Video Poker Paytables Explained: Why Your Payout Chart Matters in 2026
Video poker paytables are the foundation of every hand you’ll ever play. They tell you exactly how much you’ll win for each hand combination, and that’s where most players go wrong. We’ve seen countless gamblers skip over the paytable entirely, then wonder why their bankroll disappears faster than expected. Understanding what your paytable actually means isn’t just helpful: it’s essential if you want to make informed decisions and maximise your returns at the tables.
Understanding Paytable Basics
A video poker paytable is a simple chart that maps every possible winning hand to its corresponding payout. Unlike slot machines, where paytables can feel like black magic, video poker is transparent. You know exactly what you’ll get before you press the deal button.
Each paytable varies depending on the game variant, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and the machine itself. The catch? Not all paytables are created equal. Two machines offering the same game can have completely different payouts for the same hand. A full house might pay 9-to-1 on one machine and 8-to-1 on another. That difference compounds significantly over time.
How To Read A Video Poker Paytable
Reading a paytable takes about 30 seconds if you know what to look for. Most machines display their paytable right on the screen, usually in the top corner or accessible via a dedicated button.
Hand Rankings And Their Payouts
Hand rankings are universal and straightforward:
- Royal Flush: The jackpot, typically 250-to-1 or higher
- Straight Flush: Usually 50-to-1
- Four of a Kind: Ranges from 25-to-1 to 125-to-1 depending on variant
- Full House: Commonly 8-to-1 or 9-to-1
- Flush: Typically 5-to-1 to 6-to-1
- Straight: Usually 4-to-1
- Three of a Kind: Standard 3-to-1
- Two Pair: Usually 2-to-1
- Pair of Jacks or Better: Standard 1-to-1
The entire chart is laid out vertically, showing your coin denomination (25¢, 50¢, £1) against the number of coins bet. This matters, a lot.
The Impact Of Bet Size On Returns
Here’s where paytables become genuinely strategic. Most video poker machines use what’s called a “coin-multiplier” system. Your payout multiplies by the number of coins you’ve bet, but the Royal Flush has a bonus multiplier built in.
Bet 1 coin on a Royal Flush? You might get 250 coins. Bet 5 coins? You typically get 4,000 coins, not 1,250. That jump is the reason experienced players always bet the maximum. You’re paying five times more per spin, but the Royal Flush payout jumps exponentially.
For any hand below the Royal Flush, the payout scales linearly. Full house, flush, straight, they all multiply evenly. Only the top prize breaks the formula, which is why betting max is statistically the correct play on virtually every machine.
Comparing Different Paytable Versions
Paytable variance is real, and it directly affects your return to player (RTP). Consider these two common Jacks or Better paytables:
| Full House | 9-to-1 | 8-to-1 | −1% RTP |
| Flush | 6-to-1 | 5-to-1 | −0.5% RTP |
| Straight | 4-to-1 | 4-to-1 | None |
Over 1,000 hands, that seemingly small difference compounds into measurable losses. We always recommend seeking out machines with 9/6 paytables (9 for full house, 6 for flush) rather than settling for 8/5. Most UK casinos, including those offering playtech casinos, display paytables upfront, so comparison shopping is straightforward.
Using Paytables To Maximise Your Return To Player
Your return to player percentage is calculated directly from the paytable. A 9/6 Jacks or Better paytable typically offers 99.5% RTP, whilst an 8/5 version sits around 97.3%. That 2.2% difference represents hundreds of pounds in losses over a season of regular play.
To maximise returns, follow these steps:
- Compare paytables before sitting down
- Always bet the maximum number of coins
- Stick to machines with established, favourable paytables (9/6 or better)
- Avoid “bonus” machines that sacrifice standard hand payouts for big four-of-a-kind multipliers
- Check the RTP percentage if the casino publishes it
Video poker rewards knowledge. Unlike slots, where RNG remains invisible, your success is directly tied to the paytable you choose and how you play accordingly.
