Is video poker better than slots?

Is video poker better than slots? The verdict on the numbers

If "better" means losing less money for the same amount of play, a well-chosen video poker game beats nearly every slot. Wizard of Odds puts full-pay Jacks or Better at a 0.46% house edge, against a range of roughly 2% to 15% for slot machines in its house edge table (opens in a new tab). Video poker is one of the cheapest games in the casino, alongside blackjack played with basic strategy.

There are two big conditions. First, the return depends entirely on the pay table, and a small cut to two lines on the table, the full house and flush payouts, costs more than two percentage points. Second, video poker returns are calculated for perfect play. Slots need no skill at all, so their RTP is what everyone gets. Video poker's headline RTP is what a player making the right hold on every hand gets.

If "better" means more excitement or a chance of a very large prize, slots win. A video poker royal flush pays 800 times your stake. Many slots offer maximum wins in the thousands or tens of thousands of times the stake, at the price of a higher edge and much bigger swings.

Video poker RTP against slot RTP

Here are published returns for common video poker pay tables next to developer RTPs for well-known slots. Every video poker figure assumes optimal strategy and maximum coins, from the Wizard of Odds video poker summary (opens in a new tab).

The house edge is simply 100% minus the RTP. Slot figures are the developer's published defaults; several slots exist at more than one RTP setting, so check the help screen of the version you're playing. Our slot reviews list each game's figures, including Starburst and Big Bass Bonanza.

What video poker and slots cost in pounds

Expected loss is stake × house edge × number of rounds. To compare fairly, take the same pace for both: 300 rounds an hour at £1 each, so £300 staked. Real speed varies with how fast you play and the game's minimum cycle time, so treat this as an illustration.

That's the gap in one line: £1.38 against £11.73 for the same £300 of action. Over a year of weekly sessions the difference adds up. Our cost per hour page runs the same sum for every main casino game, and the expected value explainer shows where the formula comes from.

These are averages over a very large number of rounds. In any one session you could finish well up or well down on either game. Over time, both games are expected to cost money, because both have a house edge.

Why the pay table decides whether video poker beats slots

In Jacks or Better, "9/6" means the machine pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush. The full table pays 800 for a royal flush (on maximum coins), 50 for a straight flush, 25 for four of a kind, 9 for a full house, 6 for a flush, 4 for a straight, 3 for three of a kind, 2 for two pair and 1 for a pair of jacks or better. Wizard of Odds' 9/6 Jacks or Better analysis (opens in a new tab) gives that table a 99.54% return.

Cut the full house to 8 and the flush to 5 and you have 8/5 Jacks or Better at 97.3%. That single change multiplies the house edge almost six times, from 0.46% to 2.7%, and puts the game in the same territory as many slots. Our guide to video poker pay tables shows how to read any machine in a few seconds.

The skill catch: video poker strategy

Every video poker return above assumes the right hold on every hand. Holding a kicker with a low pair, breaking up a paying hand for a long-shot royal or keeping three cards to a flush when the strategy says otherwise all push the real edge above the published figure. Slots have no such trap: you press spin and the RTP is fixed.

Learning takes a little time but no special talent. A strategy chart for the exact pay table, used every hand, gets you close to the published return. Our video poker strategy guide and how to play video poker cover the basics. Strategy reduces the edge; it doesn't remove it.

How to choose a video poker game that costs less than slots

1. Open the game's help screen and find the pay table.
2. Check the full house and flush payouts for one pair: 9 and 6 on Jacks or Better is the full-pay version.
3. Confirm the published RTP matches the pay table, which UK sites must show before you play.
4. Set your coin size so that a maximum-coin bet fits your budget.
5. Keep a strategy chart for that exact pay table open while you play.
6. Set a session budget and time limit before you start, and stop when either is reached.

Volatility: how video poker and slots feel to play

Low cost doesn't mean steady wins. In Jacks or Better, a big share of the return comes from small payouts such as a pair of jacks paying even money, while the royal flush, worth 800 times the stake, is rare. Slots vary hugely: Starburst is a low volatility slot with a 500x maximum win, while high volatility games like Book of Dead go up to 5,000x, and Starburst XXXtreme lists 200,000x.

So the choice depends on what you value. Video poker gives you longer play for the same budget and a decision on every hand. Slots give you a small chance at a much larger win and cost more for it.

UK rules for online video poker and slots

Online slots in Great Britain have a £5 maximum stake per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24, a minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin and no autoplay. The Commission defines an online slot as a reel-based game, so check a video poker game's own help screen for its stake limits. Casino games other than slots must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle, and autoplay has been banned for all online casino games since 17 January 2025.

Whichever you choose, UK sites must show the rules, payouts and RTP or house edge before you play. See our guides to online slot stake limits and UK RTP information rules. For a deeper side-by-side, read video poker against slots.

Casino offers for slots and video poker players

These new-customer offers lean towards slots. 10bet's bonus must be wagered on slots and Coral's spins are for selected slots; Casumo's bonus has game restrictions. Video poker is often excluded from bonus wagering or counts for less, so check the terms and the game lobby before you rely on an offer for it. 18+, terms apply.

Casumo: 50% up to £100 on a first deposit of £20 or more (opt in), with 10x wagering on the bonus within 7 days, a £5 maximum bet while the bonus is live, and game and payment restrictions. 10bet: 100% up to £25 for new UK customers who choose the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and deposit within 7 days; wager 10x on slots within 3 days, maximum bonus winnings £1,000, and no Skrill or Neteller deposits. Coral: bet £10 or more on slots after depositing to get 100 free spins worth 10p each on selected games; accept within 48 hours, valid for 7 days, no wagering on winnings, and certain payment methods are excluded.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.