Full pay meaning: in video poker, a full-pay game is one that uses the most generous standard pay table for that variant, so it returns the most to a player using correct strategy. Two machines can carry the same name and deal the same cards, yet pay different amounts for the same hands. The pay table is the difference.
Full pay describes the best standard pay table for a video poker variant; short pay means some hands pay less.
Third-party data lists RTG video poker returns from 93.15% (Sevens Wild) to 99.54% (Jacks or Better).
On $1,000 of bets, a 99.54% game costs about $4.60 on average; a 93.15% game costs about $68.50.
Published returns assume perfect strategy, and bonus terms often exclude or down-weight video poker.
Term
Full pay (full-pay pay table)
Applies to
Video poker pay tables
Opposite
Short pay (reduced pay table)
Top RTG figure listed
99.54%, Jacks or Better (GamesHub, third-party)
Lowest RTG figure listed
93.15%, Sevens Wild (SlotCatalog, third-party)
Where to check
The pay table inside the game
Full pay meaning: the short definition
A full-pay video poker game pays the highest standard amounts its variant is known for on every hand in the pay table. A short-pay version of the same game trims one or more of those payouts, usually on common hands such as the full house or flush, and that small trim lowers the long-run return.
The term only makes sense inside one variant. A full-pay Jacks or Better table and a full-pay Deuces Wild table look nothing alike, because the games rank and reward hands differently. What they share is the idea: this is the best version of the game you're likely to find.
Full pay is not a promise of profit. Even the best pay table still carries a house edge, and results over a short session swing widely around the average.
How full-pay tables are named and spotted
Video poker players describe pay tables by the per-coin payouts on two hands that change most between versions. For Jacks or Better, the shorthand lists the full house and flush payouts, so a table called "9/6" pays 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush per coin bet. A lower pair of numbers signals a short-pay table.
Online, you don't see a label on the cabinet. You open the game's help or pay table screen and read the numbers yourself. Here's a quick routine for any title:
Open the game and find the pay table, usually shown above the cards or behind an info button.
Note what one coin pays for a full house, a flush and, in wild-card games, four deuces or five of a kind.
Check whether the top prize for a royal flush changes with the number of coins you bet.
If the game shows a return-to-player figure in its help screen, treat that as the figure that applies.
Full pay vs short pay: what the gap costs in dollars
The simplest way to see why full pay matters is to turn return figures into expected loss. Expected loss equals total amount bet × (100% − return). The table uses third-party return figures from GamesHub's RTG game list (opens in a new tab) and SlotCatalog's RTG catalog (opens in a new tab) for RealTime Gaming video poker titles and $1,000 of total bets, which is 1,000 hands at $1.
Third-party return figures for RTG video poker and the average cost of $1,000 in bets
Game (RTG)
Return listed
Source (third-party)
Average cost per $1,000 bet
Jacks or Better
99.54%
GamesHub
$4.60
Bonus Deuces Wild
99.15%
SlotCatalog
$8.50
Loose Deuces
99.07%
SlotCatalog
$9.30
Double Double Jackpot Poker
98.98%
SlotCatalog
$10.20
All American Poker
98.65%
SlotCatalog
$13.50
Deuces Wild
97%–99%
GamesHub
$10 to $30
Sevens Wild
93.15%
SlotCatalog
$68.50
These are different games, not full-pay and short-pay versions of one game, but the spread shows how much a few percentage points matter. GamesHub's range for Deuces Wild hints that more than one pay table exists for that title, so read the table in front of you. Where sources disagree, the game's own help screen wins; see how RTP works for the background.
Why full pay assumes perfect strategy
Video poker return figures are worked out for a player who makes the best hold or discard decision on every hand. Mistakes lower the real return below the listed figure, and on a full-pay table even a few habitual errors can wipe out the advantage of the better pay table.
That's why full pay and strategy go together. A free strategy chart for the exact pay table, practiced in demo mode, protects more value than hunting for a slightly better machine. Our video poker strategy guide covers the hold decisions, and how to play video poker explains the deal and draw.
Here's what a 10% weighting does. Take a $100 deposit with a 100% match: $200 × 20x (deposit + bonus) = $4,000 of wagering. At 10%, that takes $40,000 of video poker bets. Even at a 99.54% return, the average cost is 0.46% × $40,000 = $184, more than the $100 bonus. See game weighting and our video poker bonus guide.
Where you'll meet the term and related words
You'll see "full pay" on video poker game pages, strategy charts and casino lobby descriptions. It sits alongside a few connected terms.
Paytable: the screen listing every winning hand and its payout.
Payback: the long-run percentage of bets a game returns.
Royal flush: the top hand, whose payout often depends on coins bet.
Kicker: a side card that matters in some bonus-style pay tables.
We picked these three because each is reported to carry video poker: SlotoCash names Double Double Bonus Poker on its own site, Miami Club lists a Video Poker category, and a third-party Planet 7 review (opens in a new tab) reports 14 video poker variants at Planet 7, including Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better. Pay tables aren't published, so check them in each lobby. All three are offshore casinos, not licensed or regulated by any US state, so there's no state regulator to complain to and the casino sets its own terms. Michigan's Gaming Control Board has named all three in cease-and-desist letters: Planet 7 on April 9, 2025, Miami Club on August 14, 2025, and SlotoCash on October 8, 2026. Check your state's law first with our states with legal online casinos page. We earn commission from these links, and the order is commercial.
SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its first-party terms list 25x (deposit + bonus) wagering, a $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout, and video poker is excluded by default. Its own site advertises a different package, so the terms shown at sign-up apply. Read the SlotoCash review.
Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots and a $1,000 max cashout on its WELCOME200 code; codes change and its official terms weren't verified, so confirm at sign-up. See the Planet 7 review.
Miami Club Casino: $4,000 Bonus + 285 Bonus Games, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its published terms set 20x (deposit + bonus) for matches up to 100%, no cap on deposit-bonus cashouts, and 10% weighting for video poker; its own package is up to $800 over eight deposits. Its Terms of Use (v2.1, September 28, 2026, section 1.6) list the United States as prohibited, while the site owner's affiliate program confirms US players are accepted, so confirm eligibility at sign-up. It runs WGS software, not RTG; see the Miami Club review.
Gambling costs money, and the house edge means losses are likely over time, even on a full-pay table. Free, confidential help is available at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
Video poker is usually excluded from bonuses or counts at a low rate, so check the terms before you play it with bonus funds.
SlotoCash Casino#1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list
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.
Planet 7 Casino#5 on our listRealTime Gaming slots
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 200% match with code WELCOME200; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, April 9, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: $1,000 (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Published terms (casino terms): Miami Club advertises up to $800 over eight deposits on its own site. Its Terms of Use (v2.1) list the United States as prohibited; its affiliate program confirms US players are accepted, so confirm eligibility at sign-up. Eligible games: Slots, keno, scratch cards.
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit Not stated. Wagering 20x 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 does full pay mean in video poker?
Full pay means the game uses the most generous standard pay table for its variant. The cards and rules are the same as on a short-pay version, but one or more hands pay more, which lifts the long-run return for a player using correct strategy. You confirm it by reading the pay table inside the game, not the game's name. Our video poker pay table entry shows what to look for.
What does 9/6 mean in Jacks or Better?
It's shorthand for a pay table that pays 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush per coin bet. Players use those two hands to label Jacks or Better tables because they change most between versions. Lower numbers mean a short-pay table and a lower return. Check the actual numbers on screen before you play, and see our Jacks or Better page for the game itself.
Is a full-pay video poker game worth playing?
It's the better version of a game you already want to play, but it still costs money over time. A 99.54% return means an average cost of about $4.60 per $1,000 bet, and real results swing far around that average. Mistakes push the cost higher. Set a budget first; our house edge entry explains why losses are likely over time.
Do RTG casinos publish their video poker pay tables?
Not in a form we could find. Return figures for RealTime Gaming video poker come from third-party sites such as GamesHub and SlotCatalog, and they sometimes disagree. The pay table shown inside each game is the reliable reference, so read it before you bet. Our RealTime Gaming software page covers what's known about the provider.
Can I use a casino bonus on full-pay video poker?
Usually only on poor terms. SlotoCash's general terms exclude video poker by default, Miami Club counts it at 10% toward wagering and Silver Oak sets 60x playthrough for it, double its slot rate. That can turn a $100 bonus into tens of thousands of dollars in required bets. Read the weighting rules first; our game weighting guide shows the math.
What is the difference between full pay and short pay?
A short-pay table cuts the payout on one or more hands, often the full house or flush, while keeping the same rules. The cut looks small on screen but lowers the return, and that adds up over thousands of hands. On $1,000 of bets, every percentage point of return is worth $10 on average. Our payback entry explains the long-run figure.
Which RTG video poker game is closest to full pay?
Among RealTime Gaming titles, Jacks or Better has the highest listed return, at 99.54% according to GamesHub. Third-party figures from SlotCatalog put Bonus Deuces Wild at 99.15% and Loose Deuces at 99.07%, while Sevens Wild sits at 93.15%. These figures come from different sites and assume perfect play, so they aren’t official pay-table ratings. Open the pay table inside each game to confirm what you’re offered. Compare picks on what is the best video poker game and our best video poker casinos list.
Do you need to bet max coins on full-pay video poker?
On many video poker pay tables, the royal flush pays a bigger multiple only when you bet the maximum number of coins, so a full-pay return can depend on coin count. Third-party listings even give RTG’s Jacks or Better two different top prizes, 800x and 4,000x, which suggests different bet levels. Check the royal flush row in the pay table at one coin and at max coins before you choose. If max coins strains your budget, lower the coin value instead. See bet max and the coin value entry.
Can I practice full-pay video poker for free?
Yes, demo or free-play modes let you practice hold decisions on a pay table without risking money, where the casino or provider offers them. Practice matters because listed returns such as 99.54% assume perfect strategy, and errors cost more than a slightly weaker pay table. Use a strategy chart built for the exact pay table you’ll play, and remember demo results don’t carry over to real-money games. Our demo mode guide and free slots vs real money page explain the differences.
Is full-pay video poker legal online in Pennsylvania?
Yes, Pennsylvania is one of the few states that licenses online casinos, so you can play video poker legally on state-approved sites. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board listed 12 certificate holders and 25 authorized online casino sites as of February 13, 2026. Which video poker titles and pay tables each one offers varies, so read the pay table in the game. Offshore RTG casinos are not among Pennsylvania’s licensed sites. See our Pennsylvania guide and offshore vs state-licensed casinos for the protections that differ.
How much does full-pay video poker cost per hour?
The hourly cost of full-pay video poker is your total bet multiplied by the gap between 100% and the game’s return. At $1 a hand, 500 hands is $500 in bets; at a 99.54% return that averages $2.30, and at Sevens Wild’s listed 93.15% about $34.25. Online play has no dealer, so hands per hour depend on you, and faster play raises the dollar cost. Short sessions still swing widely around those averages. Plan the stake with our bankroll management guide and the casino math basics.
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