At the time the first virtual casinos debuted on the web, the online gambling industry was much different than it is now. When the World Wide Web was introduced in 1993, most people who could afford computers with internet access in their homes used a dial-up connection where speed was limited to the meager 56 kbps.
Given the technological limitations at that time, most online casinos were hardly providing a truly life-like experience to their patrons. The only option a player faced was installing their chosen casino’s downloadable software on their desktop computer.
This gave them access to a somewhat limited selection of graphically unimpressive casino games, all of which were governed by Random Number Generators. As technology began to catch up, online casinos gradually evolved, giving their customers the opportunity to play a new breed of games.
When video poker first made its way into casino floors across Las Vegas, players could choose from two or three versions of the game, which were almost identical. But today, both brick-and-mortar and online casinos offer numerous variations that cater to all types of players. Some of the games have wild cards, others come with extra payouts for certain hands.
There is also a gamble or a Double Up feature in many of them – after a winning, players are presented with a bonus guessing game where they need to guess the color or suit of the card, for instance. If they guess right, their winning from the round is doubled, but if they are wrong, they lose their winnings. Some of the most popular versions of the game also feature progressive jackpots, which are usually paid out only if the player bets the maximum amount of coins and hits a strong hand, usually a Royal Flush.
Software Providers
Video poker is not as popular as slots, but all large casino software developers have created their own versions of the game. Some gaming studios focus on providing players with variety, others are dedicated to bringing them only high-quality games with beautiful graphics and plenty of bonuses. While several decades ago, there was just a single video poker variation, today they are hundreds. Each of them has a distinct pay table, although some software developers allow casinos and gambling operators to adjust the payouts individually.
In classic video poker, players bet on a single hand dealt by the computer but in recent years, multi-hand variations have become very popular. They allow you to play 5, 10 or up to 100 hands simultaneously, which spices up the game and makes it much more intriguing. When you start the game, you choose the cards you wish to hold and then you push the Deal/Draw button – just like in regular video poker. But instead of receiving a single set of new cards, you are presented with multiple hands where the cards you hold remain the original positions.
These multi-hand variations give you the opportunity to win multiple hands at a time. However, the bet you place is multiplied by the number of hands you are playing, so each round, you will be required to bet much more. For instance, if you playing with 1 coin on a 100-hand game, the bet per single round will be 100 coins. This is why multi-hand video poker is not recommended for novice or budget players – they can lose large amounts of money within minutes, even with a perfect strategy.
One of the most important things players need to take into account before placing real money bets on any video poker game is the pay table. This is a chart displaying all possible winning hands and their respective payouts. Pay tables vary from one video poker variation to another but they are all more or less based on the pay table of the Jacks or Better game.
The lowest paying hand, usually a pair of Jacks, is paid out evenly, which means that the winning from it equals the bet. The payout for next best hand, Two Pair is twice the size of the bet, while for Three of a Kind and for Straight, it is 3 and 4 times the size of the bet, respectively. The payouts for the next two hands is very important and players should always check it beforehand, as it is indicative of whether that particular game variation is good or not. When the Flush is paid out 6 times the size of the bet and the Full House – 9 times, the game is referred to as a “Full-Pay” game. These variations are also known as 9/6 games, which means that the return they offer is most probably high. However, a large part of the video poker variations pays out less for these hands, so beginners should try to stick to only full-pay games.
In the basic Jacks or Better pay table, the payouts for Four of a Kind and Straight Flush are 25 and 50 times the size of your bet, while for a Royal Flush you will receive winnings equal to 250 times your bet. However, the Royal Flush payout increases dramatically when you play with 5 coins, or the maximum amount of coins offered by the game – instead of 1250 times the size of your bet, it jumps to 4000 times the size of the bet. It is, therefore, recommended that you always play the max bet, especially if you are aiming for the jackpot.
Players who wish to learn how to play video poker can find all the information they need at Mines Games. Thanks to the expert opinion of professional gamblers, the content on the website provides everything one needs to become a skillful video poker player. Readers will be able to learn about the way video poker works, the pay tables, the difference between single-hand and multi-hand video poker.
Video poker is an automated casino game that has some of the most passionate fans in the gambling community. It does not have the colorful graphics and fun music of slots, nor does it possess the glamor of classics such as roulette or craps. It does, however, attract many novices and experienced players with its relative simplicity and the thrill of poker. It offers potential returns of over 99%, it is easy to play and at the same time, it is a challenging and exciting game.
How Video Poker Works
Based on a simple form of poker, 5-card draw poker to be precise, video poker is played with a single deck of 52 cards. The lowest paying hand is a pair of Jacks, called Jacks or Better, which became the name of the most basic video poker variation. In stead of being dealt the cards by a croupier like in poker, the player here receives 5 random cards from a computer. While the game is, indeed, simple and easy to play, you can significantly increase your odds of winning by knowing the basic rules and the nature of this computerized game.
One of the things which every player, at some point, inevitably starts wondering concerns the security of his/her sensitive information. Being highly protected while gambling is one of the most important things when playing online and there are no two ways about it. For this purpose, it is best to get familiar with the security measures which all fully-licensed casinos are required to take in order to be permitted to provide online games legally.
Most online casinos use a sophisticated 128-bit or 256- bit SSL encryption which has proven to be highly efficient when it comes to protecting players’ financial information. Thanks to this technology, all of your details are transferred in a safe manner as they are converted into an impenetrable code. Furthermore, the personal data you provide to the casino is not disclosed to any third-parties, meaning that it is kept by the respective casino.
Since we live in an era of technological progress, it is no wonder why the online casinos are on the verge of becoming more popular than their land-based counterparts. Gambling at a web-based casino is not only easy but also very safe, providing that you play at fully-licensed online casinos. Without a doubt, the gambling industry is developing at a fast pace because of the increasing demand for online casino games.
Nowadays, many players find it more convenient and even exciting to play at a web-based casino than going all the way to an actual brick-and-mortar one. Online casinos give you the unique opportunity to win some extra cash while getting entertained at the most comfortable spot for you. What is more, you can even get an extremely authentic experience from playing a casino game without even leaving your home.
Most of the available games feature exceptionally good graphics and realistic sound effects which take online gambling to a whole new level. Not to mention that there are also live games in which the gaming process is executed by a real dealer at the time of playing. They are famous for being extremely genuine as they highly resemble the games operated in real gambling venues.
A random number generator (RNG) is a mathematical construct intended to generate a random number set on the reels that must not show any distinguishable patterns in their generation or appearance. Hence, the term random.
RNG has two methods, the Pseudo Random Number Generators, and True Random Number Generators. When you press or click the spin button on slot games, an underlying computation happens behind your computer screen. Seeds are also the PRNG algorithm’s base value.
What’s great about a complex RNG is that it provides players with fair gameplay. These give players the peace of mind that the slots they’re playing provide fair gameplay. At the same time, the RNG algorithm ensures casinos secure their monthly revenue from each gambling expense while having enough bankroll to pay winning players.
RTP, or the return to payer rate, is the percentage that one player can expect to win back the total amount they have input into the machine. Commonly, you will see the RTP set at nearly the 95% mark. Keeping their win rates high can entice players and make them believe they are not losing all that much money.
When it comes to mechanical slots, such a rate is usually unknown because of the random internals’ nature. However, with online and electronic slots, the RTP is predetermined and written into the software once the game is made. In addition, you can easily find the RTP on most online casinos or through a casino directory site.
Variance
Slot volatility, also known as slot variance, equates to the risk you can find in the game. Software providers and online casino players utilize this data to show a game’s risk-vs-reward rate.
Compared to low-volatility slots, high-variance slots provide more infrequent yet promising payouts. You may experience low-paying and long spins with the latter before reaching a decent payout.
Only a lesser winning number tends to get bigger payouts to compensate and reach the return-to-player rate of the machine. Such wins are activated by triggering a game’s bonus features or matching high-valued symbols.
There are many online casinos available today that are legitimate. However, finding them requires some effort. It includes checking their licenses and ensuring they are not a part of any review site’s block list.
Regulation offices require license holders to have their platforms thoroughly analyzed. These tests and inspections check the operator’s banking terms, payment methods, game functionality, payout percentages, and RNG software. Note that it is easy for any site to have a logo of a jurisdiction license on their site. Ensure an online casino is licensed by clicking on the license link and checking the regulation office’s home page.
HOW DO LEGIT ONLINE SLOT WORK
Online slots are different from mechanical and electronic in that they do not exist in the physical space. Instead, they are a series of codes in the digital world. Online slots may be made to try to mimic the reels of the past. However, do not be fooled by exciting features and flashy graphics because these online games are just comprised of lines of code you are taking part in through the screen. What are the present algorithms, and how can they help your winnings?
