All American Video Poker

If statistics at online casinos are any indication, then Microgaming's All American Video Poker is a more popular online video poker game than even Jacks or Better, based upon how much is bet on a game in a given timeframe. This statistic catches many stalwart online casino gamers by surprise, because Jacks or Better is considered the industry standard in the video poker arena. If we were to take a closer look at the two games, further surprises would be forthcoming, but a reason behind All American Poker's popularity would also come to light.

First of all, there is no difference in the payout table for each winning combinations. The pair of jacks or greater is identical in being the lowest hand that pays out in both games. The highest payout is the royal flush combination. Standard formats in poker are shown in the remaining hands. But the major difference lies in the payouts on each hand ranking. To compensate, each payout hand has been created in such a way that when you consider the final average ratio of payout for each hand ranking, there is eventually no real difference. There is a payout average of 99.3% in All American Video Poker, while Jacks or Better yields an average of 99.5%. It is assumed by these ratios of payout that the players will be playing the games to their maximum advantage. In looking at the higher average, even though it is minimal at best of a difference, one still has to wonder why All American Video Poker dominates the popularity between the two.

It requires a deeper look than just the average payout ratios to find this answer. From the average payout ratios, let's look at the actual payouts being made in each game. For the purposes of the numbers we discuss here, it is assumed that only Microgaming versions of All American and Jacks or Better will be used, at n across the board betting of all five coins each time a wager is made. For both games, the payout on a royal flush is 4000 coins. Straight flush gives a thousand coins for All American, but only 250 in Jacks or Better. Four of a kind gives 170 in All American and 125 in Jacks. Full house comes in at 40 for All American and 20 for Jacks. Three of a kind gives out 15 coins for both games equally. Two pairs gives 5 coins for All American and 10 for Jacks. Lastly, Jacks or better gives out 5 in both games.

As you can see in the above information, All American Video Poker wins in the comparison of actual payouts when using four hand rankings. The straight flush shows the most glaring difference of 4x the actual payout, however, the chances of getting a straight flush versus any other hand is a rarity - 0.0109% of each hand drawn to be exact. So players will get the greater rewards only some of the time. Jacks or Better, in the two hand ranking has a greater payout opportunity. So it is with the two pairs, which happen 12.93% of the time that the average payout ratio difference is found, because the Jacks or Better pays higher, at five coins greater, so gives the illusion of paying out more.

The bottom line is this: Jacks or Better is the game of choice for players who desire a stable, constant rate of return, albeit a small one, that pays a little at a time, but more often, as opposed to the wide ups and downs of the returns enjoyed by players of All American Video Poker. In other words, they may not care that they don't win as often as with Jacks or Better, but they like the fact that when they hit the numbers, the numbers are huge. Judging by the fact that All American Video Poker wins over Jacks or Better in this popularity contest, most online casino gamers prefer to be classed in this latter description.