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Online Aces and Eights video poker

Online Aces and Eights is a RealTime Gaming video poker game that pays extra for four aces, four 8s and four 7s, and adds a double-or-nothing option after wins. A third-party catalog lists a 98.65% RTP, which works out to a 1.35% house edge with perfect play. Below: rules, odds, costs and where it's reported.

Key takeaways

  • RTG's Aces and Eights pays special amounts for four aces, 8s and 7s, according to a third-party catalog.
  • Sources disagree: RTP is listed at 98.65% by one and 'up to 99%' by another; max win at 160x or 4,000x.
  • Any of the three bonus quads is dealt about once in 18,048 hands, computed for a standard 52-card deck.
  • At a 1.35% edge, $500 in total bets costs about $6.75 on average, but single sessions swing far more.
  • The partner casinos below are offshore and not licensed by any US state; check your state's law.
Developer
RealTime Gaming (RTG)
Released
February 15, 2018 (third-party catalog)
RTP
98.65% (one catalog); up to 99% (another)
House edge
1.35% (computed from 98.65%)
Max win
160x or 4,000x (sources differ)
Main feature
Bonus pays for four aces, 8s and 7s
Extra
Double-or-nothing

Online Aces and Eights: what makes it different

Aces and Eights takes ordinary draw poker and bolts on bigger payouts for three particular four-of-a-kind hands: aces, 8s and 7s. A third-party catalog lists those special payouts as the game's main feature, along with a double-or-nothing option you can take after a win.

The name comes from the poker hand that American folklore calls the dead man's hand, a pair of aces and a pair of eights. In the video poker version the pairs don't matter much; the money is in making four of a kind in those ranks.

RealTime Gaming released its version on February 15, 2018, according to the same catalog. It sits alongside All American Poker, Jacks or Better and the rest of the RTG range in our games hub.

Aces and Eights RTP, max win and why sources disagree

Two third-party sources cover this game, and they don't match. We show both rather than pick one.

Aces and Eights figures by source
SpecGame catalog (SlotCatalog)Game review site (GamesHub)
RTP98.65%Up to 99%
House edge (computed as 100% minus RTP)1.35%From about 1%
Max win160x4,000x
Release dateFebruary 15, 2018Not given
VolatilityNot publishedNot published

Neither source explains the gap. RTP in video poker always depends on the pay table and assumes perfect play, so the honest reading is that the game returns somewhere near 98.65% to 99% when played well and less when it isn't. The RTG game list on GamesHub (opens in a new tab) is the source of the higher figures.

How to play Aces and Eights online

  1. Read the pay table: note what four aces, four 8s and four 7s pay compared with other quads, and the lowest paying hand.
  2. Pick a coin value and number of coins. Your bet per hand is the two multiplied.
  3. Deal five cards.
  4. Hold the cards you want; the rest are replaced on the draw.
  5. Draw once and collect any win shown in the pay table.
  6. Decide on the double-or-nothing offer. You can always turn it down and keep the win.

The interface is the same as other RTG video poker games, so our guide to playing video poker applies here too.

Odds of hitting four aces, 8s or 7s

These figures are computed for standard rules: one 52-card deck, no wild cards and a fresh shuffle each hand. They don't depend on RTG's pay table, so they hold for any fair version of the game.

Four-of-a-kind odds computed for a standard 52-card deck
SituationChanceAbout 1 in
Dealt four aces (same for four 8s or four 7s)0.0018%54,145
Dealt four of any one of the three bonus ranks0.0055%18,048
Dealt any four of a kind0.024%4,165
Holding three aces, drawing two: make four aces4.26%23.5
Holding a pair of 8s, drawing three: make four 8s0.28%360

The three-of-a-kind row is the one to remember. Two cards come from the 47 you haven't seen, and only one of those 47 completes the quad, so the chance is 2 in 47. Most bonus quads are made that way or from a pair, not dealt outright.

Because the special payouts are concentrated on rare hands, the game behaves with more swing than plain Jacks or Better. Long dry spells are expected; they don't mean a hit is near. Our gambler's fallacy guide explains why.

Aces and Eights in dollars: expected loss per session

Expected loss is total amount bet times the house edge. The table uses both edges the sources support and an example pace of 300 hands per session, which is an illustration, not a measured figure.

Expected loss over 300 hands
Bet per handTotal betAt 1.35% edgeAt 1% edge
$0.25$75$1.01$0.75
$1.25$375$5.06$3.75
$5.00$1,500$20.25$15.00

Those averages assume perfect holds. Real players make mistakes, and each one raises the cost. In a single session the result can sit far from the average in either direction, so budget for the worst case, not the expected one. The gambling budget guide shows a simple method. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, call or text the NCPG National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).

The Aces and Eights double-or-nothing feature

After a winning hand the game can offer to risk the win for a chance to double it. The exact rules of RTG's gamble round aren't published in our sources, so read the help screen.

The math point is simple. Even a perfectly fair 50/50 gamble leaves your long-run return unchanged; it only makes results swingier. If the gamble carries any edge of its own, the overall cost rises. Either way it can't lower the house edge.

Turning the gamble down is always allowed, and for a budgeted session it keeps the variance where you planned it. Bankroll management covers why swing size matters for small budgets.

Aces and Eights strategy compared with Jacks or Better

Strategy can bring you close to the listed return but never past it. The basic skeleton is shared with Jacks or Better: keep made hands, prefer strong draws, and don't break a paying hand for a long shot.

  • Treat a pair of aces, 8s or 7s with extra respect, since those ranks lead to the bonus quads.
  • Hold three of a kind and draw two; never keep a kicker with it.
  • Use a strategy table built for the exact pay table. A Jacks or Better chart will be close but not exact.
  • Practice in demo mode first if the casino offers it; play credits can't be cashed out.

Our video poker strategy guide shows how to learn holds from a pay table.

Aces and Eights vs other RTG video poker

RTG video poker compared (third-party figures; house edge computed as 100% minus RTP)
GameListed RTPHouse edgeListed max winSpecial feature
Aces and Eights98.65% to 99%1% to 1.35%160x or 4,000xBonus quads (aces, 8s, 7s)
All American Poker98.65%1.35%160xNone listed
Jacks or Better99.54% (one source)0.46%800x or 4,000xDouble-or-nothing
Loose Deuces99.07%0.93%800xGamble feature
Double Double Jackpot Poker98.98%1.02%800xProgressive jackpot

For a lower listed edge, see online Loose Deuces; the best high RTP casinos list explains how we weigh return figures.

Real-money online casinos are licensed only in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine's tribal online casino law passed in January 2026 but nothing had launched by October 2026. RTG games are mostly found at offshore casinos that no US state licenses, and your state's law decides whether playing there is lawful.

State regulators do act. The Michigan Gaming Control Board ordered Slot Madness to stop serving Michigan on August 14, 2025, in its release on 15 illegal online operators (opens in a new tab), and named SlotoCash in its October 8, 2026 batch of 33 cease-and-desist letters (opens in a new tab). The board calls these illegal offshore operators.

See cease-and-desist letters explained and the Michigan online casino page for context.

Aces and Eights casinos with an offer via our links

Royal Ace and Slot Madness run RealTime Gaming software according to third-party reviews, and SlotoCash's own site shows RTG video poker such as Double Double Bonus Poker. None of the sources confirms Aces and Eights by name, so check each casino's lobby before you deposit. The ranking is commercial and we earn a commission on sign-ups.

All three are offshore casinos not licensed by any US state. You'd have no state regulator to complain to and no state-backed protection of your balance, so check your state's law first. Bonuses favor slots: video poker is often excluded or wagered at a higher multiple.

Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report wagering of 30x deposit plus bonus on slots and 60x on video poker, a max cashout of 10x the deposit and a $30 card minimum; reviews also list different headline packages.

Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report 30x deposit plus bonus on slots and keno, a $30 minimum deposit and no max cashout; one 2025 review also lists a 125% code that includes video poker at 40x. Sources disagree on the headline, so the terms at sign-up apply.

SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own site advertises a different five-deposit package ($7,777 plus 300 spins) at 25x deposit plus bonus with a $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout, valid on slots, keno and scratch cards; its published bonus terms (opens in a new tab) exclude video poker by default. See the Slot Madness review and SlotoCash review for banking details.

Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure

These partners run RTG games per third-party reviews or their own pages. They are offshore, not licensed by any US state; 21+, terms apply.

Royal Ace Casino #6 on our listSlots and specialty games

$2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins

  • Wagering30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported)
  • Min deposit$30 (reported)
  • Max cashout10x deposit (reported)
  • Withdrawals$2,500 / week (reported)
Claim bonus21+. New players. Terms apply.Royal Ace review
Key terms, license and regulator notes

Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).

Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.

21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

Slot Madness Casino #7 on our listSlots and keno

$2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins

  • Wagering30x deposit + bonus (reported)
  • Min deposit$30 (reported)
  • Max cashoutNone (reported)
  • Withdrawals$2,500 / week (reported)
Claim bonus21+. New players. Terms apply.Slot Madness review
Key terms, license and regulator notes

Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).

Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.

21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

SlotoCash Casino #1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list

$6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins

  • Wagering25x deposit + bonus
  • Min deposit$20 per bonus
  • Max cashoutNone stated
  • Withdrawals$5,000 / week
Claim bonus21+. New players. Terms apply.SlotoCash review
Key terms, license and regulator notes

Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).

Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.

21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).

Frequently asked questions

What is Aces and Eights video poker?

It's a draw video poker game that pays bonus amounts for four aces, four 8s and four 7s. RealTime Gaming's version was released on February 15, 2018, according to a third-party catalog, and includes a double-or-nothing option after wins. Otherwise it plays like Jacks or Better, which our Jacks or Better page explains in detail.

What is the RTP of Aces and Eights?

A third-party catalog lists 98.65%, and another review site says up to 99%. That puts the house edge between about 1% and 1.35%, computed as 100% minus the RTP and assuming perfect play. Mistakes lower your actual return. Our house edge guide shows how to turn that percentage into dollars.

How often do you get four aces in Aces and Eights?

Being dealt four aces happens about once in 54,145 hands, computed for a standard 52-card deck. Getting any of the three bonus quads dealt is about once in 18,048 hands. Most come from drawing to three of a kind or a pair, so the overall rate is higher but still rare. See jackpot odds for how rare hands affect sessions.

Should I take the double-or-nothing gamble?

You don't have to, and declining keeps your session's swings smaller. A fair 50/50 gamble doesn't change the long-run return, and a gamble with any edge makes it worse, so it can never improve your odds. RTG's exact gamble rules aren't published in our sources. Our bankroll management guide explains why variance matters on a fixed budget.

Is Aces and Eights the same as Jacks or Better?

No, but they're close relatives. Both use a 52-card deck with no wild cards, and the hold-and-draw play is identical. Aces and Eights shifts money toward four aces, 8s and 7s, which changes some holds and makes results swingier. RTG's Jacks or Better is listed at 99.54% by one source. Read our video poker strategy guide for adapting holds.

Can I play Aces and Eights with a bonus?

Often not on the same terms as slots. SlotoCash's own bonus terms exclude video poker by default, and third-party reviews report 60x wagering on video poker at Royal Ace. One 2025 review lists a Slot Madness code that includes video poker at 40x. Check the video poker bonus guide before claiming.

Is online Aces and Eights legal in the US?

It depends on your state. Seven states license real-money online casinos, and RTG games are mostly at offshore sites no state licenses. Michigan's regulator has named Slot Madness and SlotoCash in cease-and-desist actions. Read is it illegal to play at offshore casinos for what the law says and how it varies by state.

What is the max win in Aces and Eights?

Sources disagree: a third-party catalog lists 160x the bet and a review site lists 4,000x. The gap may come from quoting per coin versus per hand at maximum coins, but neither source explains it. Check the royal flush line in the game's pay table for the real figure at your bet size. Our pay table glossary entry explains how to read it.

Where can I play Aces and Eights online for real money?

Aces and Eights is a RealTime Gaming title, so it's most likely at RTG casinos, but none of our sources confirms it by name in a specific lobby. Third-party reviews say Royal Ace and Slot Madness run RTG software, and SlotoCash's own site shows RTG video poker such as Double Double Bonus Poker. All three are offshore and not licensed by any US state, so check your state's law and each lobby before depositing. Our best video poker casinos list compares the partner options.

Is Aces and Eights better than All American Poker?

On the listed numbers they're level: SlotCatalog gives both RTG games a 98.65% RTP and a 160x max win, which is a 1.35% house edge with perfect play. The difference is in the features. Aces and Eights adds bonus payouts for four aces, 8s and 7s and a double-or-nothing option, while no special feature is listed for All American Poker. That makes Aces and Eights swingier, with more of its return tied to rare quads. See our All American Poker page to compare the two.

Can I play Aces and Eights on my phone?

Usually yes, through a mobile browser at casinos that carry RTG games. SlotoCash's own site says no app or software is required, a third-party review describes Slot Madness playing in Chrome and Safari on Android and iPhone, and AskGamblers lists Royal Ace with instant play, mobile and download options. Whether Aces and Eights itself appears in each mobile lobby isn't confirmed, so check before depositing. Small screens make pay tables harder to read, so open it first. Our playing on Android guide has setup tips.

Can I play Aces and Eights for free?

Possibly, if the casino you use offers a demo or practice mode, but our sources don't confirm a free version of RTG's Aces and Eights at any specific site. Demo play is a sensible way to learn which cards to hold before you risk money, since strategy charts built for Jacks or Better won't match its pay table exactly. Play credits can't be cashed out, and demo results don't predict real-money sessions. Our demo mode guide and free vs real money guide explain the differences.

Do I pay tax on Aces and Eights winnings?

Yes, gambling winnings, including video poker wins, are taxable federal income, whether you play at an offshore site or a licensed one. For payments made in 2026, the IRS sets a $2,000 Form W-2G reporting threshold for slot, bingo and keno wins; check the IRS W-2G instructions for how a video poker win is treated. Smaller wins are still taxable, so keep your own session records. From tax year 2026 the loss deduction is reported to be capped at 90% of losses; check IRS guidance. See our gambling taxes guide.

Sources