Video Poker Pay Tables in Canada: How to Spot Full-Pay Games

Video poker pay tables decide how much the game costs you, and most players never look at them. Two machines can display the same game name, deal the same cards and use the same strategy chart, yet pay back very different amounts over time because a few numbers on the paytable differ. Learning to read those numbers is the single most useful skill in video poker. This guide explains how pay tables work, what to look for in Jacks or Better, and how Canadian players can avoid the weak versions.

For the basics of the game itself, see our video poker guide. Here we focus on the pay table: where the house edge hides and how to spot it in seconds.

What a video poker pay table shows

The pay table lists what each winning hand pays for each coin wagered. It usually runs from a pair of jacks or better at the bottom to a royal flush at the top. Most machines show columns for one through five coins, and the royal flush pays a bonus at the maximum bet. That bonus is the reason experienced players almost always bet the maximum coins.

Because the cards are random and the strategy is the same, the pay table is what separates a good machine from a poor one. Casinos can change a payout and leave everything else untouched, and the game looks identical.

Reading the 9/6 shorthand

Players describe Jacks or Better pay tables with two numbers, such as 9/6. The first number is how many coins a full house pays per coin bet, and the second is how many a flush pays. A 9/6 Jacks or Better table pays nine for a full house and six for a flush, and it is widely regarded as the full-pay version. With perfect strategy it returns a little under one hundred percent of wagers, which is among the best figures you will find anywhere in a casino.

Lower versions reduce those two payouts. A 8/5 table pays eight and five, and a 7/5 table pays seven and five. Each step down trims the return, and the effect compounds over many hands.

Why small changes matter

Full houses and flushes show up often enough that changing their payout shifts the long-run return noticeably. A single coin removed from one of them may look trivial on screen, but across thousands of hands it makes the game meaningfully more expensive. That is why you should check the pay table before you sit down or load a game.

Common Jacks or Better variants

• 9/6: the benchmark full-pay table, giving the strongest long-term return for this game.
• 9/5: a flush that pays one less, which lowers the return slightly.
• 8/6 and 8/5: reductions in the full house payout that cost more as they stack.
• 7/5 and lower: noticeably weaker tables that are best avoided if a better option exists.

The exact return for each table depends on correct play, and the figures are published in video poker analysis resources. We do not quote specific percentages here because they change by variant, but the direction is consistent: bigger numbers in those two spots mean a better game for you.

Beyond Jacks or Better

Many online casinos offer other video poker families, and each has its own pay table language. Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker and Double Double Bonus all list payouts differently, and the same rule applies. Look for the headline hands that matter in that variant, compare them with the standard version, and see which numbers have been trimmed.

Wild card games

In games where deuces are wild, the pay table typically starts at three of a kind or higher, and the shorthand relates to payouts for hands like full houses, flushes and wild royals. A weaker table can swing the return considerably, so confirm the key payouts before playing.

Bonus variants

Bonus-style games pay extra for certain four-of-a-kind hands. Those richer payouts are usually offset by lower returns on other hands, so read the whole table rather than being drawn in by the big top-end numbers.

Why max coins matter

On most machines the royal flush pays a big jump on the fifth coin. Betting fewer coins means you give up that bonus and reduce the overall return, even though the stake is smaller. If you prefer to play lower stakes, it is generally better to choose a lower denomination and play five coins than to play a higher denomination with fewer coins. That keeps the royal bonus in play while controlling your total risk per hand.

Finding good tables at Canadian online casinos

Online casinos make this easy. Pay tables are shown on screen, and many sites list multiple versions of the same game. Open the help or paytable screen before wagering and write down the full house and flush figures. If the version looks weak, check the lobby for a stronger alternative. Our casino games hub and review pages can point you to operators with broad game libraries, such as the one covered in our JackpotCity review.

Keep in mind that game availability and pay tables change, and a casino can adjust its lineup at any time. Confirm what you see on the screen rather than relying on an old recollection.

Strategy still matters

A great pay table only pays off if you play correctly. Video poker strategy involves deciding which cards to hold for each deal, and the right choice sometimes feels counterintuitive. Using a strategy chart or training tool for your specific variant makes a measurable difference. Practise in demo mode where it is offered, since free play lets you learn without risking money.

• Never break a made flush or straight for a worse draw unless the chart says so.
• Hold high pairs over drawing hands in most Jacks or Better situations.
• Do not chase royal flushes at the expense of solid holds.

Keep expectations realistic

Even the best pay table loses money in the long run unless the game returns over one hundred percent, which is rare and usually tied to promotions. Variance in video poker is high, with long dry stretches and occasional large payouts. Set a budget, play for entertainment and treat any bonus only as a way to stretch your play, not a route to profit. Our casino resource page has more guidance on playing within your means.

Quick pay table checklist

Before you play, identify the game variant, look at the full house and flush payouts, confirm the royal flush bonus at maximum coins, and compare the table with the best version the casino offers. That two-minute routine is the cheapest way to improve your odds in video poker, and it does not depend on luck.

You must be 19+ (18+ in some provinces) to gamble in Canada. If gambling stops being fun, free confidential help is available in every province.