Joker Poker (also called Joker Wild) plays with a 53-card deck — the standard 52 cards plus one Joker that acts as a wild card. This changes the game fundamentally: you'll make hands like Five of a Kind and Wild Royal Flush that don't exist in standard video poker. But it also means the minimum qualifying hand is typically Kings or Better (a pair of Kings or Aces), since lower pairs don't pay.
Two Different Games Under One Name
Joker Poker comes in two main variants with very different returns:
- Kings or Better: Minimum paying hand is a pair of Kings. Full pay returns 100.65% — a player advantage.
- Aces or Better: Minimum paying hand is a pair of Aces. Lower returns, typically around 98.60%.
- Two Pair or Better: Requires Two Pair minimum. Returns vary by pay table.
Always check what the minimum hand is before you play. The same machine label "Joker Poker" can mean very different games.
Kings or Better Pay Table Comparison
| Hand | Full Pay 20/7 | 17/7 | 15/7 | 15/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Five of a Kind | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four of a Kind | 20 | 17 | 15 | 15 |
| Full House | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Flush | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Three of a Kind | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kings or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 100.65% | 99.07% | 97.94% | 96.38% |
The Four of a Kind payout is the key number to check. At 20-for-1, you have a player advantage. At 17, you're close to break-even. At 15 or below, the house edge grows quickly.
Hourly Impact
At $0.25 denomination, 600 hands per hour:
| Pay Table | RTP | Hourly Result |
|---|---|---|
| 20/7 (Full Pay) | 100.65% | +$4.88 (profit) |
| 17/7 | 99.07% | $6.98 (loss) |
| 15/7 | 97.94% | $15.45 (loss) |
| 15/5 | 96.38% | $27.15 (loss) |
Strategy Is Unique
Joker Poker strategy depends entirely on whether you're holding the Joker or not:
Without the Joker (most hands): Strategy resembles Jacks or Better, but with a higher threshold — Kings or Better instead of Jacks or Better. A pair of Jacks or Queens is worthless as a final hand.
With the Joker: You already have a wild card, so the priorities shift. You're looking to improve toward Five of a Kind, Wild Royal, or Straight Flush rather than settling for Three of a Kind.
The dual-mode nature of the strategy makes Joker Poker harder to master than standard JoB games.
Bottom Line
Full-pay Kings or Better Joker Poker at 100.65% is one of the best games in the casino, but it's extremely rare. Check the Four of a Kind line — if it's not 20, it's not full pay. The Aces or Better variant is a completely different game with different strategy, so don't confuse the two.