NetEnt is a Swedish digital entertainment company, specializing in the development and supply of premium online casino software. Since its inception in 1996, it has created gaming content for some of the largest gambling operators in the world, which offer its games on their browser-based and mobile platforms. Recognized as one of the most successful companies in this industry, NetEnt is also listed on the Nordic Growth Market and the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
The software provider has an impressive portfolio of games that include video slots, virtual and live traditional casino games such as poker and blackjack, and progressive jackpot games. NetEnt is also behind several video poker variations that immediately stand out with their high-quality graphics, classic layout, and smooth gameplay.
Company History and Overview
1Origins in Land-Based Casino Gambling
NetEnt was established as Net Entertainment in 1996 in Sweden but the origins of the company can be traced back to the 1960s when land-based casino gambling was a small, yet promising sector in the country. It all started in 1963 when AB Restaurang Rouletter was founded. Just a few years after that, a partnership was established with a competing firm, the AB Roulett konsult & Spelautomater. Soon after that, the new company was rebranded and the name Cherry was registered.
For the next couple of decades, Cherry operated multiple gaming establishments and casinos at restaurants and nightclubs all over Sweden. With the emergence of online gaming and the quickly growing reach of the Internet, NetEnt was born. It was established by Pontus Lindwall, the son of one of Cherry’s founders and in 2000, it launched its first online games. In two years, the company introduced its online casino, NetEnt CasinoTM, and started offering its software to other operators, as well. This led to a license from Malta in 2005 and in 2007, NetEnt split from Cherry, becoming completely independent.
2Leading Name in the Industry
But all this was just the beginning for the Swedish company. In 2011, it launched its first mobile game, while in 2014, it developed a game entirely in HTML5, which became the norm for its competitors a few years after that.
Over the years, NetEnt has seen an incredible commercial success – from a local online operator in Sweden, it grew to become one of the largest providers of digital gaming content in the world. Its global presence is, indeed, impressive with offices in Malta, Sweden, Gibraltar, Poland, Ukraine, the UK, and the USA, where it employs more than 1,000 people. Today, NetEnt holds multiple licenses from different jurisdictions and its games are available in a wide range of regulated markets.
3Extensive Collection of Games
Through its innovative CasinoModule, NetEnt offers operators a versatile and extensive selection of games across various categories. It releases a new game at least once a month and many of these new titles are optimized for mobile play. Players who visit a NetEnt-powered online casino will have access to hundreds of video slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer games. In addition, they will be able to try their luck with some of the largest and fastest-growing pooled jackpots – Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, Arabian Nights, and Mega Fortune Dreams are just some of them.
All American Video Poker Gameplay
NetEnt Video Poker Software and Key Features
NetEnt boasts a huge portfolio of games but when it comes to its video poker variations, players will find only a handful of titles available for desktop or mobile platforms. Compared to other studios that offer twenty or thirty slightly different versions of the same game, NetEnt focuses on the quality of its video poker games rather than the quantity.
Visually, the games are outstanding, and in terms of performance, they load instantly and are highly responsive. The developer has also added various advanced features and game settings that can be customized. All games are available in both real-money and fun-play mode, so players can try them out without any real risk to their gambling bankrolls. Moreover, NetEnt’s software does not need to be downloaded and installed on players’ computers – instead, the games are entirely browser-based.
Bet Level and Coin Sizes
Every variation of video poker by NetEnt can be played with bet levels between 1 and 5, each referring to the number of coins wagered per round. Of course, since the best hand in the game pays more when 5 coins are wagered, most players prefer to set the maximum bet level. They can also adjust the size of their stakes by selecting a coin denomination – different sizes may be available, depending on the casino.
More importantly, the available coin values will change, depending on the number of hands we bet on. Usually, denominations in single-hand video poker range from $0.10 to $10 but when we play a 25-hand version of the same game, the coin sizes are from $0.01 to $0.50.
Interface and Layout
The interface of NetEnt’s video poker versions is smooth and user-friendly. The cards that are being dealt in each round appear in the center of the screen but note that in multi-hand video poker, the large 5-card hand is much smaller, making way for the additional hands that appear above it. On the left, we can see a simplified version of the paytable – all winning hands listed vertically with their respective payouts, depending on the number of coins wagered.
At the bottom of the screen, we can see all the main buttons and customizable settings and options. The Info button in the bottom left side opens the paytable, while next to it, we can see the Bet field, which shows how many coins we wager. There are also Bet Level, Hands, and Coin Value areas with plus and minus buttons for adjustment. The Deal button is in the center, of course, and the Gamble and Max Bet buttons are located on either side of it. Note that the Max Bet option sets the maximum bet level and automatically deals a new set of cards but it does not change the coin value.
Double Up Gamble Feature
NetEnt’s versions of video poker offer the Double Up Gamble Feature, which gives players the opportunity to double their winnings in a simple game of chance. After every winning hand, they can click the Gamble button to enter the feature where they will gamble the winnings from the current round. The game displays 5 face-down cards and below them, players are given two options – Red or Black.
They need to guess correctly the color of the first card once it is flipped. If they do, their winnings are doubled and they can either collect them or gamble them once again. With each consecutive card that has been guessed correctly, the gambled amount is doubled. Players have a maximum of 5 chances to double their winnings. However, if they make a mistake, the feature automatically ends and they lose the gambled amount.
Multi-Hand Play
This is probably the most exciting feature in NetEnt’s collection of video poker titles. There are only four different variations but each of them can be played in 1, 5, 10 or 25-hand mode. By selecting multiple hands, players bet on all of them simultaneously. Of course, the bet size will be multiplied by the number of hands in play.
For instance, if players choose to bet on 25 hands and wager 5 coins in denomination of $0.50, they will be betting $62.50 per round. In a single-hand variation of the game, they will need to bet only $2.50 per round.
Game Settings
Before you start playing NetEnt’s video poker games for real money, you should carefully adjust the size of your bets, especially if you bet on multiple hands at the same time. There are not many other things that could be changed or improved, however, except for the Fast Play option. Fast Play can be switched on from the Game Settings menu in the bottom tab of the screen.
In addition, players can set up the Gamble feature – it can either never activate after a winning round or automatically trigger every time. NetEnt has also added Game History, which is available only in real-money mode. It shows players’ win history, as well as the hit frequency and the current RTP of the game.
Standard Rules in NetEnt Video Poker Games
Those who have played any type of video poker know that most games, whether variations of Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, follow the same standard rules. Some versions come with a wild card – a Deuce or a Joker, while others may offer higher payouts for a specific winning combination. Apart from these, the majority of video poker games in online and land-based casinos are almost identical.
NetEnt’s video poker variations are not an exception. In the past, the studio offered several games – some of them were regular, single-play versions, while others were in multi-hand mode. In 2014, however, the company released its updated collection of video pokers, which allowed switching from single to multi-hand play within the same game. This was a major improvement since it allowed players to instantly change the number of hands they bet on without having to close the game. These newer, better versions of video poker from the Double Up series, can now be found in all NetEnt casinos, although some operators may still offer the older releases.
Rules and Gameplay
NetEnt’s video poker games use one deck of cards, which is shuffled after each deal. They follow the conventional video poker rules and are played with 1-5 bet levels and different coin denominations. To start a game, players need to choose the bet level, coin value, and the number of hands they wish to activate. Note that in multi-hand mode, the cards for each hand are dealt from a separate deck.
Once players adjust their stakes, they select the Deal button and receive 5 initial cards – by clicking on them, they keep them for the second draw. The rest of the cards are discarded and replaced with new ones once players choose the main button again. At this point, the game automatically determines if there are any winning combinations. Of course, the objective of the game is to get one of the poker hands displayed in the paytable – each of them grants a different payout, starting from 1:1 for Jacks or Better and reaching 250:1 for Royal Flush.
Paytables
The paytables are among the key components to look at when choosing a video poker variation. As we have said above, these games are more or less the same – the biggest differences between them can be found in the amount they pay for each winning combination. Players should pay attention to the payouts for Flush and Full House, in particular – if these hands pay 6 and 9 times the stake, then this is known as a full-pay game and it will reflect in its theoretical return. Other things to consider is the presence of bonus payouts in the paytable and any hands that can be formed with a wild card.
Each variation of video poker by NetEnt displays a simplified version of the paytable on the main game screen. There, players can see all possible poker hands and how much they would pay. Players will also be notified of every winning hand they form. The full paytable is also available from the Info button and it shows how the hands are ranked and their respective payouts based on the chosen bet level.
RTP Percentages
NetEnt recognizes what’s most important in video poker – its theoretical Return to Player or RTP. Expressed as a percentage, it shows how much players can win back in a particular game. All video poker versions by the Swedish studio offer high returns – up to 99.56%, which among the highest RTP percentages you could find. Certain games may sometimes offer returns of over 100% but casinos tend to reduce some of the original payouts so realistically, playing a game with such payback percentage is nearly impossible.
Popular Video Poker Variations by NetEnt
Jacks or Better Double Up
NetEnt’s Jacks or Better is a wonderful version of the classic video poker with fast gameplay and the potential for good profits. At the same time, it is the most basic video poker game, suitable for both experienced players and complete novices. Up to 25 hands can be played at the same time and bets are available from $0.10 to $62.50 per round.
To receive a payout, players need to get at least a pair of Jacks, the lowest-winning hand in the game. This is a full-pay version of Jacks or Better and has a high theoretical return at 99.56% when played at the maximum bet level. If players bet less than 5 coins, however, the RTP falls to 98.40%, according to the official rules stated by NetEnt.
Deuces Wild Double Up
Deuces Wild is another popular title found in most online casinos. Similarly to Jacks or Better, it is played under standard rules, which makes it a preferred option for many video poker fans. NetEnt’s take on the game bears the same name and boasts beautiful, clear graphics, fast gameplay, and a theoretical return of 97.97%. Once again, players can choose to bet on 1, 5, 10 or 25 hands simultaneously and adjust their bets accordingly – each round could cost them up to $62.50.
Overall, NetEnt’s Deuces Wild is a conventional video poker game – it is a single-player game that uses 1 standard deck of 52 cards. There is one notable exception from Jacks or Better, however – all four Deuces here are wild. This means that they can act as substitutes for other cards in winning combinations. Of course, the addition of wilds makes forming winning hands much easier, which is why the paytable has also been changed. Payouts start from the Three of a Kind hand rather than from Jacks or Better.
- Natural Royal Flush – 250:1
- Four Deuces – 200:1
- Wild Royal Flush – 20:1
- Five of a Kind – 15:1
- Straight Flush – 9:1
- Four of a Kind – 4:1
- Full House – 4:1
- Flush – 3:1
- Straight – 2:1
- Three of a Kind – 1:1
All American Double Up
All American Double Up is probably the most unconventional version of video poker by NetEnt. It is played under the standard rules, it has no wild cards, and no bonus payouts. Still, it is quite different from other variations by the studio and the reason is in the paytable. It all starts just like any other game – a Jacks or Better hand pays evenly and the rest of the hands are ranked just like in regular poker. But they pay differently – for instance, Two Pair also brings an even payout whereas in Jacks or Better, it pays twice the original bet.
- Royal Flush – 250:1
- Straight Flush – 90:1
- Four of a Kind – 35:1
- Full House – 8:1
- Flush – 8:1
- Straight – 8:1
- Three of a Kind – 3:1
- Two Pair – 1:1
- Jacks or Better – 1:1
As you can see, most combinations pay less than the regular payouts in Jacks or Better. This leads to a poorer payback percentage, as well – the theoretical RTP is 98.11%. Still, it is higher than the returns we have seen in some video poker variations by other software providers.
Joker Wild Double Up
NetEnt’s Joker Wild Double Up is an exciting version of video poker but unlike most games of this type, it uses 53 cards – standard 52 cards from 2s through Aces plus a Joker. The Joker is a wild substitute, which is why we can see the same hands here as in Deuces Wild.
However, the payouts and the odds for each winning combination are very different, so players need to come up with a proper strategy when playing this game. As a result of the changed paytable, the theoretical return of the game is 97.95%.
- Natural Royal Flush – 400:1
- Five of a Kind – 200:1
- Wild Royal Flush – 100:1
- Straight Flush – 50:1
- Four of a Kind – 15:1
- Full House – 8:1
- Flush – 5:1
- Straight – 3:1
- Three of a Kind – 2:1
- Two Pair – 1:1
- Kings or Better – 1:1
Jacks or Better Double Up Summary
Jacks or Better Double Up | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.10 – €50.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 25 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 0.44% |
Deuces Wild Double Up Summary
Deuces Wild Double Up | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | All deuces in the deck |
Bet Limits | €0.10 – €50.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 25 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 2.1% |
All American Double Up Summary
All American Double Up | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.10 – €50.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 25 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 1.89% |
Joker Wild Double Up Summary
Joker Wild Double Up | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | Joker |
Bet Limits | €0.10 – €10.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 25 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 2.05% |