🎰 Double Bonus Poker (Video Poker): the real odds & smartest way to play

Q: What is the house edge on Double Bonus Poker (Video Poker)?

~+0.17% PLAYER edge (10/7 full-pay, 100.17% RTP). Full-pay 10/7 Double Bonus optimal return is approximately 100.17% (a ~0.17% player edge) — the high four-of-a-kind payouts push expected return just over 100% on the best paytable. Drop to 9/7 and it falls to ~99.1%; 9/6 to ~97.8%. The edge is real but fragile: it requires the exact 10/7 paytable AND flawless, demanding strategy.

~+0.17% PLAYER edge (10/7 full-pay, 100.17% RTP)house edge
YOUR SHOT: BEST

One of the few video-poker paytables that can theoretically beat the house (~100.17% full-pay), but with three big caveats: full-pay 10/7 machines are rare, the strategy is hard, and any error eliminates the edge. For nearly all players in practice it's a break-even-ish game, not a money-maker.

Updated June 2026 · VegasEdge · Education, not a way to beat the house

✅ Best bet

Full-pay 10/7 Double Bonus (full house pays 10, flush pays 7) returns ~100.17% with PERFECT strategy — a rare small theoretical player edge. These full-pay machines are nearly extinct, and the strategy is demanding; one misplay per hand erases the razor-thin advantage.

🚫 Sucker bet to avoid

Any reduced paytable (9/7, 9/6, 10/6 Double Bonus all return under 100%), and imperfect play. The positive expectation exists ONLY at the full 10/7 paytable with flawless strategy — most machines labeled 'Double Bonus' are not full-pay.

How the edge is computed

Full-pay 10/7 Double Bonus optimal return is approximately 100.17% (a ~0.17% player edge) — the high four-of-a-kind payouts push expected return just over 100% on the best paytable. Drop to 9/7 and it falls to ~99.1%; 9/6 to ~97.8%. The edge is real but fragile: it requires the exact 10/7 paytable AND flawless, demanding strategy.

Optimal strategy

Double Bonus has a complex, distinct optimal strategy (the high quad payouts change many holds). The theoretical +0.17% is achievable only with near-perfect play on a true 10/7 machine — realistically most players give back more than the edge through mistakes. Always verify 10/7 and play max coins.

What to expect

Play it smart. Gambling is entertainment, not a way to make money — the house always has the long-run edge, and no system beats it. Set a budget you can afford to lose and stick to it. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), available 24/7.

Compare other games

🃏 Blackjack — ~0.5%🎲 Craps — 1.41% (Pass) → ~0.37% with full odds 🀄 Baccarat — 1.06% (Banker)🎰 Video Poker — 0.46% (9/6 Jacks or Better, optimal play)🔴 Roulette — 5.26% (double-zero) / 2.70% (single-zero)🂡 Pai Gow Poker — ~2.5% (with 5% commission)← Full best & worst odds ranking All gambling guides & etiquette →

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