How Video Poker Works
Video poker is based on five-card draw, but you play against a paytable instead of other players:
- Choose your stake, usually from one to five coins per hand.
- Deal. You receive five cards.
- Hold. Choose which cards to keep.
- Draw. The cards you did not hold are replaced once.
- Get paid. Your final hand is paid according to the paytable.
Each hand is dealt from a freshly shuffled virtual deck by a random number generator. Because you decide which cards to hold, your choices affect the return, which is what makes video poker different from slots.
How to Read a Video Poker Paytable
Paytables are often described by two numbers, such as 9/6. In Jacks or Better, these are the payouts per coin for a full house and a flush. The full-pay 9/6 version returns more than the common 8/5 version, even though the rest of the table looks the same.
| Hand (Jacks or Better 9/6) | Pays per coin |
| Royal flush | 250 (800 per coin when you bet 5 coins) |
| Straight flush | 50 |
| Four of a kind | 25 |
| Full house | 9 |
| Flush | 6 |
| Straight | 4 |
| Three of a kind | 3 |
| Two pair | 2 |
| Pair of jacks or better | 1 |
Many games pay a bonus for a royal flush only when you bet the maximum number of coins. If you play fewer coins, the return drops, so it is usually better to play five smaller coins than one large coin.
Popular Video Poker Games and Their Return
| Game | Paytable | Return with optimal strategy |
| Jacks or Better | 9/6 (full pay) | 99.54% |
| Jacks or Better | 8/5 | 97.30% |
| Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 99.17% |
| Double Bonus Poker | 10/7 | 100.17% |
| Double Double Bonus Poker | 9/6 | 98.98% |
| Deuces Wild | Full pay | 100.76% |
These returns assume perfect strategy over a very large number of hands. Real results vary, and many online versions use lower paytables than the full-pay figures above, so check the paytable shown in the game before you play.
What Makes Each Variant Different
- Jacks or Better: the classic game and the best place to learn. A pair of jacks or higher is the lowest paying hand.
- Bonus Poker and Double Bonus Poker: pay extra for certain four-of-a-kind hands, such as four aces, while paying less for two pair.
- Double Double Bonus Poker: adds larger payouts for four aces or four low cards with a specific kicker, which makes results more volatile.
- Deuces Wild: all four 2s are wild, so the lowest paying hand is usually three of a kind and the strategy changes completely.
Video Poker Strategy Basics
- Learn one game first. Strategy differs between variants, so start with Jacks or Better.
- Use a strategy chart. Charts rank every possible hold for a specific paytable.
- Never break a pat royal, straight flush or four of a kind.
- Hold four to a royal flush over a made flush or straight in Jacks or Better.
- Keep a high pair rather than chasing a four-card straight.
- Do not keep a kicker with a pair in Jacks or Better; it lowers your chances of improving.
- Play at a comfortable pace. Mistakes cost more than any paytable difference.
Video Poker vs Online Poker
Video poker is a casino game: you play alone against a fixed paytable, and the result depends on the cards dealt and the cards you hold. Online poker is played against other people, and you win by beating their hands or making them fold. Video poker suits players who want poker hands without opponents or bluffing.
Where to Play Video Poker in Ontario
Video poker is offered by fewer Ontario casinos than slots or blackjack. Among the brands we review, JackpotCity and PlayOJO list video poker in their Ontario game lobbies. Titles and paytables differ between casinos, so open the game’s help screen to see the paytable and stated return before you play.
Only play at casinos registered with the AGCO and operating under iGaming Ontario. Licensed sites use independently tested random number generators and give you tools such as deposit limits, time reminders and self-exclusion.
Pros and Cons of Video Poker
Advantages:
- Some of the highest returns in the casino with good paytables and correct play
- Your decisions affect the result
- Clear, published paytables
Disadvantages:
- Full-pay paytables are hard to find online
- Strategy mistakes lower the return
- Royal flush bonuses usually require maximum coins
Play Video Poker Responsibly in Ontario
Video poker hands are quick, so a session can cover many hands in a short time. Set a deposit limit and a time limit before you play, and take regular breaks. Gambling is for adults 19+ and should be treated as entertainment. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 from ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. Read more on our responsible gambling page.