As one of the leading developers and suppliers of gaming content for the online gambling industry, Playtech has created cutting-edge technology and innovative software solutions for more than 20 years. The company has an impressive collection of slots, table games, and progressive jackpot games that can be accessed on all desktops and mobile devices.
Its video poker selection is among the best on the market and it features single and multi-hand variations of the classic game, standard rules, and beautifully rendered graphics. Currently, it can be found in more than a hundred online casinos and accessed by players from all over the world.
Playtech History and Overview
1Company Foundation
Playtech started its journey in 1999 when it was founded by Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi and several entrepreneurs in Tartu, Estonia, but we should not let its humble beginnings deceive us. The company grew quickly, powering its first online casino in 2001 and launching its iPoker network just a few years after that. In March 2006, Playtech was floated on the AIM market and was later listed on the Main Market on the London Stock Exchange. Today, the company, which is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, reports revenue of €1,508.4 million (data for 2019) and is one of the most successful players in the online gambling industry.
2Strategic Partnerships and Acquisitions
Over the years, Playtech has created different software products and applications for some of the world’s largest gaming companies and operators and supplied digital content for government agencies across Europe. In 2006, it acquired the Alderney-based poker network solution provider Tribeca Tables Europe Ltd. and Videobet, a provider of VLTs, lottery systems, and server-based gaming products.
More notable acquisitions include Gaming Technology Solutions, Virtue Fusion, Ash Gaming, Intelligent Gaming Solutions, Aristocrat Lotteries, Psiclone Games, YoYo Games, Quickspin, and Eyecon.
The company signed strategic agreements with Italy’s leading land-based operator Snai and Casino Grand Madrid in Spain. In 2010, it launched an online gaming service in partnership with Finland’s state operator RAY, the Finnish Slot Machine Association. It also entered an agreement with Holland Casino in the Netherlands, as well as with Norsk Tipping, the national gaming operator of Norway. In 2017, Playtech announced a branded content games deal with Warner Bros. for developing an exclusive line of DC-branded games.
3Quality and Range of Games
Today, Playtech provides operators with an impressive range of games and high-quality software content. Within the casino category, it has developed more than 700 titles, including video slots, table games, video poker variations, progressive games, and exclusive live casino content. Apart from that, the studio has created cutting-edge technology and complete software solutions for multiple sportsbooks, lottery, and retail operators, and it has developed a bingo product, poker network, virtual sports products, and more.
Pick’em 100 Hands Video Poker Gameplay
Playtech Video Poker Software and Features
Playtech offers video poker fans a nice selection of titles, including classic versions of Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and All American Poker, as well as more exclusive and innovative options such as the wonderful 2 Ways Royal and the progressive jackpot game MegaJacks.
Most of the games follow the standard rules of video poker but they really stand out with their unique designs and beautiful graphics. The content can be accessed from Playtech’s downloadable casino but most operators tend to offer the games in an instant-play format. Some of the video poker variations are also available for mobile play and can be downloaded for free on any iOS or Android devices.
Design and Graphics
The majority of online video poker versions that can be played nowadays are quite similar to the video poker terminals that were popularized in land-based casinos in the 1980s and 1990s. Playtech is one of the few studios that have decided to deviate from the standardized, stereotypical looks and its video poker games are unique at least in terms of visuals. They feature improved graphics, bright colors, and decorative designs that you would hardly find anywhere else.
Bet Size and Limits
The video poker variations by Playtech come with fixed limits players should take into consideration. Bets range from €0.01 to €50 per hand in the single-play games, while the maximum amount that can be wagered in the Double Up/Gamble feature is €5,000. Players can choose from various coin denominations that may differ from one game to another. In most video poker versions, however, the coins are available in the following sizes – €0.01, €0.10, €0.50, €1.00, €2.00, and €5.00.
Main Buttons
The layout and the interface of the games are quite interactive and make playing very easy even for novices. There are several main buttons that help players control every part of the game – with the plus and minus buttons on the bottom left side of the screen, they can adjust the coin denomination, while with the Bet 1 button, they can choose the number of coins to play with.
The Bet Max button places the maximum bet allowed (€50 in single-hand games) and automatically deals the 5 cards. The central button is Deal and it deals the initial hand, as well as the second set of cards in each round.
Gamble Feature
Most video poker versions by Playtech come with a Gamble feature, available after each winning round. When players choose the Gamble button, they are presented with two options – Double or Double Half, so they can gamble the full amount of their winnings or only half of them. The feature opens a card and they are presented with four face-down cards.
They need to pick one and if it is higher than the dealer’s card, players win and double the gambled amount. If their card is lower than the dealer’s, they lose the winnings from the current round and return to the main screen. Players can Double or Double Half as many times as they wish, as long as they keep winning, of course. There is a limit to the amount that can be won in the Gamble feature, however – it is usually €2,000 or €5,000.
Multi-Hand Play
Playtech has also a large number of multi-hand video poker games, most of which are versions of Jacks or Better. Depending on the particular game, players can choose to bet on 4, 10, 25, 50, or 100 hands simultaneously. Some of the variations also feature a fixed number of hands, so players should check them before betting.
- Aces & Faces 4 Hands
- Aces & Faces 10 Hands
- Deuces Wild 4 Line
- Jacks or Better 50 Line
- Jacks or Metter Multi-Hand
- Joker Poker 50 Line
- Pick’em Poker Multihand
Customizable Settings
In terms of graphics and options, video poker is much simpler than other casino games such as slots or roulette. It is also less customizable – there is not a lot you can change or add. Still, Playtech allows players to skip the intro video or the splash screen, available in some games. Other quite standard settings include the game sounds, which can be switched on or off, and the adjustable volume, of course.
Standard Rules and Paytables in Playtech Video Poker
The video poker games offered by Playtech are played under the standard rules so even novices will find them relatively simple and easy to play. The initial five cards are dealt from a standard 52-card deck, with the exception of several games that include the Joker as the 53rd card. The objective is to obtain one of several possible winning poker hands and the better the hand, the better payout will be received. In the classic Jacks or Better, the lowest-paying combination is a pair of Jacks. It is called Jacks or Better and pays evenly (1:1).
In other games, however, the lowest hand that brings a payout can be a pair of Tens (Tens or Better) or Three of a Kind (Deuces Wild). Many of the variations include a wild card – a Deuce or a Joker, that substitutes for other cards and makes the forming of winning hands much easier. There are also several interesting games with bonus payouts for a specific group of hands, as well as games with progressive jackpots.
Gameplay
All games within Playtech’s video poker portfolio are played more or less the same way. To start a game, players need to adjust their bet – they can put 1 to 5 coins in the machine and choose the coin denomination. In multi-hand variations, they need to choose the number of hands before the beginning of the game round.
The game begins once players click the Deal button – 5 cards appear on the screen and players can choose which cards they wish to keep by pressing the Hold button on each card. To replace the discarded cards, players need to choose Deal once again and the second set of cards will be drawn from the deck. Then, the new 5-card hand is checked for winning combinations and all winnings are paid automatically. Players can double up the total win of the round with the Gamble feature.
Dynamic Paytables
Another great feature of Playtech’s video poker variations is their paytables, which are either displayed above the 5-card hand or can be opened from the Menu button in the top right corner of the screen. In both cases, the main game features a dynamic paytable on the left side of the screen. It shows all possible hands along with the payouts for them – the payouts will change whenever players increase the number of coins they wish to play with.
If players have opened a multi-hand video poker game, the dynamic paytable shows a badge next to each hand with the number of winning hands. For instance, in a 25-hand game, we can have 16 Jacks or Better hands, 7 Two Pair, and 3 Three of a Kind – they will all appear in the paytable.
RTP Percentages
The theoretical return (RTP) of each video poker variation depends on the odds of each hand and the payouts offered. The great news is that the majority of versions developed by Playtech offer solid payouts and high average returns. For instance, its classic Jacks or Better has an RTP of 99.54%, while due to the reduced payouts for Full House and Flush, the multi-hand variation offers a return of only 97.30% (when playing with max coins). Those who play with less than 5 coins are offered an expected return of 96.06%.
Popular Video Poker Games by Playtech
Deuces Wild
Playtech’s version of Deuces Wild comes with a lovely design and a Wild West theme. All Deuces (the four Twos) are wild so they can act as substitutes in winning hands. Players can bet anything from €0.05 to €5.00 per round, while the Double Up limit is €100. Unlike the classic video poker game, the lowest winning combination is Three of a Kind, which pays evenly. The payouts for Full House and Four of a Kind are 4 to 1. All this contributes to a lower RTP of 98.91% for 5-coin play or 97.69% when playing with fewer coins.
Jacks or Better Multi-Hand
This is one of the most visually appealing video poker variations ever created. It features crisp graphics, simple layout, and fast gameplay, while the multi-hand nature of the game allows players to choose a safer type of video poker or go for something more interesting and challenging. They can pick 1, 4, 10, 25 or 50 hands, select the number of coins and the coin denomination. In the Gamble feature, the maximum amount that can be won is €5,000.
Jacks or Better Multi-Hand is a wonderful, easy-to-play game that follows the regular rules of video poker, which makes it ideal for beginner players. Playing with multiple hands at once is certainly much more exciting but players should keep in mind that this version of the game comes with reduced payouts for some of the hands. As a result, its theoretical return to player is only 97.30% – the same as in single-zero roulette games.
2 Ways Royal
One of Playtech’s most unique video poker variations is 2 Ways Royal. With an RTP of 99.79%, it is also the most profitable version by the studio. What makes it stand out from the rest of the games is the two types of Royal Flush hands it has – along with the regular one, called Hi Royal Flush, this game has a Lo Roal Flush that pays the same. It comprises of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the same suit (any suit). Here are the payouts for all hands, based on 1-coin play. Both Royal Flushes pay 4,000 coins when players bet 5 coins.
- Hi Royal Flush – 250 coins
- Lo Royal Flush – 250 coins
- Straight Flush – 50 coins
- Four of a Kind – 40 coins
- Full House – 6 coins
- Flush – 5 coins
- Straight – 4 coins
- Three of a Kind – 3 coins
- Two Pair – 2 coins
- Jacks or Better – 1 coin
Aces and Faces Multi-Hand
This is yet another variation of video poker by Playtech that allows playing with one or more hands at once. Players can choose to activate 1, 4, 10, or 25 hands, while the bet per hand ranges from €0.01 to €50.00 – note that players cannot choose coin denomination and the number of coins separately.
The game is always played with 1 coin only but the payout for Royal Flush is much higher than the regular payout – it is 800 to 1 instead of 250 to 1. The Full House and Flush hands pay less, on the other hand – 8 and 5 coins, respectively. Since this is an Aces and Faces game, there are bonus payouts for four Aces and four Jacks, Queens and Kings – 80:1 and 40:1. The other types of Four of a Kind hands pay 25:1. The average return for this game is quite high at 99.26%.
All American
All American comes with excellent graphics and a beautiful American theme, with the Statue of Liberty, the US Constitution and the national flag in the background. Bets are available from €0.05 to €25 per round, while the Double Up limit is €2,000. The game is very similar to the standard Jacks or Better, except for the paytable – the payouts for all hands are quite different, which affects the RTP. The return is 99.37% but let’s see the paytable of this interesting version of video poker:
- Royal Flush – 250
- Straight Flush – 200 coins
- Four of a Kind – 34 coins
- Full House – 8 coins
- Flush – 8 coins
- Straight – 8 coins
- Three of a Kind – 3 coins
- Two Pair – 1 coin
- Jacks or Better – 1 coin
Joker Poker
Joker Poker by Playtech is an interesting variation of video poker recommended for experienced players who know how to adjust their strategy correctly to the changes in the paytable. The different paytable here comes as a result of the addition of a Joker to the standard deck of cards. The Joker is wild and it substitutes for any other card in winning combinations.
Thanks to it, there are two additional hands in this game – a Joker Royal Flush, which pays 100:1, and a Five of a Kind, which pays 200:1. The Natural Royal Flush, on the other hand, pays even more – 750:1 on a 1-coin play. The game offers an RTP of 98.60% when played with the maximum 5 coins.
MegaJacks
MegaJacks is certainly one of the most exciting versions of video poker by Playtech. The reason is quite simple – the game has a progressive jackpot that is hit quite regularly, once every two or three weeks. The jackpot is won by players who manage to get a Royal Flush while playing with 5 coins.
The rest of the game is based on the classic Jacks or Better and it even has the same 9/6 paytable, which is very rare for a progressive jackpot game. Typically, such variations of video poker offer lower payouts, so compared to them, Playtech’s MegaJacks is hit more frequently and is much more profitable in general. The RTP varies, depending on the size of the jackpot, but at its lowest point, it is 97.56%.
Deuces Wild Summary
Deuces Wild | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | All deuces in the deck |
Bet Limits | €0.05 – €5.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 25 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 1.09% |
Jacks or Better Multi-Hand Summary
Jacks or Better Multi-Hand | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.01 – €10.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 50 |
Max Payout | €5,000 |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 2.70% |
2 Ways Royal Summary
2 Ways Royal | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.05 – €5.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | 1 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 2.70% |
Aces and Faces Multi-Hand Summary
Aces and Faces Multi-Hand | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.01 – €50.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | up to 25 |
Max Payout | 800 to 1 for a single coin |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 0.74% |
All American Summary
All American | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.05 – €25.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | 1 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 0.63% |
Joker Poker Summary
Joker Poker | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | Joker |
Bet Limits | €0.05 – €25.00 per hand |
Number of Hands | 1 |
Max Payout | 5,000 coins |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 1.4% |
MegaJacks Summary
MegaJacks | |
---|---|
Wild Cards | No |
Bet Limits | €0.25 – €1.25 per hand |
Number of Hands | 1 |
Max Payout | 4,000 coins awarding progressive jackpot |
Gamble Feature | Yes |
House Edge | 4,000 coins awarding progressive jackpot |