Stalking the Elusive Royal Flush

Finding high pay machines

Machines that pay much less than 100 percent don't usually advertise the fact. They only show the pay schedule and leave you wondering. High pay machines are often emblazoned with signs promoting their payback.

One casino I visited had labels on the machines that said "100 percent certified." The very fine print added "with maximum coins wagered and optimum play."

The best machines are found in competitive markets, but video poker is like its cousin the slot machine. It tends to pay less in convenience stores and other offbeat locations. Bar and truck stop games often pay back only 94 percent.

That's OK for a few quarters, but save the big bucks for a casino. If you're in a market with multiple casinos (like Las Vegas ) it pays to shop around.

One more thing to consider. Any machine becomes high pay if it's progressive and the top jackpot is big enough. A quarter Jacks-or-Better 8/5 progressive is 100 percent when the meter reaches $2,200. Every dollar above that number pushes the machine higher into positive territory. But (as always) you've got to win the royal to see the positive return.

the type of strategy

includes winning the royal

the pay schedule