#1 – Video Poker Can Be Beaten

The first fact on this list is the most important – and that is that video poker is the only casino game that can actually be beaten in the long run. The ROI or return on investment for certain video poker games can exceed 100%, meaning that it is more than a break even game. Every other casino game in the house will have an ROI of less than 100%, meaning that for every $100 you put into a machine, you’ll (on average) get less than $100 back.

Of course, the ROI isn’t automatically over 100% for video poker or the house would take a beating. Rather, you have to play the right games with the right pay tables with perfect strategy if you want to have any chance of being a winner. It’s not an easy feat, but I personally know several players who play video poker as their sole source of income.

#2 – Different Games have Different Payouts

As I just mentioned, only certain video poker games have the possibility of being profitable. To give a few examples, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, and Double Double Bonus all have potential to be 100%+ games, while Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, and Tens or Better will never pay over 100% no matter how well you play. The reason for this is the different rules associated with each game, and also the different pay tables that are used for each machine.

#3 – Different Pay Tables have Different Payouts

This one is even more important – after you find a game you would like to play, you have to take into consideration what pay table the game is using. Most games will use a standard pay table. For example, in a Deuces Wild game you should expect a Wild Royal Flush to pay out 25x your bet, and a Four of a Kind to pay out 15x your bet. In that situation, the machine is capable of paying out 100.76% in the long run with perfect strategy, making it a profitable bet. However, some machines will pay out less than 25x for a Wild Royal or less than 15x for a Four of a Kind, which reduces the max payout percentage to under 100%. You always have to be wary of machines that with alternative pay tables. Visit VideoPokerBaller.com for a full list of video poker pay tables and max payout percentages for each.

#4 – Strategy Errors are Expensive

As I mentioned in fact #1, using proper strategy is of the utmost importance if you want to win at video poker. If you aren’t using perfect strategy, you will lose at on average 2-5% of the max payout percentage. This is the difference between a profitable gamble and a sucker’s bet.

#5 – Anyone can play with Good Strategy

When most players hear talk about “perfect strategy” and knowing exactly how to play every single hand, they get scared off because they aren’t mathematical geniuses with photographic memories. Well guess what – that doesn’t matter. Fortunately for us, many websites now offer video poker strategy charts for free. These charts show you exactly how to play every single hand you come across. Of course, they aren’t 100% perfect, but the majority of them will get you within 0.1% of the maximum payout percentage. So, if you are playing a Deuces Wild game (100.76% max payout) with a proper strategy chart, you can be a winner without memorizing a single hand.

#6 – Slot Clubs Apply to Video Poker

Only the most seasoned video poker players realize that they can redeem basically the same benefits as slot machine players. Since slots have such a high house edge, the casino lets slots players enroll in slot club programs which give them a small cash back percentage on all of their wagers, lets them in on special drawings, and may even provide them with free rooms and meals at the casino.

Now, slot players are losing so much that the benefits don’t really make a big difference. But since video poker players can also sign up for similar benefits, you can add even more money onto your winnings if you are following the rules listed above and are playing at over 100% payback.

#7 – You can Practice Online

Most video poker players don’t realize that they can practice their strategy at online casinos or by using video poker training programs. Casinos such as Bodog Casino allow players to play video poker without downloading any software or even having to create an account! Or, you can buy a product like WinPoker 6 which trains you to become a better player right on your computer. By using online tools like these you can become a better player without losing real money at the casino.

#8 – Vegas has the best Games

If you are looking to play video poker seriously, and want to find winning machines, your best bet is to head to Las Vegas. Vegas casinos offer the best games with the best pay tables, and almost every casino has at least a couple machines that have the potential to be profitable. I know of quite a few casinos in Vegas that offer full pay Deuces Wild games for $0.25/coin, which can be a very profitable gamble if you know what you are doing.

#9 – Look for Promotions

One way to turn an otherwise losing game (such as Jacks or Better at 99.54%) into a profitable game is by taking advantage of casino promotions. During holiday weekends or other slow times during the year, casinos will offer extra cash back, free drawings, or even free prizes to video poker players to encourage them to come to the casino. Often times these promotions can add 0.5%-1% onto the payback percentage of a machine, which would turn a 99.54% Jacks or Better game into a profitable gamble.

#10 – Mind your Bankroll

Just like table poker, video poker is a game of fluctuations and streaks. Even if you are playing at over 100% you can easily have a few losing sessions back to back that will take a huge toll on your bankroll. We always suggest having a bankroll equal to at least two Royal Flushes at the machine you are playing, so you can survive extreme bad streaks. Don’t make the mistake of playing machines too big for your bankroll, because you’ll probably find yourself broke soon.