Top Video Poker Variants You’ll Find at Online Casinos

Video poker has enjoyed a steady player base for a long time. Even as other game types started appearing, it retained a loyal core of players who adore its poker-based, strategic gameplay. However, even the biggest fans will get bored of the same thing over and over again. That is why video poker has many variants that shake up how you can enjoy the game.

In this article, we’ll look at the top video poker variants in online casinos. We recommend trying one of these titles if you want to try something new.

Jacks or Better

If you’re completely new to video poker, Jacks or Better is the game you want to start with. A lot of other variants use it as a basis, which shows how well done this version is. You need to form a five-card poker hand to win, with the minimum winning hand being a pair of Jacks.

Jacks or Better has a medium variance. It has a good balance of bets with smaller payouts and bigger wins. This version also has an RTP of 99.54%, which offers the best possible return out of all possible variants.

Deuces Wild

Another excellent video poker variant is Deuces Wild. The game uses all ‘2’ cards as Wilds, substituting for other cards to form winning hands. This makes it easier to land paying combinations, which is why this variant requires at least a three-of-a-kind to create a win.

Despite Wilds offering more opportunities to win, players can expect Deuces Wild to be more volatile than Jacks or Better. That comes down to the best-paying wagers not allowing Wilds to fill in for other cards. The RTP for this video poker variant is 98.91%.

Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker uses Jacks or Better as a starting point while adding new winning combinations. Namely, getting four Aces or four 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s will get you prizes better than most Jacks or Better wagers. All other Four of a Kind combinations pay the same as they do in different versions.

This variant has a slightly higher variance than Jacks or Better. The increased risk allows you to score better rewards, so it’s a worthwhile trade-off in our book. Bonus Poker has an RTP of 99.17%.

Joker Poker

Joker Poker introduces Wilds to the mix, similar to Deuces Wild. However, instead of turning existing cards into Wilds, Joker Poker adds new cards – the jokers.

The lowest paying card combination in Joker Poker is a pair of Kings or better. It also has two extra payouts when you form Five of a Kind and Royal Flush with a Wild card. The best-paying combination is the Royal Flush formed without any Wilds.

The expected RTP for Joker Poker is 98.59%, which is competitive with Deuces Wild. As such, you can choose either and still enjoy playing video poker with Wilds.