Video poker sits in a sweet spot between slots and traditional poker. It’s a fast play like slots, but there's some serious strategy involved like in table games. That’s why it's one of the best games to play at sweepstakes casinos if you want to cash in on some serious gold coins and sweeps coins. It’s not just about luck — you can control the outcome of the games with smart decisions.
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For the uninitiated, think of video poker as a poker-flavored slot machine. You’re not playing against other people like you would at a poker night at your buddy’s house. There’s no dealer. It’s just you and the machine. Or, in the case of sweepstakes casinos, a digital version of the game on your phone or laptop.
The game is usually based on 5-card draw poker. You get 5 cards to start out with and you choose which ones to keep. The ones you toss get replaced with new ones and if your final hand matches one of the winning hands on the paytable, you get a payout. So, you can see how this mimics a slot game fairly closely.
The fun part? Every decision you make matters. Unlike slots where you just spin, cross your fingers, and hope, in video poker your choices influence the outcome. Sure, there’s the randomness of the cards being dealt, choosing what to hold is where the skill comes in — and where players who know what they’re doing can beat the game more often than not.
The setup is always pretty similar. You’ll start by choosing how much you want to bet. In sweepstakes casinos, this means picking how many SC or GC to wager on each deal. Then the game deals 5 cards.
You look at your hand and decide which cards to hold and which you want to toss. This is the most important part of the game. Once you lock in your choices, the game draws new cards to replace the ones you discarded. Then you see if you’ve got a winning hand.
Most machines pay out for anything as low as a pair of jacks or better all the way up to a royal flush. So, a pair of 8s won’t get a payout, but a 2-6 straight will.
Here’s how the process usually looks depending on the sweepstakes casino and developer of the game—
Place your bet.
Get 5 cards.
Decide which cards to hold.
Hit “draw” to replace the rest.
Collect your winnings if you hit a strong hand.
It sounds simple, and in general, it is, but the strategy behind it is where the game really comes alive and that’s where you can stand out like a pro.
The most common version of video poker is Jacks or Better. You need at least a pair of jacks to win anything at all. This is generally the go-to version for beginners because the strategy is well-documented and the paytables are usually fair. There’s not too much behind it, really.
Then you’ve got others like Deuces Wild, where all 2 are wild, or Bonus Poker, which pays extra for certain 4-of-a-kind hands. There’s also Double Double Bonus, which is popular because of its big payouts for specific hands—but it’s also more volatile. We haven’t seen these types of games on sweepstakes casinos, but you can bet they’re coming soon.
However, some sweepstakes casinos even have multi-hand versions. These let you play 3, 5, or even a hundred hands at once. This might seem overwhelming, but it’s really not. You simply pick your cards once, and the replacements play out across all hands. It’s faster, more exciting, and gives you way more chances to win — but then again it also burns through your balance faster if you’re not careful.
You don’t need to be a math genius or anything like that to win at video poker. But you do need to play smart and calculated. Most of your edge comes down to making the right hold/draw decisions right off the bat.
Here are a few things that will help you play like someone who knows what they’re doing and you’ll be winning in no time—
Always Play Max Bet (If You Can Afford It). All of the games pay significantly more when you bet the maximum. That extra payout is what makes the game’s RTP so high. If you’re playing sweepstakes casinos and betting SC, always go full bet to unlock the best payout.
Use Strategy Charts. These are ranked decision trees that tell you the best possible play for each hand. Of course, you don’t need to memorize them right away, but generally you will over time. Keep one handy while you play. It’s not cheating.
Don’t Chase Draws You Don’t Need. Don’t break up a paying hand to go after a straight or flush unless the odds are well in your favor. For example, in Jacks or Better, don’t throw away a high pair just because you’re four cards into a straight. Take the win when you can and move on.
Low Pairs Beat High Cards. Holding a low pair is usually a better move than holding two high cards. For instance, keep a pair of 4s rather than holding a K and a Q. The chance of turning a pair into three-of-a-kind or better outweighs the potential of landing just a pair of high cards — and it usually pays out much better as well.
Play Slower When You’re Unsure. Video poker isn’t timed and there aren’t players around the table waiting for you to make a move. If you’re not sure what to hold, don’t rush. Take a second to think — or check your chart!
Those are some of the best tips and tricks to skyrocketing your game when playing video poker at sweepstakes casinos.
Unlike slots, video poker is one of the few sweepstakes casino games where you can actually gain an edge with the right strategy. That makes it perfect for sweepstakes casinos. It’s not just about spinning and hoping for the best — you’ve got real choices that matter that can dramatically affect the outcome.
Use a strategy chart and play the max bet whenever possible. And don’t let emotion take over when things don’t go your way. It’s poker, after all. Even when you’re not sitting at a table with real players, the smarts still count.