Video Poker

There are three basic types of video poker machines:

* Jacks or Better

* Deuces Wild

* Jokers Wild

To keep things basic, we recommend you play only the Jacks or Better machines. The payouts are usually better and the draw strategy is more straightforward.

What you're really looking for is a Jacks or Better machine with a good payout schedule. The best payout schedule pays 9 to 1 for full house and 6 to 1 for a flush. In gambler's terms, this is called a "9-6" machine, for obvious reasons. Several years ago, you could find several of these in most casinos, but they are now very hard to find because of the favorable (to you, not the house!) payout schedule.

Frequently, the best payout you'll be able to find is the next best one, which pays 8 to 1 for a full house and 5 to 1 for a flush. However, this is a good payout schedule if it's also a "four-of-a-kind" bonus machine. A bonus machine pays extra odds for hitting four-a- kind for certain cards, such as 2s, 3s, or 4s, or three other cards. The payout schedule has this information, so be sure to read the payout schedule carefully before you play any machine.

Be sure to avoid machines that only pay 1 to 1 for two pairs. This should be the payout for a single pair of jacks or better. Two pair should pay 2 to 1. You money will go much faster if two pairs pays only 1 to 1.

Look for these payout schedules and you'll be playing with house edge against you of 1 or 2% - some of the best odds in the casino.

Good luck!

Tom is the webmaster at http://www.blackjack-for-everyone.com, which is a website dedicated to turning beginning Blackjack players into serious recreational players.

Latest News


PennLive.com

Oops: Casino sends free gambling offer to 55K customers
USA Today - 7 hours ago
Instead of offering free food and gambling to less than 1000 elite players, the casino sent a mailing with its generous offer to 55000 customers. ...
Pa. casino says offer of slots credits was mistake CNNMoney.com
Penn's costly casino boo-boo in Pa. Kansas City Star
Hollywood Casino players hit jackpot PennLive.com
Casino Gambling Web
all 174 news articles

Seneca Gaming lays off 210 employees, blames sinking economy
Buffalo News,  United States - 6 hours ago
Revenues have been down across the gambling industry this year. At a casino conference last week in Las Vegas, some of the country's biggest casinos said ...

Communists and downturn could shatter Packer's China dream
The Australian, Australia - 12 hours ago
... only outlet for legalised casino gambling adjacent to mainland China, where all forms of gambling were officially banned by the Communist Government. ...

Borgata CEO eager to transform Australia’s gambling
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - 16 minutes ago
... convinced him that he could help transform that gaming market in much the same way that the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa brought change to Atlantic City. ...

Kan. Legislature not likely to reconsider gambling
Forbes, NY - 12 hours ago
Some gambling supporters also have talked about reducing a required $225 million minimum investment for the operator of a casino in southeast Kansas, ...

Senate GOP pushes casino-like games at race tracks
Staten Island Advance - SILive.com, NY - 3 hours ago
Developer Louis Cappelli plans a $1 billion resort at the old Borscht Belt resort with gambling, golf, shopping, a spa, a water park and horse racing. ...

Macau gaming revenue rises after two months of falling
Las Vegas Review - Journal, NV - 16 hours ago
... the Chinese government have curtailed tourism from residents of neighboring provinces into Macau, the only area in China where casino gambling is legal. ...

Irish Independent

Some Atlantic City casinos struggle to pay loans
BusinessWeek - Dec 1, 2008
And the head of the American Gaming Association said last month that smaller casino operators might be less likely to survive the current downturn. ...
Trump Entertainment Resorts Trading at Lowest Levels Ever Casino Gambling Web
UPDATE 2-Trump Entertainment to miss bond interest payment Reuters
Atlantic City Report: Casinos set for another dismal December GamingTodaySlotsToday
TopNews - PerezHilton.com
all 94 news articles

New Zealand Herald

Shun Tak Plans New Macau Hotel
Wall Street Journal - 12 hours ago
Ms. Ho already owns a 50% stake in a Macau casino with US operator MGM Mirage. David Green, director of the gaming practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, ...
Michelin launches Hong Kong, Macau culinary guide IBTimes Australia
all 50 news articles

NECN

When Gambling Revenue Drops, Increase Alcohol Sales At Casinos
Casino Gambling Web, FL - Nov 27, 2008
At a time when the casino industry is booming in the United States and lawmakers have come around to the idea of casino gambling being a way of life, ...
State Casinos Seek To Extend Drinking Hours Hartford Courant
CT casinos: Push back last call, please NECN
Casinos debate changing drinking hours WTNH
all 30 news articles

Resources