Net Entertainment, widely known as NetEnt, is one of the biggest names in the interactive gaming industry, responsible for the creation of an extensive portfolio of world-class casino games, across many diverse genres including classic table games, live dealer games, progressives, premium 3D slots and an outstanding collection of select video poker variants.
NetEnt is a Swedish company that was established in 1996 but its history can be traced back to the 1970s when one of Sweden’s leading landbased casino operators, Cherry, was forced to revamp its entire business model, following the ban on slot machines in the country. NetEnt has grown tremendously since then and has plenty of achievements to boast of. For starters, this was the first casino software developer to introduce games, designed specifically for the Java platform.
The developer was among the first to produce a casino game in the HTML5 language which is universal for both desktop and mobile devices. Today, NetEnt provides software for over 140 licensed and regulated casinos and has captured the hearts of millions of players from hundreds of countries around the world.
The video poker collection of NetEnt may be less impressive in terms of sheer numbers as compared to the portfolios of other notable software providers. Nevertheless, the Swedish gaming giant has demonstrated it values quality over quantity as its four video poker variants are truly the cream of the crop in this genre.
Features and Gameplay of NetEnt Video Poker
Whoever was involved in creating the graphics and animations of NetEnt’s video poker games truly did an excellent job. Each game’s visuals are so vividly clear and well animated one is left with the impression the cards will come to life the very next moment.
The interface of the game is rather straightforward and players will experience no difficulties in finding their way around even if they have never played online video poker before. The paytable with the qualifying winning hands occupies the upper half of the screen. At the left hand side, players will see a separate table which contains all hands with multipliers, based on the number of credits wagered – whenever one hits a winning combination, the respective hand and its corresponding payout are highlighted to further the convenience of the video poker fans.
Before players receive their starting hand, they need to adjust the size of their stakes. It is possible to modify the coin value you wish to use as well as your Bet Level, or how many coins you intend to stake per hand. When one is dealt a pat hand that qualifies for a payout before the draw, the cards it consists of are automatically held by the software.
There are no single-hand and multi-hand variations of the games as such. In each video poker variant created by NetEnt, players can themselves adjust the number of hands they intend to play at a time, with the options to choose from 1, 5, 10, and 25 hands per round. It kind of resembles the adjustable paylines of NetEnt’s video slots. Also, when you opt for playing multiple hands per round, the paytable will disappear because of the limited space on the base-game screen. If you need to check a payout, you should simply click on the Information button to re-open the paytable.
One interesting feature of NetEnt’s video poker is the Gamble functionality. Its purpose coincides with that of the Double Up feature of standard video poker games. On each winning hand, players are given an opportunity to increase their profits up to five times. When the Gamble feature is activated, you will see five random cards that are facing down. The aim is to pick the correct colour of each card’s suit. If you succeed with the first card, you have the option to proceed with the second one or to collect your winnings. An incorrect guess results in players losing what they have won on the last winning hand.
NetEnt’s Video Poker Collection
The number of video poker variants NetEnt has so far released is restricted to four main variations but the limited options are more than compensated for by the quality of the games. The developer has opted for adopting a bespoke approach towards its games as these are miles away from the computerised video poker consoles one is accustomed to seeing at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better, a.k.a the grandfather of video poker, is the most popular variant of the game in NetEnt’s collection. A full 52-card deck is used in the game which largely borrows its rules from the popular five-card draw poker. The objective of the players is to make one of the qualifying hands, listed in the paytable. If you happen to win after the draw, you may opt for “gambling” your profits on the last hand and potentially double them by trying to predict the colour of a card’s suit. Be careful with this feature, though, because if your prediction is incorrect, you will lose the last hand’s profits.
The game is rather simple, but NetEnt’s straightforward interface additionally aids inexperienced players in learning how to play. One of the greatest advantage of this variation stems from the fact it offers full pay on the Full House and the Flush of 9 to 1 and 6 to 1.
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is the second most popular variation of video poker in the world and as such, is an important addition to NetEnt’s collection of games. Much like Jacks or Better, the game utilises 52 cards. There are no jokers in the deck but the 2s of the four suits (or the Deuces in question) act as wild cards. This is one very important deviation from the rules of traditional video poker because it works to the benefit of players. The wild cards have the potential of substituting for other cards, which increases the probability of completing a winning combination.
This peculiarity of the game has resulted in slight differences in the hands that qualify for a payout. The natural Royal Flush occupies the first spot in the paytable, but it is followed by Four Deuces, instead of the usual Straight Flush. The subsequent winning combinations are a Royal Straight Flush and Five of a Kind. From this point onwards, the paytable sticks to the standard ranking of hands in video poker, the only exception being that the Three of a Kind is the lowest-ranking hand instead of the pair of Jacks.
All American Poker
All American Poker by NetEnt is based on the game of Jacks or Better as the hand rankings and the rules of play between the two coincide. The game is rather cleverly animated, with the American flag flapping in the upper left corner of the screen. In order to collect a payout, players need to form at least a pair of Jacks or higher. The highest ranking hand is the Royal Flush which can potentially earn players a hefty fixed jackpot of 4,000 coins if they bet the maximum. This is followed by the standard ranking of the poker hands – Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, and Two Pair. NetEnt’s is the full-pay version of the game with 35/8/8/8 payouts for Four of a Kind, Full House, Flushes, and Straights.
Joker Wild
Joker Wild is another NetEnt variation of video poker but unlike Jacks or Better, the game is played with 53 cards because a joker is added to the standard deck. As the name of the game suggests, the joker in question is actually wild, meaning that it can be used as a substitute for all other cards, which further increases the odds of players hitting winning combinations. In other words, the joker here has the same function as the Deuces in Deuces Wild.
The addition of the wild joker has led to several deviations from the standard ranking of hands in poker. Of course, the Royal Flush remains the best possible hand to form but it is followed by Five of a Kind (four cards of equal face value plus the joker).
No Deposit Video Poker
Mobile Video Poker
Tens or Better Video Poker
Jacks or Better
No Deposit Video Poker
Where to Play NetEnt Video Poker
Millions of players prefer to open their accounts at NetEnt casinos because such gambling operators are known as licensed, regulated and fair to their customers. The fact the games’ Random Number Generators are audited by independent agencies on a regular basis further testifies for their integrity and fairness. If you are looking for a secure NetEnt casino to play video poker at, we strongly recommend you to pick one of the five reputable operators we have reviewed below.
Royal Panda
Royal Panda has been providing nothing but the highest-quality gambling experience to UK players ever since it first went online in 2014. The operator may be relatively new to the interactive gaming scene but it quickly secured a strong position for itself thanks to its timely payouts, reliable banking solutions, friendly attitude towards customers, and last but not least, its diverse portfolio of NetEnt games.
Players who register there are provided with plenty of options to pick from. You can spin the reels of one of the many superb slots, play a blackjack hand or two, or watch the “Devil’s” wheel in motion while hoping for your lucky number to hit. There is also the possibility to compete against the seasoned croupiers in Royal Panda’s live dealer casino. The preferences of video poker aficionados are also taken into account as there are several premium games to choose from, including the ever-popular Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.
888casino
Anyone who has ever played casino games on the web has heard about 888casino, which is one of the oldest interactive gaming operators in the world. The numbers speak for themselves – the casino went online back in 1997 and has attracted over 25 million players from many different countries ever since.
This wild success is easy to explain. The casino appeals to gambling enthusiasts because it is home to an exceptionally manifold catalogue with hundreds of world-class games. New and existing members are rewarded for their loyalty with bountiful bonuses and a range of ongoing promotional offers that are simply impossible to resist. The customer support professionals of 888casino are always around to answer inquiries and resolve problems, if any happen to ensue.
The gaming collection spans hundreds of modern video slots, classic card and table games, a live dealer offering, and of course, a satisfactory video poker selection by NetEnt. With so many options at hand, the only difficulty would be which premier casino game to try out first.
Casinoland
Casinoland is yet another respected gaming provider which appears to have been launched with the sole purpose of ensuring a high level of excellence across all aspects that make for the perfect gambling destination – secure payments, quick and fair withdrawals, friendly customer support, and unmatched promotional incentives for both new and old players.
A great stress is placed on diversity as Casinoland offers all types of casino games one can possibly imagine. There are over 250 first-rate titles which range from the hottest video slots to various authentic casino classics like blackjack, roulette, Punto Banco, Casino Hold’em, baccarat, and Caribbean Stud. Players interested in tasting the thrill of the landbased casino floors should visit the live dealer section where different traditional games are broadcast in excellent quality and hosted by knowledgeable croupiers. As far as video poker goes, Casinoland’s collection features all of the above-listed NetEnt titles.
Mr Green
Mr Green is one of the most highly-regarded brands in the online gaming industry and as such, has received numerous accolades throughout the years. Those who register there are enabled to play over 400 of the best casino games, including various thrilling video slots, table games, and video poker. Many of the available titles come with mind-blowing jackpots that can literally transform lives in a millisecond.
Mr Green’s obliging customer support agents are always there to help players with any queries they may have. Payments are conducted in the safest manner possible since the casino has adopted the latest SSL encryptions that are up to par with the highest security standards in the industry. New members of the casino can also extend their playing time by claiming a generous Welcome Bonus while existing members are rewarded with numerous ongoing promotional offers.
LeoVegas
LeoVegas is tough to match as far as diversity is concerned since the renowned gambling operator has set up a mind-blowing gaming library that spans over 700 games, courtesy of top software providers, NetEnt included. There is truly a little something to cover the needs of all players, from slots and table games through video poker and various progressive jackpot games.
LeoVegas values its patrons and it shows in the generous bonuses players are awarded. More importantly, the bonuses have quite sensible wagering requirements while their terms and conditions are stated clearly and transparently.
Players who prefer video poker will be greatly pleased by LeoVegas’ selection which comprises all NetEnt variants we have reviewed above. If you need any help with boosting your account’s balance to play your preferred video poker game for real money, you can always get in touch with LeoVegas’ support team. Response times are shockingly quick and an agent will be right there with you in a moment.