Play Free Video Poker

Before we get into all the details about free play, you’ll need to know a bit about how to play video poker. Just like other types of poker, the aim is simple – you want to create the best possible hand using the cards you’ve been dealt. The first step is to place your bets. Depending on the game, you can usually stake between one and five credits per hand. Remember, the higher your stake amount, the more you’ll be able to win, but the more you’ll lose if you don’t get a good hand.

Basic Gameplay Mechanics

You’ll be dealt five cards, and then you’ll need to decide which you want to discard. The other 47 cards in the deck will be shuffled continuously, and when you click on the “draw” button, you’ll be given the one at the top of the deck. All of this happens virtually, with the dealer taking the form of the computer. The good news is, there’s no real difference in how the game works, whether you’re playing in person or enjoying free video poker online. You’ll have no trouble if you know the basic rules.

Hand Rankings & Payouts

When you’re getting ready to play free video poker online, it’s always a good idea to check the pay table of the specific game before you start playing. There could be small differences in how the games pay out, and even if you’re just playing for fun, this info is worth knowing. In general, higher-ranking hands result in better payouts, and the hands are the same for video poker as they are if you play the game at a real table or a live dealer table online.

Royal Flush: This is the highest-ranking hand in video poker, and it’s made up of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit. A Royal Flush can pay out up to 250x your stake.

Straight Flush: This hand consists of five consecutive cards, all in the same suit. Depending on the game, it can pay between 40x and 60x your stake.

Four of a Kind: If you get the same card in all four suits, you’ll have a Four of a Kind and get paid out between 20x and 30x your stake.

Full House: This hand consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair – you need one card in three suits and another card in two suits.

Flush: A Flush is similar to a Straight Flush, but the cards don’t need to be in any sequence – you just need five cards of the same suit.

Straight: This is one of the easiest hands to get. You just need five numbers in a row, and they can be from any suit. A Straight pays out 4x your stake.

Three of a Kind: Similar to Four of a Kind, but you only need three cards from the same suit.

Two Pair: This is a common hand that pays out 2x your bet amount. You need to get two of the same cards in different suits, plus two of another card in different suits.

Pair: Simply two cards of the same number, paying your stake amount back to you.

If you want to play free video poker online, a few top Aussie online casinos allow you to do so. Once you’ve signed up for your account and logged in for the first time, head to the games lobby and search for “video poker”. Then, hover over the game and select the “demo” or “fun mode” option, and you can play without spending any money. You’ll be given some free virtual credits to use on the games, and all you must do is follow the steps we described earlier in our guide.

These are a few top casinos that offer free video poker:

1. Crownplay: You can play traditional video poker for free at Crownplay or get a more immersive experience when you try the live dealer version of the game (also available in demo mode). Crownplay is a premium gambling site featuring casino games, pokies, sports betting, and more.
2. Lucky7Even: Multiple providers, including Gameart and Reevo, offer free video poker at Lucky7Even. The casino also has a strong range of pokies and live dealer games, and you can claim promotions like reloads and spins on the prize wheel to boost your bonus balance.
3. Spinch: Spinch offers several video poker options, including Aces and Eights and Deuces Wild, which you can demo for free. This online casino also offers exciting promos like deposit match offers and cashback; you might even earn VIP status.

Rings and Tournaments

While video poker is mainly a solitary game, some of the free platforms offer extra features like video poker rings and tournaments. These aren’t very common in video poker practice games, and you’re much more likely to see them if you’re playing live versions of the game against other players.

A ring game is straightforward – a type of poker game where players can come and go anytime. There can be between two and nine players at the “table” at any time, and each hand is played independently, so you just play one hand if you want to.

A tournament is a lot more complex, and you might want to save those for when you’re a seasoned pro. However, there’s nothing necessarily stopping you from playing free video poker games as part of a tournament. Tournaments start at a specific time, and you’ll aim to be the last player standing at the end, to bag your share of the prize pot.

The main benefit of playing free online video poker is that you don’t have to spend any real money to do so. If you’re just getting started or haven’t played in a while, the free version of the game will help you learn video poker strategies and get used to the gameplay before you risk any cash.

Also, if you’re playing at a new online casino site or using your mobile phone to play for the first time, you might want to play free video poker online to get used to how the game works. Once you’re happy enough that you’ve mastered video poker gameplay, you can move on to playing for real.

One key difference between free online video poker and real money poker is that you can’t win anything if you’re playing for free.  Here’s a quick summary of some of the differences between the two methods of play.

As we mentioned, there are some great reasons why you might want to play free video poker over real money poker, but if you’re in search of a thrilling casino experience, you might want to switch to real money play. You shouldn’t have any trouble playing as soon as you’ve got the hang of the basic game rules and strategies.

One of the best things about video poker games is that they’re pretty simple, so there aren’t many varieties out there. Almost all the Australian online casinos you’ll encounter have the same games.

These are a few of the main types of video poker that you should look out for:

Free online video poker can be a whole lot of fun. If you’re brand new to the game, it’s the ideal way to learn the ropes without risking any of your own cash.

Playing free video poker can allow you to master the strategies and techniques you need to become a better real-money poker player, or it can be a fun pastime in and of itself. If you’re ready to start playing free video poker, you can create an account at one of our recommended Australian online casino sites, and you’ll be playing before you know it.