Jacks or Better is the most widely available video poker game in the world, but not all JoB machines are created equal. The difference between a "full pay" and a "short pay" machine can cost you hundreds of dollars per hour — and it all comes down to two numbers on the pay table.
What "9/6" Actually Means
When players say "9/6 Jacks or Better," they're referring to the payouts for two specific hands: the Full House (9-for-1) and the Flush (6-for-1). These two hands are the only ones that change between different JoB pay tables, and they determine the game's overall return.
Every other hand — Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, and Jacks or Better — pays the same across all standard JoB variants.
Complete Pay Table Comparison (Per Coin)
| Hand | 9/6 | 9/5 | 8/6 | 8/5 | 7/5 | 6/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800* | 800* | 800* | 800* | 800* | 800* |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Full House | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Flush | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 99.54% | 98.45% | 98.39% | 97.30% | 96.15% | 95.00% |
*Royal Flush pays 250-for-1 at 1–4 coins, but jumps to 800-for-1 at max bet (5 coins). Always bet max coins.
Why the Difference Matters: Real Dollar Impact
The gap between 9/6 and 8/5 looks small — just one coin less on Full House and Flush. But those are the two most common high-paying hands you'll hit. Over time, this compounds into a massive cost difference.
Here's what each pay table costs you per hour, assuming 600 hands per hour at $1.25 per hand ($0.25 denomination, 5-coin max bet):
| Pay Table | RTP | House Edge | Hourly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 | 99.54% | 0.46% | $3.45 |
| 9/5 | 98.45% | 1.55% | $11.63 |
| 8/6 | 98.39% | 1.61% | $12.08 |
| 8/5 | 97.30% | 2.70% | $20.25 |
| 7/5 | 96.15% | 3.85% | $28.88 |
| 6/5 | 95.00% | 5.00% | $37.50 |
At $0.25 denomination, moving from 9/6 to 8/5 costs you an extra $16.80 per hour. At $1.00 denomination (five-dollar max bet), that same gap becomes $67.20 per hour.
How to Read the Pay Table Before You Sit Down
Every video poker machine displays its pay table on screen. To check if a JoB machine is full pay:
- Look at the Full House line. If it says 9, you're in good shape.
- Look at the Flush line. If it says 6, you've found a 9/6 machine.
- If either number is lower, the machine is short pay. Walk away if a better option exists nearby.
On multi-denomination machines, different denominations sometimes have different pay tables. A machine might offer 9/6 at quarters but only 8/5 at dollars. Always check the pay table for the denomination you're actually playing.
Where Full-Pay 9/6 Machines Still Exist
9/6 JoB machines have been disappearing from casino floors for years. In Las Vegas, the best places to find them are off-Strip locals casinos — properties like South Point, Red Rock, and Station Casinos locations. Downtown Las Vegas still has some 9/6 machines at places like The D and El Cortez.
On the Strip, most JoB machines have been downgraded to 8/5 or worse. Airport machines are almost always 6/5 — the worst available.
Outside Vegas, regional casinos in Mississippi, Colorado, and Louisiana sometimes maintain competitive pay tables to attract local regulars. Check the pay table before you play, no matter where you are.
Variance and Bankroll Considerations
9/6 Jacks or Better has a variance index of about 19.5, making it one of the lowest-variance video poker games available. This means smoother sessions with fewer extreme swings compared to bonus games like Double Double Bonus (variance ~42) or Triple Double Bonus (variance ~98).
For recreational players, a session bankroll of 200 to 300 max bets is reasonable for 9/6 JoB. For long-term play, serious players typically maintain 3,000+ max bets to keep the risk of ruin below 1%.
Bottom Line
The pay table is the single most important factor in Jacks or Better. A 9/6 machine with imperfect strategy will outperform an 8/5 machine with perfect strategy. Find the best pay table you can, play max coins, and learn basic strategy — in that order.