Electronic Skill Game

Video Poker Casinos

The skill-based slot alternative. Find a full-pay machine, play perfect strategy, and enjoy returns above 99%.

564 US venues offer video poker.

House Edge
Under 1% on full-pay machines
RTP
95% to 100%+
Typical Min Bet
$1.25 per hand (5 credits)
Pace
Self-paced
Category
Electronic Skill Game
Beginner-friendly

Stake.us

Recommended

Free social play · Gold Coins & Stake Cash

Availability
31 states
Continental US + HI
Read review

Social casino only. Gold Coins have no cash value and can't be redeemed. Stake Cash is promotional and can't be purchased.

Casino Directory

Where to play Video Poker in the US

Showing 12 of 564 venues

Video poker is the most skill-dependent machine in the casino. You are dealt five cards, choose which to hold, and draw replacements to make the best poker hand. Your decisions directly affect the return, and on a full-pay machine played with correct strategy, the house edge can drop below 1 percent. A few rare pay tables even tip slightly in the player's favor before comps. The challenge is finding the good machines, which requires reading pay tables and knowing what to look for. You'll find live tables at most major properties. See our full US casino directory for venue contact details and hours.

Video poker is the game for players who want a machine-based experience with table-game odds. The RTP on a full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better machine with perfect strategy is roughly 99.5 percent, which beats most slot machines by several percentage points. The trade-off is that you must learn the correct strategy. Unlike slots, where every spin is purely random, video poker rewards you for holding the right cards. The difference between a perfect and average player on the same machine can be several percent of return.

How to play Video Poker

  1. Insert cash or a TITO ticket. Your credit balance appears. Choose your game variant from the menu.

  2. Always bet the maximum five credits. The royal flush pays a much higher rate (800:1) on the fifth coin.

  3. Five cards are dealt. Identify your hand and what draws are available.

  4. Tap to hold the cards you want to keep. The correct holds follow a strategy chart specific to your pay table.

  5. Press draw. The unheld cards are replaced. The machine pays based on the final five-card hand.

  6. Cash out when you are done. Video poker is self-paced, so take your time between hands.

Video Poker Rules and Paytables

Video poker uses a standard 52-card deck (plus jokers in some variants). You bet 1 to 5 credits and receive five cards. You choose which to hold and draw replacements. The final hand is paid according to the paytable. The most important numbers on the paytable are the full house and flush payouts. 9/6 Jacks or Better pays 9 credits for a full house and 6 for a flush. 8/5 pays less. 7/5 pays less still. The difference between 9/6 and 8/5 is roughly 2 percent of return -- a massive gap.

Common variants include Jacks or Better (pays starting at a pair of jacks), Deuces Wild (all four 2s are wild), Double Double Bonus (bonus payouts for four of a kind with kickers), and Joker Poker (one joker acts as a wild card). Each variant has a different optimal strategy. Full-pay machines for each variant exist but are increasingly rare. Learning to identify them is the most important video poker skill.

  • Can you beat video poker?

    A small number of full-pay machines, played with perfect strategy and combined with players club comps, can return slightly over 100 percent. These are rare and require flawless play. Most machines still favor the house, but a good paytable with correct strategy keeps the edge under 1 percent.

Editorial Strategy

Strategy & etiquette for Video Poker

  • Always bet five coins to unlock the full royal flush payout of 800:1.

  • Look for full-pay machines. 9/6 Jacks or Better pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush. Lower payouts mean a worse machine.

  • Keep a high pair over a four-card flush draw in Jacks or Better.

  • Use a strategy card for your specific variant. The correct holds differ between Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.

  • The most common mistake is holding a kicker with a high pair. Never do this in Jacks or Better.

  • Players club points matter. Video poker comps are generous at many casinos and add real value.

Where to play in the US

Top land-based casinos to play Video Poker

Editorial picks for visitors who want a real-floor Video Poker session. Ranked by directory depth (table counts, amenities, and floor quality). Tap any card for the full property review.

  1. #1Casinos
    Editor's pick
    Foxwoods Resort Casino — nashantucket

    Foxwoods Resort Casino

    Nashantucket, Connecticut

    4,800 slots · 380 tables · 147 poker tables · 24/7

    Selection100
    Value67
    Experience100

    Games available

    • 3 Card Poker
    • Baccarat
    • Bingo

    Property

    • Bar
    • Open 24 7
    • Restaurant
    Rate for Video Poker0 votes

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  2. #2Casinos
    Mohegan Sun — uncasville

    Mohegan Sun

    Uncasville, Connecticut

    5,532 slots · 377 tables · 42 poker tables · 24/7

    Selection100
    Value70
    Experience100

    Games available

    • 3 Card Poker
    • Baccarat
    • Caribbean Stud Poker

    Property

    • Golf
    • Open 24 7
    • Pool
    Rate for Video Poker0 votes

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  3. #3Casinos
    Havasu Landing Resort and Casino — havasu lake

    Havasu Landing Resort and Casino

    Havasu Lake, California

    6 slots · 320 tables · 24/7

    Selection100
    Value34
    Experience100

    Games available

    • 3 Card Poker
    • American Roulette
    • Blackjack

    Property

    • Open 24 7
    • Self Parking
    • Valet
    Rate for Video Poker0 votes

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Rankings reflect directory data depth (floor counts, game variety, amenity tags) re-verified quarterly. They are not a substitute for current operating status; confirm hours and game spread directly with each casino before visiting.

Video Poker Strategy — Paytable Hunting

Paytable hunting is the art of identifying good machines by their posted paytables before you sit down. For Jacks or Better, look for 9/6. For Deuces Wild, look for 15/9 (15 for a five-of-a-kind, 9 for a straight flush). For Double Double Bonus, look for 9/6 or 10/6. These numbers tell you instantly whether the machine is worth playing. Most casinos post video poker paytables openly because regulations require it.

The optimal strategy for each variant is documented on strategy cards available from gaming publishers. Hold decisions differ significantly between variants. In Jacks or Better, you keep a high pair over a four-card flush. In Deuces Wild, you hold each deuce individually since wild cards are extremely valuable. Learning one variant is enough to start. Jacks or Better is the simplest and most forgiving. For related electronic games, see our video keno guide and electronic tables guide.

Common Video Poker variants

Where to Play Video Poker

Video poker machines are in the slot zones and at bar tops in every US casino. The best paytables are found in locals casinos and off-Strip Las Vegas properties. Strip casinos typically offer worse paytables because they face less competition for video poker players. Bar-top machines often have worse paytables than standalone floor machines.

Before you sit, read the paytable for the full house and flush payouts. Browse our US casino directory to find venues near you.

  • Why bet five coins every hand?

    The royal flush pays 250 per coin for one through four coins but jumps to 800 per coin on the fifth coin. Betting max unlocks that bonus, which is a meaningful part of the long-run return.

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