Of course, video poker is also not too far behind for several reasons.
But, since both games are played on machines, there are both similarities and differences that they share.
Slots require nothing other than putting in your wager and pulling a lever or pressing the button.
Despite this, they are also the most numerous.
Video poker vs Slots: What is the difference?
Despite video poker and slots both being hosted on similar-looking machines, they are two very different games.
So, lets break them down and see what they are about.
1) Strategy
The first big difference between the two games is based on strategy.
Simply put, video poker involves strategy, while slots do not.
You see, at the start of each game, you are dealt 5 cards.
This is your hand, and the decision-making starts.
The first choice that you oughta make is whether to keep the hand or discard it.
you might discard the entire hand, or you might only discard a few cards.
This is a simple example, with the mentioned strategy being the best possible move.
For example, a 25-year-old software engineer once won a $39.7 million-large jackpot in Las Vegas Excalibur Casino.
Video poker doesnt really offer something like that.
While this is still no small amount of money, it cant compare to what slots have to offer.
For example, full-pay Deuces Wild offers a payback of 100.76%.
Joker Poker offers a payback of 100.64%.
The percentage keeps going further and further down from there.
And, it is worth noting that these games offer far better returns than the ones in land-based casinos.
But even so, video poker is simply more rewarding, whether online or in a brick-and-mortar casino.
There are no such things as slots, which is why many find slots to be more relaxing.
Sometimes, you might trigger a bonus round or get free spins, but thats about it.
In video poker, you first have to select your bet size, then receive your initial 5 cards.
Then, you click Draw to complete your hand.
Of course, this is not necessarily bad, but it all depends on what you wish to achieve.
From this point of view, video poker is a lot more organized and easier to figure out.
But, this is balanced out by the fact that slots also offer more comps.
For example, whenever you lose a game at slots, you earn a 2% comp rate.
As a result, you would get $2 in comps.
The situation is significantly different in video poker, where you earn a 2% comp rate.
If you once again bet $2,000, you would, theoretically, lose only $16.60.
Unfortunately, this is not the case when it comes to slots.
You will not find a single game anywhere with the payback being above 100%.
The latter two do not offer a particularly big edge, even if you use the perfect strategy.
For Joker Poker, that amount is somewhat lower, sitting at $6.40.
On their own, these win rates will not exactly earn you a full-time living.
Slots are well-known for offering much greater winnings in online casinos than in land-based ones.
As a result, you get to receive a much larger royal flush payout with all 5 coins wagered.
Essentially, a 5-coin bet can grant you a 4,000-coin royal flush.
If you were to only bet 4 coins, then the royal flush can only bring you 1,000 coins.
Lastly, a 1-coin bet gets the minimal winnings of a 250-coin royal flush.
As you could see the greatest difference is between a 4-coin bet and a 5-coin bet.
Video poker vs Slots: What are the similarities?
However, that doesnt mean that they do not share a few similarities, as well.
A random number generator, as the name suggests, is software that offers completely random sequences of numbers.
Casinos have no need to cheat you.
Fortunately, video poker and slot machines offer an alternative.
This depends on the paytable, and it is typically only the case in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Online casinos typically dont do this, and the payout percentage tends to remain the same.
We mentioned that, in video poker, you could choose to bet from 1 to 5 coins.
But, these differences are a good thing.
They separate the games and define them as unique, different experiences.
But, both are also fine to play online, with even greater privacy.
