
Jacks or Better video poker games are fast becoming part of the standard fixtures and fittings at many sweepstakes casinos. But few sites are as much fun for these kinds of games as RealPrize, Stake.us or Sidepot.us.
In today’s article, I’ll explore what kinds of Jacks or Better style poker games you can expect to find with each brand, while pointing out all the latest poker friendly bonuses available. Along the way, I’ll also give you guys a quick crash course on how to play sweepstakes-style Jacks or Better, too.
Regular readers among you will know all about sweepstakes casinos already, I’m sure, but here are a few basics about these virtual coin based gaming sites for those of you just encountering them for the first time today.
In a nutshell, sweepstakes casinos are a lot like real money online casinos, with the “real money” part taken out, and a no purchase necessary policy thrown in for good measure.
These sites offer familiar casino favorites like video poker, Jacks or Better, Texas Hold’em and even slots games, that you can play using the following two online currencies instead of cash:
Naturally, then, you can’t play online video poker for real money with these sites. But you can enjoy Jacks or Better inspired games for free, using either GC or SC coins – the latter of which can usually be redeemed for cash prizes once you’ve stacked up 100 SC or more in winnings.
It’s a tried and tested system that’s been growing ever more popular in recent years, boosted by the fact that sweepstakes casinos are usually legally available to over-21s in most US states, at a time when conventional casinos remain very tightly restricted in all bar a few, such as NJ and PA, for example.
Plus, free video poker Jacks or Better games have a lot of appeal on their own, right? With the game itself having beautifully simple rules – you just need to form a five card hand with a pair of Jacks (or “better”, in poker terms) to win.
Although the reality is, not all sweeps sites offer Jacks or Better video poker at the time of writing, sadly, which makes shopping around imperative when deciding where to play.
Fortunately, I’ve already done most of the hard work for you here by playing at every sweeps site under the sun. And right now, three top sweeps sites that I can confirm definitely offer the game, are:
So, let’s take a good look at what Jacks or Better video poker casino game fans can expect from each brand. Starting, of course, with what kinds of appropriate games are up for grabs…
The Jacks or Better video poker games offered by my favorite three brands of the minute come in several shapes and sizes. Here’s a closer look at what’s on the table with each site:
| Site | Jacks or Better games offered | What to expect |
| RealPrize |
|
RealPrize’s main Video Poker offering follows standard Jacks or Better rules
to the letter.
In short, it’s a single draw, five card game with no nonsense controls, and beginner friendly functionality. |
| Stake.us |
|
Stake.us
hand built
their Video Poker game in house, which is also based on classic Jacks or Better game rules.
Expect a superb 99% potential Return to Player (RTP) rate, stripped back graphics and both GC and SC gameplay modes. |
| Sidepot.us |
|
Offering five different kinds of Jacks or Better video poker, Sidepot.us has a little something to suit everybody here.
Their 50 and 100 hand versions of the game are super high volatility, and not for the faint of heart. |
Naturally, RealPrize, Stake.us and Sidepot.us all have much more to offer than just a couple of Jacks or Better video poker games apiece.
For example, you’ll find various other kinds of video poker and table games up for grabs across all three sites, as well as slots, jackpot games and more. While in addition to that, these brands all go above and beyond for players in the bonus department as well.
Here’s a closer look at everything that RealPrize, Stake.us and Sidepot.us currently have to offer:
If you want to play Jacks or Better, the Video Poker game offered by RealPrize right now is one the best options around – particularly if you’re looking for a by the book game that follows old school Jacks or Better rules.
But RealPrize also shines brighter than competitors in the bonus department, too, offering up to 625,000 GC, 125 SC and 1,250 VIP points to new players, plus daily login rewards good for 5,000 GC and 0.3 free SC once every 24 hours.
The brand’s epic bonuses are great for beginners who want to try out traditional Jacks or Better video poker using a ton of GC before stepping up to prize redeemable SC. But RealPrize doesn’t leave high rollers hanging, either – offering one of the best VIP rewards programs available anywhere.
As I said above, Stake.us’ Jacks or Better “Video Poker” game was built from the ground up by the brand’s seasoned game fans themselves. And this can only mean one thing – it absolutely slaps, doing away with fancy graphics and widgets in favor of a more focused dashboard that I reckon more experienced players will really appreciate.
Meanwhile, all new registrants who have my code “STFSOCIAL” handy will qualify for a superb bonus worth up to 560,000 GC, 56 SC and 5% rakeback when signing up here, while there are more than 2,000 other games to sink your teeth into once you’re all video-pokered out.
Stake.us doesn’t skimp on other sweepstakes essentials, either. The site also offers 24/7 customer support, frequently rotated tournaments, and a ton of social media promos.
Sidepot.us is one of the very best sites for Jacks or Better video poker, period. And this is largely because the brand offers five different versions of the game, which are specially tailored to suit card sharks of different experience levels.
All the brand’s Jacks or Better video poker games hail from top software house Habanero, meaning the graphics across the board are ace. Meanwhile, all five games support both GC and SC gameplay, too, while there’s also potential to grab a solid 10,000 GC and 1 free SC bonus when you first register with the site.
What’s more, Sidepot.us is one of just a small handful of sweepstakes casinos that offers Joker Poker and other, rarer single player poker games like Three Card Poker Deluxe – ideal if you’re into other niche poker games, too.
Right, now I’ve shared my two cents on RealPrize, Stake.us and Sidepot.us, it’s on you to decide which of these three sweeps sites offering Jacks or Better video poker most takes your fancy.
And once you’ve made your mind? You can physically sign up, grab a competitive sweepstakes bonus, and start playing for free today by following these easy steps:
Generally, the aim of the game is literally just to have a pair of “Jacks or Better” in your hand come showdown – meaning the likes of Q-Q, K-K, three of a kind, straight, flush or a full house will see you win the game, whereas holding, say, 8-8 or 6-6 will see you lose.
Just keep in mind that multi hand variants of the game will be a lot more fast paced, while if you’re playing with just for fun GC coins, SC prize redemptions remain off the table – as only SC winnings can be redeemed for cash and real world prizes.
So, Jacks or Better is more common than you might think among modern day sweepstakes casinos – which enable you to play the game with no upfront purchase necessary, using either entertainment only GC, or prize redeemable SC.
And right now, Stake.us offers the most focused Video Poker game that follows Jacks or Better rules, while RealPrize is ideal for more traditionalist players looking for big, poker friendly bonuses, and Sidepot.us is perfect if you’re after more challenging, multi hand variants.
To sign up with any of these three brands today, follow my official banner links on this page.
In simple terms, Jacks or Better is a poker game where the goal is to build a five card hand that contains at least a pair of “Jacks a Better” in traditional poker scoring terms. Ordinarily, the game’s played in a one player environment against the house, rather than around a table with other players.
The best Jacks or Better video poker strategy for you will ultimately depend on your experience level. For example, sticking to single card games and trying to hold onto pairs of jacks while discarding other cards is a fun option for beginners still learning the rules of the game. While trying out more complex multi hand strategies on Sidepot.us’ 50 or 100 hand games might be a better fit for hardened players hoping to chase larger potential wins.
Stake.us also offers a multiplayer “Poker” game with Texas Hold’em and Omaha modes, while Sidepot.us serves up Joker Poker, Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and more than 50 other exciting table games.