Strategy
What makes a video poker bonus worth playing?
Extra credits, trigger frequency and entertainment value offer three different ways to judge a bonus feature.
THE DRAW JOURNAL
130 STORIESLatest stories.
News and archive readings, ordered by their original publication dates.
Strategy
The appeal of an unexpected win
Bonus features give the familiar five-card game a different emotional rhythm.
Jackpot Watch
Caesars Palace reports a $100,000 video poker win
A Las Vegas Caesars Rewards member collected a six-figure award while trying Triple Double Bonus Poker.
Player Stories
A Deuces Wild milestone puts long-term returns in perspective
Robison describes a run of four-deuce hands that brought his personal tally back toward its statistical expectation.
Casino Floor
When a credit meter tells an unexpected story
A reader recalls an Atlantic City video poker session in which the apparent number of credits did not match the cash inserted.
Casino Floor
A frozen Spin Poker hand raises a practical question
What happens when a video poker machine stops responding during a hand? This archived first-person column turns attention from card selection to the equipment itself, and to the importance of preserving the displayed game state when asking casino staff for help..
Jackpot Watch
A royal in hearts delivers $100,000 in Atlantic City
Hard Rock Atlantic City's reported win came on a Double Double Bonus Poker Game King machine after a $125 wager.
Strategy
Why the order of a strategy chart matters
A strategy chart is usually a ranked decision list, not a menu of equally good choices.
New Games
Major Multipliers earns 2026 industry recognition
IGT lists Major Multipliers Poker as the new video poker/keno winner in its 2026 EKG awards record.
Strategy
When Deuces Wild payouts feel too small
The rewards for ordinary natural hands can surprise a player coming from Jacks or Better.
Jackpot Watch
A $1.2 million royal-flush night at Resorts World
A California visitor's Double Super Times Pay Poker hand combined three royals with a 20× multiplier, according to the property report.
Strategy
Open and inside straights: one important difference
A four-card sequence can offer different routes to completion depending on where its gap sits.