Information about video poker sites in the UK
Online slots and roulette may be the most popular internet casino games, but the number of people who choose to play real money video poker online is growing by the year.
Based on the traditional game of five-card draw, iGaming developers are releasing new video poker games regularly, which makes it very likely that you'll have come across a video poker casino before.
Unfortunately, not every video poker site is a great choice to play on. Some take a long time to pay out video poker wins (if they do so at all), impose playing restrictions on their customers or just simply have unsatisfactory customer service.
We've set up this website to help you find the safest online casinos possible, backed up by the expertise of our team of experienced casino reviewers.
We research casinos so you don't have to, recommend the ones you should try out, and warn you about the ones you shouldn't.
This page is dedicated to the best online video poker sites, so read on to find out how you can stay safe while playing one of the internet's most popular casino games.
What is video poker?
Video poker is an online casino game that we could class as a game of chance with elements of skill involved.
It's a variation on the standard poker game of five-card draw, where players can use their knowledge of probability to make decisions about which cards to keep and which to discard.
The player's objective in video poker is to achieve the highest possible card ranking, typically by achieving a winning combination of a pair, two pairs, or higher.
Video poker is much simpler than more complex poker games like Texas Hold 'Em, where players have multiple opportunities to improve their hands and use elaborate strategies. With the online version, you normally get just one decision to make before you find out whether you win or not.
This means that the turnaround rate of video poker is much faster, and players often enjoy the speed of play, even if it gives them much less time to think. It's also why you may find video poker referred to as 'poker slots', thanks to the quick nature of both games.
Video poker strategies
The skilful element of video poker means it can be worth your while to follow a strategy with the aim of improving your chances of winning.
Rather than follow one of those 'get rich quick' strategies that might find on YouTube, we recommend that you stick to some video poker fundamentals, which we can summarise in a few points.
- Get to know your hands
The first thing you should nail down is knowledge of what each hand is worth, and which are the most valuable combinations.
Knowing that a Straight Flush is worth more than Three of a Kind for example, will allow you to make more sensible decisions and improve your chances of winning.
- Take advantage of strategy tables
Strategy tables might seem tedious but learning them by heart will give you a big advantage in video poker.
You'll be able to make quick decisions using actual mathematics, something that the vast majority of players don't or can't do.
- Always follow safe gambling principles
The best way to protect your bank balance with video poker is to always gamble responsibly.
This includes never betting with borrowed money, never chasing losses and always being aware of how much you're gambling.
Of course, the safest way to play video poker is for fun, and you can do this by visiting our list of free video poker games.
How to find the best video poker casino
Now let's get down to the main purpose of this page: to find the safest possible video poker casino for you to play on.
To make this process easier, Casino Meter's team of experts have analysed and reviewed each site you see on this page's list, so all you have to do is check the special Meter rating that we've awarded each one.
This is made up of several important factors and we recommend you start with the highest rated sites. Some of these factors are:
- Fairness
- User reviews and feedback
- Its suitability for the UK market
- Our team's own expert opinion
Alongside this rating in the casino's information box are other snippets of info, including its accepted payment methods, the games it offers, and which bonuses it currently has available.
Sorts and filters
When you open the page, you'll find that the video poker casinos are ordered according to their rating, with 'Best rated' highlighted in the drop-down menu.
That being said, you may want to rearrange them by different criteria, which you can do with other options on that menu.
For new casinos, for example, choose the 'Newly opened' option. These sites are the freshest options around, although we don't know as much about them as some of their more established rivals.
Our list of filters can also help you narrow the list down to fewer options if you feel like there's too many.
In the 'Popular filters' section, for example, you can find just mobile casinos with video poker games by selecting the 'mobile-friendly' option. 'Payment method' is also an important option, as it lets you find just those sites that accept your chosen way of paying.
The 'Game Type' filter, meanwhile, allows you to see video poker sites with other casino games like virtual slots, blackjack and roulette.
Have a play around and see what you find. Hopefully, you'll end up in a video poker casino that shows you a great time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to play online video poker for money?
No. There are scores of free video poker games which you can play via Casino Meter. Most of these are mobile-friendly, too, meaning you can enjoy them 'on the go'.
How do I make a video poker casino deposit?
It's now easier than ever to deposit money into a video poker site, taking a few minutes at the most.
To start with, just go to the cashier section of your casino and choose your payment method from the list of deposit options. Then, fill in how much you'd like to deposit, along with any other details the casino asks for.
The money should be in your account immediately, although it can take up to a few hours depending on the site in question.
Are video poker sites safe?
Any video poker casino that you find via Casino Meter will hold the Gambling Commission (GC) license, which means it's obliged to protect the welfare of its players.
That said, it doesn't rule out the possibility that some sites will treat you badly. To minimise the chances of that, make sure you stick with the highest-rated video poker site possible, which you can find out by looking at their special expert ratings in their information boxes.