Plaza installed new bar top video poker machines at the Omaha Bar late in 2021. It made savvy players unhappy because the new machines offered the types of pay tables that are typically found at bars on the Las Vegas Strip. This left only four machines at Omaha Bar with pay tables over 99%. That changed over the last few weeks.
Plaza upgraded the pay tables on all 12 new Game King machines at the Omaha Bar. This brings the total devices at that bar with 99% and better video poker to 16. There are eight at the sportsbook bar. Perhaps most importantly, the Sand Dollar Lounge machines were also all upgraded with these great games.
Best video poker games available at Plaza bars
The best video poker game at Plaza’s three bars is 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe. This game returns 99.64% with five coins wagered and perfect play. The second best game is 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%). Other games around 99% or better are 8/5 Bonus Poker, 9/7 Double Bonus, 9/6 Double Double Bonus and 15/9 Deuces Wild.
There is a 99% Deuces and Joker Wild on four older machines at the Omaha Bar and eight at the sportsbook bar. This unusual game has five wildcards. It is not on any of the new machines.
The denominations on the new machines for these games are $0.25, $0.50, $1, $2 and $5. The older machines go up to $1.
The 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe game is the best bar video poker game in downtown Las Vegas. It is the second best bar video game in the entire Las Vegas market. South Point edges it out with 16/10 Deuces Wild, sometimes referred to as Not-so-ugly-ducks or Not-so-ugly-deuces. That game has an expected return of 99.73%.
Four Queens held the title for best bar video poker in Las Vegas for years. However, it removed that 10/6 Double Double Bonus Poker game from all bars a month or two ago.
Plaza casino floor video poker
Plaza has the best video poker game in downtown Las Vegas. It is full pay Joker Poker (100.65%). It is available in the quarter denomination by the security podium. The only game in the entire Las Vegas market that beats it is full pay Deuces Wild. You can find that at both Arizona Charlie’s locations and Sam’s Town.
There are a few changes to the video poker on the casino floor at Plaza. All the newer Game Kings machines have downgraded pay tables at lower denominations. The only exception that I found was a few games around 99% that are available at $1 and $2 denominations.
The older Games Kings on the floor are mostly great. There is one by Joker Poker, six closer to the cage from there, and nine near bubble craps that have the same games as the bar up to the $2 denomination. There are three of these machines by bubble craps with lesser pay tables. If you prefer the $5 denomination and don’t want to sit at the bar, you can play 8/5 Bonus Poker, 9/7 Double Bonus and 9/6 Double Double Bonus near Pop Up Pizza.
The machines to look for on the floor look like the one below. Note the 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe pay table.
The last 10/7 Double Bonus Poker machine is gone from Plaza. It became one of the 99% and better Game Kings. If you are downtown and want to play 10/7 Double Bonus Poker, it is available in quarter and dollar denominations near the fast food restaurants at Four Queens and on two $1 coin machines near the front desk at California.
Support casinos that listen to players and offer a good value
Plaza responded to player feedback and fixed something that made some patrons unhappy. The best thing to do if you play video poker is to support this move by giving action there. If other casinos see this success, they may follow suit. At the very least, if Plaza sees a bump in coin-in from the move, the games are more likely to stay.
