Video Poker vs. Slot Machines: What’s the Difference?

If you’re new to the world of video poker, you may have heard the game described as a combination of poker rules and slot machine formatting. So, let’s take a look at the key differences between video poker and slot machines, so you can see which style of game best suits you. 

There are many digital alternatives to traditional poker – a form of entertainment that was perhaps once dominated by live stream online poker. However, the benefit of video poker is that it allows players to try their hand at poker on-demand, without having to wait for scheduled online poker rooms. To start the game, players are dealt a hand of five cards. However, in games like Deuces Wild Multi-Hand and Jacks or Better Multihand, players can hold up to 50 hands. In addition to these rule-based variants, video poker can also use immersive thematics, such as Caribbean Stud, which is set in a tropical casino. 

With each hand, players will need to select whether to hold their cards or draw new ones. This means that, whilst the cards appearing in the hands are completely down to chance, video poker also requires an element of strategy. As the ways to win will be similar across all games, as poker hands never change, this also means that advanced video poker players can potentially calculate their expected returns should they win with a certain hand. That said, this does involve a bit of prep work to really understand each type of hand and its odds. This can make gameplay as challenging as each player prefers, depending on their preferred playing style. 

Slot Machines 

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Slot machines can be found in both online and land-based casinos. Whilst traditional casinos use physical machines, online slots utilize the same technology as video poker. However, that’s about where the similarity between the two stops. To begin, players spin the reels using either the physical lever or the spin button. This makes the reels on the board rotate, until they stop by chance in a certain position. Slot machine wins are based on the combination of symbols that are on the grid once the reels have stopped turning. 

Players have no control over how fast the reels spin, or when they stop. This means that slot games are entirely down to luck, which makes them a good choice for casino beginners. That said, slot games are not always simple – slot games can come in a wide range of different designs and themes, which can make the gameplay immersive and engaging. They can also have additional features such as jackpot wins and bonus rounds, switching up the mechanics. With this in mind, slot game players cannot determine their potential payouts – it is all down to chance. 

Up to Preference

Whilst the key differences have been mentioned above, there are of course many more distinct differences between the two types of games – for example, slots tend to have a higher house edge than video poker, but the gameplay can also be more fast-paced, too. That said, there is by no means a right or wrong preference between video poker and slot machines, as it is entirely down to personal preference, and what games you find most intriguing. Both video poker and slot machines can make for immersive and engaging virtual experiences. 

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