Articles
Articles
New guides for video poker players twice a week: machines, pay tables, bankroll and getting more from every trip.
How to check a video poker machine before you sit down
A one-minute routine for reading any video poker machine on the casino floor, so you never play a short-pay table by accident.
Oct 22, 2026
Tickets, cash and staying safe on a casino trip
How ticket-in ticket-out vouchers work, how long they last, and simple habits for carrying money safely on a casino trip.
Oct 22, 2026
Five video poker myths that cost players money
Due machines, hot streaks, lucky kickers and short-coining. Five common beliefs that sound reasonable and quietly drain bankrolls.
Oct 22, 2026
Can you use a strategy card at the machine?
In most casinos you can keep a video poker strategy card beside you while you play. How to use one well, and how to prepare before your trip.
Oct 22, 2026
Tired play is expensive play: breaks on a casino trip
Long sessions, late nights and a drink or two all add up to more mistakes. How to plan breaks so your play stays sharp on a trip.
Oct 22, 2026
Bar-top video poker: what you gain and what you give up
Machines built into casino bars come with company and sometimes free drinks, and often weaker pay tables. How to decide if the trade is worth it.
Oct 22, 2026
Why playing faster costs you more
Speed doesn't change the odds of any hand, but it multiplies what an hour of video poker costs. Here is the math, and when speed helps.
Oct 22, 2026
How long will your money last at a video poker machine?
Your average cost per hour is small. A single hour can still swing by more than a hundred dollars. Here is how to think about a session budget.
Oct 22, 2026
Video poker terms and pay table shorthand, explained
9/6, full pay, short pay, NSUD, kicker, hand pay. A plain-English glossary of the words video poker players use.
Oct 22, 2026
What happens when you hit a royal flush
The machine locks up, an attendant arrives and there may be a tax form. Here is what to expect when the big one lands, so you can enjoy it.
Oct 22, 2026
Video poker etiquette: the unwritten rules of the casino floor
How to save a machine, when to tip, and the small courtesies that make a casino trip go smoothly for you and everyone around you.
Oct 22, 2026