Best Video Poker Games by Return
Return with perfect play, highest first. Two reminders: these are the full-pay versions, and the return assumes you play every hand correctly. A great game played badly is worse than a good game played right.
| Game | Return |
|---|---|
| Deuces Wild (full pay)Positive return, but demands a very different wild-card strategy. | 100.76% |
| Joker Poker (full pay, Kings+)One wild joker. Simple rule: never discard it. | 100.65% |
| 10/7 Double BonusPositive return with tight play. High variance. | 100.17% |
| Aces and EightsHighest non-wild return here. Bonus quads on aces, 8s, 7s. | 99.78% |
| Super Double BonusFour quad tiers, boosted straight flush. | 99.69% |
| Bonus Poker DeluxeFlat 80-coin quads. Easiest bonus game to learn. | 99.64% |
| All AmericanStraight, flush, full house all pay the same. High variance. | 99.60% |
| Triple Double BonusKicker bonus pays like a royal. Very high variance. | 99.58% |
| 9/6 Jacks or BetterThe classic. Easiest to find full-pay and to learn. | 99.54% |
| 8/5 Bonus PokerJacks or Better with bigger quads. | 99.17% |
| 9/6 Double Double BonusThe most popular bonus game. Big aces, high variance. | 98.98% |
| 8/5 Jacks or BetterA common short-pay table. Prefer 9/6 when available. | 97.30% |
Return is not the whole story
A higher return often comes with higher variance. Double Bonus and Double Double Bonus pack much of their return into rare four-of-a-kind hands, so you will see longer losing stretches between big hits. If you want steadier sessions, 9/6 Jacks or Better is smoother at a slightly lower return.
Play the full-pay version, and play it right
Every return here assumes the full-pay table and perfect strategy. Learn to read the pay table so you can confirm you are on the good machine, then drill that game in the trainer until your play matches the math.
Common questions
Which game has the highest return?
Full-pay Deuces Wild at 100.76% with perfect play, followed by full-pay Joker Poker and 10/7 Double Bonus. All three demand tight, game-specific strategy and carry high variance.
Is a higher return always better for me?
Not always. A higher return often comes with higher variance — Double Bonus games pack much of their return into rare four-of-a-kind hands, so you see longer cold stretches. 9/6 Jacks or Better is smoother at a slightly lower return.