If you want to beat the long grind of casino vig and extract the highest possible returns from a game that mixes skill and luck, understanding the best payout video poker options is essential. Over the last decade I've tracked paytables, practiced with strategy trainers, and spent hundreds of hours playing both online and in land-based casinos. That experience—combined with an analytical approach—lets me explain which machines and habits deliver the best long-term results, which paytables to avoid, and how to manage risk while maximizing return.
Why video poker can offer the best value
Video poker sits in a unique spot among casino games. Unlike slot machines, video poker is primarily a game of strategy with fixed paytables and a known optimal play for each hand. With perfect strategy on some machines, the expected return can approach or even exceed 100% (in rare full-pay cases or with progressive contributions). This means a disciplined player who chooses the right variant and paytable can materially reduce the house edge.
Key reasons video poker can provide superior value:
- Transparent paytables that show exact payouts for each hand.
- Skill component—using correct strategy reduces the house advantage.
- Many machines offer “full-pay” variants with industry-leading returns.
- Online casinos often have better paytables and allow multi-hand play.
Understanding paytables and why they matter
Paytables are the DNA of a video poker machine. Small changes (for example, reducing the full house payout from 9 to 8) change the return dramatically. A common example is Jacks or Better: the full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better (meaning 9 to 1 on full house and 6 to 1 on flush) has an optimal return of about 99.54% with perfect play. Drop either of those numbers, and you give away a chunk of that value.
When evaluating machines, look for:
- Payback percentages expressed through key payouts (e.g., full house and flush in Jacks or Better).
- Whether “max coins” is required to activate the highest jackpot (usually 5 coins for a royal flush).
- Variance: some machines pay smaller amounts frequently; others pay large jackpots rarely.
Which video poker variants typically give the best payouts?
Not all variants are equal. Some well-known options that serious players target include:
- Jacks or Better (9/6) — The classic “full-pay” version is the benchmark for serious players because of its relatively low variance and strong RTP when played perfectly.
- Deuces Wild (full-pay) — Some full-pay Deuces Wild games can produce very high returns with the right strategy; these require precise knowledge of strategy changes because the presence of wild cards alters optimal decisions.
- Double Bonus / Double Double Bonus — These offer larger payouts on four-of-a-kind hands but also require different strategy and careful attention to paytable specifics to determine their value.
- Progressive Video Poker — A progressive jackpot raises the return as the jackpot grows; when the progressive reaches certain thresholds, the machine can become positive EV for perfect play.
To find the actual best payout video poker machines, compare honest paytables side-by-side rather than trusting labels. Casinos often advertise “Jacks or Better” without saying whether it’s 9/6, 8/5, or worse.
How to evaluate a machine step-by-step
- Read the paytable carefully—note the payouts for a royal, full house, flush, and four-of-a-kind.
- Check whether the machine requires max coins to realize the top royal payout multiplier.
- Look up the optimal RTP for that exact paytable variant (strategy guides and calculators are readily available).
- Decide if variance suits your bankroll—high-RTP progressive or bonus machines often have higher variance.
- Practice with a strategy trainer for that exact variant until you can play close to perfect without consulting charts.
Practical bankroll and session strategies
Even the best payout video poker setups have variance. Here’s how to manage it:
- Bankroll sizing: for low-variance full-pay Jacks or Better, a smaller bankroll suffices than for high-variance progressives. As a rule, plan for at least several hundred bets to ride out swings; for higher variance games, multiply that amount.
- Session length: break play into sessions and set stop-loss and win-goal limits. Discipline prevents tilt after a bad run and locks in gains when things go well.
- Use single-hand play to learn strategies, then increase to multi-hand once comfortable; multi-hand increases decisions per minute and variance.
Online vs. brick-and-mortar: where to look for the best paytables
Online casinos frequently offer more generous paytables because the overhead is lower and competition is fiercer. However, site trustworthiness matters. Always prioritize regulated, audited sites that publish RTPs and have independent testing (e.g., eCOGRA or similar auditors). When researching online options, it's useful to compare specific titles—sometimes the same game engine has different paytables across casinos.
If you want a quick way to explore options, try free-play or demo modes first. This allows you to locate a high-paying paytable and practice strategy without financial risk. When you move to real money, choose casinos with clear withdrawal policies and positive player reviews.
For a starting point, you can review aggregated lists and specific game offerings such as best payout video poker to compare current games and paytables at a glance.
Tools and resources to get better fast
Serious players use a mix of study tools and practice:
- Strategy charts and quick-reference cards tailored to each variant (printed or on-screen).
- Video poker trainers that evaluate every decision and show the correct play after each hand.
- RTP calculators and paytable comparison tables to quantify which machine is truly superior.
- Forums and strategy discussions where experienced players post nuanced decisions for rare hands and progressive thresholds.
One personal habit that helped my win-rate: keep a running notebook of odd decisions. When you encounter a hand you don’t see often (e.g., 4-card straight with a deuce in Deuces Wild), write it down and look it up later. That forces active learning and reduces repeated mistakes.
How progressives change the math
Progressive jackpots can dramatically alter a machine's expected value. As the progressive grows, the overall return increases and at certain jackpot sizes the machine can become positive expectation. That threshold depends on the base paytable and the frequency of royal hits. When evaluating a progressive machine, consider:
- Current jackpot size and the trigger conditions (must be max coins on most machines).
- How often royals are paid on that variant historically—some progressives rise quickly but pay out just as fast.
- Your willingness to tolerate increased variance for a shot at a large long-term edge.
Progressive decisions are often decision-theory problems—sometimes waiting for a jackpot to grow to a mathematically favorable level makes sense, but the wait can be long and emotionally draining.
Common mistakes that cost players money
A few common errors consistently turn a good expectation into losses:
- Playing inferior paytables (e.g., 8/5 Jacks or Better) thinking all Jacks machines are equal.
- Failing to always bet max coins when required to secure the full royal payout.
- Not practicing the correct strategy for the specific variant, especially for wild-card games.
- Chasing losses or abandoning strategy under tilt.
Final checklist before you play
- Verify the exact paytable and whether max bet is required for full royal payout.
- Know the optimal strategy or have a quick chart available.
- Decide session bankroll and stick to strict stop-loss/win targets.
- Prefer regulated sites or reputable casinos with audited RTP disclosures.
Where to learn more and one final tip
If you’re building a long-term approach, combine theory with disciplined practice. Use strategy trainers, read paytable-specific guides, and test your decisions under play conditions similar to where you intend to gamble. For consolidated listings and quick paytable comparisons, resources such as best payout video poker can be a useful starting point to find current offers and to compare machines before you commit real money.
Remember: video poker rewards methodical players. With careful machine selection, disciplined bankroll management, and continual practice, you tilt the odds in your favor more than most casino games allow. That’s the real appeal of hunting the best payout video poker machines—skillful play turns what looks like pure chance into a repeatable edge.
