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Crypto casino reviewer since 2019. Tested 40+ platforms with real deposits.
RTP
99.00%
House Edge
1.00%
Max Multiplier
800x
Volatility
Medium
Bet Range
$0.01 – $100
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How to Play Video Poker
Place Your Bet
Set your wager before the hand is dealt. Higher bets do not change the odds but increase the payout for winning hands proportionally.
Receive Five Cards
You are dealt five cards from a standard 52-card deck. Evaluate your hand to determine which cards to keep for the best possible final hand.
Hold and Draw
Select which cards to hold (keep) and which to discard. Discarded cards are replaced with new cards from the deck. This is your one chance to improve your hand.
Get Paid
Your final five-card hand is evaluated against the pay table. Payouts start at 1x for Jacks or Better and go up to 800x for a Royal Flush.
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How It Works
Stake Video Poker uses Jacks or Better rules with a standard 52-card deck. The pay table is: Jacks or Better (1x), Two Pair (2x), Three of a Kind (3x), Straight (4x), Flush (6x), Full House (9x), Four of a Kind (25x), Straight Flush (50x), Royal Flush (800x).
With optimal hold strategy, the house edge is 1%, making it one of the better-value games on Stake. Each hand uses a provably fair deck order — the initial deal and replacement cards are all predetermined, ensuring no manipulation is possible.
Strategy Tips
- Always hold a pair of Jacks or better. Hold 4 to a flush or straight over a low pair. Never break a winning hand to chase a Royal Flush unless you have 4 to a Royal. Optimal strategy gives this game a house edge of 1%.
- From our testing sessions, the most impactful decisions involve hands with multiple possibilities. For example, if you are dealt Jh-Qh-Kh-3d-3c, most beginners hold the pair of 3s. The correct play is to hold J-Q-K of hearts because the potential flush and straight flush draws have a higher expected value than the guaranteed low pair payout. Similarly, always break a low pair to hold 4 to a flush — the flush draw is worth more mathematically.
- The Royal Flush is where Video Poker gets exciting. At 800x your bet, it is the jackpot that keeps players coming back. The probability of hitting a Royal is approximately 1 in 40,000 hands with optimal play. Never hold a kicker with a high pair — always hold just the pair and draw three cards. And remember: with a 1% house edge, Video Poker ties with Dice, Crash, and Limbo as the best RTP games on Stake, but it is the only one where your decisions genuinely matter.
Learn Optimal Hold Strategy
Video Poker has a mathematically correct hold/discard decision for every possible hand. For example, always hold a paying pair, always hold four to a flush, and break a low pair to draw to an open-ended straight draw.
Never Discard a Winning Hand to Chase
If you have Jacks or Better, keep the pair and draw three. Breaking a guaranteed 1x payout to chase a flush or straight is negative expected value in most situations.
Prioritize High-Value Draws
Four to a Royal Flush is always worth chasing, even if it means breaking a pair. The 800x payout makes the expected value higher than holding nearly any made hand except a straight flush.
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Video Poker has medium volatility — most hands return 0x or 1x, with occasional big wins from Full House (9x) and above. Bet 1-3% of your bankroll per hand. The 1% house edge means your bankroll erodes slowly with optimal play. A session of 200 hands should see 2-3 Full Houses and ideally one Four of a Kind.
Pros & Cons
- Low 1% house edge with optimal strategy
- Skill-based — optimal strategy significantly reduces losses
- Up to 800x payout for Royal Flush
- Familiar poker hand rankings
- Provably fair deck order
- Requires learning optimal hold strategy
- Most hands pay 0x or 1x — big wins are rare
- Slower pace than automated games
- Single variant (Jacks or Better) only
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FAQ
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