Best Odds Video Poker Games

Q: Which video poker game has the best odds?

Full-pay Deuces Wild has the best odds of any common video poker game, returning 100.76% with perfect strategy — a small mathematical edge over the house. All American Poker (100.72%), Joker Poker Kings+ (100.64%), and full-pay Double Bonus 10/6 (100.17%) also exceed 100%.

Q: Are video poker odds better than slots?

Yes, dramatically. Full-pay video poker returns 99.5%-100.8% with optimal strategy, giving a house edge under 0.5%. Slot machines typically return 85%-98%, a house edge of 2%-15%. Video poker also shows you the full pay table before you bet, while slot odds are hidden.

Q: What is the best full-pay video poker game for beginners?

9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54% RTP) is the best starting point. It has the lowest variance of the high-RTP games, the simplest strategy, and pays often, so your bankroll lasts longer while you learn.

Q: Can you actually beat video poker?

A handful of full-pay games (Deuces Wild 100.76%, All American 100.72%, Joker Poker 100.64%) return over 100% with flawless play, meaning a tiny long-run edge. In practice these machines are rare and the edge is razor-thin, so most players treat video poker as the lowest-house-edge game on the floor rather than a guaranteed win.

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Which Video Poker Games Have the Best Odds?

In video poker, "odds" really means Return to Player (RTP) — the percentage of every dollar wagered that the game pays back over the long run when you play with perfect strategy. The higher the RTP, the better your odds and the lower the house edge. Unlike slots, every video poker pay table is published, so you can know a machine's odds before you place a single bet.

The best odds in video poker come from full-pay machines played with optimal strategy. A small group of full-pay games actually return over 100%, giving a mathematically skilled player a razor-thin edge over the house. The catch: the exact pay table matters enormously. The same game name can range from a 100.76% bargain to a 94% trap depending on a single line of the pay schedule.

Below we rank the most popular video poker variants by their best available RTP, then explain how to spot a good machine and which game fits your bankroll.

Highest RTP Video Poker Games (Ranked)

All figures assume the best common pay table for each game, played with mathematically optimal strategy. Click any game to play it free, no download or registration required.

#	Game	Best Pay Table	RTP	Variance	Play
1	Deuces Wild	Full Pay (NSU 25/15/9)	100.76%	Medium	Play Free
2	All American Poker	8/8/8 Full Pay	100.72%	High	Play Free
3	Joker Poker	Kings+ Full Pay	100.64%	Medium	Play Free
4	Double Bonus	10/7 Full Pay	100.17%	High	Play Free
5	Loose Deuces Wild	15/10 Full Pay	100.15%	High	Play Free
6	NSU Deuces Wild	Not-So-Ugly	99.73%	Medium	Play Free
7	Triple Double Bonus	9/7	99.58%	Extreme	Play Free
8	Jacks or Better	9/6 Full Pay	99.54%	Low	Play Free
9	Bonus Deuces Wild	Full Pay	99.45%	High	Play Free
10	Bonus Poker	8/5	99.17%	Medium	Play Free
11	Double Bonus	9/7	99.11%	High	Play Free
12	Double Double Bonus	9/6	98.98%	Very High	Play Free

Want the full math behind these numbers? See the complete video poker odds & probability guide with hand probability tables and house-edge comparisons.

Games With a Player Edge (100%+ RTP)

Five games on our list cross the 100% line, meaning that with flawless strategy the long-run return is slightly above even. These are the holy grail of "best odds" video poker:

Deuces Wild (Full Pay) — 100.76%. All four 2s are wild, creating frequent wild Royals and five-of-a-kinds. The full-pay version (sometimes called 25/15/9 for its five-of-a-kind / straight-flush / four-deuces payouts) is the single best-odds game in video poker.
All American Poker — 100.72%. Pays a flat 8-for-1 on flushes, straights, and full houses. Strategy leans heavily toward straights and flushes rather than pairs.
Joker Poker (Kings or Better) — 100.64%. A 53-card deck with one joker as a wild card. The wild joker drives five-of-a-kinds and wild Royals.
Double Bonus 10/7 — 100.17%. A non-wild game that rewards four-of-a-kinds heavily, with a big bonus on four Aces.
Loose Deuces 15/10 — 100.15%. A Deuces Wild variant with a boosted four-deuces payout.

Reality check: A positive expectation does not guarantee a winning session. These edges are tiny (under 1%) and only materialize over tens of thousands of perfectly played hands. Treat the 100%+ games as the best value on the floor, not a paycheck. Practicing free here first lets you nail the strategy before it matters.

How to Find the Best Odds in Practice

The single biggest factor in your real-world odds is the pay table, not the game name. Two machines labeled "Jacks or Better" can differ by more than 2% RTP. Here is how to protect your odds:

Read the full-house and flush payouts first. For Jacks or Better, 9/6 (9-for-1 full house, 6-for-1 flush) returns 99.54%. The common short-pay 8/5 drops to 97.30% — the same game, 2.24% worse.
Avoid 6/5 and "short pay" schedules. A 6/5 Jacks or Better returns just ~95%. If the full house pays 6 and the flush pays 5, walk away.
Match the pay table to the published full-pay version. Our pay tables list the full-pay benchmark for every game so you can compare instantly.
Always play optimal strategy. RTP figures assume perfect play. Casual mistakes can cost 1%-3%, erasing the advantage of a good pay table. Use our free strategy charts and built-in AI Trainer to lock in correct holds.

Best Odds Game for Your Playing Style

Lowest house edge overall: Full-Pay Deuces Wild (100.76%) — for players willing to learn its unique wild-card strategy.
Best for beginners / smallest bankroll: 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%, Low variance) — frequent wins, simplest strategy.
Best for big-payout chasers: Triple Double Bonus (99.58%) — high RTP but extreme variance from premium quad bonuses.
Best balance of odds and excitement: Joker Poker (100.64%) — over 100% with manageable medium variance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which video poker game has the best odds?

Full-pay Deuces Wild has the best odds of any common video poker game at 100.76% RTP with perfect strategy — a small edge over the house. All American Poker (100.72%), Joker Poker Kings+ (100.64%), and full-pay Double Bonus 10/6 (100.17%) also return over 100%.

Are video poker odds better than slots?

Yes, by a wide margin. Full-pay video poker returns 99.5%-100.8% with optimal strategy (house edge under 0.5%). Slots typically return 85%-98% (house edge 2%-15%) and hide their odds. Video poker shows the entire pay table up front.

What is the best full-pay video poker game for beginners?

9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) is the best place to start — it has the lowest variance of the high-RTP games, the simplest strategy, and pays often so your bankroll lasts.

Can you actually beat video poker?

A few full-pay games return over 100% with flawless play, giving a tiny long-run edge. In practice these machines are rare and the edge is small, so the realistic goal is playing the lowest-house-edge game on the floor and extending your bankroll.