Video Poker for Real Money in Nigerian Online Casinos

Video Poker for Real Money in Nigerian Online Casinos

Video poker in Nigerian online casinos lets you play against a machine, just as you would when playing a slot game. However, unlike slots, it offers several advantages. Not only does it come with incredibly high odds alongside a low house edge, but it also allows you to improve your winning chances. This is possible as it lets you decide the cards you’d like to hold and the ones you’d like to discard after a draw. However, many people tend to play it like a regular poker game or slot machine. This means some players play it without a strategy, while others use strategies that otherwise make sense while playing poker.

Regardless of how you decide to play online video poker, no strategy works if you don’t understand the basics of the game. So, on this page, we will give you a detailed explanation of how you can play video poker online for money. Understand the basic rules of the game, the different types of games you can play, and the hands involved in video poker. We have also included a few tips that will help you improve your winning chances as you play this luck-skill-based game. And if you are looking for the best video poker online casino sites to visit, our experts have a few recommendations. 

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Elishama A. Written & published: 19.04.2023 By author Elishama A.
Richard B. Reviewed & updated: 20.03.2024 By gambling expert Richard B.

Origin of video poker game

No stranger to innovation, poker saw its first twist in the 1970s when several Las Vegas casinos introduced video poker. A “hybrid” between slot machines and table poker, video poker quickly became a favourite among many casino goers and introduced many people to the game of poker. 

As the name suggests, a physical video poker game is played between a machine and a player on a console. Over the years, technology has made it possible to design the game in several formats and can be played at online casinos. Online video poker games work just like the standard game but with a much quicker turnover of hands and fixed payouts.

Online video poker interface

  • Online video poker interface
  • Online video poker interface
  • Online video poker interface
  • Online video poker interface

About online video poker

At its basic level, video poker is based on a five-card draw. This means that once you place your bets on a hand and hit the deal button, the game will deal five cards. Your goal is to form the highest-ranking hand from the five cards dealt. You can discard as many cards as you wish and replace them with others in an extra round before the showdown. A straightforward payout relative to the value of your hand is given immediately after the showdown. The higher your hand ranks, the higher the payout – of course, matched against the amount you staked.

Does this mean every hand will pay out? Of course not. It all depends on the game rules. For instance, in a game of “Jacks or Better,” you must have a minimum of two Jacks (J-J) to receive a payout. Every game has its unique rules, which you can check in the paytable of whichever game you are playing. The paytable will have all the available hands in the game and how much each pays out. 

Also worth noting is that some video poker online games have twisted the standard rule games, as seen in Jokers Wild and Deuces Wild. This means “Jokers” or “2s” are wild cards that can be paired up with your hand to improve your chances of forming a winning hand combination. Other games like Bonus Poker have enhanced payments on certain hand combinations. Some video poker games are progressives, offering jackpots that keep growing every time someone plays the game. 

Useful terms in online casino video poker

Before you can start playing online video poker for real money in Nigeria, it’s crucial you understand the basic rules of engagement. With this in view, you should know the terms “minimum paying hand”, “hand ranking”, and a “wild card”.

  • Minimum paying hand

    It refers to the lowest-valued hand, as defined in the paytable, which you must have to qualify for a payout. It could be, for instance, two pairs of J, five consecutive cards in the same suit, etc. Each game has its minimum-paying hand.

  • Hand ranking

    It is the value of the hand you have. This is determined by the cards that are in hand. The ranking of individual cards, from low to high, is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. Video poker follows the same hand-ranking guidelines as a regular poker game, except that the royal flush is the highest hand.

  • Wild card

    It plays the same role as a wild symbol in a slot machine game: it can be exchanged for any other card in a deck to help you form a winning hand. In video poker, the Joker is often used to represent a wild card.

Typical video poker gameplay

With that out of the way, you can now proceed and understand the gameplay of video poker. There are many types of video poker online games, but as already stated, they are all based on simple five-card draw mechanics. The games can use a 52-card or 53-card deck during gameplay. To play the game, you must follow the steps below:

1

Place your bet

You can use the + or – buttons on the screen to adjust the bet levels and amount. If you like, you can use the Max Bet button to place the highest possible bet on the game.

2

Hit the “Deal” button

Five cards will be dealt randomly and displayed face-up on the screen. The next step is important as it influences the outcome of the game.

3

Select the cards you would like to “Hold”

And those you would like to “Discard.” To hold a card, move the mouse over it and click on it. If you are using a smartphone, tap on it to hold. You can hold all the cards or choose to discard them all. At the end of the day, your objective is to form the strongest hand possible.

4

Hit the “Draw” button

This move will replace all the discarded cards. After the new set of cards is drawn, the game pays out according to the paytable and the amount you have wagered. The stronger the hand, the better the payout multiplier and, consequently, the more money you win.

Video poker hands

Each video poker game focuses on specific hands, meaning each hand’s value varies from game to game. With this in mind, let us have a look at the value of the hands based on one of the most popular online video poker games – Jacks or Better. We start from the highest to the lowest-ranked hand. The list will explain the cards found in each hand and the maximum payout from each.

  • Royal flush

    This is the highest-ranking hand in any video poker game. Forming a royal flush is quite rare, but when you do, you are assured of a decent payout, especially if you place the maximum bet. A royal flush’s hand will have an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 – all in the same suit. If you manage to form a royal flush, you receive an x250 multiplier on your bet.

  • Straight flush

    Like the royal flush, a straight flush constitutes five consecutive cards in the same suit. The only difference is that it can happen anywhere in the order of the available numbers. For example, you can land 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of hearts. Since it is more common than the royal flush, the payout is x50 your bet. Other games can offer an x40 or x60 multiplier.

  • Four-of-a-kind

    From the game’s name, you know you must form a hand with four similar cards. The suits don’t have to be the same. For example, 4 of diamonds, 4 of clubs, 4 of spades, and 4 of hearts. If you are lucky to form this, you will receive a payout of between x20 and x30, depending on the type of video poker game you are playing. Jacks or Better pays out at odds of x25.

  • Full house

    When you have a full house, you have two pairs in your hand, i.e., three cards from one rank and two cards from another rank. An example of a full house is 5H + 5D + 5S + 4H + 4C. In the case of Jacks or Better, you receive an x9 multiplier on your wager for a full house.

  • Flush

    When you have a flush, it simply means you have five cards of the same suit displayed in no order: King, 2, 4, 7, and Jack – all of diamonds. Payouts for a flush in Jacks or Better is an x6 multiplier. Other games pay out at odds of x5.

  • Straight

    While playing online video poker, you are more likely bound to form a straight hand. For this to happen, you must have five numbers in a row with mixed suits. For instance, 2H, 3D, 4S, 5C, and 6H. In Jacks or Better, the multiplier is x4 your bet. In other video poker games, the multiplier could be x3 or x4.

  • Three-of-a-kind

    When you have a three-of-a-kind hand, it simply means having three cards of the same rank. The odds of forming this hand are 1 in every 50 hands. An example of three-of-a-kind: 9C, 9H, and 9S. The payout for this hand is constant in all online video poker games and is set at x3.

  • Two pair

    The odds of forming this hand is 1 in every 20 hands. It is the second most common type of hand in video poker and involves two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, 7D, 7H, 9H, and 9C. If you form this hand, you normally receive an x2 payout on your bet.

  • Pair

    You must have two cards of the same rank to form a pair—for instance, 2S + 2H. If you form this hand, you receive a x1 multiplier on your bet regardless of the game you are playing. In other words, you get your stake back without losing or winning.

Best online video poker varieties

Before looking at the different types of video poker games you can play online, you should understand that they are broadly categorised into “short-pay” and “full-pay” games. The latter category emerged after modern video poker games were developed. You can tell from the game’s name that they offer the highest paybacks. Short-pay video poker games have a little lower payback percentage. As stated, there are tens of video poker games that you can play online. However, these are the most popular games that you will encounter as you play online video poker. Nearly all high-roller online casinos feature them. 

  • Jacks Or Better

    Jacks Or Better

    It is the most common video poker game you will encounter online. As you play Jacks or Better video poker game, your final selection of cards should have a pair of jacks or better to win. The full-pay Jacks or Better video poker is commonly referred to as 9/6 jacks. The “9” stands for the multiplier when you get a full house and the “6” from a payout of a flush.

  • Deuces Wild

    Deuces Wild

    In Deuces Wild, all 2s are wild. The payout for a four-of-a-kind in deuces wild is about 1.3% of the total RTP. With a workable gaming strategy, you can get a 100.8% RTP on this game.

  • Joker Poker

    Joker Poker

    What sets Joker Poker from other video poker games is the wild joker that it has in its deck. This creates one more winning hand. Unlike many other video poker online games, it uses a 53-deck card.

  • Aces and Faces

    Aces and Faces

    A variation of Jacks or Better, Aces and Faces differs from the original game when it comes to the payout of a four-of-a-kind hand.

Video poker games highest RTP

Online Video Poker Game RTP (%)
1️⃣ Full-Pay Deuces Wild (Microgaming) 100.76
2️⃣ Full-Pay Double Bonus Poker (Microgaming) 100.17
3️⃣ Full-Pay Double Double Bonus Poker (Microgaming) 100.07
4️⃣ Full-Pay Jacks or Better (NetEnt) 99.56
5️⃣ Bonus Poker Deluxe (Microgaming) 99.64
6️⃣ Double Jackpot Poker (RTG) 99.63
7️⃣ Super Aces Bonus Poker (RTG) 99.94
8️⃣ All American Poker (NetEnt) 99.38
9️⃣ Pick ‘Em Poker (RTG) 99.95
🔟 Tens or Better (Microgaming) 99.14

Play video poker for free

Video poker winning tips

Understanding the basics of video poker games is simple. Playing the game is simpler, especially if you’ve mastered all the rules. However, besides understanding the value of video poker hands and when to hold versus when to ditch, it is essential to follow a few tips to help you during gameplay. One of the reasons why video poker in Nigerian online casinos is popular is because it’s the one game with a 98% to 100% RTP. This means with a proper understanding of the basic rules and using a strategy during gameplay, you are assured of winning most of the time.

Look for theoretically positive game versions

It is uncommon to come across a game with a negative house edge, i.e., a game with an RTP that is more than 100%. As you look to play video poker online for money, these are the games you should prioritise. Examples of such games include 

  • 10/6 Double Double Bonus – 100.07% RTP 
  • 10/7 Double Bonus – 100.17% RTP.
  • Full-pay Deuces Wild – 100.76% RTP

Playing video poker online is 100% random

One of the biggest mistakes some people make when playing online video poker for real money in Nigeria is assuming the games have some sort of memory. They believe the past results directly influence the outcome of the next hand. However, like online slots, video poker game results are determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG) software. As the name suggests, the work of this software is to ensure the outcome of every subsequent spin is independent of the previous one.  

Practice makes perfect

It is an age-old saying that makes sense as you play video poker online. Before committing any real money, you can play free online video poker to familiarise yourself with all the basics. Understand the hands, what holding and discarding is all about, and perfect a strategy. Once you feel comfortable with all the basics, you can always switch to real money play.

Conclusion

Video poker is a popular real money casino game, not only in Nigeria but the world at large. And from the outgoing guide, it’s not hard to see why many people prefer playing it. Its quickfire format means you can play it from anywhere, anytime. Like any other popular casino game, software developers have come up with different game variations. You can now play over 20 different types of video poker online games. However, before you can play video poker in Nigerian online casinos, it’s crucial you understand the basics and any other special rules. This is the best way to improve your chance of winning. Also, ensure that you visit a reliable and licensed online casino so that you can have a fair, safe and secure gaming experience.

Video poker FAQ

Is video poker available in Nigerian online casinos?

Yes, you can play video poker in Nigerian online casinos. The best brands will try as much as possible to include as many video poker game variations as possible for their members.

How to win in online video poker?

The best online video poker strategy is to look for a game with a high RTP and stake wisely. Like other casino games, there is no guarantee you will win with every hand played, as the game’s results are determined by RNG software. However, playing a game with a high RTP and a proper bankroll management strategy can increase your chances of winning.

How much can I win in video poker?

The much you can win as you play online video poker depends on the game’s payout and the amount you stake. If you want to win high, you must take a risk and search for high-ranking hands. However, the odds of forming such hands are low compared to Two Pairs or other low-ranking hands.

Which video poker has the best odds?

When you consider odds while playing online video poker for real money in Nigeria, then you should try Double Bonus Poker. It has a return to player percentage of 100.17%. Because of this, it’s a hard-to-come-by game, and when you do, it tends to have low maximum bet limits.

Can I play video poker on a mobile device?

Yes, it is possible to play online video poker on a mobile device. Any internet-enabled device with a browser, including iPods, can be used to play video poker games. You don’t even need to download any software to play the game.