The best video poker games feature player-friendly pay tables and the best odds found in online and land-based casinos. Choose the right table and you’ll find yourself playing with an RTP exceeding 100%. The only problem is that it’s only possible with perfect play, so choosing the right variant is only part of the battle.
It is a huge part of it, though, and I’m here to assist by singling out the best video poker games based on odds. Let’s take a quick look at these hidden gems that give you the best of poker play with slot game mechanics.
Jacks or Better Rule
Jacks or Better is a hugely popular and one of the best-paying video poker games, a staple at the best real-money and new sweepstakes casinos in 2025. The 9/6 table provides up to 99.54% expected return using the optimal Jacks or Better strategy. You need a pair of Jacks or better to win in this variation.
Traditional Jacks or Better has no wilds. It is easy to construct a winning hand since you only require a pair of Jacks. A pair of jacks or better returns your original bet, and better hands return a larger payout depending on their value. The highest paying hand in Jacks or Better is the natural royal flush. The 9/6 table at max stakes pays 4,000x your bet for a royal flush.
Have a Ball Playing Aces and Faces
Another common variant of video poker is Aces and Faces. This is very similar to Jacks or Better except for a slightly different payout. Using a full-pay table, this video poker variation offers a maximum expected return of 99.26%.
As in standard Jacks or Better, you must have at least a pair of jacks or better to win a hand. The difference in Aces and Faces is that the payout for 4-of-a-kind hands of aces or face cards is higher. Hands of 4-of-a-kind 10s or lower pay 25x. However, a 4-of-a-kind hand that is aces or face cards will win a payout of 40x.
Players should also have a slightly different pay table preference in Aces and Faces. In Jacks or Better, a full pay table is 9/6. For Aces and Faces, the best video poker odds are found with an 8/5 table. While the lower payouts for full houses and flushes do slightly increase the house edge, it is still under 1%.
The Immortal Deuces Wild
If you want to play video poker, the best game in the business to play is Deuces Wild. When paired with a full-pay table and optimal play, Deuces Wild offers an RTP over 99%. The problem is, full-pay Deuces Wild video poker games are hard to come by. After all, Deuces Wild is one of the few casino games that actually give players an edge over the house. However, even a “lowball” Deuces Wild game offers a higher-than-average RTP.
In this poker variation, all twos are wild, as the name implies. Furthermore, you do not look at the full house or flush as you would in other video poker games. The main thing to keep in mind is the payouts for 5-of-a-kind, straight flush, and 4-of-a-kind. A natural royal flush, or a royal flush with no wilds, is the highest paying hand in Deuces Wild. You must also make at least a 3-of-a-kind to win a hand instead of a high pair.
It’s rare to run into any video poker or other games you play where 2s equal anything. That’s not true in Bonus Deuces Wild, which is otherwise just regular video poker except all 2s are wild. That slight wrinkle makes for a great RTP and makes this a great play for anyone taking advantage of learning the joy of playing video poker.
Double the Fun with Double Double Bonus Poker
Among all the latest video poker games, Double Double Bonus Poker stands out for its legendary high RTP rates and an incredible pay table. Like Double Bonus Poker, this game variant is based on Jacks or Better with certain hands having bigger payouts. For example, many Double Double Bonus Poker games pay 50x the best for four-of-a-kind.
It’s possible for four aces with a low kicker to beat even a royal flush in value at low stakes. It is important to note that at maximum stakes, the royal flush is still the top hand in Double Double Bonus Poker.
Final Thoughts
Video poker is unique in that it tests people’s psychology in ways they did not expect. For beginners, playing casino games can be intimidating and frustrating, especially if you don’t win early. However, video poker, especially online video poker, successfully bridges the gap between Five Card Draw Poker and slot machines. Not having the pressure of bluffing with a greater chance of success continues to draw players to these specialized casino games, especially for anonymous online playing experiences.