The house edge and the expected return (return to player or RTP) are fundamental concepts in gambling that show how profitable a particular game is. Two main factors determine players’ chances of winning in video poker – the house edge and the variance of the game. Small losses could accumulate and result in financial ruin unless players manage to adjust the stakes properly in accordance with their entire bankroll. Clearly, even the best strategy does not guarantee success since the outcome will still depend on chance.Įven if we play a video poker variation with a positive expectation ( yes, there are versions of this game where the theoretical RTP is higher than 100%), we will still lose some of the hands. If they hold a Three of Kind (three Sevens, for instance), the odds of turning this hand into a Full House are 16 to 1. For example, players who hold Ace, Queen, Jack, and Ten of hearts and need just one card to a Royal Flush face odds of 47 to 1. The round is resolved in the second draw when all discarded cards are replaced with new ones.Īs you can see, the odds for the initial hand are fixed but they change drastically, depending on the player’s decisions. Video poker is played with a single deck of 52 cards – players receive an initial 5-card hand and must decide which cards they wish to keep and which to replace. Players should understand, however, that even with perfect strategy, the game is based on probabilities and winning each and every round is impossible. Unlike the majority of casino games, video poker does not rely solely on chance but has an element of skill, as well.

Video poker bankroll requirements