5 lines versus 10

Think this post is worthless, but will post just in case. If you are playing the "same" game with a 5 line max bet and 5 lines on a 10 line max bet machine, would you expect the variance to be the same on both? I assumed it would be almost the same, but I do not know that for a fact. I'm assuming I'm experiencing a lower return setting at this casino, but besides the variance of my own sample, the variance of the machine could be different. I've casually observed more hand pays on these 5 line machine than I'd expect as well. I'm thinking a worse return is a more likely answer.

The variance should be higher when playing fewer lines. The highest variance would be to play just one line. You rarely win, but when you do, you win a much higher multiple of your bet than when you bet on all the lines.

The upside is that the cost of the bet is half. So maybe the two cancel each other out for a defined bankroll.

Here's a useful Wizard page on variance in multihand video poker: https://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/appendix/3/.