How to handle low return video poker

9 August 2025

By Jerry Stickman

A question for Hiram.

Hello Mr. Stickman.

I enjoy reading your columns and feel you give some very solid advice. One of your main points is to find good paying games. You mention to scout casinos to check all their video poker games. If you can’t find anything good, you say to try another casino.

My question is … what if there are no good paying games available AND you are a captive audience such as when I am on a cruise ship? What is your advice for someone in this situation?

I humbly await your response, sir.

Hiram from Missouri

Hi Hiram.

Thank you so much for the question.

It is always great to be able to find high return video poker such as 99.5 percent or more. If players are diligent, they can usually find high paying games in most gambling destinations. It may take a little work and the search area may have to be widened from the big-name casinos, but usually good games are available.

But as you bring up, what if you are part of a “captive audience?”

I recently took a cruise and checked out the casino after we left port and were in international waters. Upon entering, I noticed the casino had around 20 or so video poker machines. Many of these games already had players, so I thought I would check them out. To say these games were tight is an understatement. Returns hovered around 96 percent and some were even lower. Apparently, these players did not mind the low return – or more likely, had no idea what the returns of the games were.

What is a conscientious video poker player to do? I love playing video poker, but am used to playing games with returns of nearly 99 percent or higher. I was now on a ship for several days. I was on a ship with a casino and my favorite casino game, video poker, and none of their games met my normal playing criteria.

When it comes to putting my hard-earned money at risk in a casino, I am quite firm in my commitment – if the casino has no decent games, leave.

So I did. I left and I never set foot (to play) in that casino again.

However, what about those players who enjoy the play and are not as concerned about the return.
For those my advice is – make sure you have the discipline to manage your bankroll. It is hard enough to manage a bankroll in a casino where you must insert currency into the machines. At lease you can visibly see your bankroll disappearing.

In many cases, casino play on a cruise ship can be directly charged to your onboard account. There is no visible indication of how far down you are.

If your main goal is some entertainment value from casino play and you are willing to spend some of your money for that, Hiram, please make certain that you set a loss limit before you start each casino session. Make sure you keep track of your losses throughout the session. Most importantly, make sure you leave when you hit that loss limit.

Yes, playing video poker can be fun. It can be entertaining. Do not let lack of fiscal discipline spoil the fun when conditions are not at their best.

I hope this helps and makes sense, Hiram.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and tiny.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines and 888casino.com. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com