Casino Games
With dozens of casino games available it’s hard to know how to play all of them. This guide has been designed to make it easy to learn how to play each game. Under each category you will find the rules and strategy tips explained as easily as possible. Some games are less complicated than you might think, so if you’re interested in learning a new game, check out some of the pages listed below.
Learning the rules is especially important if you plan on visiting a live casino any time soon. It’s intimidating to sit down at a table where you don’t fully understand the rules (and it can also irritate other players).
Casino Game Guides
| Baccarat | Blackjack | Caribbean Holdem |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | Casino War | Craps |
| Let 'em Ride | Let It Ride | Poker |
| Roulette | Sic Bo | Slots |
| Three Card Poker | Video Poker |
Popular Casino Games – Brief Summary
Baccarat
Baccarat is reminiscent of the good old days of casino gambling. It’s a game that is full of tradition, class and superstition. You may notice that most baccarat players take the time to dress up before hitting the tables. As a former high rollers only game, baccarat still tends to attract a wealthier clientele.
Baccarat is especially popular among Asian gamblers but the game is catching on the United States as well. Most casinos have at least one baccarat table and many have multiple baccarat tables. Baccarat was once known as a high rollers game, but more and more people are learning how to play.
The recent spike in baccarat’s popularity has led many casinos to offer low and medium stakes baccarat tables. Many casinos offer variations of baccarat called “mini-baccarat” that use the same rules except they run at a faster pace and allow smaller bets. If you’d like to learn more, check out our complete baccarat guide.
Blackjack
Blackjack is an extremely popular casino game, and different versions of the game continue to gain in popularity. Blackjack games are easy to learn, the hands are played quickly, and the house edge is very small. Many different blackjack strategies have been developed, some of which are not allowed in live casinos.
In standard blackjack, players are given two cards, and so is the dealer. The object of the game is to beat the dealers hand, without going over 21. If the dealer has a king (value of 10) and an 8 for a total of 18, the players cards need to total between 19-21 to win. An 18 will give the player a ‘push’, and 17 or lower loses. Any hand over 21 is called ‘bust’ and is a loser in every situation.
A ‘blackjack’ is when any player or dealer is dealt an ace with any of the following: K, Q, J, 10. In standard blackjack games, any person dealt a blackjack generally wins 1 1/2 times their original bet. So a $10 bet would result in a $15 payoff in addition to the return of the original $10.
Blackjack is a great game because the basics can be learned in minutes, but there are deeper strategic levels to the game which keep more experienced players interested as well. At most live casinos, the minimum blackjack bet is $5, with maximum bets well into the thousands.
Caribbean Holdem
Caribbean Holdem is a popular casino gambling game in which you try to beat the dealer’s hand and receive a payout. In this take on Texas Holdem, you don’t have to beat the other players; you just have to beat the dealer. But unlike normal Texas Holdem, you always know how much money you’re going to make with your made hands.
The payouts in Caribbean Holdem are based on a fixed chart. If you end up with a full house, for example, most casinos will reward you with a 3:1 payout on your original bet. So if you bet $10 and catch a full house, you’ll win $30.
Many casinos also offer a progressive jackpot side bet. This is an optional bet that costs $1.00 and it gives you a chance to win additional payouts if you catch extra strong hands. End up with a Royal Flush and you’ll get 100% of the progressive jackpot.
Caribbean Stud
Not to be confused with Caribbean Holdem, Caribbean Stud is an older casino game that is based on Five Card Stud. In this poker variant, each player and the dealer receive five cards. The dealer reveals one of his cards and then the players get to choose if they wish to pay to stay or fold now.
At the end of each round, the players who end up with a better hand than the dealer receive payouts according to the casino’s pay table. Most casinos pay 100-1 for Royal Flushes and then the payouts go down from there.
Caribbean Stud has a progressive jackpot feature that works in the same manner as the Caribbean Holdem jackpot. At the beginning of each hand, you can pay $1.00 to participate in the progressive jackpot. If you end up with a strong hand, you are given a generous bonus payout.
Casino War
Casino War is based on the classic kid’s game called “War.” This simple game is a content between you and the dealer. You each pick one card and then whoever ends up with the highest card wins the bet.
If you and the dealer tie, you then have the option to surrender or go to war. At that point, you must choose between surrendering half your bet and starting a new hand or doubling your bet and going to War. Should you win the war, your second bet will be returned and you will receive a 1:1 payout on your first bet. Lose the war and you lose both bets.
Casino War is a good game for people who are here to gamble. It’s probably the simplest game on this list and it requires very little effort. Any time you find yourself in a lazy gambling mood, Casino War is the way to go. But be careful; this game moves at a fast pace.
Craps
Craps is a classic casino game that involves dice, a group of gamblers and lots of noise. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, high action game, craps is the game for you. The basic idea of the game is that the players take turns throwing the dice on the table while everyone else places bets on how those dice will land.
Many new casino players find craps intimidating, which is understandable considering all the noise that seems to surround the table 24/7. And plus, when you’re the dice thrower, all the attention is on you. But don’t let that turn you off from the game; craps is actually a simple game at heart.
Our craps guide will help you learn everything you need to know to get started and eventually play like a pro. All you have to do is learn a couple basic bets and you’ll be able to play at any craps table in the world.
Let ‘Em Ride
Let ‘Em Ride is a card game that appears primarily at online casinos. In this game, you make a bet and then receive three cards face up. The dealer then deals two cards face up on the table and reveals those cards one at a time. As the hand progresses, you get to decide whether you want to stick with your original bet or raise the stakes.
When the hand comes to an end, your three cards are combined with the two cards on the table to create a five card poker hand. The value of that hand then determines your final payout. With 1000:1 payouts for Royal Flushes, this is one of the highest paying table games at the casino.
Like most casino poker variants, Let ‘Em Ride also includes an optional side bet for $1.00. This bet offers special payouts for stronger-than-usual hands. If you catch a Royal Flush, you get the biggest payout of all: 100% of the progressive jackpot.
Let It Ride
Let It Ride is almost identical to Let ‘Em Ride. The only difference is the order in which the bets are placed. In this game, you begin each hand by placing three bets on the table. As the hand progresses, you have the option to let those bets ride or take them back.
Other than that, the rules and strategy of Let It Ride aren’t any different than Let ‘Em Ride. It’s basically the same game with a different name. The reason we have two similar games is because this version is copyrighted by Shuffle Master. Casinos that don’t have permission to offer this game opt to spread “Let ‘Em Ride” instead.
Let It Ride is primarily found at live casinos. These casinos are actually located in the United States and have to follow strict copyright rules. International online casinos aren’t subject to the same restrictions. You can read more about Let It Ride in the guide linked to below.
Poker
Poker is a card game in which you compete against other players and not against the house. Although you pay a small rake to play poker, this is one of the only games in the casino that you can beat for a consistent profit. There are currently thousands of people out there who make a living solely through poker.
Texas Holdem is currently the biggest game in town but it’s far from the only game. In our poker section, we have the rules and strategy for a variety of poker variants, including Omaha and 2-7 Triple Draw. If money is your main concern, poker is the best game to play.
The subject of “poker” covers a lot of ground so its easy to become overwhelmed with all the information out there. We understand that and that’s why we have a basic poker guide that will help you learn the rules and get started. As you become more comfortable with the game, you can eventually learn how to apply advanced strategy, move up in stakes and increase your win rate.
Roulette
Roulette is a great casino game with many different ways to bet. The game starts by players placing their bets across a table, over their choice of 36 numbers (multiple numbers can be played at the same time). They can also bet on black, red, or a variety of other results.
Then, the roulette wheel is spun and a small ball is dropped into the wheel. Eventually the wheel slows down and the ball will land on a spot with a specific number and color. The number, color, and how you’ve placed your bets determine if and how much you will win.
At times, the atmosphere of roulette can resemble the craps tables. If one player gets hot, other players will often follow that player, making the same types of bets they are. If they win, the game can get very loud and exciting. Big wins can be made and smart roulette players need to follow certain rules when they play. Check out our roulette strategy guide for more info.
Sic Bo
Sic Bo is another game that looks a lot more complicated than it actually is. This game is based on an ancient Chinese game that has been played for centuries. It is comparable to craps because one person throws the dice and the rest of the players place bets on the outcomes of the dice.
The three Sic Bo dice can land in dozens of combinations so there are many bets to choose from. This is definitely a good game if you like having lots of options. In Sic Bo, each player has the ability to bet on specific numbers or groups of numbers, with payouts that vary based on the difficulty of the bet.
Slots
Slots games used to be much simpler than they are today. The first slot machines were completely mechanical and relied upon a complex system of levers and pulleys to make the reels spin. The goal was (and still is) to get three or more of the same symbol to land on the same line. Symbols on the first slots included cherries, lemons, bars, 7′s and a variety of others.
Although simple slot games are still available, slots have become much more sophisticated in recent decades. Now they are played with dozens of simples, multiple paylines and computer generated graphics. Even with so much more going on, slot games are still easy to play. Slots are great for those who prefer games of chance and the long-shot possibility of hitting a million dollar jackpot.
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is yet another poker game adapted for casino play. In this game, each player receives three cards and gets paid for achieving strong hands. With payouts that go as high as 40:1, Three Card Poker is an easy choice for action junkies.
Hands are ranked a little differently in Three Card Poker because each player only receive three cards. For example, Three of a Kind outranks both flushes and full houses. If this all doesn’t sound familiar, feel free to visit our Three Card Poker guide.
Video Poker
Video poker games are offered in a fairly wide variety. Different types of poker can be played, and up to 100 hands can be played at a time. Most video poker games start for as little as $.01 per hand.
Video poker is great for those who find slot games boring and prefer more action. Because you’re playing poker, strategy is an important factor in winning at video poker. Depending on the game being played, different types of strategy need to be employed.