Joker Poker is the second-best video poker game available. Its full pay table returns 100.65%. Only Deuces Wild, at 100.76%, has a higher return-to-player.
There are three versions of Joker Poker. On the West Coast, kings or better is the most common 
version. On the East Coast, it is two pair or better. The kings or better is the better of those two.
There is also an aces or better version of Joker Poker. The pay tables for that game are terrible when compared to the kings or better or two pair or better versions. We recommend avoiding it.
Why You Should Play Joker Poker
Joker Poker is a low variance game when compared to most bonus games but not Jacks or Better. If you can find a full pay table, it is one of the best games to play in the kings or better format. The full pay version of two pair or better is difficult to find. There are a few California tribal casinos with it. Barton’s in Jackpot, Nevada also spreads it.
Why You Shouldn’t Play Joker Poker
Joker Poker is an advanced game to learn. The strategy is the most complex that you can find. There are hundreds of exceptions to basic strategy. It is impossible for all but the savviest of players to use advance strategy at Joker Poker. This is due to all the issues raised when a joker is dealt.
The basic strategy also does not match non-wild card games. For example, you should throw away a winning pair in Joker Poker to go for three to a royal flush in many cases. You should throw away three of a kind if dealt the joker and a four-card straight flush with zero or one gaps. As you can see, this can get confusing quickly.
Another problem is the lack of full pay machines out there. You can only find the kings or better ones in Las Vegas. The short-pay machines tend to have terrible returns, often under 98%. The full pay versions do not qualify for most promotions. Some pay no points, while others short them to players.
Full Pay Joker Poker Pay Table
These are the two full pay tables for Joker Poker. One uses kings or better as the bottom payout. The other uses two pair. Multiply the number of coins by the amount wagered.
Kings or Better Joker Poker
- Royal flush: 800 (400 if better fewer than five coins)
- Four of a kind: 200
- Royal flush with joker: 100
- Straight flush: 50
- Four of a kind: 20
- Full house: 7
- Flush: 5
- Straight: 3
- Three of a kind: 2
- Two pair: 1
- Pair of kings or aces: 1
Lesser kings or better Joker Poker pay tables will reduce the four of a kind payout. Each coin drop changes the return-to-player by about 0.85%.
Two Pair Joker Poker
- Royal flush: 1000
- Five of a kind: 100
- Royal flush with joker and straight flush: 50
- Four of a kind: 20
- Full house: 10
- Flush: 6
- Straight: 5
- Three of a kind: 2
- Two pair: 1
Where to Find These Joker Poker Pay Tables
The full pay kings or better Joker Poker games with the pay table above may only be found in 
five casinos. All are in Las Vegas. The properties are Plaza, Fiesta Henderson, Boulder Station, Texas Station and Santa Fe Station.
The two pair version is found at several California tribal casinos, including Barona Casino, Lucky 7 Casino and Viejas Casino. In Nevada, you will find it at Aquarius Casino in Laughlin, Eldorado in Reno and Four Jacks and Barton’s 93 in Jackpot.
Joker Poker Strategy
There are two strategies to follow, depending on whether you are playing kings or better or two pair.
Kings or Better Joker Poker Strategy
No joker dealt:
Always hold a full house, straight flush and royal flush. Hold a flush unless it is four to a royal flush. Hold a straight unless it is four to a straight or royal flush. After that, hold the following hands in order from top to bottom:
- Four to a royal flush
- Four of a kind
- Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Two pair
- Three to a royal flush
- Pair of aces or kings
- Four to a flush
- Pair of twos through queens
- Three connected suited cards
- Four to an open-ended king-high straight
- Suited ace and king
- Three to a straight flush with an ace or king or zero or one gap
- Open-ended straight draw
- Three to a two-gap straight flush
- King with suited ten, jack or queen
- Ace and king
- Ace with suited ten, jack or queen
- Bare ace or king
- Two suited cards ten, jack or queen
If none of the above applies, discard all.
If dealt a joker, follow the list below:
Hold a full house, straight flush, royal flush or five of a kind. Keep a straight or flush without a four-card straight or royal flush draw. After that, follow the list below in order from top to bottom:
- Four to a royal flush or straight flush with zero or one gap
- Four of a kind
- Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush with two gaps
- Four to a flush
- Three to a royal flush
- Three to a straight flush with zero or one gap
- Pair of aces or king
- Four to a straight with the three non-wild cards being connected
- Hold wild with a 7, followed by 6 and 8, 10, 9 and then 5.
If none of the above applies, discard all but the joker.
Joker Poker Two Pair Strategy
No joker dealt:
Stay on a full house, straight flush or royal flush. Hold a straight or flush if you do not have four to a royal flush. After that, follow the list from top to bottom:
- Four to a royal flush
- Four of a kind
- Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Two pair
- Three to a royal flush
- Four to a flush
- Open-ended straight
- Three-card straight flush with no gaps
- Any pair
- All remaining three-card straight flushes
- Four to an inside straight
- Three-card flush
- Two cards to a royal flush
- Three-card straight with no gaps
- Two-card straight flush
- Bare card, in order of 10, 8, 9, 7, 6 and 5
If none of the above applies, discard all cards.
If dealt joker, hold a full house, straight flush, royal flush or five of a kind. Keep a flush unless you have three suited connectors with it. Hold a straight without a zero or one gap straight flush or royal flush draw. After that, follow the list below:
- Four of a kind
- Four to an open-ended straight flush
- Suited ten, jack and queen
- Four to zero or one gap straight flush draw
- All remaining royal or straight flush draws
- Three of a kind
- Four to an open-ended straight
- Suited jack and ten
- Three-card straight flush with one gap
- Three-card royal flush
- All remaining three-card straight flushes
- Three cards to a straight with no gaps
- Hold, in order with the joker, 7, 8, 6, 9, 5, 10, 4 and jack
If none of the above applies, discard all cards except the joker.
How to Increase Your Return at Joker Poker
These pay tables are only found at live casinos. You will need to get a players card to increase your return. Note that most full pay machines pay discounted points and few, if any, comps. You will still get something for your play. However, if you only play these machines, you risk getting no mailers or comps. Keep that in mind before using a players card on this and any other full pay machines.
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