Video Poker Joker is one of the friendliest introductions to wild-card poker for players who want skill, strategy and a clear edge against poor paytables. Below I’ll walk you through how the game works, how to read paytables, the math behind expected returns, and practical strategies you can apply at the casino or on mobile. Along the way I’ll share personal experience from years of testing video poker variants and examples that make the concepts click.
What is Video Poker Joker?
Video Poker Joker (often marketed as Joker Poker, Joker’s Wild, or Joker Poker Wild) is a five-card draw video poker variant that includes a joker as a wild card. That single joker changes the value of hands and the optimal playing strategy compared to classic Jacks or Better. The presence of a wild card typically boosts the frequency of high hands such as five-of-a-kind, but the game’s payout structure is adjusted to keep long-term returns in line with house targets.
If you want to check a popular lobby or try different variations, you can also visit keywords to see related casino offerings and mobile play options.
How the Game Works — Step by Step
- Place your bet (usually 1–5 coins; max coins unlocks the highest bonus for a royal or top payout).
- You receive five cards from a single-deck shoe with one joker included.
- Decide which cards to hold and which to discard.
- The machine replaces discarded cards once and pays according to the paytable.
Important: The joker is wild and substitutes for any other card to complete a winning combination. Two jokers are uncommon; most standard Joker Poker games use one joker.
Typical Paytables and What to Look For
Paytables determine expected return (RTP). Unlike slot machines, video poker’s RTP is directly tied to the paytable and the player’s decisions. Joker Poker variants vary, but here's what to evaluate:
- Top payouts: Five of a Kind and Royal Flush payouts are key drivers of RTP. Note whether a royal made using the joker is paid the same as a natural royal.
- Full House and Flush values: Because jokers can complete strong hands more often, full houses and flushes usually pay less than in non-wild variants.
- Max-coin bonus: Many machines only award the highest multiple for a royal when betting the maximum coins—always check this.
As a rule of thumb, look for paytables that give relatively high payouts for Five of a Kind and the Royal to boost long-term returns. A well-designed Joker Poker paytable should offer a competitive RTP in the high 90% range with perfect play; lower-than-average paytables will sink that advantage quickly.
Key Differences from Non-Wild Video Poker
Two practical changes affect strategy:
- Wild cards increase the frequency of premium hands (e.g., five-of-a-kind), which changes the expected value of holding certain partial hands.
- Some hands that are strong in Jacks or Better (like three to a royal) may be played differently when a joker can turn weaker holds into strong hands.
Basic and Advanced Strategy Principles
Video Poker Joker strategy boils down to maximizing expected value (EV) of each decision. Below are actionable guidelines that blend basic rules-of-thumb with more advanced considerations.
Core Rules-of-Thumb
- Always hold a made high-paying hand (five-of-a-kind, royal, straight flush, etc.).
- With a joker, four to a royal (with no wild needed) is usually worth holding over many lower-value options.
- Hold three to a straight flush or four to a flush depending on paytable specifics—check the table before you play.
- If you are one card away from five-of-a-kind (with joker substitution possible), keep the three/four cards that maximize the chance of reaching five-of-a-kind.
Advanced Considerations
When pursuing the absolute best decisions, these are the nuanced items I use in analysis:
- Conditional EVs — compute expected returns when holding a particular combination taking into account the probability of drawing specific cards including the joker.
- Pat vs drawing hands — with a wild card in play, some draws that look tempting are actually dominated by other plays because the joker raises the chance of higher-paying hands.
- Paytable-dependent choices — small changes in payouts shift the EV of marginal decisions. For example, if Five of a Kind pays significantly more relative to straight flush, favor plays that maximize five-of-a-kind potential.
Example Plays: Applying the Logic
Here are concrete examples to illustrate decision-making. These are simplified to communicate ideas — real tables and calculators are ideal for precise EV numbers.
Example 1 — You are dealt: A♠ K♠ Q♠ 9♠ Joker. You already have a flush and a joker to complete higher hands. The correct play: Hold the four spades and the joker (i.e., keep the whole hand) because you have a made flush and the joker may already act as a substitute making an even higher hand with no draws needed.
Example 2 — You are dealt: 10♥ J♥ Q♠ K♣ Joker. You have 4 to a royal but with mixed suits. Strategy: Keep the 10 and J and Q and King? Not all of them. In many paytables, hold the four-card royal (10-J-Q-K) because the joker increases the chance of completing a royal. Exact decision depends on suit distribution and paytable specifics.
RTP, Variance and Bankroll Management
RTP depends on paytable and player strategy. A good Joker Poker variant with optimal play can approach or exceed 99% RTP on some paytables, but many casino implementations offer lower returns (mid-90s) to increase house edge. Variance is generally higher than simple Jacks or Better, because wild cards create bigger but less frequent payouts.
Practical bankroll guidance:
- Set a session budget and stick to it—video poker variance can produce long cold stretches.
- For high-variance machines (look for big top payouts), increase your bankroll to avoid ruin—consider at least 100–300 units of your base bet for a comfortable session.
- Use max coin bets only if you can afford them and the max-coin bonus meaningfully improves EV (commonly true for royal bonuses).
Using Tools and Practice Smartly
Before wagering real money, run through the following steps:
- Study paytables carefully — not all Joker Poker games are created equal.
- Use a video poker trainer or simulator. These tools allow you to practice without financial risk and they often provide EV feedback.
- Keep a simple cheat sheet of common decision hierarchies for the exact paytable you play. Over time you’ll internalize the rules and make near-optimal plays automatically.
Mobile Play and RNG Considerations
Video Poker Joker translates well to mobile because decisions are simple and sessions can be paused. When playing online, verify that the platform uses audited RNG and displays RTP or paytable info clearly. Reputable operators will have independent lab certifications (e.g., eCOGRA, GLI) — if you can’t find such info, treat the site with caution.
Responsible Play and Limits
Even with high RTP and the best strategy, video poker is gambling and outcomes are probabilistic. Here are practical tips for staying in control:
- Decide your loss limit and walk away when you hit it.
- Set winning goals as well—decide in advance what portion of your profit you’ll cash out.
- Avoid chasing losses with larger stakes; increasing bets to recover losses erodes the mathematical edge of optimal play.
Real-World Anecdote
I remember a session where I tested two Joker Poker paytables back-to-back. In the first session I played a version that heavily underpaid five-of-a-kind relative to a better table. Even though the hands felt “looser” thanks to many high hands, my bankroll dwindled. Switching to the better paytable—with slightly less frequent but much higher payouts for five-of-a-kind—turned the session around. The takeaway: the suit of the machine (its paytable) matters more than short-term variance.
Checklist Before You Play
- Inspect the paytable and confirm max-coin royal bonus.
- Confirm the number of jokers (usually one).
- Decide your bankroll and bet size—avoid betting more than 1–2% of bankroll per hand in high-variance versions.
- Practice the paytable on a simulator if available to internalize strategy.
- Confirm the operator’s credibility and RNG audits—trustworthy operators provide clear information.
Where to Learn More and Practice
There are many trainer apps, published strategy charts and forums that discuss exact EV-based decisions for specific Joker Poker paytables. If you want a quick look at games and operators, check the lobby and game lists at trusted online aggregators or try a demo on platforms like keywords to compare variants and paytables.
Final Thoughts
Video Poker Joker is rewarding for players who enjoy a balance of skill, strategy and the thrill of wild-card hands. The joker complicates strategy but also creates opportunities for bigger payouts. Your edge comes from selecting the right paytable, using correct strategy, and managing your bankroll responsibly. With practice and the right tools you can significantly improve outcomes and make smarter choices at the machine.
If you’d like, tell me the exact paytable you’re looking at and your preferred bet size—I can walk through specific EV calculations and give play-by-play decisions for typical hands.
Author: A long-time video poker player and analyst who has tested dozens of Joker Poker variants across casino floors and mobile apps, focused on paytables, math and practical play.
