So, on one side we have online slots, one of the “youngest” games you can find in online casinos, while on the other stands the king of card games - Poker, with a long tradition, which managed to overcome the obstacles of online gaming era by evolving into several variations you can play via PC or mobile device.
As a completely different game category, both of these types tend to attract different kinds of players as well. Nevertheless, how diverse these players can be, they still have one thing in common, and that’s winning some money along the way. Which of these two categories - online slots or online Poker games create a better possibility of scoring massive payouts?
RTP & House Edge
Before being able to select a game with higher chances of paying out some money, a player should first get familiar with some basic online gambling terminology that applies to each and every game that can be found on the global online casino market. Such terminology includes things such as the RTP percentage rate (RTP - Return To Player) and house edge. Through these parameters, one can easily win probability before even entering the game itself! You can find out the RTP of a particular slot on the official providers` site or any gambling review site where you can also play free slot games with bonus rounds online.
Both of these two parameters are used to describe the long-run expectancy of achieving a payout, but looking at the things from two completely different perspectives. Namely, the RTP rate directly displays the return expectancy in the long run, while house edge does the same indirectly, by displaying how big is the chance of a casino keeping your stake in the long run, also shown in percentages. RTP and house edge, when added together, make 100%. For instance, one of the most widespread Roulette versions - the European Roulette comes with a house edge percentage rate of 2.70%. Such percent indirectly indicates that the player will be offered with a 97.30% chance of scoring a payoff in the long run! Of course, the lower the house edge (or, the higher the RTP rate), the better.
Online Slots
Online slots represent a pretty diverse category to be found in the vast majority of online casinos. It can be divided into several groups, according to the gameplay, payout rates, features, and reel grid design:
- Classic Slots, made in such a way to resemble an old-fashioned slot machine.
- Video Slots, modern games with HQ graphics, mostly packed with a lot of additional features.
- Progressive Slots, which can be both classic and video slots with a progressive jackpot as one of the additional features.
Slot Volatility
One of the potential problems with online slot machines is something called volatility. Volatility, often referred to as variance, represents a statistical parameter that shows how much risk is involved when playing a certain slot by indicating two things: the frequency and the number of potential payouts.
Slots with higher volatility are usually reserved for those players willing to take a risk. Such slots are considered to bring a possibility of fewer payouts, but when they do occur, they usually bring such amounts that are worth both your time and your stakes! On the other hand, online slot machines with lower volatility rates also come with lower risk rates, while it is considered that such games introduce higher payout frequency, but with a smaller single payout amount.
Volatility can affect the RTP rate, which, when it comes to online slot machines, usually goes from the minimum of 89-90% up to the maximum of between 95 and 100%.
Progressive Slots
Progressive slot machines tend to bend the rules around volatility a little bit, allowing you to win massive payouts on a slot with a lower variance rate. Namely, such slots offer a jackpot prize not fixed to any specific amount. The value of the progressive jackpot prize rises with each and every single wager placed by all the players from all around the world playing that specific game. Such allows the player to score literally millions by achieving only one single payout throughout the entire gameplay!
Online Poker
Nowadays, you can come across dozens of online Poker variations to enjoy in, and each of them comes with slightly different gameplay, as well as with different house edge/RTP percentage rates.
Video Poker
Video Poker represents the most diverse category, including several online Poker games. The first in line is Jacks or Better, which also comes in several variations:
- Jacks or Better 9/5 - the house edge is 1.55% for a 5-credit wager and 2.92% for a 1-4-credit wager.
- Jacks or Better 8/6 - the house edge is 1.60% for a 5-credit wager and 2.98% for a 1-4-credit wager.
- Jacks or Better 8/5 - the house edge is 2.70% for a 5-credit wager and 4.07% for a 1-4-credit wager.
- Jacks or Better 7/5 - the house edge is 3.85% for a 5-credit wager and 5.22% for a 1-4-credit wager.
- Jacks or Better 6/5 - the house edge is around 5% for a 5-credit wager and 6.37% for a 1-4-credit wager.
Another popular Video Poker game is Deuces Wild, which comes in two variants:
- Full pay Deuces Wild - the house edge is -0.76% for a 5-credit wager and 0.54% for a 1-4-credit wager.
- Regular pay Deuces Wild - the house edge is 0.43% for a 5-credit wager and around 1.70% for a 1-4-credit wager.
Double Bonus game carries a house edge of -0.17% for a 5-credit wager and 0.94% for a 1-4-credit wager. Its sister game Double Double Bonus comes with a house edge that takes a value of -0.067% for a 5-credit wager and 1.28% for a 1-4-credit wager.
Other Online Poker Games
For instance, if you choose to play the popular Caribbean Stud Poker, you can expect to compete against a house edge rate of 5.22%. Another desired version, Ultimate Texas Hold’em Carries a lower house edge percentage of 2.19%. Their variations, such as the Double Down Stud and the Heads Up Hold’em offer a house edge of 2.67% and 2.36%, respectively. Red Dog introduces a house edge of 2.80%, while the mysterious Pai Gow Poker variations tend to come with a lower rate of around 1.50%.
And last but not least, the Wild Hold’em Fold’em game with probably one of the highest house edge percentage rates among all online Poker games, which occupies the value of 6.86%.
Live Poker
Live online Poker represents something entirely different from the above-mentioned games. It can be considered as a game of skill since you are playing against the actual dealer and not against an algorithm. Therefore, although it also possesses a certain house edge percentage, playing against a human being has always attracted the most and the best player in the world. And such players are used to winning astonishing amounts by attending Live online Poker events!
For instance, Daniel Negreanu “weighs” more than $50 million of tournament money, while Sam Farha has earned more than double this amount ($100 million) throughout his career! And a successful Poker player Phil Ivy can boast a “solid” amount of $20 million acquired through Live online Poker competitions.
Final Thoughts
So, now it is on you to decide which game categories and subcategories better suit your needs, find a legit online casino to play at, grab your favourite playing device, and start scoring some massive payouts!