Bonus Poker is the middle ground between Jacks or Better and the high-volatility bonus games. It enhances Four of a Kind payouts slightly while keeping Two Pair at 2-for-1, which means you get bigger quad hits without the bankroll-draining swings of Double Bonus or Double Double Bonus.
What Makes Bonus Poker Different from JoB
The only change from Jacks or Better is the Four of a Kind payout, which is split into tiers:
| Four of a Kind | Bonus Poker | Jacks or Better |
|---|---|---|
| Four Aces | 80-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
| Four 2s, 3s, or 4s | 40-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
| Four 5s through Kings | 25-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
Everything else — including the critical 2-for-1 Two Pair payout — stays the same. This makes Bonus Poker only slightly more volatile than JoB while adding excitement when you hit quad Aces.
Pay Table Comparison
| Hand | 8/5 | 7/5 | 6/5 | 10/7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Four 2s-4s | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Four 5s-Ks | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Full House | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 |
| Flush | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 99.17% | 98.01% | 96.87% | 100.70% |
The 10/7 Bonus Poker variant is extremely rare but returns over 100%. The standard full-pay version is 8/5 at 99.17%.
Hourly Cost Comparison
At $0.25 denomination, 600 hands per hour ($1.25/hand):
| Pay Table | RTP | House Edge | Hourly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/7 | 100.70% | -0.70% | +$5.25 (profit) |
| 8/5 | 99.17% | 0.83% | $6.23 |
| 7/5 | 98.01% | 1.99% | $14.93 |
| 6/5 | 96.87% | 3.13% | $23.48 |
Moving from 8/5 to 7/5 costs you an extra $8.70 per hour at quarters — over $34 per hour at dollar denomination.
When to Play Bonus Poker Instead of JoB
Bonus Poker makes sense when:
- You can find 8/5 Bonus Poker but only 8/5 JoB. At those pay tables, Bonus Poker (99.17%) is better than JoB (97.30%).
- You want slightly more action on Four of a Kind hands without the bankroll requirements of Double Bonus.
- You're comfortable with JoB strategy. Bonus Poker strategy is nearly identical — only a handful of holds change because of the enhanced quad payouts.
If you can find 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), it's still a better game than 8/5 Bonus Poker from a pure return standpoint, with lower variance.
Bottom Line
Bonus Poker is a solid choice that adds a bit of excitement to the JoB framework without dramatically increasing volatility. Find the 8/5 pay table, play max coins, and enjoy the occasional quad Aces payout at 80-for-1.