Know your swings before you sit down. Set your game, bet, and session, and see the expected result, the realistic range, and the bankroll you actually need.
How to use this
The expected result is what the math says you lose or win on average. The realistic range is where most sessions land, one and two standard deviations out. Video poker is high-variance, so a losing average game still has plenty of winning sessions, and a near-even game still has brutal downswings. The bankroll figure is what you need to ride out the swings without tapping out mid-session.
Return and variance are the documented figures for each game, editable above. The risk math on top of them is computed live here. For negative-return games, long-run ruin is certain, so the tool focuses on session survival; for positive-return games it also shows a true risk of ruin.
What is a realistic video poker bankroll?
For a full session of 9/6 Jacks or Better at these bets, you generally want enough to absorb a two-standard-deviation downswing. The calculator shows that number for your inputs.
Is 9/6 Jacks or Better a winning game?
Not on its own, at 99.54% it loses about 46 cents per 100 dollars cycled. It can approach or pass break-even with slot-club points and promotions, which is why serious players chase full-pay machines with good comps.