Video poker UK
Five-card draw poker against a paytable.
- House edge0.46%
- RTP99.54%
- SkillYes
- Pace400/hr
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- House edge: about 0.5% on full-pay jacks or better.
- Best bet: a 9/6 Jacks or Better table with a strategy chart.
- Avoid: short-pay tables.
- Skill involved: yes.
AnswerFive-card draw poker against a paytable. With a full-pay table and correct holds it is among the cheapest games in a casino. The best bet is a 9/6 Jacks or Better table with a strategy chart.
How video poker works
- Choose a game and check the paytable.
- Bet and deal five cards.
- Choose which to hold.
- Draw replacements.
- The final hand is paid from the paytable.
Bets and house edge
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better, 9/6 paytable, optimal play | Royal flush 800 for 1 at max coins | About 0.46% |
| Jacks or Better, 8/5 paytable | As above | About 2.7% |
| Jacks or Better, 6/5 paytable | As above | About 5% |
| Double-up gamble | 1 to 1 | 0%, with high variance |
Best and worst bets
Best
A 9/6 Jacks or Better table with a strategy chart.
Avoid
Short-pay tables.
Variants
Jacks or Better is the baseline. Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker and Double Bonus change the paytable and the strategy; some full-pay versions return slightly over 100% with perfect play, though those are rarely offered. Multi-hand games multiply the stake and the speed.
More on video poker
What an hour costs
| Stake | Rounds an hour | Staked | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1 | About 400 | £400 | £1.84 |
| £2 | About 400 | £800 | £3.68 |
| £5 | About 400 | £2000 | £9.2 |
At a house edge of 0.46%. A long-run average; any one hour can differ widely.
Three things to know
- Read the full house and flush payouts: 9 and 6 are full pay.
- Use a strategy chart.
- It is fast; set a spin count.
Video poker and bonuses
Typical contribution to bonus wagering: often excluded. None of the five welcome offers we list is cleared on video poker.
Where to play
All five are compared on where to play casino games.
Not confirmed in our sources; check the lobby.
| Casino | Games | Live studios | Games score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casumo | 3,500+ games | Evolution, Pragmatic Play and Playtech, plus Casumo-branded tables | 9.0/10 |
| Coral | 2,000+ games (some reports put it far higher) | Evolution, Playtech and Pragmatic Play | 8.5/10 |
| Ladbrokes | 2,000+ games | Evolution, Playtech and Pragmatic Play; around 100 live tables reported | 8.5/10 |
| PlayOJO | 2,000+ games (reports range to 7,000 and above) | Evolution, with other studios reported | 8.5/10 |
| 10bet | 2,000+ games (reports range from 1,200) | Evolution and Pragmatic Play | 8.0/10 |
More games: Casino poker games UK, Sic Bo UK, Slingo UK and Blackjack UK.
Rankings, strategy and casinos: Cheapest casino games per hour, Steadiest casino games, Games and bonuses, Video poker strategy and 10bet Casino games review.
Go further: Free demo slots UK, How to play blackjack and Live roulette UK.
House edges and RTPs are standard published figures for common rules, and are long-run averages. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the house edge in video poker?
About 0.5% on full-pay Jacks or Better.
What is the best bet in video poker?
A 9/6 Jacks or Better table with a strategy chart.
Is video poker a game of skill?
Partly: your decisions change the house edge.
Can I use a bonus on video poker?
Rarely; table and live games usually count little or nothing.