Video Poker Paytable Analyzer

Video poker is unique among casino games: the paytable is displayed right on the machine, and small differences in payouts create massive differences in returns. This analyzer helps you compare paytables to understand which video poker games give players the best mathematical odds—and which are quietly designed to take your money faster.

Did You Know? A "full pay" 9/6 Jacks or Better machine returns 99.54% with perfect strategy—one of the best odds in the casino. But a 6/5 machine (often found on the Strip) returns only 95.00%, costing you an extra 4.5% on every dollar wagered. According to the American Gaming Association, video poker represents billions in annual gaming revenue, yet most players don't know to check paytables before playing.

Analyze Video Poker Paytables

Select a game variant and adjust payouts to see the mathematical return

Select Game Variant

Jacks or Better Paytable

Click on any payout to adjust it and see how it affects the return percentage.

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Understanding Video Poker Paytables

Unlike slot machines where the odds are hidden, video poker machines display their paytables openly. The challenge is knowing what to look for. According to gaming researchers at the UNLV International Gaming Institute, most casino visitors don't realize that two identical-looking Jacks or Better machines can have vastly different returns based solely on their paytables.

The 9/6 vs. 8/5 Difference

In Jacks or Better, the paytable is often described by its Full House and Flush payouts. A "9/6" machine pays 9 for Full House and 6 for Flush (per coin), while an "8/5" machine pays 8 and 5. This seemingly small difference changes the return from 99.54% to 97.30%—a difference of 2.24%.

To put this in perspective: at $1.25 per hand (5 quarters) playing 400 hands per hour:

  • 9/6 machine: Expected loss of $2.30/hour
  • 8/5 machine: Expected loss of $13.50/hour

That's nearly 6 times more expensive to play the short-pay machine over the same time period.

Casino Reality: Full-pay machines are increasingly rare, especially on the Las Vegas Strip and in tourist areas. Casinos have discovered that most players don't check paytables, allowing them to quietly reduce payouts. The machines still say "Jacks or Better"—they just pay less. Always check the Full House and Flush payouts before playing.

Video Poker Variants Compared

Game Variant Full Pay Return Key Paytable Wild Cards
Jacks or Better 99.54% 9/6 (FH/Flush) None
Bonus Poker 99.17% 8/5 (FH/Flush) None
Double Bonus Poker 100.17% 10/7 (FH/Flush) None
Double Double Bonus 98.98% 9/6 (FH/Flush) None
Deuces Wild 100.76% 25/15/9 (4/SF/5K) All 2s
Joker Poker (Kings) 100.65% Varies Joker
Did You Know? Some video poker games actually have returns over 100% with perfect strategy! Full-pay Deuces Wild returns 100.76%, meaning the player has a mathematical edge. However, these machines are extremely rare, and "perfect strategy" for Deuces Wild involves memorizing hundreds of decision rules. Even slight strategy errors can flip the edge back to the casino.

The Importance of Max Bet

Notice that the Royal Flush pays 250 per coin for 1-4 coins, but 800 per coin (4,000 total) for the maximum 5-coin bet. This bonus for the Royal Flush on max bet is standard across nearly all video poker machines and significantly affects the overall return.

Playing less than max bet reduces your return by approximately 1.5% to 2% depending on the game. For a $1.25 machine (5 quarters), this means:

  • 5 coins ($1.25): Full return (99.54% on 9/6 JoB)
  • 4 coins ($1.00): Reduced return (~98.0%)
  • 1 coin ($0.25): Significantly reduced return (~97.0%)

If max bet is too expensive, it's mathematically better to find a lower denomination machine (like a nickel 9/6) and play max bet than to play a higher denomination at less than max.

Strategy Matters

The return percentages shown assume optimal strategy—knowing exactly which cards to hold and discard for every possible hand. For Jacks or Better, this involves about 200 strategy decisions. Playing by "gut feel" typically costs 2-4% in return.

For example, many players incorrectly:

  • Hold a "kicker" (high card) with a pair
  • Break a winning pair to chase a flush or straight
  • Keep three cards to a royal instead of a made hand
  • Don't know when to hold suited cards vs. high cards

Our Blackjack Strategy Chart demonstrates how memorizing optimal plays can reduce house edge—the same principle applies to video poker, where strategy charts exist for each game variant.

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Remember: This calculator is for educational purposes only. It demonstrates how video poker paytables affect mathematical returns. Even on full-pay machines, the casino maintains an edge on most games, and short-term results can vary wildly from expected value. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-522-4700.