Video Poker Forum

As one may know, the IRS is proposing lowering the threshold of w2g taxes from $1199 to $600. So I thought of creating some paytables that resemble similar expected returns but negate any w2g taxable winnings assuming one plays single line $1...keep in mind non-taxable paytables have much much lower variance...variance in single digits.
Current Jacks or better with taxable..
Rf 4000
Sf 250
4kind 125
Fh 45
Flush 30
Straight 20
3 kind 15
2 pair 10
Job 5
Expected return %99.54
Proposed tax free paytable
Rf 599
Sf 250
4 kind 130
Fh 50
Flush 30
Straight 20
3 kind 15
2 pair 10
Job 5
Expected return %99.52

Current Bonus poker with taxables
Rf 4000
Sf 250
4 aces 400
4 2/3/4 200
4 kind 125
Fh 40
Flush 25
Straight 20
3 kind 15
2 pair 10
Job 5
Expected return %99.17
Proposed tax free bonus poker
Rf 599
Sf 300
4 aces 400
4 2/3/4 225
4 kind 125
Fh 45
Flush 25
Straight 20
3 kind 15
2 pair 10
Job 5
Expected return %99.20
Current taxable for double double bonus
Rf 4000
Sf 250
Aces w2/3/4 2000
2/3/4 wA/2/3/4 800
4 aces 800
4 2/3/4 400
4 5-K 250
Fh 45
Flush 30
Straight 20
3 pair 15
2 pair 5
Job 5
Expected return %98.9
Variance 41.9
Proposed tax free ddb paytable
Rf 599
Sf 250
4 aces w 2/3/4 599
4 aces 500
2/3/4 w a/2/3/4 500
4 2/3/4 400
4 5-K 275
Fh 50
Flush 35
Straight 25
3 kind 15
2 pair 5
Job 5
Expected return %98.9
Variance 13.5 (lower than current 9/6 job)

I think if casinos make this clever change, we may see a new and different boom in video poker due to the extremely low variance these paytables will produce, but similiar expected returns. Will be interesting how casinos respond to a $600 taxable. This would be a good response imo. What is yours?
~D

How do we get the 3 pair? Current double double bonus p/t.

Interesting thought, but for quarters, you can have a royal flush up to 2399 credits.

Also 10/7/5 DDB would be difficult to play.

But I assume casinos will just leave things alone and deal with the extra paperwork.

Your new paytables are good illustrations of the principle behind the bonus JB-type games. The higher payouts for 4oaks come at the expense of lower payouts for FH and lower hands. Also there's at least one interesting strategy change for your JB table in that with RF worth only 599 you would not break a 4-card FL draw to draw to three to a RF, that is, from KhQhJh5h and an unmatched card, hold all four hearts. You also hold a dealt FL such as AQJT5 of hearts rather than going for the Royal; so these would be poor paytables for Royal Hunt...