Deuces Wild is the highest-returning standard video poker game available. The full-pay version returns 100.76% with perfect strategy — a genuine player advantage without progressives or promotions. But Deuces Wild pay tables vary more dramatically than any other game, and the strategy is completely different from Jacks-or-Better-based games because all four 2s are wild cards.
How to Identify a Full Pay Deuces Wild Machine
Unlike Jacks or Better where you just check the Full House and Flush payouts, Deuces Wild requires checking multiple lines. The key identifier for full pay is the Four of a Kind payout:
- Full Pay: Four of a Kind pays 5-for-1 → 100.76% RTP
- "Not So Ugly" Deuces (NSUD): Four of a Kind pays 4-for-1 → 99.73% RTP
- Short pay versions: Four of a Kind pays 4-for-1 with lower payouts elsewhere → under 98%
If Four of a Kind pays 5, you've found full pay. If it pays 4, check the Five of a Kind and Straight Flush lines to determine which variant you're playing.
Complete Pay Table Comparison
| Hand | Full Pay (100.76%) | NSUD (99.73%) | Colorado (98.91%) | Airport (94.34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Four Deuces | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 |
| Straight Flush | 9 | 10 | 8 | 13 |
| Four of a Kind | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Full House | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Flush | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Straight | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 100.76% | 99.73% | 98.91% | 94.34% |
There is no minimum qualifying hand in Deuces Wild — Three of a Kind is the lowest paying hand, and you need it to win anything.
The RTP Gap Is Massive
The spread between full pay (100.76%) and typical airport/short-pay versions (94-96%) is over 5 percentage points. That's the largest gap in any common video poker game.
At $0.25 denomination (5-coin max = $1.25/hand), 600 hands per hour:
| Pay Table | RTP | Hourly Result |
|---|---|---|
| Full Pay | 100.76% | +$5.70 (profit) |
| NSUD | 99.73% | $2.03 (loss) |
| Colorado | 98.91% | $8.18 (loss) |
| Airport | 94.34% | $42.45 (loss) |
Playing an airport Deuces Wild machine instead of full pay costs you nearly $48 per hour at quarter denomination. At dollar denomination, that gap approaches $200 per hour.
Why Full Pay Deuces Wild Is Hard to Find
Casinos know this game favors the player, so full-pay Deuces Wild (with 5-for-1 on Four of a Kind) has been steadily removed from most casino floors. In Las Vegas, a few locals casinos may still have it at quarter denomination or in high-limit rooms. Not So Ugly Deuces at 99.73% is a much more realistic target and still one of the best games available.
Other Deuces Wild Variants
The Deuces Wild family includes several related games with different bonus structures:
- Bonus Deuces Wild: Adds bonus payouts for Five of a Kind and Wild Royal. Full pay returns 99.86%.
- Loose Deuces Wild: Pays 500-for-1 on Four Deuces instead of 200-for-1. Full pay returns 100.97%.
- Double Deuces Wild: Enhanced Four Deuces payout with adjusted lower payouts.
- Deuces Wild Deluxe: Modified bonus structure with different strategy requirements.
Each variant has its own strategy. Do not use standard Deuces Wild strategy on these games — the different pay tables change optimal holds significantly.
Strategy Is Completely Different
Deuces Wild strategy has almost nothing in common with Jacks or Better. A few examples:
- Never hold a single high card. There's no payout for a pair of Jacks, so an isolated J, Q, K, or A is worthless.
- With no deuces, prioritize made hands and strong draws. Four to a Royal or Straight Flush is more valuable than a made Straight.
- With one deuce, you already have Three of a Kind minimum. Look for opportunities to improve to Four of a Kind or better.
- With two or more deuces, the strategy simplifies dramatically since you're guaranteed a paying hand.
Bottom Line
Full-pay Deuces Wild is the best standard video poker game in existence, but finding it is the hard part. If you can't find full pay, NSUD at 99.73% is an excellent alternative. Avoid anything with 4-for-1 on Four of a Kind unless the other lines compensate — and learn Deuces Wild strategy separately from JoB, because they share almost nothing in common.