correct decision every single hand. This guide explains how the game works, how to read the paytable, the strategy involved, and the popular variants, in plain language for South African players.
Video poker guides
- How to PlayLearn how to play video poker step by step: place your bet, get five cards, hold the ones you want, draw to replace the rest, and get paid by the paytable.
- StrategyVideo poker strategy: why optimal holds depend on the exact game and paytable, and why correct play maximises RTP but never guarantees a win.
- Paytables & RTPRead a video poker paytable like 9/6 Jacks or Better, why full house and flush payouts set the RTP, and how to spot short-pay machines.
- VariantsA guide to video poker variants: Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus and Joker Poker, and how wild cards and bonus payouts change RTP.
What video poker is
Video poker uses a standard 52-card deck (some variants add a joker). Each round, the machine deals five cards. You choose which to hold and which to discard, then the discarded cards are replaced in a single draw. Your final five-card hand is compared against the machine's paytable, and you are paid for any qualifying poker hand. The minimum paying hand depends on the variant: in Jacks or Better, for example, you need at least a pair of jacks to get paid. Stakes are set in rand, and you choose how many coins to bet per hand.
Why the RTP can be high, and what that means
Because your decisions directly affect the outcome, a full-pay video poker machine played with perfect strategy can return more than 99% over the long run, higher than most slots and many table games. That is a long-run statistical average across enormous numbers of hands, not a promise for your session. Two things have to be true at once: the machine must use a generous (full-pay) paytable, and you must consistently make the correct holds. Get either wrong and the edge swings back toward the house. Even at its best, the RTP stays under 100%, so the house still keeps a margin. Good play reduces the house edge; it never removes it, and no system guarantees a winning session.
Where to go next
Start with How to Play Video Poker for the mechanics of a round. Then move to Video Poker Strategy to learn correct holds, Video Poker Paytables & RTP to read a machine before you play it, and Video Poker Variants to understand how different games change the maths. You can also explore the wider casino games guides, the related poker guide, and our slots if you enjoy push-button play, or browse all guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is video poker the same as online poker?
No. Online poker is played against other people, where you can win or lose based on reading opponents and betting. Video poker is a solo machine game played against a fixed paytable, with no opponents and no bluffing. The only poker element is the ranking of hands.
Does video poker really have a higher RTP than slots?
On a full-pay machine played with correct strategy, often yes, sometimes above 99%. But that depends on the specific paytable and on you making the right decision every hand. A short-pay machine or loose play can drop the return well below that, and the RTP is always under 100%.
Can I guarantee a profit at video poker?
No. Correct strategy on a good paytable gives you the best possible return, but the house edge never reaches zero and results over any single session are random. Play for entertainment, set limits, and only gamble what you can afford to lose. You must be 18 or older.