- Jacks or Better is our top pick for . This game has simple rules, a high RTP, and can be found at Ignition Casino.
- Deuces Wild is one of the more popular varieties of video poker. You can play it for free from your browser at Bovada.
- Aces and Eights might not have the sexiest name, but it has a great free version available at TrustDice.
If you’re looking for a break from the action in your favorite , consider trying out some video poker instead.
Like slot machines, video poker is easy to play, but there are subtle strategies that can make a difference in your results. The best part is that you can learn all about strategy without spending a dime by playing free video poker games.
But with so many variations of video poker, how are you Supposed to know which ones to try? Not to worry, because I’ve compiled a list of the best free video poker games for you to enjoy.
Best Real Money Gambling Games - Exciting Titles to Play Online in 2023No matter what type of game you prefer, there is a free video poker option that is perfect for you. Check them out below!
1. Jacks or Better
- Where to Play:
- RTP: 99.54%
Jacks or Better is a great place to start if you are just learning how to play video poker. It has very simple rules, and gets its name from the fact that you need a pair of jacks or better to receive any payout.
The simplicity of this game makes it my top choice for those who want to play . There aren’t many different variations of Jacks or Better, so you should be able to switch over to the real money version with little difficulty.
Ignition Casino is where I recommend going to play Jacks or Better for free. They offer a downloadable version of their casino software, or you can play instantly in your web browser.
Not only do they have a fantastic free video poker game, but they also offer some of the on the internet. If you decide that you want to win some money, Jacks or Better has a high return to player (RTP) rate of 99.54%, which makes it one of the most player friendly games around..
How to Play Jacks or Better Video Poker
First, you need to decide how much you would like to bet. Coins range from 0.01 – 5.00, and you can put anywhere from 1-5 coins per payline. There are 25 paylines total, meaning you can raise your bet up to 125 coins.
After placing your bets, hit the deal button to get your cards. You will then have the opportunity to hold or discard any of your cards. After making your choices, the second set of cards will be dealt.
If you end up with a winning hand, it will be paid out according to the following scale:
- Royal Flush 250/1
- Straight Flush 80/1
- Four of a Kind 20/1
- Full House 7/1
- Flush 6/1
- Straight 4/1
- Three of a Kind 3/1
- Two Pair 2/1
- Pairs Stop Paying Here
- High Pair 1/1
- Low Pair 1/1
As you can see, forming a strong hand can pay out quite nicely in Jacks or Better video poker. Furthermore, the house edge in this game is extremely low when you play with five coins. In fact, the RTP approaches 100% when you do this, which means you should receive roughly $100 in winnings for every $100 you bet.
This doesn’t mean that you should run to the casino and max out the coins; there is still some element of chance in this game. However, experienced players should definitely think about investing five coins per spin.
2. Deuces Wild
- Where to Play:
- RTP: 100.76% (with max coin in)
If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than Jacks or Better, I recommend giving Deuces Wild a try. This game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, except all deuces (double) are wild.
Deuces Wild is one of the more popular variations of , which helps explain why you can find free versions of this game online.
There isn’t a lot of visual flare to this particular game, but it does the trick. If you would like to play a fancier version of Deuces Wild, head over to Bovada’s specialty games section. They have a few different animations for each hand, which helps add to the excitement.
Deuces Wild might be the best choice for as well, due to how fast paced the game can be. You’ll need to make quick decisions regarding what cards to hold, which takes a bit of strategic thinking.
Luckily you won’t be risking any real money, so don’t worry about making mistakes. Get some practice in with the free version at Bovada, and maybe even win some money on their real money version.
According to calculations by WizardofODDS.com, you can win up to 129x your bet in this game. The house edge is also quite good at only 0.44%. Just be sure to check the specifics before you play, such as how many decks are used.
How to Play Deuces Wild Video Poker
Deuces Wild uses standard video poker rankings, but with one major exception. As mentioned previously, all deuces (jack – king) are wild, which means they can be substituted for any other card.
Here is a look at the pay table from Bovada’s version of Deuces Wild.
- Royal Flush 200/1
- Five of a Kind 120/1
- Royal Flush (2,3,4,5) 1600/1
- Straight Flush 40/1
- Four of a Kind 20/1
- Royal Flush (2,3,4,5) 200/1
- Five of a Kind 120/1
- Four of a Kind 8/1
- Straight Flush 4/1
- Five of a Kind 10/1
- Four of a Kind 4/1
- Three of a Kind 1/1
Note that you can get multiple royals in one hand, which is pretty cool. Also, the house edge drops to 0.37% when you play with five coins, and approaches an RTP of 101.21%.
When playing free Deuces Wild games online, you may notice some hands that seem too good to be true. It’s possible for you and another player to both hit four of a kind, for example.
In this case, you would each keep your four of a kind, and compete to see who can make the higher royal flush. There are plenty of other wrinkles in the game, which makes Deuces Wild one of the more interesting video poker variations.
3. Aces and Eights
- Where to Play:
- RTP: 99.79% (with max coin in)
If Kenny Rogers was still a biggest video poker star, I imagine he would sing, “The secret of life is Aces & Eights.”
While that that may not be the case, Aces & Eights remains one of the more popular types of free video poker. It is often referred to as “Bobby’s Game” after “Captain Hook” himself, Bruno Fitoussi, nicknamed it as such during the 2005 World Series of Poker.
I recommend trying out Aces & Eights on TrustDice if you’re looking for a quality free version.
Their game has a maximum RTP of 99.79%, which means you should win back $99.79 for every $100 you bet. You cannot lose money over the long term on this game, as long as you play with five coins per hand.
Aces and Eights can also be found at the , although none of them were offering a free version of the game at the time of writing.
You might be able to find it for free at their sites in the future, or perhaps they will offer a generous sign up bonus to help you try it out for real money.
A special mention should go to SportsBetting.ony, as they currently have the highest bonus for new customers. You can get a 50% deposit boost worth up to $1,000 to use at their casino or sportsbook.
They also accept a wide variety of payment methods, including credit cards, person to person transfers, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin.
How to Play Aces and Eight Video Poker
As you might have guessed, this game pays out big time for forms of two pairs, the biggest being “Aces & Eights.” Here’s a full breakdown of the various payouts in this game.
- Wild Royal Flush 800/1
- Regular Royal Flush 125/1
- Wild Straight Flush 100/1
- Regular Straight Flush 250/1
- Quads 80/1
- Wild Royal Flush (2,3,4,5) 1600/1
- Quads 80/1
- Regular Straight Flush 250/1
- Wild Straight Flush 100/1
- Quads 8/1
- Regular Flush 20/1
- Four of a Kind 12/1
- Three of a Kind 3/1
A special note should be made about the difference between a “wild” and “regular” royal flush, straight flush, etc.
Any hand that contains one Ace, 2, three, or four was made better by the “ace is a wild card” aspect of this game. Henceforth, these hands will command a larger prize.
Speaking of aces, it is worth noting that you can get multiple aces in a single hand. In fact, getting all four aces yields a massive jackpot of 8,000 coins. This prize gets progressively larger at most casinos, making it one of the best options if you’re looking to hit a big video poker jackpot.
4. Jokers Wild
-
Where to Play:
-
RTP: 9 times out of 10, you’ll get a better deal elsewhere
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Royal Flush 2000/1
-
Five Miles to Midnight 500/1
-
Royal Flush (w/o jokers) 150/1
-
Less Than Midnight 150/1
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Five Miles to Midnight 100/1
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Royal Flush w/ Joker 2000/1
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Less Than One Hour 80/1
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Five Miles to Midnight w/ Joker 100/1
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Four of a Kind 40/1
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Siren Sounded 25/1
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Four of a Kind w/ Joker 40/1
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Less Than Midnight w/ J 20/1
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Three of a Kind 3/1
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Between 1-6 Hours 9/1
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Three of a Kind w/ J 6/1
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Over 6 Hours 6/1
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Two Pair 2/1
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Joker Makes Arrest 2/1
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Pair 1/1
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Captain Traps Joker 1/1
Jokers Wild is an exciting variant of video poker, and one that is offered for free at BitStarz.
One thing to note is the inclusion of jokers in this deck. In addition to the traditional 52 cards, there will be one additional random joker thrown into the mix. This wild card can make or break your hand, which adds a fascinating element of strategy to the game.
Unlike Deuces Wild, Jokers Wild has a relatively low RTP when compared to other video poker variants. In fact, I can almost guarantee you will find a better return to player rate at another game.
That said, Jokers Wild is still fun to play. You can get a big return on your investment if everything falls into place, plus the different hand combinations provide a unique experience versus other video poker titles.
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5. Bonus Deuces Wild
- Where to Play:
- RTP: 99.68% (with max coin in)
Microgaming created Bonus Deuces Wild, which gives it a certain level of credibility right out of the gate. These guys developed the first online casino software way back in 1994, so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about gaming.
Their take on Deuces Wild is aptly named “Bonus Deuces Wild,” featuring all deuces as wild cards. This version differs from the others on the list in that you can play up to 25 hands at once.
Most video poker games have a single hand in the spotlight, requiring you to hit the “deal” button to begin. After choosing your bet size and coin range, simply click on the “play” button below the other 24 hands to start ‘em up.
This allows you to quickly rack up wins and losses while playing Bonus Deuces Wild for free online.
Another unique feature of Microgaming’s creation is the bonus features for getting all five aces, browns, or rockets wild. Check out this breakdown to see how much extra you can win in each instance.
- Progressive Royale Flush 4000/1
- Regular Royal Flush 500/1
- Progressive Straight Flush 600/1
- Regular Straight Flush 125/1
- Quads 80/1
- Progressive Royal Flush (2,3,4,5) 1600/1
- Quads 80/1
- Regular Straight Flush 125/1
- Progressive Straight Flush 600/1
- Quads 8/1
- Regular Flush 25/1
- Four of a Kind 12/1
- Three of a Kind 3/1
This game also offers some nice returns for five aces, brows, or rocks. Not only will you win the corresponding prize for whichever hand you just formed, but you’ll also get additional winnings based on the size of the progressive jackpot.
All three of these wild card combos will pay out a portion of the jackpot, depending on which combo you formed. • 1 Hand = 10% • 2 Hands = 20% • 4 Hands or More = Win Entire Jackpot• 5 Aces/Brock/ROCKETS = 5% • 5 w/o Jokers = 2%• Progressive Resetts at $250K
The jackpot continues to rise until someone wins the grand prize of at least $250,000. From there, the counter resets to zero and starts climbing again.
All things considered, Bonus Deuces Wild is one of the more entertaining ways to play video poker for free online.
live casino evolution6. Double Bonus Poker
- Where to Play:
- RTP: 101.74% (with max coin in)
Double Bonus Poker is similar to Aces and Eights, outside of the name anyway. Like the former, this game pays out extra for forms of two pairs. The biggest prize belongs to anyone who receives AA-22 with BB-44.
This game can be found for free at SlotsandCasino.org. It’s always good to have another site besides the gaming platform itself to try out demo versions of games. Such is the case here, as I couldn’t find the free Double Bonus Poker game on BetOnline’s site.
You can, however, find a great sign up bonus on their site. This includes a 100% deposit boost worth up to $1,000, which can be used at their casino or sportsbook. …The mind reels at the possibilities!
Head to my BetOnline review to learn more about their site, or read below to start playing for free.
How to Play Double Bonus Video Poker
Here is a look at the many different two pair prizes in Double Bonus Poker.
- Eight Five Twos AA-22 BB-44 3200/1
- Seven Five Aces AA-22 KK-QQ 1600/1
- Six Five Kings AA-22 JJ-Tens 800/1
- Five Five Queens AA-22 QQ-Nines 320/1
- Four Five Jacks AA-22 JJ-Tens 160/1
- Eight Five Aces AA-22 BB-4 Suited 800/1
- Seven Five Kings AA-22 KK-QQ Suited 400/1
- Six Five Queens AA-22 JJ-T Suited 200/1
- Five Five Jacks AA-22 Suited 80/1
- Eight Five Aces AA-22 BB 256/1
- Seven Five Kings AA-22 KK-QQ 128/1
- Six Five Queens AA-22 JJ-T 64/1
- Four Five Jacks AA-Suited 32/1
- AA-22 Does Not Pair 80/1
- Three of a Kind 3/1
- Two Pair 2/1
- Pairs Below Tens 1/1
- High Card 7/1
Note the added bonuses for suited and connected two pairs, as well as non-paired AA-22.
As you might have guessed, suited means the aces and twos are spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Connected refers to when the aces and twos are in sequential order, such as two, three, four, five, or six.
The biggest thing to remember when playing Double Bonus Poker is what happens when you hit AA-22. Specifically, you will receive the prize for AA-22, along with whatever amount is owed for the two pair.
For instance, you would earn 3200X your coin denomination for the quad Aces and 20X for the two pair. Assuming you put in five coins, this would equate to 3200X5 + 20X5 = 19,000 coins awarded in total.
Not a bad day at the office, assuming you started with 100 coins. This would turn your bankroll from 100 to 20900, or 19.9x overall.
I recommend printing out a to help maximize your profits during each round of Double Bonus Poker. Good luck!
7. Double Double Bonus Poker
- Where to Play:
- RTP: 101.07% (with max coin in)
It’s not often you come across a game that is even more double than Double Bonus Poker. But such is the case with Double Double Bonus Video Poker, which boasts a plethora of two pair prizes.
In fact, it’s hard to keep track of all the different combinations. So I will simply point you toward the free game at 777 Casino, and the chart showing all the various prize amounts.
If you are interested in paid versions of Double Double Bonus Poker, 777 Casino, BetSafe, and William Hill all have online gaming sites with excellent reputations. You can also find it at , but be aware their site is presently unavailable to US residents.
same day cash out online casinoI recommend checking out the following reviews for more information on these sites.
Read more About 777 Casino or head directly there to play this game for free!
How to Play Double Double Bonus Video Poker
Prepare yourself for a whole lotta twice. Starting with two pairs, of course.
- Nines Aces AA-22 BB-44 4000/1
- Eights Aces AA-22 KK-QQ 1600/1
- Sevens Seven Five Aces AA-22 KK-QQ 800/1
- Six Sixes Six Five Kings AA-22 JJ-Tens 320/1
- Five Five Fives Queens AA-22 QQ-Nines 160/1
- Four Four Four Jacks AA-22 JJ-Tens 64/1
- Nines Aces AA-22 BB-4 Suited 256/1
- Eights Seven Five Aces AA-22 KK-QQ Suited 128/1
- Six Sixes Six Five Kings AA-22 JJ-T Suited 64/1
- Five Five Fives Queens AA-Suited 32/1
- Nines Aces AA-22 BB 200/1
- Eights Seven Five Aces AA-22 KK-QQ 100/1
- Six Sixes Six Five Kings AA-22 JJ-T 50/1
- Four Four Five Jacks AA-22 40/1
- Three of a Kind 9/1
- Two Pair 3/1
- AA-22 Does Not Pair 8/1
- Two Pair w/ 23suited 5/1
- High Pair w/ KK-QQ 3/1
- High Pair w/ JJ 2/1
- High Pair w/ QQ 2/1
- High Pair w/ KK 2/1
- High Pair Below Tens 1/1
- High Card 7/1
I won’t lie; things have gotten complicated. For instance, did you catch the two pair with suited 2,3 in there? How about the varying prizes for different sized pairs?
This game keeps things interesting, as there are so many different ways to win big.
You can also earn extra cash by taking advantage of the sign up bonuses at the above online casinos. While none of them are on par with BetOnline’s ($1,000) or DuckyLuck’s ($2,550), every little bit counts.
I hope you find these promotions helpful; good luck with your free Double Double Bonus Poker games!
What Is a Good Return to Player Percentage (RTP)?
Now that we have explored nine of the best video poker free play options, it’s important to understand how to choose the right one for you. It should start, as most things related to , with an analysis of the return to player percentage (RTP).
Simply put, RTP is the expected return you will receive over the long term.
For instance, if you put $1,000 into a video poker game with a 99% RTP, you would eventually win back $990 on average. This doesn’t mean you will profit $990, since variance plays a large role in gambling.
Someone could put $1,000 into that same game and win back $1,500, while another person loses $500. That’s just the nature of the beast.
What’s important to note is that video poker games with a higher RTP are more favorable to the player. All else equal, I would rather put money into a 99% RTP game than one at 95%.
So, how good is the list of free video poker games we just went through? Let’s take a look at the RTP for each when you max out your coins.
- Jacks or Better — 99.54%
- Deuces Wild — 98.91%
- Aces and Eights — 99.79%
- Jokers Wild — n/a
- Bonus Deuces Wild — 99.68%
- Double Bonus Poker — 101.74%
- Double Double Bonus Poker — 101.07%
- Jacks or Better (loose machine)— 99.54%
- Ten Times Poker — 99.55%
- Deuces Wild — 98.59%
- Bonus Deuces Wild — 98.94%
- Double Bonus Poker — 100.61%
- Double Double Bonus Poker — 100.07%
I’d say our free video poker games are pretty solid, with an average RTP of 99.11%. Of course, there is a big discrepancy from the lowest (98.59%) to highest (101.74%).
Regarding the games themselves, Double Double Bonus Poker takes the cake at 101.07%. This means you are receiving slightly more in returns than you put in, provided you meet certain conditions.
biggest casino in the usI should note that the ideal coin denomination for Double Double Bonus is .90, which yields a 101.07% RTP. If you put in lower coins, the RTP decreases to 99.87%.
Still, this is a very player-friendly game, especially considering the average video poker title comes in at 98.5% or so. By this logic, Double Double Bonus Poker is one of the .
How to Play Video Poker for Free
Have we piqued your interest in video poker? If so, you might wonder how to play video poker for free.
The process varies based on the game, but it typically involves the following steps.
- Choose a site: You can find all nine of our free video poker games at the aforementioned online casinos. I recommend sampling the wares at each site before committing to one in particular.
- Create account: Once you find a good match, the next step is creating an account. This usually takes just a few minutes and requires personal info such as name, address, email, etc.
- Redeem sign up bonus: Many of the top online gaming sites offer attractive sign up bonuses. Be sure to read the terms and conditions so you know how to unlock the entire prize.
- Find free game: At this point, you can search for the free video poker game on the site. Some casinos will have a separate “free” or “demo” page, while others will allow you to play for free/real money on the same page.
- Learn game rules: Take some time to understand how the game works. This is especially important if you are playing one of the Double Bonus or Double Double Bonus variants, given all the two-pair combinations.
- Play video poker for free: With the above boxes checked, it’s time to play video poker for free. Have fun, and feel free to track your results if you are a data nerd like myself.
I hope this helps you get started, but please let me know if you need further assistance.
Footnotes:
- The gave us our love of machines.
- The first online casino was .
- According to this.
J.W. Paine is one of the most experienced writers at GamblingSites.com. He's written for television and the printed media, and is a former senior writer for the National Football League.
Paine loves writing about Las Vegas nearly as much he loves living here, and he's always on the hunt for the best food, drink, and gambling values.
