Virtually every Internet casino now offers players a wide selection of online video poker games. This is probably because most casino-goers around the globe have become ardent enthusiasts of the traditional video poker machines typically found in land-based gaming establishments. One of the reasons behind this enthusiasm with video poker machines is the fact that they tend to be quite profitable for players. Requiring almost no prior gaming experience, video poker play is indeed a big hit!
Video poker is a game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized device which looks a lot like a slot machine. The earliest models of the video poker machines were introduced somewhere in the mid 70's. The game gained prominence in the 1980's when casino visitors realized that playing video poker is less intimidating, in terms of possible monetary loss, than playing table games. During the 90's, the game has become especially popular among Las Vegas’ local residents. This is because the off-strip gaming venues used to offer lower denomination machines as well as more attractive odds. Today, video poker lovers engage in their favorite form of entertainment over the Internet, simply because of the instant availability and the great winning potential.
In traditional video poker, the game play is launched after you place a wager by inserting several coins into the machine. When playing online, there are no tangible coins to insert. After the 'Deal' button is pushed, you are given a chance to keep or discard one or more of your cards in exchange for a new card drawn from the virtual deck. After the draw, the machine evaluates your hand. If the hand matches one of the winning card combinations in the game's pay schedule, you receive a payout. Some video poker machines feature progressive jackpots for the royal flush combination. This is designed to encourage you to invest additional funds in the game and keep you playing more often.
There is a great selection of highly entertaining online video poker games available here at Europa Casino. Among the most popular video poker games is 'Deuces Wild.' In Deuces Wild, all deuces are wild cards. This means that the twos can replace any other card of any value in order to create a winning poker card combination. Another widely played video poker game is "Aces & Faces". In Aces and Faces, players are awarded an increased payout for the four-of-a-kind hand featuring an Ace and face cards. Finally, there is the 'Jacks or Better' game. In Jacks or Better, a game considered to be the most common video poker game, payouts begin at a pair of Jacks or better.
