Why Do People Mix Video Poker and Slot Machines?

Walking into a land-based casino for the very first time, and finding yourself in front of so many flashing and melodious gambling devices may seem very confusing. For the newly-arrived visitor, telling the difference between slot and VP machines may seem impossible, because, on the surface, all those gadgets aren’t different. Are they?

What do Video Poker and slot machines have in common?

To the inexperienced eye, these two games may seem exactly the same. After all, both of them are meant for a single player, there’s a small opening to insert the coin, or click the command button to start the action.

But once the session begins…

…and a player takes a peek behind the scene, the real differences appear. This guide aims not to conclude which one deserves to bear the proud title of “the best” because it’s a matter of personal preference.

Cosmetic similarities aside, we shall compare other key components of slots and Video Poker, so that punters could evaluate easier what suits them best.

Keep reading to find out more!

Is Return Percentage the Same?

Those tiny numbers in percentage may seem too small, but they make a significant difference. Comparing these two, VP machines are in a slightly more advantageous position.

Every jurisdiction has its own rules, that’s the fact, but…

…the average % for one-armed bandits is less than 94%. On the other hand, the majority of video poker machines return 98% or even more. The more knowledgeable a player is, the higher the chances to boost the return percentage in his/her favor.

Take the name of the game as an example- 8-5 Bonus Poker, where 1-coin full houses return 8 and 1-coin flushes return 5, the overall RTP will be 99.2%, with perfect play. A typical 9/6 Jacks or Better has an RTP of 99.54%, which means that for every $100 wagered, the player receives $99.54 as winnings or $99.20 in case of 8-5 Bonus Poker.

Employing the right and smart strategy…

… is what contributes to percentage growth, and that’s also one of the crucial differences between these two games. Of course, everyone should be aware that this % is a theoretical return and it can be expected only if the game is played accurately and with the maximum bet. If otherwise, the return will decrease.

Aside from RTP…

…volatility/variance is another important segment to pay attention to. In a high volatility game, the player loses at a much faster rate than they would on a low variance session. The bankroll requirements for a high variance game are much higher than for a low volatility one.

Or explained like this- low variance releases provide lots of small wins, but it’s much more difficult to hit a major jackpot or win, while high variance titles have higher payouts and less small wins.

In slots…

…the volatility level is indicated along with other data (number of reels, lines, RTP), while in VP, the more volatile game pays more for hands at the top of the pay schedule whereas the one with a lower variance pays more for hands located at the bottom of the pay schedule.

What About Contribution for WR Completion?

Analyzing and Conditions of any casino, the punter should encounter a part where it’s clearly defined which games contribute towards fulfillment of rollover requirements, and which are excepted.

In the majority of cases…

…slots have the best contribution- 100%. However, some releases may not contribute the same %, while the others will be fully excluded, such as progressive JPs or the ones with higher RTP. For example, Blood Suckers by NetEnt.

Video poker is often the second best choice for completing wagering requirements, after blackjack and its variants. But there’s a catch. For that very reason, it is often totally excluded from the contribution, or their contribution will be significantly smaller.

Comparing the Aesthetics and Features

The devices found in brick and m ortar facilities may appear quite similar until you approach and take a closer look.

One glance at the screen…

…and there are reels VS cards, as the first and the most obvious difference they share. And that’s where all the others begin.

Analyzing VP games, one will undoubtedly notice the relatively modest design. Cards be cards, it’s just numbers and faces, so there’s no room for too much creativity and innovations.

This is where slots could be labeled as “winner”, as they provide more than an enormous field for various inventive ideas, and new approaches. Besides the structure and the number of lines, designers have the freedom to seek inspiration wherever they want.

Good old fruits, ancient civilizations, celebrities…

…are just some of the most commonly used topics. They can be packed with bombastic animations, they can even have 3D elements, and in most cases, they are accompanied by a cool soundtrack.

This could be one of the main reasons why so many developers are dedicated to slots production exclusively, as the possibilities to express creative potential are limitless.

In of features…

…video poker comes with a notably smaller assortment of options. There’s Multi-hand, which allows participants to play more than one hand at the same time- some variants allow up to 100. Also, there’s an “Auto-hold” which, if turned on, automatically chooses which cards to hold and which to discard.

Then, Wilds can be found in some variant, as well as Double up, which is one of the widely most discussed options. And the list pretty much ends here.

On the other hand…

…slots “win” again, as the palette of features found in them nowadays is more than impressive. Aside from bonus spins, Wilds, Scatters, multipliers, Jackpots, which are some sort of mandatory standard, there are many others.

Some of the one-armed bandits come with Megaways, the others have “both ways pay” mechanics. There are games with cascading reels, as well as with those which expand infinitely.

Developers are competing with each other which will come up with more inventive features, and come up with an additional way to provide opportunities for more rewards and extended playing sessions.

Learning the Best Strategies

If you were to compare driving preferences to playing games, you could say that VP fans are the drivers, while slot players prefer someone else driving them. It’s a humorous way to describe the basic approach to these two games, but in a way- true.

Generally speaking…

…those who are not fast decision-makers or who don’t like much brainstorming involved should opt for slots, while those who like planning and calculating will find VP more suitable.

Selecting the optimal strategy for any game has exactly the same initial steps- opting for a product from a respectable provider and choosing a reputable casino to play in. These two are no exception at all.

However…

…slot games come with no particular strategy, it’s pure luck. Or, to use more professional expression- it’s random number generator.

One can deeply analyze all the features, the options, paytable, but when the reels start spinning, that’s it. There’s no way one can influence the outcome of any spin or the overall course of the game.

The same tool or mechanics, as you wish…

… is used for Video Poker, which simulates a perfectly shuffled deck of cards, ensuring every hand ever dealt is completely random. But unlike with one-armed bandits, versatile strategies, or specific languages can be implemented depending on the selected game.

When it comes to payout, the situation is as follows:

A slot machine will pay out at a rate according to the table after an RNG determines where the symbols will land, based on their frequency on the reels and the weighting that they are given. The mechanics of the VP game is such that the casino will achieve a certain edge on the player because of the conditions on which they pay a win, based on what hands one achieves.

Though no one can tell which cards…

…will be the next ones dealt, one CAN learn more about which cards to hold, which ones to discard. Determining the combination with the highest potential is an essential step for a smart VP session.

So, to play slots, one doesn’t have to be familiar with any technique or strategy- no skills are required. But, for VP, the more one learns and implements the knowledge, the sharper those skills become. That’s what makes a crucial difference when determining which of these two is more suitable- for YOU.

How to Find the Best Machine?

When it comes to choosing the machine to play on people often refer to them as hot and cold ones, believing that the former ones can bring them tons of cash.

In land-based casinos…

…you may spot people wandering around machines, observing them carefully to spot THE ONE. Applied on the Internet, players search tons and tons of forums, top-lists, and similar pages displaying the names of the most rewarding machines.

As adventurous as the quest may sound, the reality is completely different.

There’s no way to tell a high-paying slot game from a low-payer, even if you’ve just witnessed 3 JPs in a row triggered on the same game. The next round could be one more Jackpot, but it can be dead spin as well, no one can tell for sure.

In of paytables…

…slots usually have them in the help section and the more additional options there the harder to understand. On the other hand, VP machines are more straightforward and self-explanatory, displayed at the main screen of the game.

So, simply put, the best machine here would be the one player has the most comprehensive knowledge about. Take this situation as an example- if the strategy I know the best about is 9-6 Jacks or Better strategy I shouldn’t use it on 9-6 Double Double Bonus.

Even though there may be…

… some similarities on the surface, this cannot work. It’s called a strategy mismatch, and it won’t bring the same profit as would the session played in the right way, using the appropriate strategy.

Instead of wasting time “measuring the temperature” of the machines, it’s much better to sit down and learn more about the strategies.

Final Thoughts

Reading those multiple pages of T&Cs can give everyone headaches, but it’s essential. Particularly the small print regarding special rules for bonuses and promos.

Besides reflecting one’s responsibility…

…it may help players understand the complete potential of each and every game. Though it may seem like an overly complex procedure, you just analyze one by one segment, and you will eventually have the answer.

Those who prefer slots will label them as the best choice due to the enormous palette of features, amazing visuals, a better contribution for WRs, while VP fans will point out large payouts, excellent return, and numerous variations as its best advantages.

Knowing which similarities…

… and differences slots and Video Poker games share will help one determine the best game. Or to be more precise, the one that meets the personal demands the best. No matter what various ultimate “must play games to score juicy cash” lists say, always rely on your knowledge, in the first place, and your instincts.

Frequently Asked Questions