If you walk through any casino, past the flashing modern video slots, you will inevitably find rows of old, blocky Video Poker machines.

Playing Video Poker strictly on gut feeling or intuition is a guaranteed way to destroy this massive mathematical advantage and lose your bankroll.
Finding the Full Pay Machines
The paytable dictates exactly how much each specific poker hand pays out, and it is the sole factor determining the machine's overall house edge.

If played perfectly, a 9/6 machine returns a staggering 99.54%, meaning the casino's mathematical edge is a microscopic, nearly invisible 0.46%.
Progressive Video Poker machines often feature weaker base paytables to compensateOnline casinos usually offer the absolute best, highly favorable Video Poker paytablesNever play a machine where a Flush pays only 5 coins if better options exist The Importance of the "Max Bet" Rule
However, the payout for the absolute rarest hand, the Royal Flush, is heavily, disproportionately weighted toward the massive 5-coin maximum bet.

If you bet 1 coin, a Royal Flush might pay a disappointing 250 coins.
Using Math to Make the Right Hold
Professional players memorize complex, rigid strategy charts that rank every possible starting hand from best to worst.

You can legally print a strategy card from the internet and hold it right in front of the machine while you play in the casino.
Player MistakeMathematical ConsequenceBetting less than 5 coinsMassively lowers RTP due to poor Royal Flush payoutPlaying an 8/5 machineIncreases the house edge by nearly 2% instantly
Study the strategy charts relentlessly, and you will transform from a casual gambler into a formidable, highly profitable casino advantage player.