It may look like a slot machine and it may sound like a slot machine, but a video poker machine is far from it. You may know if you're a video poker player who once pulled the one armed bandits, smart players often move away from reel slots and toward the video poker machines. In casinos frequented by more discriminating "locals", these video machines take up much of the floor, if not more than the slots.

Why you might ask? Because it's a game that rewards knowledge and skill. If you find the right game variation, use the right strategy, and have the right bankroll, you can be a long-term winner.

With casino comps factored in, it can be a profitable enough venture to attract pros. It's certainly a smart bet for the informed amateur, and this known philosophy translates well to the online world. Video poker is a game that makes the transition well from the casino floor to you desktop. The rules remain the same, the video remains the same, the fun remains the same.

Play right and you'll be playing what many consider the best video game in the casino. You get to play at your own pace and you also have the potential for big payoffs. There are more variations of video poker than most other casino games, and knowledge of which machine is which and how they act is valuable information. Each variation requires its own strategy, and you should know where the best pay tables are for each game.

As the wizard says, the serious player can find opportunities with a player advantage. As in any form of gambling, if attaining an advantage were easy then everybody would be doing it. It is a volatile game where the ups and downs in the short term require a strong stomach and a big bankroll. This is more than worth it though if you can get really good. Nothing good in life is both free and easy, although it may be one or the other. To pick up on the basics of how to play, and for a look at the strategy to one of the most popular versions of the game ever, check out our video poker rules and strategies section.