What is the best video poker game? By published return, Jacks or Better leads RealTime Gaming's lineup at 99.54% RTP (GamesHub), ahead of Bonus Deuces Wild at 99.15% and Loose Deuces at 99.07% (both SlotCatalog). It's also the easiest to play well. The best game for you still depends on the pay table in front of you and how much swing you can stand.
Jacks or Better has the highest published RTP among RTG's video poker games in our data: 99.54% per GamesHub.
Bonus Deuces Wild (99.15%) and Loose Deuces (99.07%) are the strongest wild-card options by SlotCatalog's figures.
Sevens Wild is listed at 93.15%, an expected loss of $68.50 per $1,000 wagered, so check it carefully.
Six RTG variants have no published RTP in our sources; the pay screen is the only guide there.
Every listed figure assumes accurate play; no video poker game removes the house edge.
Highest published RTP
Jacks or Better, 99.54% (GamesHub)
Best wild-card option
Bonus Deuces Wild, 99.15% (SlotCatalog)
Lowest published RTP
Sevens Wild, 93.15% (SlotCatalog)
RTG variants listed
14 (SlotCatalog)
RTP not published
6 of 14 variants
What is the best video poker game? The straight answer
If "best" means the smallest house edge with published data behind it, the answer is Jacks or Better. GamesHub lists RealTime Gaming's version at 99.54% RTP, a 0.46% edge, and its strategy has fewer exceptions than wild-card or kicker games, so ordinary players can get close to that figure.
If you want wild cards, Bonus Deuces Wild and Loose Deuces carry the next-best published figures. And if the thrill of rare, big hands matters more than a low edge, the bonus family led by Double Double Bonus is the pick, with the caveat that RTG's version has no published RTP in our sources. More quick answers live in our questions hub.
Best video poker games ranked by published RTP
The table covers the 14 RTG video poker games SlotCatalog lists. RTPs come from SlotCatalog or GamesHub's RTG list (opens in a new tab) as marked, both third-party. Expected loss per $1,000 wagered is simply $1,000 × house edge.
RTG video poker games by published RTP (third-party)
Game
RTP
Source
House edge
Expected loss per $1,000 wagered
Jacks or Better
99.54%
GamesHub
0.46%
$4.60
Bonus Deuces Wild
99.15%
SlotCatalog
0.85%
$8.50
Loose Deuces
99.07%
SlotCatalog
0.93%
$9.30
Double Double Jackpot Poker
98.98%
SlotCatalog
1.02%
$10.20
Aces and Eights
98.65% (SlotCatalog) or up to 99% (GamesHub)
Both
1% to 1.35%
$10 to $13.50
All American Poker
98.65%
SlotCatalog
1.35%
$13.50
Deuces Wild
97% to 99%
GamesHub
1% to 3%
$10 to $30
Sevens Wild
93.15%
SlotCatalog
6.85%
$68.50
Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, Double Jackpot, Joker Poker
Not published
None found
Unknown
Unknown
Two sources disagree on Aces and Eights: SlotCatalog lists 98.65% and a 160x max win, while GamesHub says up to 99% and 4,000x. We show both. For any game, the figure on the casino's own pay screen beats any table, including this one.
How to judge the best video poker game for you
RTP is the first filter, but it isn't the only one. Four questions decide which game is best for a particular player:
Published return: is there a figure at all, and does the casino's pay table match the one it assumes?
Strategy difficulty: how many unusual holds must you learn to reach that figure?
Swings: is the return spread across common hands, or concentrated in rare ones?
Bonus treatment: does the casino exclude video poker from bonus play or weight it lower?
A game with a slightly lower RTP and a strategy you can actually follow may cost less in practice than a higher-RTP game you misplay. Our video poker strategy guide explains why.
For beginners, the best video poker game is Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better has no wild cards and no kicker rules, so hand values match ordinary poker. You only need to learn which draws outrank which. At $1.25 a hand, $625 of play costs about $2.88 on average at the listed 0.46% edge. That's the lowest figure in our table, though a real session can finish well above or below it.
SlotCatalog and GamesHub disagree on its max win (800x against 4,000x). A 4,000-coin top prize on a five-coin bet is 800 times the bet, so they may describe the same prize in different units, but neither says so.
Best wild-card video poker: Bonus Deuces Wild or Loose Deuces
Among RTG's wild-card games, Bonus Deuces Wild at 99.15% and Loose Deuces at 99.07% have single published figures from SlotCatalog. Plain Deuces Wild is listed as a range, 97% to 99%, by GamesHub, which means its pay table could be better or worse than either of them.
Wild-card strategy depends on how many deuces you're dealt, so expect a steeper learning curve. Sevens Wild, at 93.15%, sits far below the deuces games; on $1,000 wagered that's $68.50 of expected loss against $8.50 for Bonus Deuces Wild.
Best video poker for big hands: the bonus and jackpot games
Players chasing four-of-a-kind bonuses usually land on Double Bonus or Double Double Bonus. RTG's versions don't have published RTPs in our sources, so you're relying on the pay screen. Double Double Jackpot Poker adds a progressive jackpot and is listed at 98.98% by SlotCatalog, with an 800x max win.
Progressive video poker ties part of the return to a jackpot that grows until someone hits it. Our page on the RTG progressive jackpot system explains how RTG's jackpots work. These games swing harder than Jacks or Better, so set a smaller stake for the same budget.
How to check any video poker game before you play
Open the pay screen or help file and write down the full house and flush prizes per coin.
Compare them with the same game at another casino, or with the description of a full pay table.
Check whether the top prize pays more at max coins, and choose a coin size that lets you bet max within your budget.
Read the casino's bonus terms to see whether video poker is excluded, weighted lower or set to higher wagering.
Practice in free-play mode until the holds feel automatic, then set a session limit before you stake money.
No video poker game is a bonus-friendly choice by default. The published terms vary widely:
How partner bonus terms treat video poker
Casino
Video poker rule
Source type
Silver Oak
60x for video poker vs 30x for slots (offer page)
Primary (casino's own terms)
Royal Ace
60x (bonus + deposit) for video poker vs 30x for slots
Third-party (LCB)
Planet 7
Redeemed comps carry 60x for video poker vs 30x for slots
Third-party (Blockonomi)
Miami Club
Video poker counts 10% toward wagering
Primary (casino's own terms)
SlotoCash
Video poker excluded from bonus play by default
Primary (casino's own terms)
Doubling the wagering doubles the amount you must bet, and with it the expected loss before you can withdraw. Our video poker bonus page shows how to work out whether an offer is worth it.
Best video poker online in the USA: the legal picture
State-licensed online casinos, which can offer real-money video poker under state oversight, operate in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine passed a tribal online casino law in January 2026, but nothing had launched by October 2026 and a lawsuit is pending.
Outside those states, no state licenses online casinos. Our partners are offshore operators not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means no state complaint route and terms the casino sets. See our list of states with legal online casinos before choosing where to play.
Where to play the best video poker games: offers via our links
Planet 7 leads because a third-party review counts 14 video poker variants there and names Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. Silver Oak runs RTG and its own terms allow video poker at 60x. Royal Ace runs RTG, and Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild appear in the lobby game list reported for its group of sister casinos. Check the casino's lobby for the specific variant you want. All three are offshore and not licensed by any US state; check your state's law. We earn a commission from these links, and the order is commercial.
Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply).
Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply).
Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply).
Silver Oak (its own terms): its terms and conditions (opens in a new tab) name an Anjouan license held by Primrose Media Limited (LCB lists no license). The site's own offer is 100% on each of the first ten deposits up to $10,000, with no max withdrawal, 30x playthrough on the offer page against 40x in the general terms, and 60x on video poker. Deposits start at $30. That's a different package from our link. Michigan's board named Silver Oak on April 9, 2025.
Royal Ace (third-party terms): LCB reports 200% up to $4,000 with 30x on slots, 60x on video poker, a max cashout of 10x the deposit and a $30 card minimum; casino.guru reports 250% up to $2,500 plus 35 spins. Reviewers report it refuses Ohio players.
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.
Silver Oak Casino#4 on our listBonus on 10 deposits
Published terms (casino terms): Silver Oak advertises a 100% match on each of its first ten deposits (up to $10,000 in total) with codes SILVEROAK1–10. Eligible games: Slots, keno, scratch cards (table games at 60x; many games excluded).
Who runs it: Primrose Media Limited, licensed in Anjouan (its terms). 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. Wagering 30x on the offer page; 40x in the terms. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap From $2,500 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Royal Ace Casino#6 on our listSlots and specialty games
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.
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 video poker has the best odds?
Among RTG's games, Jacks or Better has the highest published return in our data at 99.54% (GamesHub), a 0.46% house edge. Bonus Deuces Wild (99.15%) and Loose Deuces (99.07%) follow, per SlotCatalog. Those figures assume full pay tables and accurate play. Always confirm the pay table on screen. Our Jacks or Better explainer covers the leader in detail.
Is RTG video poker better value than RTG slots?
On published returns, video poker usually keeps a smaller edge, and your decisions affect the result. At 99.54%, $1,000 of Jacks or Better costs about $4.60 on average. Slots give you no decisions, and their returns are set by the game. Both still cost money over time. Our best casino game to win page compares the options.
What is the easiest video poker game to learn?
Jacks or Better. It has no wild cards and no kicker rules, so hand values follow normal poker and the strategy has fewer exceptions. Most other variants are built on it, which makes it a good base before moving to Deuces Wild or Double Double Bonus. Our guide on how to play video poker walks through a hand step by step.
Which video poker games should I avoid?
Avoid any game whose pay table you haven't checked, and treat low published returns with caution. In our data, Sevens Wild is listed at 93.15% by SlotCatalog, a 6.85% edge, or $68.50 expected loss per $1,000 wagered, far more than the deuces games. Six RTG variants have no published RTP at all. Our Sevens Wild guide has the details.
How much does strategy matter in RTG video poker?
A lot, because every listed RTP assumes the best hold on every hand. Poor holds lower your return, sometimes by more than the gap between two games. Strategy can't remove the house edge, but it keeps you close to the listed figure. Learn one game well before adding others. Our video poker strategy guide explains how charts work.
What is a full pay video poker game?
It's a version that uses the most generous standard pay table for that game. Players shorthand tables by the full house and flush prizes per coin, so you'll see names like 9/6 for Jacks or Better. Casinos can trim those lines to raise their edge. Our full pay glossary entry explains how to spot one on the pay screen.
Are online video poker games fair?
RTG games use a random number generator, and LCB and GamblingNews report that RTG's games are tested by Technical Systems Testing (TST). That's a third-party report; offshore casinos aren't overseen by a US state regulator. Our RTG fairness explainer covers what testing does and doesn't prove, and why a fair RNG still leaves the house edge in place.
Where can I find the best video poker casinos?
In the seven states that license online casinos, licensed sites offer video poker under state rules. Elsewhere, players see offshore casinos with no US state license. Compare video poker variants, published bonus rules for video poker, and withdrawal terms before choosing. Our best video poker casinos list ranks our partners, with a commission disclosure.
What does 9/6 mean in Jacks or Better video poker?
In Jacks or Better, 9/6 means the pay table pays 9 coins per coin bet for a full house and 6 for a flush, the shorthand players use for a full pay version. Casinos can trim those two lines, for example to 8 and 5, which raises their edge on every hand while the game looks the same. Our sources don't say which table produced RTG's listed 99.54%, so compare the full house and flush prizes on the pay screen. See the full pay glossary entry and the video poker pay table guide.
Should I bet max coins in video poker?
Usually yes, if the game pays a bigger royal flush prize at max coins, since betting fewer coins gives up part of that top prize. The safer move is to lower the coin size rather than the number of coins. Five coins at $0.25 is $1.25 a hand, which fits a modest budget better than five $1 coins at $5. Check the pay screen to see whether the royal flush jumps at max coins. Our how to play video poker guide and the royal flush glossary entry explain the details.
Is Double Double Bonus a good video poker game?
Double Double Bonus suits players who want rare, big four-of-a-kind payouts, but RTG's version has no published RTP in our sources, so you can't compare its cost with Jacks or Better. That makes the pay screen essential before you play. Bonus games concentrate more of the return in uncommon hands, so sessions swing harder. If you want a published figure in the same family, Double Double Jackpot Poker is listed at 98.98%. Read what Double Double Bonus is and the Double Double Bonus Poker page.
Can I play RTG video poker on my phone?
Yes, RTG casinos generally run video poker in a phone browser, so there's no app to download. Silver Oak's own mobile page lists browser play on iPhone, Android and tablets, and third-party reviewers describe the same setup at Planet 7. The pay tables and listed returns are the same as on a computer. Holding cards by tapping is quick, so take a moment on each decision; a misplaced hold costs more than the gap between two games. See our Android casino guide and what instant play is.
Is online video poker legal in Connecticut?
Yes, Connecticut licenses online casinos, so video poker is available there on state-licensed sites for players 21 and over. The Department of Consumer Protection's Gaming Division oversees two online casino operators: DraftKings, partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe (Foxwoods), and FanDuel, partnered with the Mohegan Tribe (Mohegan Sun). Our offshore partners aren't licensed there, so players in Bridgeport, Stamford or New Haven who use them give up those state protections. Read our Connecticut online casinos guide and states with legal online casinos.
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