Part I: Games & Gaming · Slot Machines & Electronic Gaming
Pay Table
Video Poker
The posted chart on a video poker machine that specifies the payout for each qualifying hand rank based on the number of credits wagered. The pay table is the sole determinant of a video poker machine’s RTP and house edge — unlike slot machines, where reel strip symbol distributions are hidden, video poker pay tables are fully visible to players. Small changes to the pay table (reducing the full house payout from 9 to 8, for example) can dramatically reduce RTP. Casino operations use pay table configuration as a primary tool for managing video poker profitability, with “full-pay” machines (highest RTP) used as marketing draws and “short-pay” machines (lower RTP) used for general floor placement.
In practice
Players extensively study and compare video poker pay tables. “Full-pay” Jacks or Better is 9/6; any reduction in full house or flush payout identifies a “short-pay” machine. In Las Vegas, full-pay video poker is increasingly restricted to specific casinos or loyalty tiers.
Related terms
More in Video Poker
Jacks or Better·Deuces Wild·Joker Poker·Royal Flush·Full Pay
One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.