Best Video Poker In Vegas 2016
If you can take one look at a photograph of Downtown Las Vegas in all its vintage glory, and still tell me The Strip can hold a candle to what Sin City used to be, I can’t help you.
Like real poker, video poker is a game of skill — our advice is to perfect your game and wins will follow. Here are some of the best and worst moves you can make catching some cards on-screen. The Best Resources for Locating Video Poker Games Near Me. It’s important to know how to find the best video poker games near you. You can’t just wander into a casino and hope that a machine that pays better than 100% will just be sitting there waiting for you. Just as you wouldn’t try to.
Despite my personal inclinations though, pale imitations of European landmarks paired with faux luxury at sky-high prices does appeal to a certain crowd. It must, with most of the 42 million visitors who made the trip to Las Vegas last year confining their entire experience to The Strip.
And hey, I don’t mind seeing a cool show like Absinthe, superstar talents like Celine Dion, or the latest culinary masterpieces from Michelin Guide acclaimed celebrity chefs. Who doesn’t, right?
What I won’t do anywhere on Las Vegas Boulevard, however, is play video poker.
Simply put, The Strip is where video poker bankrolls go to die. Thanks to corporate consolidation within the gambling industry – MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment combine to operate 17 of the 30 casinos lining The Strip – players are left to the mercy of the house.
As you might suspect, casinos in the Silver State aren’t exactly known for their merciful ways. After all, they didn’t haul in $11.9 billion in gambling win last year alone by taking it easy on players.
Video poker players bear the brunt of it too, because the ubiquitous Game King machine from IGT allows casinos to tinker with the pay table as they see fit.
By changing the 9/6 full pay table in Jacks or Better, for example, the game’s standard 99.54 percent house edge falls off a cliff:
Jacks or Better Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 9/6 | 99.54 percent |
| 9/5 | 98.45 percent |
| 8/6 | 98.39 percent |
| 8/5 | 97.30 percent |
| 7/5 | 96.15 percent |
| 6/5 | 95.00 percent |
Playing basic strategy a 9/6 version of this video poker classic offers a perfectly reasonable – and even beatable when comps are factored in – payback percentage of 99.54 percent. That leaves a house edge of only 0.46 percent for players to overcome, which is right on par with the best skill games like blackjack.
But as the payouts are downgraded – through slight adjustments to the key pays on a full house and/or flush – Jacks or Better becomes nothing short of a travesty. If I wanted to battle against an unbeatable house edge of 5.00 percent, I’d splash around on a pure game of chance like double-zero roulette, not the ultimate strategic thinker’s game Jacks or Better.
And this pay table conundrum affects all the other variants as well whenever you play on The Strip:
Deuces Wild Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 25/15/9/5/3/2 | 100.76 percent |
| 25/15/11/4/4/3 | 99.96 percent |
| 25/16/10/4/4/3 | 99.73 percent |
| 25/15/9/4/4/3 | 98.91 percent |
| 20/12/10/4/4/3 | 97.58 percent |
| 20/12/9/4/4/3 | 97.06 percent |
| 25/16/13/4/3/2 | 96.77 percent |
| 20/10/8/4/4/3 | 95.96 percent |
| 25/15/10/4/3/2 | 94.82 percent |
Double Bonus Poker Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 10/7 | 100.17 percent |
| 9/7/5 | 99.11 percent |
| 9/6/5 | 97.81 percent |
| 9/6/4 | 96.38 percent |
| 8/5 | 94.19 percent |
| 7/5 | 93.11 percent |
Double Double Bonus Poker Pay Table Comparison
| TABLE | PAYBACK |
| 10/6 | 100.07 percent |
| 9/6/4 | 98.98 percent |
| 9/5 | 97.87 percent |
| 8/5 | 96.79 percent |
| 7/5 | 95.71 percent |
| 6/5 | 94.66 percent |
To get a taste of how hostile The Strip has become for sharp video poker players, just realize that you can no longer find a single full pay Deuces Wild machine and its famous player edge of 100.76 percent – anywhere on Las Vegas Boulevard. Not a single machine mind you, even in the best high-limit rooms where whales typically get the best odds in exchange for dumping serious sums.
Even so, I know there’s plenty of players out there who are cut from my mold. Maybe it’s nostalgia over the good old days, or just the frugal nature of grizzled veteran gamblers who prefer savings over spectacle, but Downtown Las Vegas still calls out to a significant segment of the video poker community.
Who am I kidding… it’s mostly due to Downtown’s abundance of full pay machines covering all the most popular variants.
On that front, this is a piece dedicated to the five best places to play video poker on fabulous Fremont Street in the Downtown district.
1 – The Plaza Hotel & Casino
An iconic fixture of the Downtown skyline since 1971, the Plaza has the highest payback percentage on Fremont Street thanks to its low-limit 1-Pair Joker Wild machines:
The Plaza’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| 1-Pair Joker Wild | 100.65 percent | 25¢, 50¢ |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢¸ $1 |
| Double Bonus Plus | 99.76 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Bonus Deluxe | 99.64 percent | 25¢, 50¢¸ $1, $2 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
| Deuces Joker Wild | 99.07 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 |
The beauty of video poker at the Plaza is variety, as you’ll find more than 225 machines covering 10 different variants – almost all of which offer full pay tables.
2 – California Hotel & Casino
If you prefer the value-packed action found at Boyd Gaming properties, the California is your home away from home when playing Downtown.
Along with full pay Double Bonus and it’s sweet 0.17 percent player edge, video poker at the California spans the spectrum from nickel stakes to five bucks a coin:
California’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Not So Ugly Ducks (Deuces Wild) | 99.73 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Triple Double Bonus | 99.58 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Loose Deuces Wild | 99.20 percent | $1, $2, $5 |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17 percent | 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
3 – El Cortez Hotel & Casino
The Strip keeps adding new casinos every year, but if you want to play at the oldest continuously operated gambling hall in Sin City, the El Cortez is the ticket.
Constructed in 1941, the El Cortez looks and feels like you’ve gone back in time to a bygone era. That antique vibe can be found in the video poker parlor too.
El Cortez’ Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| Double Bonus | 100.17 percent | 25¢ |
| Super Double Bonus | 99.69 percent | $1 |
| Double Deuces Wild | 99.62 percent | 25¢, $1 |
| Triple Bonus | 99.59 percent | 25¢ |
| Bonus Deuces Wild | 99.45 percent | 25¢ |
| A-C-E-S Bonus | 99.40 percent | 25¢ |
If you couldn’t tell, Bonus-based games are the specialty at El Cortez, so head here to hunt for those high-paying four Aces with a kicker jackpots.
4 – Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Originally opened in 1964 as the Lady Luck Casino, the newly renovated Downtown Grand is like a little slice of The Strip transported to Fremont Street.
Except for the full pay video poker machines, that is, which are led by the relatively obscure “Super Aces” version of Bonus Poker:
Downtown Grand’s Best Video Poker Options
| VARIANT | FULL PAYBACK | COIN DENOMINATION(S) |
| Super Aces (Bonus Poker) | 99.94 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1 |
| Jacks or Better | 99.54 percent | 25¢ |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98 percent | 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 |
In case you’re unfamiliar with Super Aces, this game is just Bonus Poker with a premium jackpot payout of 2,000 coins (on a max-bet) when you land four of a kind in Aces.
Conclusion
Downtown Las Vegas is where it all started, from Benny Binion hosting the first World Series of Poker, the world famous $0.99 shrimp cocktail, and 100x Odds bets on the craps table. Legends were born there, million-dollar bankrolls were built and burned through in a day, and the world’s gambling capital emerged like an oasis in the Mojave Desert sands. The old drag on Fremont Street has seen better days to be sure, but if you’re a sharp video poker player, historic venues like the ones listed above are the most beautiful sight in Sin City.
Downtown Las Vegas is known for its value gambling. When compared to the Las Vegas Strip, video poker odds are almost always better downtown, especially at lower limits.
There are 11 downtown Las Vegas casinos. Each is ranked below in terms of its video poker quality.
Al bar tops are closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. These video poker games are still included in this list for when they are available again.
Plaza
Plaza wins the award for best video poker in downtown Las Vegas. It has the two best video poker games found around Fremont Street. Both theoretically return over 100 percent with five coins and perfect play. It also has quality pay tables throughout its casino floor and at the bar.
The best game is full pay Joker Poker in quarter and half-dollar. There is also quarter, half-dollar and dollar 10/7 Double Bonus and full pay Double Bonus Plus. None of these games pay points or allow free play redemption. The rest of the games mentioned below do.
Both bars have a wide selection of quarter, half-dollar and dollar full pay games. This includes 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, 9/6 Jacks or Better, 8/5 Bonus Poker and 9/7 Double Bonus. There are about 25 other Game King video poker machines on the casino floor with these games that add a $2 denomination.
Four Queens
Four Queens takes second place for downtown Las Vegas video poker. It offers 10/7 Double Bonus for quarter and dollar. These take twice as much coin-in for a point than normal on these machines. Players earn one point for every $16 played as opposed to the normal $8.
The best bar top video poker in all of Las Vegas is at Four Queens. This is 10/6 Double Bonus with a slight short pay on a straight flush to get it just under 100%. This game is offered in half-dollar and dollar. There is quarter 9/7 Double Bonus and 9/6 Double Double Bonus with a progressive. The casino floor is home to 9/6 Jacks or Better and 8/5 Bonus Poker. Combining these games with a generous players club makes Four Queens better than most locals casinos for video poker loyalty.
Main Street Station
Main Street Station has yet to reopen as of the time of publication. It will eventually, so it is included in the list. Little has changed there in terms of video poker quality so it is assumed it will remain the same when it reopens.
The best video poker game at Main Street Station is 10/7 Double Bonus. It is spread in quarter, half-dollar and dollar denominations. There is also quarter full pay Triple Deuces Wild and No-so-ugly Deuces Wild. Full pay Jacks or Better is spread at the bar and on several machines on the floor at quarter, half-dollar and dollar. The same can be said of 9/7 Double Bonus. There is 8/5 Bonus Poker throughout the casino.
California
California is home to quarter, half-dollar and dollar 10/7 Double Bonus. Nickel, dime, quarter and half-dollar Not-so-ugly Deuces Wild is available, as well as quarter, half-dollar and dollar full pay Super Double Bonus, Triple Double Bonus, Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker. Jacks or Better is available in coin games for quarter and dollar.
Vegas Video Poker Free
Fremont
You will not find any 100 percent games at Fremont like at the other two Boyd Gaming properties in downtown Las Vegas. However, the action is still well above average.
Las Vegas Video Poker
Fremont is home to the typical Las Vegas Boyd Gaming ‘up to 99.8%’ video poker machines. These offer Triple Bonus Plus, Not-so-ugly Deuces Wild, Super Double Double Bonus, Bonus Poker Deluxe, Double Deuces Wild, Bonus Deuces Wild and others with paybacks above 99 percent. These are available in quarter, half-dollar and dollar.
El Cortez
El Cortez pulled its last 100 percent games in July. The best pay tables are all on coin games. This includes full pay Double Deuces Wild, Triple Bonus, Bonus Deuces Wild, Not-so-ugly Joker Poker, Loose Deuces and full pay Bonus Poker. All these games return over 99 percent. The denominations are mostly quarter and dollar with a few half-dollar games.
Binion’s
The video poker at Binion’s tops out at 99.17 percent. That is on Bonus Poker. There is also 9/7 Double Bonus and 9/6 Double Double Bonus. The denominations are quarter, half-dollar and dollar.
Downtown Grand
Downtown Grand once had the best video poker in downtown Las Vegas. These days, it is like what you will find above at Binion’s. The best game is 8/5 Bonus Poker with 9/7 Double Bonus and 9/6 Double Double Bonus. The denominations are quarter, half-dollar, dollar and two-dollar.
Golden Gate
The best video poker game at Golden Gate is 8/5 Bonus Poker. It offers quarters with a progressive, as well as half-dollar and dollar. There is also 9/6 Double Double Bonus in the dollar denomination. From there, it drops to 8/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, which returns 98.49 percent.
The D
The best video poker game at The D is 8/5 Bonus Poker. It is available in quarter, half-dollar, dollar and two-dollar denominations. The quarter games have progressives. From there, the next best game is 8/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe.
Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget takes last place for downtown Las Vegas video poker quality. There are no video poker games above 99 percent in the house. The best single line game is 8/6 Jacks or Better, which returns 98.39 percent. It requires playing at least the $5 denomination. It is also spread in 100 play for quarter and half-dollar. There is 9/5 Jacks or Better on three and five plays. The best $1 single line game is 7/5 Bonus Poker, which returns right at 98 percent.
Some of this information was learned from VPFree2. This is a database of the best video poker games at each casino.