Among the first tips new video poker players receive is to look for the best paytables and bet max coins. However, those are not always the most important aspects of playing the game. Keeping the expected loss as low as possible is often a better plan, especially for players with smaller bankrolls.
Video Poker Paytables Often Change as Denominations Increase
In general, the lower the video poker denomination, the worse the game returns to the player.
At MGM Resorts and Fontainebleau, quarter and half-dollar video poker games return 96 to 97 percent. The $1 and $2 games pay about 98 percent back to players. At $5 and higher, 99 percent games are usually available.
Here are some examples of paytables on major games at these properties. The first number in the paytable is what a full house pays per coin wagered. The second is the flush payout. If there is a third paytable number, that is for a straight. The percentage assumes perfect strategy and fie coins wagered per hand.
| Denomination | Variation | Paytable | Return to Player |
| $0.25/$0.50 | Bonus Poker | 6/5 | 96.87% |
| $0.25/$0.50 | Double Double Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 96.79% |
| $0.25/$0.50 | Double Bonus Poker | 9/6/4 | 96.38% |
| $1/$2 | Bonus Poker | 7/5 | 98.01% |
| $1/$2 | Double Double Bonus Poker | 9/5 | 97.87% |
| $1/$2 | Double Bonus Poker | 9/6/5 | 97.81% |
| $5 and up | Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 99.17% |
| $5 and up | Double Double Bonus Poker | 9/6 | 98.98% |
| $5 and up | Double Bonus Poker | 9/7 | 99.11% |
Expected Loss Per Hand by Denomination, Paytable, and Game
Each denomination’s game and paytable have a unique expected loss per hand. This is the amount a player will lose on average. It is theoretical and does not account for variance. The numbers assume five coins wagered and that perfect strategy is followed. For example, the $0.25 denomination is a $1.25 bet. At $1, the bet is $5.
Note that a royal flush at limits above the quarter denomination will trigger a W2G tax form. Some other hands, like four aces with a kicker, will trigger a taxable hand pay at $1 and higher limits.
Bonus Poker
| Denomination | Paytable | Expected Loss Per Hand |
| $0.25 | 6/5 | $0.039 |
| $0.50 | 6/5 | $0.078 |
| $1 | 7/5 | $0.10 |
| $2 | 7/5 | $0.20 |
| $5 | 8/5 | $0.208 |
| $10 | 8/5 | $0.415 |
| $25 | 8/5 | $1.038 |
Double Double Bonus Poker
| Denomination | Paytable | Expected Loss Per Hand |
| $0.25 | 8/5 | $0.04 |
| $0.50 | 8/5 | $0.08 |
| $1 | 9/5 | $0.107 |
| $2 | 9/5 | $0.213 |
| $5 | 9/6 | $0.255 |
| $10 | 9/6 | $0.51 |
| $25 | 9/6 | $1.275 |
Double Bonus Poker
| Denomination | Paytable | Expected Loss Per Hand |
| $0.25 | 9/6/4 | $0.045 |
| $0.50 | 9/6/4 | $0.091 |
| $1 | 9/6/5 | $0.11 |
| $2 | 9/6/5 | $0.219 |
| $5 | 9/7 | $0.223 |
| $10 | 9/7 | $0.445 |
| $25 | 9/7 | $1.113 |
House Edge on $1 Video Poker When Betting One Coin
If you normally play five coins in the quarter denomination but wonder if you should play one coin in the dollar option instead, the next list shows your expected loss. When betting fewer than five coins, the royal flush drops to 250, so the house edge increases on the one-coin dollar bet.
| Variation | Pay Table | RTP at One Coin | Expected Loss Per Hand |
| Bonus Poker | 7/5 | 96.78% | $0.0322 |
| Double Double Bonus Poker | 9/5 | 96.64% | $0.0336 |
| Double Bonus Poker | 9/6/5 | 96.66% | $0.0334 |
Bonus Poker’s house edge is nearly identical between betting five coins on the quarter denomination and one on the dollar. Double Bonus is a little better at one coin on dollar, while Double Double Bonus is a little worse. Since the one-coin dollar bet is $0.25 less than five quarters, the expected loss per hand is lower for the dollar games.
Plaza’s Unique Bar Video Poker Situation
Plaza’s Carousel, Omaha, and Sand Dollar Lounge bar video poker games are among the best in Las Vegas. Carousel and Sand Dollar have the added bonus of being nonsmoking.
The quarter video poker on these machines is in the 97% range. Joker Poker and Deuces Wild tie for the highest payback. The list below shows the payout per coin for a full house and flush for games excluding wild card ones. For Deuces, it is the five of a kind and straight flush payouts. At Joker Poker, it is four of a kind, full house, and flush. The third number in Double Bonus Poker is for a straight. Double Double Bonus has six progressive meters at the quarter denomination.
Three of Plaza’s four video poker bars have the following games. It is on all Game Kings at Carousel Bar, Omaha Bar, and Sand Dollar Lounge. The Sportsbook Bar has lower paytables.
Quarter Plaza Bar Video Poker
| Variation | Paytable | Return to Player | Expected Loss Per Hand |
| Joker Poker | 20/6/4 | 97.58% | $0.0305 |
| Deuces Wild | 12/10 | 97.58% | $0.0305 |
| Bonus Poker Deluxe | 8/5 | 97.4% | $0.0325 |
| Jacks or Better | 8/5 | 97.3% | $0.0338 |
| Bonus Poker | 6/5 | 96.87% | $0.0391 |
| Double Double Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 96.79% | $0.0401 (before progressives) |
| Double Bonus Poker | 9/6/4 | 96.38% | $0.04525 |
The paytables drastically improve at the $0.50, $1, $2, and $5 denominations. Several games return over 99 percent. The best game is Bonus Poker Deluxe.
Half-Dollar and Higher Plaza Bar Video Poker
| Variation | Paytable | Return to Player | Expected Loss Per Hand at $0.50 Denomination |
| Bonus Poker Deluxe | 9/6 | 99.64% | $0.009 |
| Jacks or Better | 9/6 | 99.54% | $0.0115 |
| Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 99.17% | $0.0208 |
| Double Bonus Poker | 9/7 | 99.11% | $0.0223 |
| Deuces Wild | 15/9 | 98.91% | $0.0273 |
| Joker Poker | 17/7/5 | 98.44% | $0.039 |
| Double Double Bonus Poker | 9/5 | 97.87% | $0.0533 |
House Edge When Playing One Coin on Dollar
The house edge drops substantially when comparing quarter paytables to one at higher denominations. This is the house edge and expected loss per hand when betting one dollar coin on the good paytables.
| Variation | Pay Table | RTP at One Coin | Expected Loss Per Hand |
| Bonus Poker Deluxe | 9/6 | 98.52% | $0.0148 |
| Jacks or Better | 9/6 | 98.38% | $0.0162 |
| Bonus Poker | 8/5 | 97.93% | $0.0207 |
| Double Bonus Poker | 9/7 | 98.04% | $0.0196 |
| Deuces Wild | 15/9 | 97.69% | $0.0231 |
| Joker Poker | 17/7/5 | 97.21% | $0.0279 |
| Double Double Bonus Poker | 9/5 | 96.64% | $0.0336 |
Deuces Wild is the only game with a higher return at one coin on dollar as opposed to five coins on quarter. However, the smaller bet lowers the expected loss per hand across the board. At Plaza, you can also play one coin at the $0.50 denomination and cut the expected loss in half. However, Plaza has a drink monitoring system. Betting less than $1 may make getting comped alcohol difficult.
