When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn Video poker doesn’t get the praise it deserves – it’s both lucrative and fun, and we’re going to show you why we love it so much. While it may not be as colorful or flashy as slots, video poker odds are some of the best in the industry, making the game highly profitable for players. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the video poker house edge, odds, payouts, and more.
Video Poker – How It Works and Basic Rules
Before we take a look at video poker odds, it’s essential to understand how the game works and its basic rules. Video poker is a slot-like game based on five-card draw poker. The aim is for you to make the best five-card hand possible following a single redraw, where you can keep or discard cards to try and improve your hand.
- After wagering your bet, the computer deals you five cards. This is called the initial deal.
- You determine which cards of these five you want to keep or “hold” and which you will discard, based on whether you think you can create a winning hand.
- Any cards you discard are replaced with new ones in a process called “drawing”.
- Your hand is then evaluated. If it matches one of the winning combinations highlighted on the paytable, you win the corresponding payout.
- Video poker is typically played using a standard deck of 52 cards, although this can be higher in an instance where the game includes the jokers.
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Handy Hint
When playing video poker, you can only change cards once during a hand, so always carefully consider the cards you’re dealt before you choose to hold or discard.
Video Poker Paytable
When playing at a video poker site, you aim to create a winning hand. However, the game offers several card combinations that constitute a win. Below, we offer you a table, highlighting these different card combinations in order from the best possible hand down to the least money-maker winning option, as these hands play a role in video poker odds.
| Hand | Example |
| Royal Flush | An Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 all from the same suit, for example, 10♦ J♦ Q♦ K♦ A♦ |
| Straight Flush | A straight, all from the same suit, for example, 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ |
| Four of a kind | The same card from all four suits, for instance, 4♦ 4♥ 4♠ 4♣ |
| Full House | Any three cards of the same number or face value AND any two cards of the same number or face value. For instance, K♦ K♥ 4♦ 4♠ 4♣ |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit but not necessarily in sequential order. For example, 5♣ 9♣ 10♣ K♣ J♣ |
| Straight | A hand of five cards in sequential order but not of the same suit. For example, 2♣ 3♦ 4♥ 5♥ 6♠ |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number or face value. For example, A♦ A♥ A♠ |
| Two of a Kind | Two cards of the same face value or number. For instance, J♣ J♠ |
Video Poker Odds
Before we get into the details of video poker odds, there are several things to keep in mind. You have 32 ways to play the hand you are dealt when playing standard video poker. To have the best chance of creating a winning hand, you must be calculated in your thinking when choosing to press the draw button and when holding or discarding cards. This is the perfect time to use your video poker strategies.
Additionally, always consider the ranking of the winning hands in video poker. You can find these ranked from the highest to the lowest paying in the table above.
When playing video poker at the best online poker sites, you should also note that the outcomes and cards you receive are completely random. This is because online casinos use Random Number Generation (RNG) software. The software is put in place to shuffle and randomly deal out the cards, ensuring that each round is fair and each outcome is unique and unpredictable.
Handy Hint
All online casino games (except for live dealer games) use RNG technology to ensure fairplay and unbiased outcomes.
Since video poker has two “rounds” within the game: the initial deal and the draw, both have unique video poker odds. So, let’s look at what they are.
Initial Deal Video Poker Odds
Since higher-ranking cards are rare, the chances of landing a Royal Flush or a straight Flush are far less than landing a weaker combination. While this plays a role in determining video poker odds, the variation of the game you play also has a hand in the odds offered.
Below, you can find a table outlining the odds of receiving each of the winning hands when playing a standard video poker game using a 52-card deck.
| Hand | Odds |
| Royal Flush | 649,740 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 72,193 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 4,165 to 1 |
| Full house | 694 to 1 |
| Flush | 509 to 1 |
| Straight | 255 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 47 to 1 |
| Two of a Kind | 21 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces | 7.69 to 1 |
| Any pair | 2.37 to 1 |
These numbers highlight your chances of receiving a specific card combination during a game. For instance, you have a chance of receiving any pair at least 50% of the time you are playing. However, keep in mind that these video poker probability statistics are just averages. When playing using RNG software, you may get a Four of a Kind on your first hand.
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Video Poker Odds on the Draw – Video Poker Examples
After you have chosen to hold or discard cards, the video poker odds change significantly. Another aspect that affects the odds is the cards you hold. For example, if the computer deals you four cards that make up a Royal Flush, and you only need to draw one to complete it, your odds of drawing the right card sit at 47:1.
Below, you can find a table of the video poker odds you have when drawing cards, based on a single or double card draw.
| Improving Pairs | Odds |
| Turning one pair into two pairs | 1 / 6 |
| Turning one pair into Three of a Kind | 1 / 9 |
| Turning two pairs into a Full House | 1 / 12 |
| Turning one pair into a Quad | 1 / 360 |
| Improving Three of a Kind | Odds |
| Turning Three of a Kind into a Full House | 1 / 16 |
| Turning Three of a Kind into a Quad | 1 / 24 |
| Completing a Flush | Odds |
| Drawing one card to make a Flush | 1 / 5 |
| Drawing two cards to make a Flush | 1 / 24 |
| Completing Straights | Odds |
| Drawing one card into an open-ended straight | 1 / 6 |
| Drawing two cards into an open-ended straight | 1 / 23 |
| Drawing a single card to make an inside straight | 1 / 12 |
| The Straight Flush | Odds |
| Drawing one card to an open-ended straight flush | 1 / 24 |
| Drawing one card to a Royal Flush | 1 / 47 |
Video Poker Variations and Their Odds
Video poker comes in several variations, offered by the best online casinos. Each variation comes with its own set of odds, as these games differ slightly in how they’re played and the rules they impose. While you could use a video poker odds calculator to work out the odds offered on the hands for these variations, we’ve made it simple by discussing each in detail. So, read on to learn more about the variations on the game and their video poker odds.
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is the most straightforward version of video poker, and you can almost always find it at land-based and online casinos. In this version, you aim to make a pair of jacks to earn the minimum payout, with the Royal Flush earning you the game jackpot.
The video poker payout table focuses on the actual chance of you composing the various hands. However, keep in mind that, like with all casino games, the casino applies a video poker house edge, which means the odds offered are not true odds but those altered according to the house edge. So, to find the best chances of winning, we recommend looking for full-pay video poker games. These games are quick and easy to spot, as generally, a full-pay game will pay out nine coins for a full house and six coins for a Flush. These games offer the best video poker odds and a return to player, RTP, of 99%.
Below, you can find the Jacks or Better paytable, highlighting the payout ratio, the video poker probability, and the return rate.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Video Poker Probability | Return Rate |
| Royal Flush (five credit bet) | 800 | 0.002% | 1.981% |
| Royal Flush (one to four credit bet) | 250 | 0.002% | 0.619% |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 0.011% | 0.547% |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 0.236% | 5.906% |
| Full House | 9 | 1.151% | 10.361% |
| Flush | 6 | 1.101% | 6.609% |
| Straight | 4 | 1.123% | 4.492% |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 7.445% | 22.334% |
| Two Pair | 2 | 12.928% | 25.856% |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 21.459% | 21.459% |
| Other | 0 | 54.544% | 0.000% |
Tens or Better Video Poker Payout
This version offers an expanded version of Jacks or Better. In this case, you aim to get a pair of tens for a minimum payout, with the Royal Flush acting as the game jackpot.
When playing Tens or Better, try to find a game that offers 25 coins as a payout for a hand of Four of a Kind. These games offer a 99% RTP. However, if the game offers 20 coins, the RTP is considerably lower at 98% and is not the best option for a lucrative game of video poker.
Below, you can find a paytable of the video poker payout ratios and the chance to hit for a game of Tens or Better.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Chance to Hit |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 0.000026 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 0.000104 |
| Four of a Kind (Quads) | 20 | 0.002357 |
| Full House | 6 | 0.011493 |
| Flush | 5 | 0.010670 |
| Straight | 4 | 0.012386 |
| Three of a Kind (Trips, or a Set) | 3 | 0.074218 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 0.128936 |
| One Pair (Tens or Better) | 1 | 0.254368 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.505443 |
Deuces Wild Video Poker
Deuces Wild is a unique casino game. In this case, you, the player, are the favorite to win. Every deuce (card with a face value of two from any suit) acts as a joker card in the game. You can use this card to replace any other card to form a winning video poker hand.
A video poker payout in this version of the game begins at Three of a Kind, with the best games offering one coin for this payout. Full-pay Deuces Wild games can have an RTP of 100.76%, making it a top game to earn a profit. However, for your bets to be high-paying, you must know how to play video poker correctly and implement your strategies, as a loss here will still cost you a portion of your bankroll.
Below, you can find the paytable for Deuces Wild video poker showing the payout ratios and the probability of landing that hand.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Chance to Hit |
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 0.000022 |
| Four Deuces | 200 | 0.000204 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 | 0.001796 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 | 0.003202 |
| Straight Flush | 9 | 0.004168 |
| Four of a Kind | 5 | 0.064938 |
| Full House | 3 | 0.021229 |
| Flush | 2 | 0.016784 |
| Straight | 2 | 0.056070 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 | 0.284690 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.546897 |
Bonus Video Poker Odds
Another variation of the Jacks or Better video poker game, Bonus Poker, requires you to get a pair of jacks, or a better combination, to win the minimum payout. In this game, you can also receive additional bonuses for various four-of-a-kind combinations. For example, you can earn a bonus for four-of-a-kind fives, or four-of-a-kind aces.
Again, the video poker odds differ here. A full-pay Bonus Poker game delivers an RTP of 99.2%, making the payouts a little less exciting than some of those offered by other variations. To find these full-pay games, look for options that offer 80 coins for four aces.
Below, is a table offering the best video poker odds for Bonus Poker.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Chance to Hit |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 0.000025 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 0.000107 |
| 4 Aces | 80 | 0.000196 |
| 4 2-4 | 40 | 0.000527 |
| 4 5-K | 25 | 0.001640 |
| Full House | 8 | 0.011514 |
| Flush | 5 | 0.010880 |
| Straight | 4 | 0.011221 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 0.074468 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 0.129308 |
| One Pair (Jacks or Better) | 1 | 0.215259 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.544855 |
Super Double Bonus Video Poker
If you’re looking for the biggest, most bankable video poker payouts, then Super Double Bonus Poker is the way to go. You can find massive bonuses and payouts for landing hands like four-of-a-kind or four aces. A full-pay Super Double Bonus game typically offers nine coins for a full house, and here, you can enjoy an RTP rate of 99.6%.
Below is a table highlighting the payout rates and odds for Super Double Bonus video poker.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Chance to Hit |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 0.000025 |
| Straight Flush | 80 | 0.000112 |
| 4 Aces | 160 | 0.000221 |
| 4 J-K | 120 | 0.000586 |
| 4 2-4 | 80 | 0.000527 |
| 4 5-10 | 50 | 0.001050 |
| Full House | 9 | 0.010836 |
| Flush | 5 | 0.010921 |
| Straight | 4 | 0.012818 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 0.074994 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 0.122841 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 0.216679 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.548391 |
Aces and Faces Video Poker
Aces and Faces is another variation of the Jacks or Better video poker game. However, this version provides several unique features. A pair of jacks gives you the lowest possible video poker payout value, while landing a Royal Flush means hitting the jackpot.
You can also enjoy bonus payouts for four aces and four-of-a-kind hands. A full-pay game will offer 80 coins for these and offer you a RTP rate of 99.25%.
The table below highlights the payout rates and odds for this version of video poker.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Chance to Hit |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 0.000025 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 0.000106 |
| 4 Aces | 80 | 0.000196 |
| 4 J-K | 40 | 0.000587 |
| 4 2-10 | 25 | 0.001580 |
| Full House | 8 | 0.011515 |
| Flush | 5 | 0.010860 |
| Straight | 4 | 0.011212 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 0.074474 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 0.129318 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 0.215399 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.544728 |
Joker Poker Video Poker Odds
Traditionally, jokers don’t feature in a game of poker. However, Joker Poker is one exception, and this version of video poker sees the jokers included. Since the joker is included, the deck is bigger and the chances of landing a big hand increase. For this reason, Joker Poker payouts begin with a pair of kings.
While finding a full-pay version of the game can be tricky, they are out there. In this case, you can enjoy a RTP rate of up to 100.64%, leaving the online casino with a negative video poker house edge value. However, this still means that implementing a video poker strategy is essential to make the most of these excellent video poker odds.
Below, you can find our table that outlines the payout rates and odds for Joker Poker.
| Hand | Payout Ratio | Chance to Hit |
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 0.000024 |
| Five of a Kind | 200 | 0.000093 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 100 | 0.000104 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 0.000575 |
| Four of a Kind | 20 | 0.008555 |
| Full House | 7 | 0.015679 |
| Flush | 5 | 0.015577 |
| Straight | 3 | 0.016595 |
| Three of a Kind | 2 | 0.133937 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 0.110873 |
| One Pair (Kings or Better) | 1 | 0.141958 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.556029 |
Video Poker RTP and House Edge
While the house edge highlights the casino’s advantage or commission for a game of video poker, the RTP outlines the advantage of a player. Below, we look at the advantages of the offshore poker casino and the player for a game of video poker in more detail.
Video Poker House Edge
The video poker house edge highlights the commission the casino will keep for offering the game to players. A house edge ensures that the casino always has a slight advantage over its players. While this may seem unfair, casinos do this to be able to cover the payouts awarded to players who win big without making a significant loss.
However, unlike many other online casino games, where the game usually falls in favor of the house, video poker often favors you, the player. For example, in a video poker game where the return rate or RTP is set at 99.54%, the house edge is set at 0.46%, which means the casino makes little to no commission on the game.
Typically, the video poker house edge sits between 5% and 0.5%. In some cases, the RTP of a video poker game will rest at 100.76%, making the house edge -0.76%; here, the advantage falls to you, the player.
Video Poker RTP
The return to player (RTP) is the opposite of the video poker house edge. This percentage value outlines the expected return you will make by playing an infinite number of video poker games.
For example, if you are playing a video poker game with a RTP of 99.25%, that means for every $100 you wager, you should get a return of $99.25. However, keep in mind that these are statistical values, and there is no hard and fast rule that this will actually happen.
Of all the online casino games, video poker offers the highest RTP, and in many cases, the higher the bet you place, the more the odds fall in your favor, and the RTP increases. As a result, the RTP or return rate experienced in a game of video poker rests between 98% and 100.76%.
Below, you can find a table outlining the RTP and video poker house edge for the variations of the game and the wager value used.
| Game | Five Credit Bet | One to Four Credit Bet | ||
| Return Rate | House Edge | Return Rate | House Edge | |
| Jacks or Better (9/5) | 98.449% | 1.551% | 97.080% | 2.920% |
| Jacks or Better (8/6) | 98.392% | 1.608% | 97.020% | 2.980% |
| Jacks or Better (8/5) | 97.298% | 2.702% | 95.929% | 4.071% |
| Jacks or Better (7/5) | 96.147% | 3.853% | 94.778% | 5.222% |
| Jacks or Better (6/5) | 94.996% | 5.004% | 93.627% | 6.373% |
| Deuces Wild (full pay) | 100.762% | -0.762% | 99.457% | 0.543% |
| Deuces Wild (regular pay) | 99.569% | 0.431% | 98.303% | 1.697% |
| Double Bonus (10/7) | 100.172% | -0.172% | 99.058% | 0.942% |
| Double Double Bonus (10/6) | 100.067% | -0.067% | 98.718% | 1.282% |
Video Poker Odds – A Comparison with Other Casino Games
When compared to other online casino games, video poker has the lowest house edge and offers some of the best odds. Below is a table showing the video poker house edge applied to other online casino games, so you can see how they compare.
| Casino Game | House Edge |
| Video Poker | 0.5% – 5% |
| Bingo | 2.5% – 11% |
| Baccarat | 1.06% – 1.24% |
| Blackjack | 0.43% – 2% |
| Roulette (Single Zero) | 2.7% |
| Roulette (Double Zero) | 5.3% |
| Craps | 1.36% – 1.41% |
| Ultimate Texas Hold’em | 2.20% |
| Pai Gow Poker | 2.84% |
| Video Keno | 8% – 15% |
| Slots | 5% – 15% |
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Resources
- https://atlanticcityweekly.com/blogs/gaming_guru/royal-flushes-in-video-poker/article_55f61fce-ea01-5873-9b1a-d17a0089309b.html
- https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/us/en/files/ictcm2018-bouthellier.pdf
- https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/
- https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/help-by-state/
