Jacks or Better Video Poker Guide – How to Play & Best Online Casinos
Jacks or Better video poker is one of the most popular casino games available online. It’s an easy game to learn, tons of fun to play, and gamers who regularly play Jacks or Better video poker will confirm that it’s a great way to line your pockets, too, once you get good at it at least.
Interested? Then read on because our tell-all guide reveals all about Jacks or Better video poker. We explain what the game is about and furnish you with tips to master it. Plus, we tell you all you need to know: from how to play, where to play and everything in between. Let’s get started!
Best Jacks or Better Video Poker Casinos
On this page:
- Best Jacks or Better video poker online casinos
- Comparing the best Jacks or Better video poker casino sites
- How to play Jacks or Better video poker
- Play free video poker Jacks or Better
- Jacks or Better video poker paytable
- What are the odds on Jacks or Better video poker?
- Best Jacks or Better video poker strategy
- Top 5 tips how to win at Jacks or Better video poker
- Jacks or Better video poker multi-hand vs single-hand
- FAQs
Best Jacks or Better Video Poker Online Casinos
Before we get into the thick of this guide, we’ll give you a sneak peek of how the top 10 Jacks or Better video poker casinos rank. We also included a snippet of the areas where each platform excels.
- Bovada – The best casino site for playing Jacks or Better video poker.
- BetOnline – Flexible bet sizes for Jacks or Better.
- Wild Casino – Some of the best software developers behind the game library.
- Ignition – High payouts on Jacks or Better casino games.
- Slots.lv – An intuitive interface that makes playing the video poker game easier.
- MyB Casino – Exciting 200% up to $1,000 welcome bonus to explore Jacks or Better.
- Big Spin – Up to $2,000 worth of extra play on weekends to explore Jacks or Better.
- Las Atlantis – Free gameplay to learn the ropes of Jacks or Better.
- Cafe Casino – The best crypto bonus you can use to play Jacks or Better.
- Red Dog – A quality mobile experience to enjoy the video poker game on the move.
If you need more information on the best video poker online casinos, we gladly give you a rundown of the top operators. We also dig deeper into what makes them stand out.
Comparing the Best Jacks or Better Video Poker Casino Sites
No doubt, video poker Jacks or Better is a classic game that attracts massive attention from players. Regardless, investigating the casino offering the game is equally important. Certain characteristics are at the top of the list and ultimately determine if bettors will join the casino or not.
These characteristics include if the operator has an attractive welcome bonus and reasonable maximum bet limits on the game, as well as the welcome bonus on offer. Players also typically check the number of video poker Jacks or Better games available. New players are keen to know if they can play free video poker Jacks or Better on the platform.
Casino | Jacks or Better games | Free Jacks or Better video poker | Max bet limit | Welcome Bonus |
Wild Casino | 2 | ❌ | $1,000 | Up to $5,000 |
BetOnline | 5 | ❌ | $1,000 | 100% up to $3,000 |
Bovada | 3 | ✅ | $1,000 | Up to $3,000 |
Ignition | 3 | ❌ | $1,000 | Up to $3,000 |
Slots.lv | 3 | ✅ | $1,000 | Up to $5000 |
MyB Casino | 1 | ✅ | $1,000 | 200% up to $1,000 |
Big Spin | 1 | ✅ | $1,000 | 200% up to $1,000 |
Las Atlantis | 1 | ✅ | $1,000 | Up to 280% slots bonus |
Café Casino | 3 | ✅ | $1,000 | 350% bonus up to $2,500 |
Red Dog | 1 | ❌ | $1,000 | 235% slots bonus |
How to Play Jacks or Better Video Poker
Whether you’re looking to play video poker Jacks or Better casually or potentially win lots of money from it, you first need to learn the game. As we mentioned before, the game is pretty is easy to understand, for the most part. We walk you through the basics of the games below.
- First, start by selecting an online casino offering the game. If you can find an operator with free video poker Jacks or Better games, proceed to register with the casino.
- Decide on the amount you want to wager. Use the bet max button available to increase or decrease your wagering amount.
- The game is a 52-card deck video poker game. Some casinos allow you to place single or multiple wagers. Depending on the casino rules, decide the hands you want to play.
- Each game starts with the dealer dealing you with five initial cards. Like Poker, the objective is to achieve the strongest hand possible from your initial cards.
- However, here, you not only need to get a stronger hand than your opponent—you need to get a pair of Jacks or Better. Otherwise, the house wins. Decide if you want to keep your poker hand as is, draw a new one or replace certain cards.
- The dealer compares hands and pays you according to the strength of your card combinations.
Play Free Video Poker Jacks or Better
Playing video poker Jacks or Better comes with several advantages. Many players love to play Jacks or Better video poker for fun. That’s because the game is very entertaining and can keep you hooked for hours on end. But before committing your money, we strongly advise you to start with free video poker Jacks or Better. That way, you can get used to the game first with no risk.
To do this, you’ll need to look for casinos that offer Jacks or Better video poker free download versions. Either that or you can look for casinos that offer free Jacks or Better video poker in instant play mode.
Even though the game is simple to learn, you’ll still benefit from a few trial runs with free slots video poker Jacks or Better. You can use this option to master the game at your own pace with no pressure to win. Once comfortable, you can move from playing free video poker Jacks or Better games to the real deal.
In this case, you must now wager your cash to play. That puts you in the running to bag massive wins. However, we advise you to use Jacks or Better video poker strategy tips to boost your winning chances.
The following casinos offer free slots video poker Jacks or Better:
- Slots.lv
- Bovada
- Las Atlantis
- MyB Casino
- Big Spin
- Café Casino
Jacks or Better Video Poker Paytable
Jacks or Better video poker has many variations even though it follows the same poker rules and gameplay. As a result, a different variation may have a different paytable. While the game is enjoyable to play, you need to understand the paytable before placing your wagers. Why? It significantly impacts your wagering outcomes in the long haul.
The general rule of thumb is if you decide to wager fewer coins, your possible payouts will decrease over time. On the other hand, if you wager more coins, your potential payouts tend to increase over time. With that said, below are the following payouts for different hands summarized in a paytable.
Hand |
1 coin bet |
2 coin bet | 3 coin bet | 4 coin bet |
5 coin bet |
Royal Flush |
250 |
500 | 750 | 1000 |
4000 |
Straight Flush |
50 |
100 | 150 | 200 |
250 |
Four of a Kind |
25 |
50 | 75 | 100 |
125 |
Full House |
9 |
18 | 27 | 36 |
45 |
Flush |
6 |
12 | 18 | 24 |
30 |
Straight |
4 |
8 | 12 | 16 |
20 |
Three of a Kind |
3 |
6 | 9 | 12 |
15 |
Two Pair |
2 |
4 | 6 | 8 |
10 |
Jacks or Better |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 |
5 |
What are the Odds on Jacks or Better Video Poker?
The paytable of the variation you’re playing largely impacts the odds of winning Jacks or Better video poker. Ideally, you must check the payouts of the two winning hands, the Full House and Flush. They usually indicate the game house edge and RTP%.
For example, in a video poker Jacks or Better 9/6 game, the first digit refers to a Full House payout. In this example, you’ll win nine times your initial wager. The second number indicates how much you’ll win if you hit a Flush or Straight Flush. If you play 8/5 Jacks or Better video poker variant, you’ll get eight times your wager if you hit a Full Flush and five times your bet with a Flush.
For comparison’s sake, find below a table outlining the different odds of winning each wager:
Game variant | RTP % |
9/6 | 99.54 |
9/5 | 98.33 |
8/5 | 97.25 |
7/5 | 96.17 |
6/5 | 95.12 |
Best Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
There’s nothing wrong with peeking at a video poker strategy chart for Jacks or Better when playing. In fact, having a Jacks or Better video poker strategy not only boosts your confidence in the game but increases your winning chances. Below are additional expert strategies you can use.
Retain Cards with a Jacks or Higher Value
Jacks or Better video poker allows you to discard and replace cards if you are not happy with your initial hand. We advise you to always keep at least one or two cards with Jacks or a higher value. Such a move increases your chances of getting two Jacks or better.
Keep the Small Pair
It may be tempting to discard a small pair, but we advise you against it. Always keep the small pair and instead let go of the other cards. That’s, of course, unless you have four cards to give you a Flush or Straight Flush.
Hold Your Four Cards Forming a Flush
If you have four cards to a Straight Flush, you must hold them and pick another card.
Keep Three Cards if They Help You Form a Royal Flush
Any time you find yourself with three cards to a Royal Flush, you must hold on to them. You’re two cards away from a winning combination!
Top 5 Tips How to Win at Jacks or Better Video Poker
By now, you probably have some idea of how to play Jacks or Better video poker, and that’s great. But you now need to know how to win at Jacks or Better video poker and land the big bucks.
If you’re keen, this section is for you. We dish out a few pointers we believe will significantly sway the odds in your favor big time! You’ll find we may have mentioned some of the tips before. But reiteration simply means these factors are crucial to maximizing your Jacks or Better video poker winning chances.
1. Learn the Game First
The very first tip to nailing the game is to learn it. Educate yourself on all there is to know about the game. That means getting accustomed to the rules of the game and the hand rankings and what they mean. Familiarize yourself with terms like Three of a kind, Draw Poker, Royal Flush, and Straight Flush.
Knowing the different jargon associated with the game helps you understand and play it better. If it helps your game, there’s no harm in getting advice from a Jacks or Better video poker trainer to help you out. A video poker trainer for Jacks or Better will undoubtedly provide you with insight on improving your gaming.
2. Play for Free First
Once you’re familiar with the game and its jargon, we urge you to try it for free. Some online casinos featured on this page, such as Bovada & Slots.LV, provide free Jacks or Better video poker.
As previously mentioned, newbies will benefit from these free games. You get to explore the game at no risk at all. These free games help you understand the game better, the different bet sizes, variants, and hands you’re more comfortable with. Even seasoned players looking to perfect their skills in the game can take advantage of this feature.
3. Use a Video Poker Strategy
Video poker strategies are there for a reason. Use them. A video poker Jacks or Better strategy is eye-opening and will help you navigate the game better. Using poker strategies allows you to enhance your overall gaming and make meaningful wagers.
With time and practice, you understand the game even more. But, of course, the icing on the cake is you’ll maximize your winning chances every time. That’ll undoubtedly make the game more enjoyable and profitable for you in the long run.
4. Bet Maximum Coins
We mentioned how players can bet a different number of coins on the game. These range from 1 to 5 bet coin sizes. The number of bet coins you decide to run with is up to you. However, you need to consider the kind of bettor you are, your skills, and your bankroll.
With that said, we advise you to bet the maximum coins, all things being equal. Betting 5 coins allow you to hit the jackpot and win big. That’s especially true if you hit the Royal Flush. Of course, if your bankroll doesn’t permit, you can always pick a lower buy-in slot machine to play on.
5. Use the Welcome Bonus
Online casinos offer welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions to attract & retain players. Why not solicit the help of a lucrative casino deposit bonus to increase your wagering chances on the game? Different bonuses come with varying perks. Others amplify your playing funds while others minimize your risk of losing your cash.
Our advice is to take full advantage of whatever deal the casino is offering since these offers will essentially give you more wagering opportunities on Jacks or Better video poker.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Multi-Hand vs Single-Hand
There are different ways to play Jacks or Better video poker. You can play 1 Hand Jacks or Better, where you’ll be dealt one hand of cards per round. From 1 Hand, the game upgrades to 3 Hand, 10 Hand, and 52 Hands.
1 Hand is referred to as Single Hand Jacks or Better, while the rest fall under Multi-hand Jacks or Better poker. Whether you decide to play single or multi-hand Jacks or Better is up to you. Each comes with its own pros and cons outlined in the table below.
Key Attributes | Single Hand Jack or Better | Multihand Jack or Better |
Variance | High (19.44) | High (23.44) |
Standard Deviation | Low (4.41) | High (4.84) |
Player Level | Beginner players | Advanced players |
Ease of play | Easy | A bit complex |
Cost per round | Low ($0.05 to $25) | High ($0.52-$260) |
Payouts | Lower for Flush and Full House | Higher for Flush and Full House |
Volatility | Low | High |
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Best Video Poker Jacks or Better Casino Site
Video poker Jacks or Better is a popular casino game. That’s why every casino worth its salt features it in its games library. But not all casinos offering the game are worth your time. Based on our meticulous research, Bovada appears to provide a better platform to enjoy a rewarding Jacks of Better gaming experience.
For starters, it offers the game in free mode, complete with rules on playing the title. So, that’s a plus for beginners. In addition, you have six Jacks or Better games comprising both single and multi-hands to play. Plus, the bankrolls are pretty flexible and range from as low as $1 right up to $1,000 for high rollers. As a result, the operator accommodates players or various bankrolls. Why not give Bovada Casino a try and see for yourself?
Best Jacks or Better Casino