Video Poker vs. Video Slots

Published by Sheena Jade on September 27, 2023

The emergence of slot games in the late 19th century led to a revolution in gambling. Slot games were an overnight hit, attracting fans from all over the country, and soon, the world. Suddenly, every bar, pub, or gambling establishment had to have one of these machines. Slots’ success led to them becoming the number 1, most player gambling game around the globe.

Technology developed at a rapid pace in the 20th century. Vintage slot machines quickly changed from the lever-based mechanism to what most of us see today; video slot games. As the name suggests, video slots are the digital progression of the lever-based fruit machines. Due to the nature of video slots, they are available in land-based casinos, as well as online, making them a huge success in both industries.

But, another game often threatens the popularity of slots. Poker is, of course, a standard of card games, and available in most gambling halls. However, video poker is a derivative that shares much more in common with the luck-based slot games, than with the card game from which it gets the name. The goal of video poker is to get a winning poker hand on a slot-like reel, by pulling a lever or pushing a button. So, the question is, what makes slots and poker different, and in what ways are they the same?

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Slots and Video Poker

By now, most people will know what slots are, and what video poker is. However, the iGaming industry is growing by the day. More people than ever are joining gambling websites without any context or prior information about the industry, and all of the popular games that exist within. That is why, it is important to explain what slot games are, and what video poker is, before we talk about the differences.

As we explained, video slots are the technological progression of classic fruit machines. Unlike the standard games, however, video slots usually have a 3×3 reel, giving the player a lot more opportunity in terms of pay lines. There are also some slot games with larger reels, and of course, there are still video versions of classic fruit machines, that only have one reel.

Video poker, on the other hand, is a blend of poker and slots. The idea is to spin a reel comprised of five columns and a single row, where the symbols are derived from card suites. As you can imagine, the goal is to get a hand that would be considered a winning one in poker. The payouts here differ depending on how strong of a poker hand you’ve spun.

In video poker, you will often find a “pay table” located on either the screen, printed somewhere on the machine itself, or in the case of online video poker, in the explanation of the game. The hand you’ve been dealt has to match the various winning combinations on said pay table, otherwise, the player does not get a payout. With all of that in mind, where do slots and video poker differ, and in what ways are they similar?

Gameplay

It wouldn’t be fair to say that slots and video poker are completely different. After all, from a gameplay perspective, we can certainly see a similarity. Both games require the player to spin a reel of some kind, and in both, the player relies solely on luck to win. The two are so similar, that video slots in land-based casinos look a lot like video poker machines. But, is the gameplay really all that similar?

As a matter of fact, the gameplay for both is quite different, when we get right down to it. In slots, the player spins the reel, and they are hoping to get a winning combination along certain paylines. Their chances may increase depending on the special symbols that appear on the screen. The two most commonly used are Wild and Scatter symbols, which serve as a great boost. However, for the most part, once a player has spun the reel, their control of the game ends, and the rest is all up to Lady Fortune.

While video poker is also an entirely luck-based game, it does take a different approach to gameplay. In this case too, the player spins the reel, and the machine doles out five cards from a standard poker deck. But, once the cards are dealt, the player still has an opportunity to make some changes. For example, they can switch out one card, in favor of another. This gives video poker players an opportunity to strategize and think about their next move.

Strategy

Speaking of strategy, there are some similarities and differences here as well. Popular wisdom dictates that slot games require no strategy to win. For the most part, this is correct. No amount of planning or strategizing is going to change the outcome of a slot’s spin. But, that doesn’t mean that preparation should be thrown out of the window.

For example, bankroll management is a viable strategy for any casino game. Taking control of one’s funds is not just optional. It is necessary if a player wants to join the gambling industry. Simple money management tricks can help elevate your gambling to another level. Of course, pairing fund control with responsible gambling leads to a safe and entertaining casino experience.

Apart from that, there are also betting systems that could be effective in both video poker and slots. Rather than focusing on what you can’t control (the game’s outcome), betting systems give you the opportunity to focus on what you can control (your own wagers). By following the strategies laid out by gamblers that came before, players can minimize their losses, and maximize potential wins. Be warned though, not all betting strategies are risk free. In fact, many require quite a bit of jeopardy.

Unlike with slots, video poker does involve a bit of strategizing. Think of these machines as playing poker against an invisible opponent. You get your cards, and you have to do the best you can with what you’ve been given. The issue is, unlike in Texas Hold ‘em, or Five-Card Poker, there is nobody you can bluff or attempt to get a read on. So, many of the strategies fly out the window. However, there is still the strategy of knowing when to switch up.

In video poker, players do get to change one card per spin. Sometimes, the risk is worth it for the promise of a higher reward. Sometimes, it is unlikely that you are going to get what you need. A lot of the strategy in video poker comes from knowing when to change a card, and when to keep what you have. So, while slots are 100% luck-based, there is a bit of strategizing involved with video poker, which might make it more exciting for some people.

Let’s Talk About the Odds

One of the most important topics for a gambler is the odds. How beneficial are the odds of one game, in comparison to another? With video slots and poker, a discussion and comparison of odds is quite hard. This is because the odds in both games vary depending on the machine. For example, the average Return to Player for online slot games is 95%. That means that 95% of the total cash wagered on the game will be paid out at some point.

However, just because the average RTP is 95%, doesn’t mean that every game has a 95% RTP. There are some slots whose percentage is higher, reaching as much as 98%. There are also slot games with a lower RTP, that can get as low as 85%. In land-based slots, the RTPs are completely different, and may even get to under 80. That is why it is important to research any game before you start spinning the reels.

But, how does slots RTP compare to video poker? Well, once again, the odds in video poker depend on the variant of poker being played. Most machines offer a video version of standard 5-card Poker, which, surprisingly, have some pretty good odds. In fact, some would consider them among the best, as a video poker’s average RTP is anywhere between 95% and 99%. That means, on average, it is higher than slots.

Jackpots: Slots or Video Poker?

The term “jackpot” is most often associated with slot games, so some might be surprised to hear that it also exists in video poker. A jackpot is the grand prize of a slot game, worth more than any other spin in the game. While several kinds of jackpots exist, two are the most prominent, and the ones we are going to be focusing on. These are the static jackpot and the progressive jackpot.

In slots, a static jackpot is a grand prize, whose value never changes, no matter what. If a player gets lucky and hits the right paylines, they get a certain payout. While the payout can be quite high, even life-changing, it will never be more than what the machine offers. With progressive jackpot, things are a bit different. Progressive jackpots grow larger the more people don’t win them. So, if a player were to spin three times, never once hitting the jackpot, the prize money would grow for each time.

While progressive jackpots are, obviously, the more coveted ones, they are also incredibly difficult to get. In fact, the odds of getting a jackpot in video slots is next to impossible, which is why most gamblers advise newbies to avoid trying. Chasing a jackpot could result in a quick and devastating loss of your bankroll. That is why, it is best to look at jackpots as a dream that might come true, rather than a goal to strive towards.

In video poker, things are a little different. For one, jackpots seem a bit more attainable in these games, because of the strategic nature of the games, the lower levels of volatility, and higher average Return to Player. That being said, they aren’t necessarily easy to get. More importantly, in video poker, the jackpots are never as lucrative as those that slots offer. Perhaps it is for that reason that many players flock to slots over video poker.

Interestingly, though the jackpots are not as high in video poker, the average payout may be higher. Because of the lower volatility, some gamblers have noticed that in many of the best online casinos, video poker tends to pay out more frequently, thus making it the better choice. However, slots remain the face of gambling, and by far a more popular game. The question we would like to ask is, why?

Why Slots Remain More Popular?

There could be a number of reasons for the greater popularity of slot games. The first one likely has to do with legacy. As we said before, slot games have been around since the 19^th century. Not only that, but their simplicity made them popular very quickly. As soon as the first slot game released to the public, bars from all over New York wanted one for themselves. The game was a huge hit.

On the other hand, video poker is an adaptation of a pre-existing game, that already has a huge impact in the gambling world. The people who love playing poker, love it not just because of the complex gameplay, but also because of the social interaction element, which elevates strategy. With video poker, that social interaction element is lost. Video poker, like slots, is a solitary game, which certainly appeals to many people.

But, as video poker is meant to bridge the gap between poker and slots, it only appeals to a niche fan base, that enjoys the idea of both, but the practice of neither. After all, a poker fan would naturally be drawn to the tables, while a slots fan would just spin reels. This isn’t to say that video poker doesn’t have a fan base. In fact, the game is quite popular. It just isn’t as popular as its reel-spinning predecessor.

Variations in Slots

Another reason for the massive success of slot games has to do with the multiple variations that we see at online casinos. Video slots with a 3×3 grid reel are the most common to talk about. But, there are also retro slots, that attempt to bring back the nostalgia of the old-school fruit machine. These games will often have a single reel, and feature symbols that call to mind the early-to-mid 20^th century.

Of course, we already discussed the jackpot slots, that feature some sort of a grand prize. Even here, there is as much diversity a you could possibly want, with progressive jackpots, static jackpots, and more. Players who’ve been part of the iGaming industry for a long time will also know about cascading slots, shifting reels, 3D slots, and Megaways.

At the end of the day, however, the gameplay for most slot games is the same. That is why, game developers have dedicated their time to creating themed games, that stimulate visually rather than through gameplay. Themed slots are a hit, no matter what variant they fall under. Popular themes for slot games include history, fantasy, western, horror, and much more.

Variations in Video Poker

Video poker also has its own different variants. The game most are familiar with is classic video poker. The player gets five cards, and has to match a combination from the pay table given by the game. There isn’t really too much to talk about here, as we’ve discussed the mechanics in the previous sections of the text. However, notable versions of video poker are Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better, which are certainly worth talking about.

In Deuces Wild, the game includes extra cards, often called “the wild cards.” As you can probably guess, the wild cards are the deuces (twos) from a standard poker deck. Anyone who knows anything about slots, may already know that wild symbols can serve as substitutes for any other symbol on the board. The same is true for the deuces in a Deuces Wild game of poker. In other words, when playing deuces wild, players get the extra advantage of using wild cards to enhance their hand, and get closer to victory.

Jacks or Better, on the other hand, is a variant of video poker made for more experienced players, who want a bit of a thrill. As the name suggests, in order to win a game of Jacks or Better, a player would need to match two Jacks, at least, in order to win. Anyone who knows poker, understands that a pair of Jacks is a relatively strong hand, so the thrill of this version is that it amps up the risk, but also, the reward.

Conclusion

Diversity is the main strength of the gambling industry, both online and offline. Access to slots, video poker, as well as a slew of table games, many of which most players have never heard of, is why online gambling is growing, and will likely continue to grow in the future. Indeed, many experts predict that internet casinos will overtake their land-based predecessor pretty soon.

That being said, while diverse game libraries are certainly a strength, most people still know what they like. That is why slots remain the most popular games on the market, despite all of the false information and myths circulating about said games. However, their status as the kings of the proverbial hill has been shaken by video poker machines. Video poker provides the same simplicity in gameplay, while also having quite a lot of advantages as well.

The question some may ask is, will video poker overtake slots in popularity in the future? While it certainly is a possibility, the likelihood of slots being dethroned is very low. That being said, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if video poker does grow in popularity, as it truly does have a lot to offer in terms of gameplay, strategy, and of course, payouts.

Author : Sheena Jade

Sheena is part of the Casinofy team, creating content and reviewing online casinos. As a casino explorer with a decade of experience, she delivers quality information on top casinos.