Video Poker Bankroll Calculator

Calculate the bankroll you need for video poker based on game variant, bet size, and risk tolerance. Understand risk of ruin and proper bankroll management.

Formula:Bankroll = -V × ln(RoR) / (2 × edge)

Recommended Bankroll

$12,207

1% risk of ruin

Minimum Bankroll

$7,941

5% risk of ruin

Session Bankroll

$555

4 hour session

Expected Loss/Hour

$3

Higher variance = more bankroll needed

$

5 coins at max denomination

Typical: 400-700

hours

Lower risk = larger bankroll needed

Bankroll Requirements by Risk Level

Minimum (5% RoR)
$7,941
6353× bet
Recommended (1% RoR)
$12,207
9766× bet
Professional (0.1% RoR)
$18,311
14649× bet

9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) Statistics

Expected Return
99.54%
Variance
19.51
Hourly EV
-$3
Session Hands
2,400

Bankroll by Game Variance

GameVarianceMin BankrollRelative
9/6 Jacks or Better19.51$4881.00×
8/5 Jacks or Better19.22$4810.99×
Full Pay Deuces Wild25.83$6461.32×
NSUD Deuces Wild25.58$6401.31×
10/7 Double Bonus28.26$7071.45×

* All values relative to 9/6 Jacks or Better baseline

Bankroll Survival Simulator

Monte Carlo simulation with 1,000 iterations

$

Your initial capital

%

Your expected advantage

%

Percentage of bankroll per bet

Total bets to simulate

Key Facts

  • •Minimum bankroll: 200× bet size ($250 for $1/hand)
  • •Risk of Ruin formula: RoR = e^(-2 × edge × bankroll / variance)
  • •Double Bonus needs 45% more bankroll than Jacks or Better
  • •Royal Flush drought can last 100,000+ hands
  • •Session bankroll should cover 2 standard deviations
  • •Positive EV games still need large bankroll due to variance

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bankroll do I need for video poker?

A general rule is 200-400 times your bet size for recreational play. For $1.25/hand, that is $250-$500. Higher variance games like Double Bonus need 40-50% more. Professional players targeting 1% risk of ruin may need 1000+ bet units.

What is Risk of Ruin in video poker?

Risk of Ruin (RoR) is the probability of losing your entire bankroll before achieving your goal. A 5% RoR means 1 in 20 chance of going broke. Most recreational players accept 5%, while professionals target 1% or less.

Does positive EV video poker require less bankroll?

Counterintuitively, no. While positive EV games are profitable long-term, their high variance (especially Deuces Wild and Double Bonus) means you still need substantial bankroll to survive the swings. The Royal Flush contributes significantly to both return and variance.