Video Poker started to be in the market when it managed to combine a television-like monitor and a solid state central processing unit. The first models to come out did it at the same time as personal computers were first produced, in the 70s, however they were a lot more primitive than the ones we use nowadays.
But it was in 1979, when IGT came out with the Draw Poker, that this game became more firmly established. Throughout the 80s, Video Poker became increasingly popular, because people found the devices less intimidating than playing at the tables. In the present, Video Poker occupies a very large place on the gaming floors of most casinos, and the game is especially popular in Las Vegas.
How to play the game
The game begins by inserting money into the machine, and then you have to press the “Deal” button to draw cards. The player is then given an opportunity to keep or discard one or more of the cards in exchange for a new card drawing from the same virtual deck. After that, the machine evaluates the hand and offers a payout if the hand matches one of the winning hands in the posted pay schedule.
On most Video Poker machines, the payouts start with a minimum hand of a pair of jacks. The payout for hands is based partially upon how rare they are, and are also based upon the total theoretical return the game operator chooses to offer.
Some machines offer progressive jackpots for the Royal Flush, stimulating the players both to play more coins and to play more frequently.