Winning At Casino Video Poker

If you walk through any casino, past the flashing modern video slots, you will inevitably find rows of old, blocky Video Poker machines.


Unlike regular slots, where the outcome is purely dictated by blind luck, Video Poker is a game of profound, complex skill.

Finding the Full Pay Machines

The most common and foundational variation is "Jacks or Better," where the lowest paying winning hand is exactly a pair of Jacks.


This specific machine pays exactly 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush on a single coin bet.

Progressive Video Poker machines often feature weaker base paytables to compensateOnline casinos usually offer the absolute best, highly favorable Video Poker paytablesNever play a machine where a Flush pays only 5 coins if better options exist
Why You Must Always Bet Max Coins

The single most catastrophic mistake a Video Poker player can make is failing to bet the maximum number of coins per hand.


If you bet 1 coin, a Royal Flush might pay a disappointing 250 coins.

Memorizing the Basic Strategy Chart

You must completely eliminate human emotion; never hold a "lucky" card or chase an inside straight if the math dictates otherwise.


You can legally print a strategy card from the internet and hold it right in front of the machine while you play in the casino.

Player MistakeMathematical ConsequenceBetting less than 5 coinsMassively lowers RTP due to poor Royal Flush payoutPlaying an 8/5 machineIncreases the house edge by nearly 2% instantly

By finding the correct paytable, betting the absolute maximum, and playing flawlessly like a robot, you can nearly eliminate the house edge.