| Video poker is very different from standard poker, or | | | | are based upon how rare or common the hand is. |
| the most popular poker game on the market today, | | | | Some machines offer progressive jackpots for hands |
| Texas Hold'em. It is a casino game that is merely | | | | that are rare. |
| based upon five-card draw poker. It is not played at a | | | | Video poker machines are programmed to generate |
| table, but it can be played on the Internet or on a | | | | random card sequences, which are as random as the |
| computerized console similar in size to a slot machine. | | | | real thing. |
| The game of video poker was first introduced in the | | | | Now, players can play games with variations other |
| 1970's, although the machine back then was rather | | | | than five card stud. This includes Deuces Wild, Jacks |
| primitive. By the 1980's, video poker became | | | | are Better and Double Bonus. |
| increasingly more popular in casinos, because people | | | | If playing video poker is your favorite, then you can join |
| found them to be less intimidating when compared to | | | | a player's club or slot club to return a small percentage |
| table games. Now, video poker is a prominent place on | | | | of the amount of money that is bet in the form of |
| the gaming floors of almost every casino. The game is | | | | complimentary food, drinks, hotel rooms, and |
| especially popular in Las Vegas. | | | | merchandise. As a member of this club, you are |
| Here's how to play: | | | | required to use a card when playing on the video |
| First you place a bet of one or more credits by | | | | poker machine that allows the casino to track your |
| inserting money or a barcoded paper ticket into the | | | | actions, including how often you bet and for how long |
| video poker machine. Then, you need to press the | | | | you play. This is used to establish your level of play |
| 'deal' button to draw the cards. You will then be given | | | | and determine if you deserve additional complimentary |
| the opportunity to keep or discard one or more of | | | | items. |
| your cards in exchange for a new card drawn from | | | | These complimentary items can make a big different |
| the same virtual deck. The machine then evaluates the | | | | in the amount of money you end up spending on video |
| hand and offers a payout if the hand matches of the | | | | poker. In fact, this can result in a positive theoretical |
| winning hands in the posted pay schedule. | | | | return in scenarios where there would normally be a |
| Typically in video poker, payouts start with a hand | | | | negative theoretical return. |
| consisting of a pair of jacks. Pay schedules after that | | | | |