Calculate the bankroll you need for video poker based on game variant, bet size, and risk tolerance. Understand risk of ruin and proper bankroll management.
Recommended Bankroll
$12,207
1% risk of ruin
Minimum Bankroll
$7,941
5% risk of ruin
Session Bankroll
$555
4 hour session
Expected Loss/Hour
$3
Higher variance = more bankroll needed
5 coins at max denomination
Typical: 400-700
Lower risk = larger bankroll needed
| Game | Variance | Min Bankroll | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 Jacks or Better | 19.51 | $488 | 1.00× |
| 8/5 Jacks or Better | 19.22 | $481 | 0.99× |
| Full Pay Deuces Wild | 25.83 | $646 | 1.32× |
| NSUD Deuces Wild | 25.58 | $640 | 1.31× |
| 10/7 Double Bonus | 28.26 | $707 | 1.45× |
* All values relative to 9/6 Jacks or Better baseline
Monte Carlo simulation with 1,000 iterations
Your initial capital
Your expected advantage
Percentage of bankroll per bet
Total bets to simulate
A general rule is 200-400 times your bet size for recreational play. For $1.25/hand, that is $250-$500. Higher variance games like Double Bonus need 40-50% more. Professional players targeting 1% risk of ruin may need 1000+ bet units.
Risk of Ruin (RoR) is the probability of losing your entire bankroll before achieving your goal. A 5% RoR means 1 in 20 chance of going broke. Most recreational players accept 5%, while professionals target 1% or less.
Counterintuitively, no. While positive EV games are profitable long-term, their high variance (especially Deuces Wild and Double Bonus) means you still need substantial bankroll to survive the swings. The Royal Flush contributes significantly to both return and variance.
Quick-start with common scenarios
Recommended Bankroll
$12,207
1% risk of ruin
Minimum Bankroll
$7,941
5% risk of ruin
Session Bankroll
$555
4 hour session
Expected Loss/Hour
$3