Best Video Poker Las Vegas Strip

In the following chart, click on the names of the casino and its buffet for our descriptions, notes, and reviews. Sort by casino (click on Location); Downtown, Greater Las Vegas, Off-Strip, and Strip (click on Area); and cost (click on Price). Club means the price of the buffet when you show a players club card. Well, eliminating that inconvenience is one of Elon Musk’s selling points for the 'Las Vegas Loop.' As you can see in Boring's map of the Loop (below), it is routed to run underneath or directly alongside the Las Vegas Strip, then branch out at the south end, with a route to McCarran International Airport and a sub-loop west on Flamingo to the Gold Coast and Palms, then south to the Orleans.

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It’s a well-known fact downtown beats the pants off the Las Vegas Strip when it comes to player-friendly casino odds. It’s true for video poker, too. (On average, slots downtown are about 10% “looser” than slots on The Strip.)

According to a popular video poker expert who goes by “Coach Kitty,” downtown boasts some of the best machines and odds in all of Las Vegas.

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She’d know. Coach Kitty estimates she plays an average of 850 hands an hour, or about 14 hands a minute. That’s 14 decisions a minute, and we can barely decide what to have for lunch.

We prodded Coach Kitty to reveal some of her favorite video poker bars and machines, and she was up to the challenge.

There are a number of factors that make certain video poker bars “better” or “worse” (many serious players value casino freebies like food “comps” nearly as much as the money they make from their video poker wins), we asked our expert to name her favorite video poker spots with an emphasis on the most appealing odds of winning.

Vue Bar at The D

Among the benefits of this second floor watering hole at The D is the quality of the drinks, says our expert. We have independently verified this assertion.

Vue Bar happens to serve up some very good video poker odds as well.

Our video poker coach says, “You not only have the best chance of getting the best quality drinks, there’s also a good full-pay game with a progressive, in quarters.”

To be specific, the best game is Bonus Poker in quarters.

The ultimate goal of many video poker players, of course, is to try and find games that give as close to 100% payback, or “full-pay,” as possible.

Casino Bars at Four Queens

Happily, Coach Kitty names the casino bars at Four Queens as having great video poker. We say “happily” because we play there often and had no idea why. (Hint: It was mostly the liberal comps and long liquor pours.)

Coach Kitty says, “At both the casino bars at Four Queens, they have almost full pay Double Double Bonus video poker in 50 cents.”

Remember, the denomination is multiplied by five, so that’s $2.50 a hand. For the most part, the higher the denomination, the better the payback.

Related: 10 Things We Love About Four Queens Casino

The two bars are Kings Bar (near the casino’s west entrance, pictured below) and Palace Bar (near Wana Taco).

Among the other attributes of these bars, our expert says the bartenders are among the friendliest in town.

Boar’s Head Bar at Main Street Station

Our expert not only loves the video poker at Boar’s Head Bar, but also the beer.

“It’s a very nice bar, especially because they have microbrews from the nearby Triple 7 [Restaurant and Brewery] on tap. The bartenders are very nice there, too.”

Ultimately, though, it’s the gamble that makes Boar’s Head one of the best places to play video poker in Las Vegas.

Coach Kitty says, “They have 9-6 Jacks or Better, which is really the best game with the lowest variance, in quarters, 50 cents and $1.”

The “9-6” refers to the payout for full house and flush. It’s kind of a shorthand for video poker players to tell if a game gives them more bang for the buck.

Now You Know the Best Video Poker Bars Downtown

Now you know some insider secrets about downtown’s best video poker bars!

Video poker is unique in casinos because, unlike a shot machine, skill plays a big part in how your session goes. The more you know about the game you’re playing, the better your chances of winning.

Each video poker game has nuances in strategy, so bone up on the game you’d like to try with an app.

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The WinPoker app ($9.99 in the Apple store) is popular among aspiring video poker players looking to get an edge.

If you find the right game, and the right bartender, video poker can be fun and lucrative, and offers some of the best odds for players in the casino.

Best Video Poker Las Vegas Strip

You’re Not Going to Believe This, But…

Here’s an update to our story!

Following our chat with Coach Kitty, we started playing at her recommended video poker bars, and just a few weeks later, our very first royal flush! That’s a $1,000 win.

That’s right. We got our first royal flush after nearly two decades of playing video poker, and we got it at the video poker bar at Four Queens. Thanks, Coach Kitty!

While winning in casinos has a lot to do with luck, the more you know about the games, the luckier you’ll be!

Las Vegas is the best place to play video poker in the world. There are hundreds of machines in the Las Vegas Valley that return 100 percent or more when betting five coins and playing perfect strategy.

None of these devices are located on the Las Vegas Strip. Video poker players will need to take a trip downtown or to locals casinos to find the best video poker games in Las Vegas.

Where to go for best value video poker in Las Vegas

Poker

Station Casinos is home to most of the 100 percent or more video poker games in Las Vegas. These are advertised as Optimum Play machines.

These can be found at Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Santa Fe Station, BoulderStation, as well as other properties under the Station Casinos umbrella. Many are found just inside entrances. Some are even in nonsmoking sections.

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Station Casinos offers 100.76 percent Deuces Wild at many of its locations. The pay table returns 25 on a deuces royal flush, 15 on five of a kind, 9 on a straight flush, and 5 of four of a kind. This game is spread in the $.25 denomination.

Many Station Casinos properties also spread 10/7/5 Double Bonus, as well as two other Deuces Wild pay tables that return over 100 percent. These games are available in denominations up to $1.

Boulder Station and Santa Fe Station also spread 100.65 percent Joker Poker where four of a kind returns 20 to 1. Kings or better is the lowest pay on these Joker Poker machines. These games are only available in $.25 denominations.

Palms is another Nevada casino where players will find Full-Pay Deuces Wild. This game is only spread in quarters. Palms also spreads 10/7/5 Double Bonus Poker and 10/6 Double Double Bonus Poker. These games are available in quarters and half-dollars.

Downtown Las Vegas video poker

Some video poker players prefer downtown Las Vegas.

Best Video Poker Las Vegas Strip

El Cortez offers Full-Pay Deuces Wild. Downtown gamblers will also find 10/7/5 Double Bonus Poker at Main Street Station, Plaza and El Cortez at the $.25 denomination. Las Vegas Club spreads $.25 and $.50 Full-Pay Joker Poker that returns 20 on quads, 7 on a full house, and 5 on a flush.

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When to play games that offer lower returns

It can be better to play a lower return game due to the quality of the players club.

For example, games that return less than 100 percent at Station Casinos pay 0.3 percent in cash back or free play.

Best Video Poker On The Las Vegas Strip

Regular players receive mailers that include multiplier days that can push the game above 100 percent. Seniors receive multipliers every Wednesday at Station Casinos.

Players visiting from other states may want to consider mailers and comps over immediate returns. Playing the 100 percent machines at places like Palms and Station Casinos are certain to damage the quality of mailers that are sent out.

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Some players that exclusively give action to 100 percent video poker machines will likely stop receiving any offers by mail.