Video poker versus Slot machines
Video poker and slot machines have many things in common. They are both stand alone machines that need no dealers to interact with the player. They are operated by buttons or levers, and take coins to start the game. They have an automatic payout system installed that pays the player in case he wins.
But the main similarity lies within. Both video poker and slot machines use a random number generator (RNG) chip to operate. That means that the machine is constantly generating random numbers and gives out the result when the player pushes the button or pulls the lever.
And that very RNG is the main difference between these casino games. In a slot machine the payout is determined by the program on the generator, and usually varies between 83% and 97%. You can’t determine the payback percentage until you’ve given the machine a try.
In video poker, the generator simulates a deck of 52 (or 53) playing cards, making it similar to real poker. So an experienced player can actually calculate the payback percentage of the machine, like in case of a real table game.
Thus, if slot machines are all about the luck you have, video poker machines still require some playing skills from the player. So if you have a good playing strategy and know the rules, the payback percentage will be higher in video poker.
