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San Diego Video Poker Survey

Introduction

Introduction

 

Between November 30 and December 1, 2008, I visited the eleven casinos in the San Diego area. The purpose of this visit was to survey the rules in blackjack, craps, roulette, video keno, and video poker. This page shows the results of my video poker findings. After I returned, on December 10, Barona made some game changes, which are reflected in the tables below.

The following tables show the optimal strategy return for the best games I could find. A blank indicates that I could not find the game. The casinos are listed in order of average return. Casinos not listed in the $5 table did not have any video poker in that denomination, that I could find.

25-Cent Video Poker Returns

Casino Jacks or Better Bonus Poker Double Bonus Double Double Bonus Deuces Wild Bonus Deuces Joker Poker Average
Barona 99.54% 99.17% 99.11% 98.98% 99.73% 99.45% 99.92% 99.41%
Viejas 97.30% 98.01% 97.81% 98.98% 98.91%   96.74% 97.96%
Pechanga 99.54%     98.98% 96.01%   96.74% 97.82%
Pauma   96.87% 97.81% 98.98% 97.58% 97.36%   97.72%
Pala 97.30% 96.87% 97.81% 96.79% 99.73%     97.70%
Valley View   98.01% 97.81% 96.74% 98.91% 97.36% 96.74% 97.60%
Golden Acorn 98.45% 96.87% 97.81%   95.96%     97.27%
La Posta 97.30% 98.01%   96.74% 98.91%   93.78% 96.95%
Harrah's 96.15% 96.87% 97.81% 96.79% 96.77% 96.22%   96.77%
Santa Ysabel 96.15% 96.87% 97.81%   96.77% 96.22% 96.74% 96.76%
Sycuan 96.15% 96.87%   95.71% 96.77%     96.37%

 

 

One-Dollar Video Poker Returns

Casino Jacks or Better Bonus Poker Double Bonus Double Double Bonus Deuces Wild Bonus Deuces Joker Poker Average
Barona 99.54% 99.17% 99.79% 98.98% 99.73% 99.45% 99.92% 99.51%
Valley View   99.17% 99.79% 98.98% 99.73% 99.45%   99.42%
Pechanga 99.54% 99.17% 99.11% 98.98% 99.73%     99.31%
Pala 99.54% 99.17% 99.11% 98.98% 99.73%     99.31%
La Posta 99.54% 99.17%   98.98% 99.73%   94.27% 98.34%
Santa Ysabel 98.63% 98.01%   96.74% 97.58% 98.8% 98.44% 98.04%
Viejas 97.30% 98.01% 97.81% 98.98% 98.91%   96.74% 97.96%
Golden Acorn 98.45% 98.01% 97.81%   96.77%     97.76%
Pauma   96.87% 97.81% 98.98% 97.58% 97.36%   97.72%
Harrah's 97.30% 98.01% 97.81% 96.74% 97.58% 97.36%   97.47%
Sycuan 97.30% 98.01%   96.79% 97.58%     97.42%

 

 

Five-Dollar Video Poker Returns

Casino Jacks or Better Bonus Poker Double Bonus Double Double Bonus Deuces Wild Bonus Deuces Joker Poker Average
Barona 99.54% 99.17% 99.79% 98.98% 99.73% 99.45% 99.92% 99.51%
Viejas 99.54% 99.17% 99.11% 98.98% 99.73% 99.45% 99.92% 99.41%
Pala 99.54% 99.17% 97.81% 98.98% 99.73% 98.8% 99.92% 99.14%
Harrah's 98.45% 98.01% 97.81%   97.58%     97.96%
Pechanga     97.81% 96.74% 97.58%     97.38%

 

Methodology

My methodology is admittedly simple. With each property I noted the best pay table I could find inJacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus,Deuces Wild, Bonus Deuces, and Joker Poker, at the 25-cent, $1, and $5 denominations. I know there are other games, but in the interests of time, I limited the survey to just these major games. When I do this survey again, likely in June 2009, I intend to add more games. It is possible that I didn't find some games that should have been included. Some of the San Diego casinos are on par with large Strip casinos in terms of size, and I didn't have the inclination to check every single machine.

Acknowledgements

Bob Dancer for reviewing my survey results, and correcting some omissions and errors.

Disclaimer

The Barona Casino hired me to perform surveys of the San Diego casinos for blackjack, roulette, and craps. Research on other games, including video poker, I did at my own initiative.

Other Games Surveyed in San Diego

 

 

External Links

VP Free California survey of video poker.

 

My Video Poker Offerings

Basic Video Poker Info

Practice / Play Video Poker for Free

Video Poker Calculator

  • Analyze the return for almost any video poker paytable

Other Stuff

Strategies

Full-Pay Jacks or Better:

Full-Pay Deuces Wild:

Quick Quads:

Other Strategies: