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Video Poker
What is Video Poker?
Video Poker is a card game played on a computerized electronic
casino machine which manages the game for you and allows you
to win or lose money. Many varieties of "Video Poker"
machines are available in casinos. They are all based on a
similar Poker game system - the "Five Card Draw",
meaning that 5 cards are dealt to the player.
History of Video Poker.
Research by casino owners in the past showed that about 80%
of their profits come from slot machines and only about 20%
from Gaming Tables. A creative gaming inventor came up with
the idea of using Poker, an old and traditional American card
game, as a basis for a computerized slot machine. Overnight
Video Poker machines sprang up in casinos around the world.
It allowed casinos to offer something new to add to the old
established casino games. It was also simple and entertaining
to its players. It is a game that everyone can play without
feeling intimidated by the casino gamblers and owners.
How to Play Video Poker
Video Poker is probably one of the easiest gambling game to
learn and play, but it does requires a basic knowledge of
the game of Poker. The computerized electronic machine is
fully programmed to deal with any situation which may arise
in the game. The player can choose which cards he wishes to
keep and which cards he wants to throw away in the draw. The
player is dealt five cards. He then has the option of keeping
any or all of them, or throwing away all of them. For each
card thrown away, another card is dealt to replace it. The
object is to improve your "Hand", (the set of five
cards you keep), and turn it into a winning hand. On a Video
Poker machine, play begins when coins are inserted. Bills
may be used in the machines as well as coins. Most Video Poker
machines take from one to five coins. The only exceptions
are the $5, $25, and the $100 Video Poker machines, which
can take two or three coins as a maximum. A player can only
win the jackpot by playing the maximum coins allowed on the
machine being played.
Playing Video Poker
After the first five cards are dealt, a row of buttons on
the machine lights up with the word "Hold" written
on it. The player presses these buttons to keep the cards
he wishes to hold. There are five buttons, one for each of
the five cards dealt. When any one of the "Hold"
buttons is pressed, the word "Held" appears above
or below the card. The player has chosen to keep this card.
By pushing the button, the player has instructed the machine
of his decision. One, two, three, four, or all five cards
may be held. Once this is decided, the "Deal" button
must be pressed to continue the hand. The machine keeps the
selected cards and throws away the rest. It then deals the
replacement cards for the ones thrown away. If the player
wins, the machine pays automatically and the hand is over.
Most machines pay on "Credits" and not in immediate
cash. If the win is five coins the machine will display the
word "Winner" and run up the amount of five coins
on the "Credit Meter". If thirty coins are won,
the message will say, "Player Paid 30", and so on.
The next hand can be played by using credits. The "Bet"
button is pressed, once for one coin, twice for two coins,
and so on; or the "Play Maximum Coins" button is
pressed and the machine will automatically deduct five credits
and deal the next game. With the credit-meter option, when
the player wins, the machine adds the credits and when the
player loses, subtracts the amount. To collect any remaining
credit balance, the player must press the "Collect"
button and the machine will pay by dropping the coins in the
tray.
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