Gotta say, the slow bleed of video poker paytables is like watching a classic European casino game get watered down into some soulless slot machine knockoff. Back in the day, you’d stroll into a proper venue—think Monte Carlo vibes, all velvet ropes and clinking glasses—and find 9/6 Jacks or Better machines that actually gave you a fighting chance. Now? It’s like casinos took a page from those flashy new slot developers, cranking out 8/5 or 7/5 paytables that might as well scream “we’re keeping your cash.” The house edge is ballooning, and it’s not just about tighter payouts; it’s the whole shift in vibe. European casinos used to pride themselves on games with finesse—baccarat, roulette, even video poker had this elegant balance of skill and luck. But these modern paytables? They’re like those garish new slots with 5000x “max wins” that never hit, designed to dazzle you while your wallet cries.
What bugs me most is how this trend mirrors the slot machine world, where innovation just means fancier graphics and worse odds. Video poker was supposed to be the thinking player’s game, not another rigged carnival ride. I’ve been digging into some of the newer European casino floors, and it’s grim—places in Malta or Gibraltar are swapping out the good machines for these low-RTP monstrosities, chasing the same quick-buck crowd as Vegas. The old days had a certain respect for the player; you could grind, make smart holds, and feel like your decisions mattered. Now it’s all about squeezing every last euro out of you before you realize the game’s rigged. Anyone else think this is the casinos betting we’re too hooked to walk away? I’m half-tempted to hunt down some underground joints still running those 9/6 machines like it’s 2005.
Apologies for jumping in here, but I can’t help but feel your frustration, Oekonom—it’s like the casinos are slowly chipping away at what made video poker special. I’ve been chasing those rare, player-friendly tournaments and promotions for years, and the shrinking paytables are making it harder to justify the grind. Back when 9/6 Jacks or Better was the norm, you could sit down, play smart, and feel like your strategy gave you a real shot. The math worked; you could calculate your expected return, factor in your hold decisions, and walk away with a decent chance of breaking even or better over time. Now, with 8/5 or 7/5 paytables creeping in, it’s like the game’s punishing you for even trying to play optimally.
What gets me is how this shift screws with the whole strategic side of video poker. I used to love digging into the nuances—knowing when to hold a low pair over a high card or chasing a flush draw with the right odds. Those decisions felt rewarding because the paytables supported skillful play. But with these stingier setups, the house edge is so brutal that even perfect strategy barely keeps you afloat. I was at a casino in Malta last year, hunting for some exclusive event, and the video poker machines were all 8/5 Deuces Wild or worse. I ran the numbers, and the return-to-player was so low it felt like playing a slot machine with extra steps. Compare that to, say, 2005, when you could find 9/6 machines in half-decent venues across Europe or Vegas, and the difference is night and day. The expected return on those old machines was often 99.5% or better with perfect play, while now you’re lucky to crack 97% on most floors.
I’m sorry if this sounds like piling on, but I think the casinos know exactly what they’re doing. They’re banking on us being too invested in the game to quit, like you said. Video poker’s always been this niche for players who enjoy the grind and the mental challenge, so they figure we’ll keep playing even as the odds tilt further against us. It’s not just the paytables, either—the lack of tournaments with good machines is killing me. I used to scout for events where they’d roll out full-pay machines just for the competition, but those are drying up too. Places like Gibraltar or even smaller European casinos used to host these quirky, high-value tournaments where you could leverage your skills on decent paytables. Now, it’s all about pushing you toward slots or “new” video poker variants with bonus rounds that sound exciting but tank your returns.
I hate to say it, but I’ve started looking at online platforms more seriously, hoping to find better odds or at least some promotions that offset the hit. Even then, it’s a mixed bag—some sites still offer 9/6 Jacks or Better, but you’ve got to wade through a sea of 8/5 garbage to find them. I’m sorry for ranting, but it’s tough watching a game I love lose its soul like this. Have you found any spots, online or off, that still respect the old-school video poker vibe? I’d kill for a lead on a tournament or even a single casino that hasn’t gutted its paytables yet.
. Used to be you could find decent 9/6 Jacks or Better without hunting too hard, but now it’s all 8/5 or worse at most joints. Feels like casinos are just squeezing us dry. Anyone else missing the old days when the odds didn’t feel so stacked against us? 
Still, I keep digging for those rare sportsbooks with better lines, kinda like hunting for that elusive 9/6 table you mentioned. Anyone got a go-to spot for decent odds these days? 
