Video Poker Pay Table Analyzer

Analyze any video poker pay table to calculate expected return. Compare different machines and find the best games in your casino.

Formula:Return = Σ (Hand Frequency × Payout)

Expected Return

97.27%

House edge: 2.73%

Pay Table Rating

Poor

9/6 Jacks or Better

Key Payouts (Most Important)

for 1

9 = full pay

for 1

6 = full pay

Complete Pay Table

for 1
for 1
for 1
for 1
for 1
for 1

Return Contribution Breakdown

HandPayoutFrequencyReturn %
Royal Flush800:10.0003%0.20%
Straight Flush50:10.0011%0.06%
Four of a Kind25:10.2360%5.90%
Full House9:11.1510%10.36%
Flush6:11.1020%6.61%
Straight4:11.1230%4.49%
Three of a Kind3:17.4450%22.34%
Two Pair2:112.9280%25.86%
Jacks or Better1:121.4590%21.46%
Total Return97.27%

Comparison to Standard Pay Tables

Pay TableReturnHouse Edgevs Yours
Your Pay Table (9/6)97.27%2.73%—
9/6 Full Pay99.54%0.46%-2.27%
9/598.45%1.55%-1.18%
8/698.39%1.61%-1.12%
8/597.30%2.70%-0.03%
7/596.15%3.85%+1.12%

Pay Table Rating Guide

Excellent
≥99.5%
Good
98.5-99.5%
Fair
97.5-98.5%
Poor
96-97.5%
Avoid
<96%

Quick Answer

A 9/6 pay table (9 for full house, 6 for flush) returns 99.54%. Reducing to 8/5 costs 2.24% in return - on $1000 wagered, you'd lose an extra $22.4. Always check the full house and flush payouts first.

Key Facts

  • ✓9/6 is "full pay" Jacks or Better - 99.54% return
  • ✓8/5 is most common in casinos - 97.30% return
  • ✓Each point reduction in Full House costs ~1.1%
  • ✓Each point reduction in Flush costs ~1.1%
  • ✓On $3000/hour wagered, 8/5 vs 9/6 costs $67/hour extra

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pay table in video poker?▼
A pay table shows the payout for each winning hand. In Jacks or Better, the key numbers are the Full House and Flush payouts. A "9/6" machine pays 9 coins for Full House and 6 for Flush. These two numbers determine 90%+ of the return difference between machines.
How do I find the best video poker pay tables?▼
Look at the Full House and Flush payouts first. For Jacks or Better: 9/6 = 99.54%, 9/5 = 98.45%, 8/6 = 98.39%, 8/5 = 97.30%. The difference matters: playing $750/hour on 8/5 vs 9/6 costs $16.80/hour in expected loss. Check vpFREE2 for local machine surveys.
Why does the Royal Flush payout matter less than other hands?▼
The Royal Flush occurs only once per ~40,000 hands, so its payout contributes only ~2% to total return. The Full House (1 in 87) and Flush (1 in 90) hit much more often, so their payouts have 5x more impact on your actual results. Always prioritize finding 9/6 over progressive royals.
What makes Double Bonus pay tables different?▼
Double Bonus games have bonus payouts for different Four of a Kind hands (80 for Aces, 50 for 2-3-4, 25 for 5-K). The tradeoff is reduced Full House and Flush (usually 10/7 or 9/7). This increases variance - you'll see bigger swings. 10/7 Double Bonus returns 100.17% but requires perfect strategy.