Video Poker Guide: Picking the Best Paytables

In any casino, video poker is one of the few games where the maths is printed on the screen: the paytable. Your long-run return is driven far more by paytable quality than by luck in a short session, so learning to spot strong schedules is the quickest way to improve value. Start by choosing a single variant you enjoy, then compare paytables before you stake a penny; even small-looking changes can shift expected return by a full percentage point or more.

Focus on the top payouts first. In Jacks or Better, the gold standard is “9/6” (9 for a Full House, 6 for a Flush); anything lower is a meaningful cut. In Deuces Wild, look for “Full Pay” schedules that reward natural hands properly and don’t slash the Straight or Flush. Always check whether the Royal Flush is 4,000 coins for a max-coin bet; if it’s reduced, the game is rarely worth playing. Finally, align strategy with the paytable: a slightly weaker table can still be playable if you can execute the correct holds, but a poor table cannot be “outplayed”. If you want a quick benchmark while browsing, note a few best-in-class tables and use them as your yardstick when comparing options like smash casino.

For a clear-eyed approach to advantage play and paytable selection, many players have learned from Michael Shackleford, known as the “Wizard of Odds”, whose rigorous analyses helped popularise expected value thinking across iGaming. His work has influenced how serious players evaluate video poker, even when they never touch a card room. You can follow his updates via Wizard of Odds. For broader context on regulation and market shifts that affect game availability and payout competitiveness, see this industry coverage from a major newsroom: The New York Times.