Video poker is a fantastic online casino game because it combines traditional poker with online slots. The result is a unique blend of effortless fun and strategic depth, which is perfect for players from different walks of life.
One of the key things to understand about video poker games are the hand rankings and pay tables. Although most video poker variants have similar pay tables, there are subtle differences that may be the deciding factor for players seeking casual games.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about video poker payouts, starting with pay tables for different variants and strategies for placing stakes. We will compare pay tables from different video poker games and discuss if betting max coins per hand is actually a sound video poker strategy.
Understanding Video Poker Pay Tables 1r70t
Video poker is not just a game of luck, nor simply a game of skill – it’s both. However, unlike games that rely purely on chance, video poker rewards players who understand its mechanics. It’s particularly pay tables and betting strategies that make all the difference between a fun experience and a great loss.
At the heart of every video poker machine lies the pay table. A video poker pay table is a chart that details the payouts for all hand combinations.
Depending on the variant, different hand rankings will be included in the pay table and their values may vary, but they all use the same types of hand rankings.
Understanding video poker pay tables is important because it is directly tied to RTP or Return to Player. RTP is correlated to the house edge, indicating how much you can expect to gain back after a session in the chosen game.
Let us explain how.
For instance, a 9/6 Jacks or Better game offers 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush, yielding an RTP of approximately 99.54% when played optimally. Conversely, a 6/5 version reduces these payouts, decreasing the RTP and increasing the house edge. Therefore, understanding and playing favorable pay tables is essential for maximizing returns.
How to Interpret Pay Tables 1i515i
A video poker pay table is a list of payouts assorted according to hand rankings. However, beginners may be confused when they first look at a pay table because video poker games are sometimes labelled as 9/6 or 6/5 Jacks or Better.
What this 9/6 means is that the game pays 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush, provided that your bet is 1 coin per hand. Conversely, a 6/5 version means a full house pays 6 coins and flush pays 5 coins for 1-coin stakes.
Here’s the full 6/5 Jacks or Better pay table.
- Royal Flush – 250
- Straight Flush – 50
- 4 of a Kind – 25
- Full House – 6
- Flush – 5
- Straight – 4
- 3 of a Kind – 3
- 2 Pair – 2
- Jacks or better – 1
To qualify for a win, you must get at least one pair of cards of the same rank, valued J or higher, in the hand. If you get 2 pairs, you get the second-lowest payout, and so on. The top payout is for the highest possible hand ranking, Royal Flush.
So why is this game known as 6/5 Jacks or Better, and not 250/25 Jacks or Better?
It’s because the standard norm is to call video poker games by their payouts for Full House and Flush payouts. As you can see, here we have 6 and 5 coins as payouts, respectively.
Of course, if you stake more than 1 coin per hand, you will get higher potential payouts.
So, in the next sections, we will show you some of the most common video poker variants and their pay tables, using the same principles – showing the full house and flush payouts, as well as their RTPs.
Things to 4n2h4g
To understand video poker payouts, the four following things:
- Hand rankings, from the lowest payout to royal flushes
- Lowest hand rankings depend on the variant, and they may not always be the same
- Royal flushes are generally the highest hand in video poker, but you may not always see it in every video poker pay table
- Payouts are unique for games, and they are labelled according to full house/flush payouts
Pay attention to RTP rates, as the higher the payout, the higher the RTP is as well.
Do All Video Poker Games Pay the Same? 4x691i
No, video poker variants tend to have unique pay tables. They are mostly the same for one variant, such as Jacks or Better or Joker Poker. They also tend to be the same for single-hand and multi-hand video poker formats of the same variant.
Still, every single video poker game variant you come across will have its own unique pay table. Plus, there are some variations in payouts across variants – like Jacks or Better may have 2 or 3 variations, like 9/6 or 6/5 Jacks or Better.
Looking beyond pay tables, it’s true that some video poker games will ultimately pay out more money than others. The reason lies not in pay tables, but rather in the long-term expected payout percentage – or the RTP.
It’s always good to look for games with the highest RTP rate possible, as that ensures you are playing a game that has the best chance to give you back what you invested through stakes.
Although video poker variants tend to have the same RTP in most cases, it’s also possible to encounter games from different game providers that have slightly different RTPs. That is why we recommend reading reviews for specific games to get the best and most accurate information about RTP, volatility, and payouts in the chosen title.
Another great way to ensure you are winning more is to pay close attention to bankroll management.
Comparing Different Video Poker Paytables 6p434r
As previously noted, variants have their pay tables, but payouts may also vary depending on the game (the example of Jacks or Better is the best way to that).
Here are the most common video poker games and their respective pay tables with RTPs for each pay table.
| JACKS OR BETTER | DEUCES WILD | ||
| Pay Table | RTP | Pay Table | RTP |
| 9/6 | 99.54% | 25/15/9/5/3/2 | 100.76% |
| 9/5 | 98.45% | 25/15/11/4/4/3 | 99.96% |
| 8/6 | 98.39% | 25/16/10/4/4/3 | 99.73% |
| 8/5 | 97.30% | 25/15/9/4/4/3 | 98.91% |
| 7/5 | 96.15% | 20/12/10/4/4/3 | 97.58% |
| 6/5 | 95.00% | 20/12/9/4/4/3 | 97.06% |
| 25/16/13/4/3/2 | 96.77% | ||
| 20/10/8/4/4/3 | 95.96% | ||
| 25/15/10/4/3/2 | 94.82% | ||
Joker Poker is another popular variant.
| JOKER POKER | |
| Pay Table | RTP |
| 940/200/100/50/20/7/5/3/2/1/1 | 101.00% |
| 800/200/100/50/20/7/5/3/2/1/1 | 100.65% |
| 1000/100/50/50/20/10/6/5/2/1 | 99.92% |
| 940/200/100/50/18/7/5/3/2/1/1 | 99.29% |
| 940/200/100/50/17/7/5/3/2/1/1 | 98.44% |
| 100/800/100/100/16/8/5/4/2/1 | 97.19% |
| 940/200/100/50/15/7/5/3/2/1/1 | 96.74% |
| 800/200/100/50/15/7/5/3/2/1/1 | 96.38% |
| 800/200/100/40/20/5/4/3/2/1/1 | 95.46% |
| 800/200/100/50/20/6/5/3/2/1/1 | 93.78% |
Bonus Poker and Double Bonus Poker are great for experienced players.
| BONUS POKER | DOUBLE BONUS POKER | ||
| Pay Table | RTP | Pay Table | RTP |
| 8/5 | 99.17% | 10/7 | 100.17% |
| 7/5 | 98.02% | 9/7/5 | 99.11% |
| 6/5 | 96.87% | 9/6/5 | 97.81% |
| 9/6/4 | 96.38% | ||
| 8/5 | 94.19% | ||
| 7/5 | 93.11% | ||
Double Double Bonus Poker is an advanced version of Double Bonus Poker.
| DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER | |
| Pay Table | RTP |
| 10/6 | 100.07% |
| 9/6/4 | 98.98% |
| 9/5 | 97.87% |
| 8/5 | 96.79% |
| 7/5 | 95.71% |
| 6/5 | 94.66% |
Besides these, there are other variations to try, but most of them are either not player-friendly or are very uncommon.
Video Poker Betting Options 3x1y3u
A major part of the reason why video poker is so popular is the wide range of betting that accommodates different player preferences and bankrolls.
There are two main formats to consider:
- Single-hand video poker
- Multi-hand video poker
Single-hand video poker games are the traditional format where players can play one hand a time. Multi-hand poker allows players to play multiple hands at the same time, typically from 2 up to 100.
A total bet in video poker is calculated by multiplying the coin value with number of coins.
In most cases, the coin value ranges from 0.25 to 5, but if you are using multiple coins and hands, the value range is lower. For instance, when playing 100 hands, the coin value 0.01-0.05.
It’s possible to bet from 1 to 5 coins per hand.
There are also high-paying video poker games that have higher coin denominations, but they are not that common.
Should You Wager Max Coins? 3xq46
One of the most common strategies that players use is max coin betting. Betting the maximum number of coins, typically five, is often recommended in video poker.
The reason why it’s recommended is because this strategy unlocks the highest payouts, especially for rare hands like the royal flush.
Here’s an example.
A single-coin bet might yield 250 coins for a royal flush, whereas betting 5 coins can pay out 4,000 coins. This is a substantial increase.
Moreover, some machines offer progressive jackpots exclusively to max-coin bettors. However, there are always risks, and players should never bet more than what they can handle. Always ensure your bankroll can this strategy to avoid unnecessary risks with your bankroll.
What Video Poker Games Should I Avoid? r5k3w
The simple answer is to avoid games that have low RTP.
Low RTP indicates that the game has unfavorable odds and payouts, which ultimately means you are not going to get the most out of what you invested in the game.
In more technical , that means that you should focus on games with higher payouts, and avoid the lower ones. For instance, play 9/6 games instead of 8/5, or play 10/6 games instead of 7/5 or other variants.
It is also smart to avoid progressive jackpot games as they typically limit the jackpots for maximum bets only, but the use of jackpot offsets the overall payouts no matter how much you stake (eg even if you stake lower than the maximum bet).
For Jacks or Better games, we recommend Play'n GO's Jacks or Better and Jacks or Better by Betsoft.
If you want to try out Deuces Wild, Video Poker Live, an exciting take on video poker by leading live casino game supplier Evolution.
Conclusion b50
To be a proficient video poker player, you will need to learn hand rankings, RTPs, and strategies for winning at video poker.
RTP plays an important role in the choice of video poker games, as it indicates how reliable the game is and how much you stand to gain from your session. Beginners should start with single-hand video poker – 9/6 Jacks or Better or similar high-paying video poker variations – and then slowly move to multi-hand video poker once they feel more confident.
All in all, video poker payouts are not complicated, but it takes a bit of time to get used to them. Always play responsibly and use strategies to enhance your experience.
