12 Best Video Poker Variations To Win Money

12 Best Video Poker Variations To Win Money

Finding the best video poker variations to win money is easy when you play online. Similar to slot machines, video poker machines use random number generators. With a little luck and the right poker strategy, you can virtually eliminate the house edge of these gambling machines.

Continue reading to see the 12 best video poker games available online. I will break down the highest-paying video poker machines that you can play using our top-rated video poker apps.

Jacks Or Better

Starting off this collection of the best video poker variations to win money is one of the most popular variants, Jacks or Better. This version is popular in part because it is so easy to learn. It also has a high RTP north of 99.50% on most casino poker apps.

Jacks Or Better

The high RTP also means the casino has a low house edge. In most cases, the casino’s edge is lower than 0.50% for Jacks or Better machines. The lower the house edge, the better your chances of walking away a winner.


EXPERT TIP

One trick to finding the best Jacks or Better machines is to look for the right pay table. Pay special attention to the payouts for the full house and flush. Ideally, you want games that pay 9x for a full house and 6x for a flush, also known as 9/6 tables.

Deuces Wild

Up next on my list of the top video poker game variations is Deuces Wild. As the name implies, this version of video poker adds a wild card into the mix. Any “deuces,” or twos, you get in your hand will count as a wild card.

These wild cards can substitute for any other card in the game. So, they are perfect for completing a winning hand combination. Make sure to hold onto any twos that appear in your hand during the initial deal.

The pay table in Deuces Wild is not as large as that of other video poker versions. The biggest difference is that many variations require you to have at least three of a kind instead of just a pair to win.


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Despite this increase in difficulty, the game still has an RTP north of 99.30%. With the right pay table and strategy, the RTP for Deuces Wild can actually exceed 100%, making it arguably the best-paying video poker machine.

Jokers Wild

Another exciting variation of video poker that uses wild cards is Jokers Wild. Instead of twos being wild, it is the joker cards in this video poker game that can substitute for any other card. This creates unique hand combinations, such as the Jokers Royal Flush.

Jokers Wild

The pay table is also different in this video poker machine. Instead of needing three-of-a-kind, you only need a pair of Kings or better to qualify for a winning hand. This is slightly higher than the typical Jacks or Better style games, but it is easier to get than a three-of-a-kind.

The amount you can win will depend on the number of coins you bet. For the biggest prizes, you need to bet the maximum of five coins. This will help maximize your RTP, too, with the top payout improving to 4,000x your bet amount.

Sevens Wild

In a similar vein, Sevens Wild offers all the excitement of Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild. The main difference is that sevens act as the wild card instead of twos or jokers. 

Sevens Wild has a similar RTP, too, with the expected return usually around 99% or higher. So, with the right strategy, this can be one of the highest-paying video poker variations. You will need a strategy specifically for this machine, though.

Having four wild cards in the deck can be a huge advantage for the player. However, you need at least a three-of-a-kind to qualify for a winning hand. So, there are fewer winning hands than in many other types of video poker.


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The presence of wilds also creates new hands, such as the wild royal flush and four-of-a-kind with wilds. Both of these new hands have their own spot on the pay table and offer some of the highest payouts in Sevens Wild.

Deuces and Joker

Deuces and Joker video poker games combine aspects of Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild. In this video poker variation, both jokers and twos are wild.

Having six wild cards in the game makes it significantly easier to get higher-paying combinations. However, it also changes the pay table significantly. For instance, you need at least a three-of-a-kind to qualify for a winning hand.

Also, the highest-paying hand in this version of video poker is not a royal flush. Instead, it is the unique combination of four deuces and a joker card. This combination of five wilds pays 2,000x your stake amount.

This style of machine is fun and is a video poker game with some of the best odds at the casino. With an RTP north of 99%, the house edge is lower than 1% in this style of video poker.

Joker Poker

Joker Poker is another example of one of the best video poker games available online. This game uses jokers as wilds, and you need at least a pair of kings or better to qualify for a winning hand.

Joker Poker

This game has an RTP of approximately 98.60%, which is lower than many of the other games on this list. However, its RTP is still higher than most slot games. Also, there is a gamble feature that can double your prize after every win.

During the gamble feature, you need to pick a card higher than the dealer’s card. The dealer’s card is flipped first, and then you have to choose one of four facedown cards. The highest payout is 1,000x your stake and is only available when you secure a natural royal flush.

All American

Up next is the game All American, which is a patriotic video poker machine. This game does not use any wild cards. However, it offers a maximum payout of 8,000 coins, which is much higher than most other video poker machines.

To be eligible for the maximum prize, you need to bet the maximum number of coins, five. Also, you need to wager the maximum stake amount, which is $2. This creates a maximum bet so $10, so plan your bankroll accordingly.

You only need a pair of jacks or better to win, so your odds of getting a winning hand are increased. The payouts for many of the hands in All American are higher than other versions of video poker. For instance, straights and flushes both pay 8x your stake amount, while they normally pay 4x and 6x, respectively, in jacks or better-style games. 

2 Ways Royal

Another unique twist on video poker can be found in the game 2 Ways Royal. This is one of the best video poker games because it offers two versions of the royal flush instead of just one.

2 Ways Royal

The traditional royal flush is known as the Hi Royal Flush in 2 Ways Royal. It is tied for the highest payout at a maximum of $8,000. There is also the Lo Royal Flush, which offers the same payout as the Hi Royal Flush.

A Lo Royal Flush consists of cards of the same suit in numerical order from two to six. Having two options to get a royal flush, the best hand in this version of video poker, increases your odds of winning big. Just make sure you adjust your video poker strategy to account for this new hand option, so you do not miss your chance at a huge win.

Aces & Faces

Aces & Faces is another popular version of video poker with a high RTP. Depending on the pay table, this game’s RTP can easily exceed 99.25%. This game uses the 8/5 Jacks or Better pay table with a slight twist.

There are different payouts for the type of four-of-a-kind you get.

  • 2s through 10s = 25x
  • Jacks, Queens, or Kings = 40x
  • Aces = 80x

Four-of-a-kind normally pays out at approximately 25x in Jacks or Better-style video poker machines. So, being able to get 40x or better for four of the 13 possible four-of-a-kind combinations is a huge bonus for players.


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In fact, the 80x payout for four aces is higher than the payout for a straight (50x). You should keep this in mind when creating your betting strategy for this video poker machine. Prioritizing four-of-a-kind of certain cards could help you secure a huge win on Aces & Faces.

Triple Double Bonus Poker

You should also try Triple Double Bonus Poker if you want to have a great chance of consistently winning at video poker. Depending on the pay table, the maximum payout for this style of video poker is usually around 4,000x your stake per coin.

What makes this style of video poker unique is the special payouts for four-of-a-kind hands with specific kickers. For example, four aces with a two, three, or four as the kicker offers the same payout as a royal flush. Four twos, threes, or fours with an ace through four kicker offers have the payout of a royal flush.

In Triple Double Bonus Poker, any hand with four-of-a-kind receives a higher payout than in traditional video poker. The lowest-paying combination, fives through kings, offers the same payout as a straight flush.

Bonus Poker Deluxe

Bonus Poker Deluxe also offers improved payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. In most pay tables for this variation, any four-of-a-kind hand offers up to 400x payouts. The difference is that you also have better payouts for a straight flush.

The royal flush still offers the best payout at 4,000x. However, any other straight flush offers 650x in most versions of Bonus Poker Deluxe. These improved payouts can help you win more if you adjust your video poker strategy correctly.

You can adjust the number of coins that you wager in Bonus Poker Deluxe. If you want the best, highest payouts then you need to wager five coins each hand. The more coins that you wager, the better the payouts available in this game.

Pick’em Poker

Rounding out my list of the best variations of video poker is Pick’em Poker. The strategy for this game is very different from that of other machines.

You start with four cards, and the first two cards are guaranteed to be in your final hand. You then have the choice of which of the next two cards to keep. Whichever card you do not pick is discarded and replaced by the final two cards in your hand.

Only being able to draw two new cards in each hand severely limits your chances to turn around a bad hand. On the bright side, you only need a pair of nines or better to qualify for a winning hand.

Another bonus in Pick’em Poker is the improved payouts for the best hands. A four-of-a-kind pays 600x, a straight flush pays 1,199x, and a royal flush pays 6,000x.

Which Video Poker Variations Are Your Favorite?

There are many styles of video poker available online. Typically speaking, the best-paying video poker games are the ones with the most player-friendly pay tables. With the right pay table and betting strategy, you can achieve a negative house edge in some video poker games.

Check out the list above to see 12 video poker games with the best odds available online. If you are ready to start playing video poker online, then I recommend signing up for an account at SlotsandCasino. This site has over a dozen video poker games and a great 500% casino welcome bonus worth up to $2,500.

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About the Author
Shaun Stack profile picture
Shaun Stack
Shaun Stack has authored dozens of casino blogs and joined our team in 2022. He enjoys playing any casino game but is particularly fond of Blackjack and Texas Hold'em. Also, he likes betting on sports, especially the NFL. Shaun is a native of Kansas City, but now lives in Pennsylvania and is an avid PA sports fan.

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