For the life of me, I just don’t understand how so many gamblers can lower themselves to play against inferior video poker pay tables.
And that’s exactly what they’re doing too. That’s because every coin you wager on a game of video poker and every hand you play must contend with the exact probabilities and payouts offered by the machine’s particular pay table.
In other words, even if you play a perfect basic strategy that follows all of the optimal discard / draw decisions to a tee, a bad pay table instantly and irrevocably reduces your overall odds of success.
If you’re just starting out on your personal video poker journey, and don’t know much about how pay tables work, take a moment to acquaint yourself with the basics of the game first. Once you’ve learned the ropes, return here for an advanced course on putting that pay table knowledge to work for you going forward.
In a nutshell, the pay table – or the escalating ladder of payouts awarded for each hand based on their difficulty to make – holds every video poker enthusiast’s destiny in its proverbial hands.
Las Vegas Hilton Video Poker. The Hilton doesn’t have the best video poker in Las Vegas, but it’s definitely our favorite spot on the Strip. Along with plenty of other solid options, they have a few “Loose Deuces” machines that offer 100.15% returns at the quarter and dollar levels. The information on this page is supplied by vpFREE2, which is an extensive online database of video poker inventories throughout the US and Canada. The table below lists the current best casino video poker schedules in Las Vegas and their denominations, and is.
A Look Into Video Poker Pay Tables
When you play on a 9/6 full pay Jacks or Better machine, for example, the 9-coin reward for a full house and 6-coin reward for a flush combine with the other payouts to create a 99.54 percent payback percentage. Switch over to an inferior 9/5 pay table, however, and the exact same Jacks or Better gameplay suddenly offers a much lower 98.45 percent payback rate.
That may not seem like too big of a deal, but consider this… for every $100 you bet over your lifetime as a Jacks or Better player, the full pay game will return $99.54 – sending just $0.46 to the house on average. Meanwhile, those suckers on the 9/5 machines will watch $1.55 of every $100 wagered be scooped up by the house.
And that’s not even the worst of it either. Substandard pay tables commonly offered by modern casinos on their Jacks or Better machines can slice your payback percentage down to double-zero roulette status:
Jacks or Better Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
|---|---|
| 9/6 | 99.54 percent |
| 9/5 | 98.45 percent |
| 8/6 | 98.39 percent |
| 8/5 | 97.30 percent |
| 7/5 | 96.15 percent |
| 6/5 | 95.00 percent |
And this larceny of your bottom line isn’t limited to Jacks or Better by any means. As you can see in the various tables below, all of the popular video poker variants begin with a full pay table up top, followed by a series of progressively worse options:
Deuces Wild Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
|---|---|
| 25/15/9/5/3/2 | 100.76 percent |
| 25/15/11/4/4/3 | 99.96 percent |
| 25/16/10/4/4/3 | 99.73 percent |
| 25/15/9/4/4/3 | 98.91 percent |
| 20/12/10/4/4/3 | 97.58 percent |
| 20/12/9/4/4/3 | 97.06 percent |
| 25/16/13/4/3/2 | 96.77 percent |
| 20/10/8/4/4/3 | 95.96 percent |
| 25/15/10/4/3/2 | 94.82 percent |
Double Bonus Poker Pay Table Comparison
Las Vegas Best Video Poker Casinos
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
|---|---|
| 10/7 | 100.17 percent |
| 9/7/5 | 99.11 percent |
| 9/6/5 | 97.81 percent |
| 9/6/4 | 96.38 percent |
| 8/5 | 94.19 percent |
| 7/5 | 93.11 percent |
Double Double Bonus Poker Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
|---|---|
| 10/6 | 100.07 percent |
| 9/6/4 | 98.98 percent |
| 9/5 | 97.87 percent |
| 8/5 | 96.79 percent |
| 7/5 | 95.71 percent |
| 6/5 | 94.66 percent |
And naturally, the casinos don’t advertise their video poker pay table selection in any noticeable way. In fact, they count on uninformed players – whether they’re simply unaware of the concept, don’t care about long-term probabilities, or too drunk to even notice – to transform video poker from a player-friendly gambler into a money-making powerhouse for the casino house edge.
Consider this for a moment… whenever a 9/6 full pay Jacks or Better player decides to bet anything other than the maximum of 5 coins, their payback rate drops all the way down to 98.30 percent. Failing to bet the max represents the cardinal sin for video poker enthusiasts, as it precludes players from triggering the juiced up Royal Flush jackpot of 4,000 coins.
Unfortunately for the more than 42 million tourists who visited Sin City last year – the bulk of whom stayed on the “fabulous” (read: overhyped) Las Vegas Strip – those modern mega-resort casinos almost exclusively offer inferior pay tables. The owners of the 30 casinos lining Las Vegas Boulevard know that most tourists will never leave the area, confining the sum of their gambling action to The Strip as a captive audience of sorts.
Thus, casinos on The Strip spread non-full pay video poker machines without remorse, relentlessly skinning their unsuspecting players for every nickel and dime they can get.
Meanwhile, when you venture away from The Strip to explore Las Vegas’ competing casino regions, the dark clouds of crappy pay tables suddenly disappear. Video poker players in the know never play on The Strip, choosing instead to put their money behind full pay tables only.
If you want to join them by backing the best video poker games possible, look no further than the list below. Here you’ll find three of the most player-friendly “Off-Strip” video poker providers in all of the city of Las Vegas – complete with a full listing of each venue’s full pay variants, coin denominations, and more.
Video Poker Las Vegas Best Odds
1 – Boulder Station Hotel Casino on the Boulder Highway
Bar none, without a shadow of a doubt, the best place to grind video poker in Sin City – off the Strip or otherwise – is Boulder Station.
Known as the ultimate “local’s casino,” Boulder Station offers all of the amenities (maybe not nude pool parties or exotic animals, but you get my point) that casinos on The Strip have on hand.
But one thing that this place has that can’t be matched is five different variants offering a positive payback percentage (AKA, a player edge).
Just check out the list below to see how Boulder Station’s unparalleled selection of topline video poker pay tables stacks up:
Boulder Station’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Pay Deuces Wild | 100.76 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| 1-Pair Jokers Wild | 100.65 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Loose Deuces Wild | 100.15 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Double Double Bonus | 100.07 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Triple Deuces Wild | 99.92 percent | 5¢ |
| Not So Ugly Ducks (Deuces Wild) | 99.73 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
2 – Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino in Henderson
Another branch on the Station Casinos family tree, Fiesta Henderson is one of the first gambling halls you’ll see when driving in through the Hoover Dam / Lake Mead area.
And while many players pass it right up in their quest to reach The Strip, video poker sharps know better.
Fiesta Henderson’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Pay Deuces Wild | 100.76 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| 1-Pair Jokers Wild | 100.65 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Loose Deuces Wild | 100.15 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Double Double Bonus | 100.07 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Triple Deuces Wild | 99.92 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Not So Ugly Ducks (Deuces Wild) | 99.73 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
3 – Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Summerlin
If you want to experience all of the glitz and glam of Strip casino, without paying an arm and a leg at every turn, Red Rock Resort in the suburb of Summerlin is the ticket.
This place is straight out of The Strip in terms of modern luxuries like high-end shopping, top-rated restaurants, and in-house entertainment
But unlike those hucksters in the world’s most popular tourist hotspot, Red Rock Casino Resort doesn’t need to spread inferior video poker pay tables.
Red Rock Resort’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Pay Deuces Wild | 100.76 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Loose Deuces Wild | 100.15 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ |
| Super Bonus Deuces Wild | 100.13 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Double Double Bonus | 100.07 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Triple Deuces Wild | 99.92 percent | 5¢ |
| Not So Ugly Ducks (Deuces Wild) | 99.73 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
Las Vegas Best Video Poker Odds
Conclusion
Playing video poker well can offer sharp gamblers the thrill of a lifetime. Knowing that every bet you make comes as close to a null house edge as possible – and in the case of full pay Deuces Wild, an actual player edge – makes video poker the preferred vehicle for skill-oriented players who prefer strategy over guess-based gambling.
Nonetheless, when you don’t know where to find the full pay machines, a video poker parlor can become nothing short of a money pit – even for talented basic strategy players. Nobody wants to be the sucker casinos count on to line their pockets, so make sure to check out these trio of Off-Strip casinos to find the best video poker games Las Vegas has to offer.
If you can take one look at a photograph of Downtown Las Vegas in all its vintage glory, and still tell me The Strip can hold a candle to what Sin City used to be, I can’t help you.
Despite my personal inclinations though, pale imitations of European landmarks paired with faux luxury at sky-high prices does appeal to a certain crowd. It must, with most of the 42 million visitors who made the trip to Las Vegas last year confining their entire experience to The Strip.
And hey, I don’t mind seeing a cool show like Absinthe, superstar talents like Celine Dion, or the latest culinary masterpieces from Michelin Guide acclaimed celebrity chefs. Who doesn’t, right?
What I won’t do anywhere on Las Vegas Boulevard, however, is play video poker.
Simply put, The Strip is where video poker bankrolls go to die. Thanks to corporate consolidation within the gambling industry – MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment combine to operate 17 of the 30 casinos lining The Strip – players are left to the mercy of the house.
As you might suspect, casinos in the Silver State aren’t exactly known for their merciful ways. After all, they didn’t haul in $11.9 billion in gambling win last year alone by taking it easy on players.
Video poker players bear the brunt of it too, because the ubiquitous Game King machine from IGT allows casinos to tinker with the pay table as they see fit.
By changing the 9/6 full pay table in Jacks or Better, for example, the game’s standard 99.54 percent house edge falls off a cliff:
Jacks or Better Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 9/6 | 99.54 percent |
| 9/5 | 98.45 percent |
| 8/6 | 98.39 percent |
| 8/5 | 97.30 percent |
| 7/5 | 96.15 percent |
| 6/5 | 95.00 percent |
Playing basic strategy a 9/6 version of this video poker classic offers a perfectly reasonable – and even beatable when comps are factored in – payback percentage of 99.54 percent. That leaves a house edge of only 0.46 percent for players to overcome, which is right on par with the best skill games like blackjack.
But as the payouts are downgraded – through slight adjustments to the key pays on a full house and/or flush – Jacks or Better becomes nothing short of a travesty. If I wanted to battle against an unbeatable house edge of 5.00 percent, I’d splash around on a pure game of chance like double-zero roulette, not the ultimate strategic thinker’s game Jacks or Better.
And this pay table conundrum affects all the other variants as well whenever you play on The Strip:
Deuces Wild Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 25/15/9/5/3/2 | 100.76 percent |
| 25/15/11/4/4/3 | 99.96 percent |
| 25/16/10/4/4/3 | 99.73 percent |
| 25/15/9/4/4/3 | 98.91 percent |
| 20/12/10/4/4/3 | 97.58 percent |
| 20/12/9/4/4/3 | 97.06 percent |
| 25/16/13/4/3/2 | 96.77 percent |
| 20/10/8/4/4/3 | 95.96 percent |
| 25/15/10/4/3/2 | 94.82 percent |
Double Bonus Poker Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 10/7 | 100.17 percent |
| 9/7/5 | 99.11 percent |
| 9/6/5 | 97.81 percent |
| 9/6/4 | 96.38 percent |
| 8/5 | 94.19 percent |
| 7/5 | 93.11 percent |
Double Double Bonus Poker Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 10/6 | 100.07 percent |
| 9/6/4 | 98.98 percent |
| 9/5 | 97.87 percent |
| 8/5 | 96.79 percent |
| 7/5 | 95.71 percent |
| 6/5 | 94.66 percent |
To get a taste of how hostile The Strip has become for sharp video poker players, just realize that you can no longer find a single full pay Deuces Wild machine and its famous player edge of 100.76 percent – anywhere on Las Vegas Boulevard. Not a single machine mind you, even in the best high-limit rooms where whales typically get the best odds in exchange for dumping serious sums.
Even so, I know there’s plenty of players out there who are cut from my mold. Maybe it’s nostalgia over the good old days, or just the frugal nature of grizzled veteran gamblers who prefer savings over spectacle, but Downtown Las Vegas still calls out to a significant segment of the video poker community.
Who am I kidding… it’s mostly due to Downtown’s abundance of full pay machines covering all the most popular variants.
On that front, this is a piece dedicated to the five best places to play video poker on fabulous Fremont Street in the Downtown district.
1 – The Plaza Hotel & Casino
An iconic fixture of the Downtown skyline since 1971, the Plaza has the highest payback percentage on Fremont Street thanks to its low-limit 1-Pair Joker Wild machines:
The Plaza’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| 1-Pair Joker Wild | 100.65 percent | 25¢, 50¢ |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢¸ $1 |
| Double Bonus Plus | 99.76 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Bonus Deluxe | 99.64 percent | 25¢, 50¢¸ $1, $2 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
| Deuces Joker Wild | 99.07 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 |
The beauty of video poker at the Plaza is variety, as you’ll find more than 225 machines covering 10 different variants – almost all of which offer full pay tables.
2 – California Hotel & Casino
If you prefer the value-packed action found at Boyd Gaming properties, the California is your home away from home when playing Downtown.
Along with full pay Double Bonus and it’s sweet 0.17 percent player edge, video poker at the California spans the spectrum from nickel stakes to five bucks a coin:
California’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Not So Ugly Ducks (Deuces Wild) | 99.73 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Triple Double Bonus | 99.58 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Loose Deuces Wild | 99.20 percent | $1, $2, $5 |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
3 – El Cortez Hotel & Casino
The Strip keeps adding new casinos every year, but if you want to play at the oldest continuously operated gambling hall in Sin City, the El Cortez is the ticket.
Constructed in 1941, the El Cortez looks and feels like you’ve gone back in time to a bygone era. That antique vibe can be found in the video poker parlor too.
El Cortez’ Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 25¢ |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | $1 |
| Double Deuces Wild | 99.62 percent | 25¢, $1 |
| Triple Bonus | 99.59 percent | 25¢ |
| Bonus Deuces Wild | 99.45 percent | 25¢ |
| A-C-E-S Bonus | 99.40 percent | 25¢ |
If you couldn’t tell, Bonus-based games are the specialty at El Cortez, so head here to hunt for those high-paying four Aces with a kicker jackpots.
4 – Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Originally opened in 1964 as the Lady Luck Casino, the newly renovated Downtown Grand is like a little slice of The Strip transported to Fremont Street.
Except for the full pay video poker machines, that is, which are led by the relatively obscure “Super Aces” version of Bonus Poker:
Downtown Grand’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| Super Aces (Bonus Poker) | 99.94 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢ |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
In case you’re unfamiliar with Super Aces, this game is just Bonus Poker with a premium jackpot payout of 2,000 coins (on a max-bet) when you land four of a kind in Aces.
Conclusion
Downtown Las Vegas is where it all started, from Benny Binion hosting the first World Series of Poker, the world famous $0.99 shrimp cocktail, and 100x Odds bets on the craps table. Legends were born there, million-dollar bankrolls were built and burned through in a day, and the world’s gambling capital emerged like an oasis in the Mojave Desert sands. The old drag on Fremont Street has seen better days to be sure, but if you’re a sharp video poker player, historic venues like the ones listed above are the most beautiful sight in Sin City.