Video Poker Online Casino Strategy: Best 2026 Guide

What we learned:

Video poker has some of the highest theoretical RTPs in the casino when played with optimal strategy.
9/6 Full-pay Jacks or Better gives 99.54% RTP when played properly.
You must play max coins (5 coins) to be eligible to unlock the 800:1 Royal Flush bonus.
House edge can vary significantly with paytable changes—check before you play.

Video poker holds a special place in the online casino ecosystem. It has the simplicity of slots but the decision-making of poker. More importantly, it offers some of the highest theoretical payout percentages available when you play with optimal strategy.

This video poker online casino strategy guide covers paytable assessment, hold choices, and the math behind maximizing your return.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Paytables of Video Poker

The most important factor in your long-term return is the paytable. Video poker displays its payouts clearly before you play, unlike slots where the RTP is hidden.

Key terms:

Full Pay: The best paytable offered for a particular variant
Short Pay – A shortened payout schedule that increases the house edge.
9/6 Jacks or Better: Full-pay game, paying 9 to a full house and 6 to a flush. Back to Player: 99.54%

Why paytables matter: The difference between a full-pay and short-pay machine can be substantial. A 9/6 Jacks or Better game offers a 0.46% house edge, while an 8/5 game offers a 2.70% house edge. You lose your money almost six times faster on the short-pay machine.

How to find full-pay Jacks or Better video poker online:
Look for games labeled “9/6” or “Full Pay.”
Check the paytable before playing. It displays the payouts for each hand.

Compare the full house and flush payouts. If they are 9 and 6, you have a full-pay machine.

Video Poker RTP Chart

The video poker RTP chart shows the theoretical return for different variants and paytables:

Variant	Paytable	RTP (Optimal Play)	House Edge
Jacks or Better	9/6 (Full Pay)	99.54%	0.46%
Jacks or Better	8/5 (Short Pay)	97.30%	2.70%
Deuces Wild	Full Pay (25/15/9/5/3/2)	100.76%	-0.76% (Player Edge)
Deuces Wild	Illinois / “NSR” / “Ugly Ducks” Paytable	98.91%	1.09%
Double Bonus	10/7/5	99.11%	0.89%
Double Bonus	9/7/5	98.35%	1.65%
Joker Poker	Kings or Better	98.40%	1.60%

The outlier: Full-pay Deuces Wild actually offers a player edge of 0.76% with perfect play. This is one of the few casino games where you can theoretically beat the house over the long term.

Hold Decision Trees: What to Keep

Unlike slots, your decisions in video poker directly impact your results. The following hierarchy applies to Jacks or Better and most other variants.

Hold decision priority (highest to lowest):

Royal Flush Draw (4 to a Royal) / Pat Royal, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind
3 of a Kind / Straight, Flush, Full House
4 to a Straight Flush
Two Pair
High Pair (Jacks or Better)
3 to a Royal Flush
4 to a Flush
Low Pair (2s through 10s)
4 to an Outside Straight
2 Suited High Cards
3 to a Straight Flush
2 Unsuited High Cards (if 3, keep the 2 lowest)
1 High Card (J, Q, K, A)
Discard Everything

For Example, you hold Jack, Queen, King, 10, and 5. You have four to an outside straight (J, Q, K, 10). You also have three high cards (Jack, Queen, and King). You would like to have four cards to a straight, which is the proper hold since it has a better chance of being completed than three high cards.

Why You Should Always Bet Max Coins in Online Video Poker

Why should you always bet max coins in online video poker? The answer is the Royal Flush bonus.

The math:

Betting 1 coin: Royal Flush pays 250 coins.
Royal Flush 2 coins bet pays 500 coins.
A Royal Flush pays 750 coins for a 3-coin bet.
Royal Flush pays 1,000 coins for a 4-coin bet.
Royal Flush pays 4,000 coins with a 5-coin Bet.

The difference: The Royal Flush pays 250 per coin for the first four coins (1,000 total) but 4,000 for the fifth coin. The fifth coin has a payout ratio of 800:1, which is well above the normal 250:1 ratio.

The catch is that max betting increases your variance. If you don’t hit the Royal Flush, you lose more per hand. But without max betting, you forfeit the chance at the largest payout.

The alternative: If you can’t afford max coins, consider playing a lower denomination machine where max coins fit your budget.

What Is the Lowest House Edge Video Poker Game Online?

What is the lowest house edge video poker game online? Full-pay Deuces Wild offers a 100.76% RTP with perfect play. This translates to a -0.76% house edge—a player edge.

How it works: Deuces Wild takes the two deuces out of the deck and makes them wild cards. That means winning hands are easier to get. The paytable is adjusted accordingly, but the full-pay version still has a positive expected value.

The catch: Full-pay Deuces Wild is rarely available in online casinos. Most versions use lower paytables that swing the edge back to the house.

The safer bet: 9/6 Jacks or Better has 99.54% RTP and a 0.46% house edge. It is generally available and easy to obtain.

Common Mistakes In Video Poker Strategy

Holding a Kicker: A lot of players commit the mistake of holding a high card (kicker) with a low pair. This makes it less likely you can improve the hand. Just keep the pair.

Chasing a Straight or Flush with 3 Cards: When you hold three cards to a straight or flush, you’re generally a loser. The odds of making the hand are very slim. Hold four cards to a straight or flush.

Playing Too Fast: Video poker rewards patience. Slow down your play to make better decisions. Each hand you play increases your exposure to the house edge, so making the right decision matters.

Ignoring Paytables: Paytables vary between machines. Always check before playing. A 9/6 game offers 2% better RTP than an 8/5 game.

Video Poker at 789Bingo

789Bingo offers a selection of video poker games, all running on PAGCOR-licensed RNG software. You can also find Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and other variants with pay tables published.

What to watch for:

Please see the paytable before playing.
Look for 9/6 Jacks or Better for the best payout.
Look at the full pay Deuces Wild for positive expectation.

Video Poker Online Casino Strategy: Final thought

Video poker strategy in Internet casinos provides you with a rare opportunity in the gambling universe—a game where your decisions really affect your expected return. The house edge can be less than 0.5% if you bet the maximum coins, make the right decisions on what to hold and choose the right paytable.

Highlights:

Play Full Pay Games (Jacks or Better Double Up, and more)
Always bet max coins to unlock the Royal Flush bonus.

Follow a hold decision hierarchy.
Slow down and make optimal decisions.

789Bingo has video poker games with published paytables on a PAGCOR-licensed platform. Play smart, choose the right machines, and maximize your return.

Ready to apply your video poker strategy? All games are available on a trusted, PAGCOR-licensed platform. Play smart. Win more.

Responsible Gaming Notice: 21+ Only. Gambling has the risk of losing money. Play responsibly. For assistance, visit PAGCOR’s official website or call local support hotlines.