Video poker offers some of the best odds on any casino floor, but that reputation comes with a condition: the return depends entirely on the paytable, not the game’s name. Two machines both labeled Jacks or Better can pay several percentage points apart, because the payouts printed on their pay schedules are different. A “full-pay” machine is simply the version that pays the most, and finding one is the difference between a low-edge game and a slow bleed.
Learning to spot those tables is a skill worth having, since it turns video poker from a guessing game into one of the sharpest bets in the building. Smart Bet Insider reviews real-money casinos and the games that actually reward skill over luck. The sections below break down what full-pay means, which variants return the most, why strategy decides your results, and where to find the best tables online.
“Full-Pay” Is the Name of the Game
Full-pay refers to the highest-returning version of a given video poker variant, the paytable a game uses before any casino trims it to widen the house edge. Because RTP is calculated directly from those payout numbers, the same game name can carry wildly different returns. 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.54% under optimal play, while the 8/5 version of the identical-looking game drops to 97.30%.
That gap is why the game name alone tells you nothing useful. A machine advertised as Jacks or Better could be running 9/6, 8/5, 7/5, or worse, and only the paytable reveals which. Treating the name as a promise of good odds is the single most common mistake video poker players make.
How to Read a Video Poker Paytable
The shorthand experts use, like “9/6,” refers to the coins paid for a full house and a flush per coin wagered, the two lines that do most of the damage to RTP. When a casino shaves a game from 9/6 down to 8/5 or 6/5, those two rows are almost always where the cut lands, so checking them first tells you nearly everything about the machine.
One more detail separates a genuine full-pay return from a disappointing one. The royal flush pays 800 coins per coin only when playing the maximum five coins, and it collapses to 250 per coin at any lower bet, which quietly erases the edge. Reputable sites let you open the paytable before you play, and a game that hides that screen is a red flag worth heeding.
The Highest-RTP Variants
Among the classics, full-pay Deuces Wild sits at the top, returning as much as 100.76% with perfect play, a rare theoretical edge in the player’s favor. Its more common online cousin, Not So Ugly Deuces, still returns a strong 99.73%, while the short-pay version craters to 94.34%, a reminder that the Deuces label spans an enormous range.
Other variants cluster just below the century mark and reward players who seek them out. Alongside 9/6 Jacks or Better at 99.54%, you will find 10/7 Double Bonus edging just past 100%, Bonus Poker Deluxe near 99.64%, and specialty titles like Ultimate X Double Bonus Poker reaching 99.88%. Any video poker game with a published RTP of 99% or higher belongs on your shortlist.
Why Strategy Decides Your Return
Those RTP figures come with a catch, since every one of them assumes optimal play. Video poker sits at the intersection of skill and luck, and unlike a slot, each hand has a single mathematically correct hold that a strategy chart can tell you. Deviating from it, even slightly and even occasionally, drags your real return below the number on the paytable.
Each variant demands its own chart, because the payouts reshape which cards are worth keeping. Deuces Wild strategy centers on counting wild cards, while Double Bonus rewards chasing specific four-of-a-kind hands, so a chart for one game will actively mislead you at another. Practicing in free-play mode and mastering a single variant before branching out is how disciplined players close the gap between theory and results.
Where to Find Full-Pay Tables Online
Full-pay tables live at licensed operators in the states that permit online casino play, where audited random number generators and published paytables make verification straightforward. DraftKings carries the widest video poker selection among US-regulated casinos, including multi-variant IGT machines whose sub-games mostly clear 99%, while BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars round out the field with their own high-RTP lineups.
Finding the best table is a matter of method rather than luck. Filter the lobby to video poker, open each game’s paytable, confirm the full house and flush lines match a full-pay schedule, and set your bet to max coins before the first hand. Offshore sites advertise video poker too, but they operate without US licensing or recourse, so a regulated operator remains the only place worth verifying a paytable.
Play the Paytable, Not the Name
The best video poker experience comes down to a single habit: judging a game by its pay schedule rather than its title. A full-pay table, played with correct strategy at max coins, delivers returns almost no other casino game can match, while the short-pay version of that exact game quietly hands the edge back. The number on the paytable is the only thing that pays you.
Smart Bet Insider reviews video poker games and the casinos that carry the best paytables across every regulated state. Check the coverage before you sit down, and remember that even a strong RTP is a long-run average rather than a guarantee for any single session. None of this is financial advice, and anyone with questions about gambling should play within a budget they can afford to lose.
Gambling can be a sensitive subject, and if it is becoming a problem for you or someone you know, please reach out to support resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “full-pay” mean in video poker?
Full-pay refers to the highest-returning version of a video poker variant, using the most generous paytable before a casino reduces any payouts. The most famous example is 9/6 Jacks or Better, which returns 99.54% with optimal play. Short-pay versions of the same game, like 8/5, return several percentage points less.
Which video poker game has the highest RTP?
Full-pay Deuces Wild has the highest theoretical return, reaching 100.76% with perfect strategy, which is a slight edge in the player’s favor. The more common Not So Ugly Deuces returns 99.73%, and 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.54%. These figures only hold with the correct paytable and optimal play.
How do I read a video poker paytable?
The shorthand like “9/6” shows the coins paid for a full house and a flush, the two lines that most affect RTP. Compare those numbers between machines, since casinos usually cut returns there first. Also confirm the royal flush pays 800 per coin, which requires betting the maximum five coins.
Where can I play full-pay video poker online?
Full-pay tables are available at licensed online casinos in the states that permit real-money play, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. DraftKings offers the widest selection among regulated US operators, with BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars also carrying high-RTP variants. Always open the paytable before playing to confirm the game is full-pay.
Does strategy really affect video poker payouts?
Yes, significantly. The advertised RTP of any video poker game assumes optimal strategy, meaning the mathematically correct hold on every hand. Playing by instinct instead of a strategy chart lowers your actual return, sometimes by more than a full percentage point, and each variant requires its own chart.