| Provider | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| RTP | 97.95% - Compare RTPs |
| Max Win | 400x |
Joker Wild is a video poker game from NetEnt. It uses a standard 53-card deck - the usual 52 cards plus one joker that acts as a wild card. That single addition reshapes the whole game: hand frequencies shift, the paytable changes, and optimal strategy looks quite different from Jacks or Better. The RTP sits at 97.95%, which puts it in a solid range for casino video poker.
The game launched in 2016 and is available at NetEnt casinos online. Bets run from £0.20 to £10 per hand, making it accessible for most bankroll sizes. The maximum win is 400x your stake - achieved via a natural royal flush.
How the Joker Changes the Game
The joker appears roughly once in every ten hands. When it does, it can substitute for any card you need to complete a hand. This wild status unlocks some hand types that do not exist in standard video poker.
The paytable for Joker Wild distinguishes between natural hands and wild hands. A natural royal flush (no joker) pays 400 coins per coin wagered - the top prize. Below that, Five of a Kind becomes possible when the joker pairs with four matching cards, paying 200 coins per coin. A joker royal flush, where the wild fills in for one of the five royal cards, pays 100 coins per coin. Below those, the rankings follow standard poker order: straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, and three of a kind.
The minimum qualifying hand is two pair, or a single pair of kings or aces. Pairs below kings pay nothing - a key difference from Jacks or Better. This means you need a stronger base hand to break even on a deal, though the wild card compensates by improving your average hand quality overall.
Strategy Basics
Joker Wild requires two separate strategy charts - one for hands where you hold the joker, one for hands where you do not. This is the core adjustment most players need to make.
When you are dealt the joker, the priority order runs roughly like this: keep any paying combination of three of a kind or better, chase a four-card royal flush above all else (even over existing winning hands), then look for four-card straight flushes and flushes containing high cards. If nothing qualifies, hold the joker alone and draw four cards. The joker alone has an expected return of around 1.44 coins per coin bet, so discarding it is almost never correct.
Without the joker, the approach is more conservative. Keep all made hands except when you hold four cards to a royal flush - in that case, break the paying hand and chase the royal. Three-card royals, four-card straight flushes, and pairs down to twos are worth holding. Consecutive four-card straights are playable; inside straight draws generally are not worth the risk.
One nuance that catches players out: in Joker Wild, straights pay less than in some other variants. The reduced straight payout means you should keep a low pair over an inside straight draw - opposite to what you might do in a full-pay video poker game with higher straight payouts.
The Double-Up Feature
NetEnt's Joker Wild includes a double-up option after any winning hand. You pick a card, the dealer flips one, and if yours beats the dealer's you double your win. It is a straight 50/50 bet with no house edge beyond normal variance. Some players use it to chase larger payouts from small wins; others ignore it entirely. Neither approach is wrong - it comes down to whether you want more swings in a session.
Who Joker Wild Suits
This game is for players who already understand the basics of video poker and want something with slightly more complexity than Jacks or Better. The two-chart strategy is not difficult to learn, but it does take a session or two before it becomes second nature. Players who prefer a straight mechanical approach to casino games - where skill input genuinely affects outcomes - tend to enjoy video poker formats like this one over slots.
The 97.95% RTP is competitive for an online casino game. It means the house edge is just over 2%, which is better than most slot machines and broadly in line with standard video poker. If you want to compare wild card variants, Deuces Wild uses four wild cards rather than one joker and runs to a 100.76% RTP with perfect play - a different beast strategically. Playing with optimal strategy in Joker Wild keeps you at 97.95%; significant deviations will increase the effective house edge quickly.
Mobile Play
Joker Wild runs in-browser on mobile devices without needing a dedicated app. The card display scales to smaller screens. The controls are simple - deal, hold, draw - so the interface works well on touch. There is no meaningful difference between desktop and mobile play beyond screen size.
A Note on Availability
This is an older NetEnt title from 2016, originally built in Flash. Availability varies between casinos - not all NetEnt-powered sites carry the full back catalogue. If you cannot find it at one site, it may be listed under slightly different names at others, or available via the NetEnt demo library. Other NetEnt table games worth checking include Oasis Poker Pro Series and Deuces Wild.
Where to Play Joker Wild
These online casinos carry NetEnt games including Joker Wild. Read our Donbet review or browse all casino reviews.
Joker Wild RTP and Variance
Joker Wild has an RTP of 97.95%, which is well above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games.
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