This page is partly based on contributions from Kim Scarborough, Janet Levy, Scott Grengs and Rachel Hooley. The historical introduction draws on an article by Franco Pratesi: Casino from Nowhere to Vaguely Everywhere (originally published in The Playing-Card Vol XXIV No 1 July/Aug 1995 pages 6-11)
- What Games Do You Play In A Casino Game
- What Games Do They Play In A Casino
- What Card Games Do They Play In Casinos
- What Games Do You Play In A Casino Online
- What Games Do You Play In A Casino Games
- What Games To Play In A Casino
Introduction
Casino is the only fishing game to have become popular in English speaking countries. Although it is traditionally supposed to have originated in Italy, there is no direct evidence of it having been played there, at least under that name, though many other Italian fishing games are known. Casino first appears in the card game literature at the end of the eighteenth century in London, and shortly afterwards in Germany. In the late nineteenth century it became fashionable in America and a number of new variations were developed. There is a dispute about the correct spelling of the name - the earliest sources use the spelling Casino, but a tradition has grown up among later writers to spell it with a double 's': Cassino.
The aim in Casino is to capture cards from a layout of face up cards on the table. A card is captured by playing a matching card from hand. It is also possible to capture several cards at once if their values add up to the value of the card played. Captured cards are stored face down in front of the player who captured them and scored at the end of the play. Cards from hand can also be combined with table cards into builds, which can only be captured as a unit.
This page describes the most usual Anglo-American version of Casino in which picture cards, not having a numerical value, can only capture an equal picture. There are many variants in which picture cards also have numerical values. In English-speaking countries this type of game is known as Royal Casino, and interesting versions of it are popular in various parts of the world. On other pages of this site there are descriptions of:
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- Royal Casino and the version played in the Dominican Republic, which features different scoring in the endgame;
- Casino in Southern Africa (Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa), where cards can be from opponents' capture piles can be reused in builds;
- Casino (Kasino) in Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway and Finland) which is usually played without building;
- Krypkasino, a reverse variant from Sweden in which the aim is to avoid capturing cards.
We would like to thank the following partner sites for their support:
Since 2017, the website casinotopp.net has been helping Norwegian gamers to find safe places to play online. Reza Shojaei and his team of writers at Value Marketing in Oslo aim to provide objective reviews of online casinos and slots and all the information needed for players to find the casino that suits them best. In 2019 the English language partner site casinotop.com was opened, where journalists and copywriters from the Malta office provide a similar service for the Canadian market.
Ionut Marin's Casino Bonus CA was launched in 2018 to provide up to date information in English and French on casino bonuses and offers in Canada.
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Players and Cards
The game works best with from 2 to 4 players, though in theory more could take part. It has the distinction of being one of the few games which will deal out evenly to two, three, or four players. Four players can play in partnerships, two against two, with partners sitting opposite each other.
A regular 52 card deck is used. Each numeral card (ace-ten) is counted as its numerical value (ace = 1, two = 2, etc). Picked up cards are accumulated in a pile to be counted at the end of the round.
The Deal
The dealer deals four cards to each player and four cards face up in the centre (these centre cards are laid out separately so that all are visible). Traditionally, the deal is in twos: two cards to each other player, two to the table, then two to the dealer, then repeat. However, some players prefer to deal the cards singly. The remainder of the deck is temporarily put aside. After everyone has played their four cards, another hand of four cards is dealt to each player from the remaining cards, but no more cards are dealt to the table after the first deal. After these cards have been played there is another deal, and this continues until all 52 cards have been dealt (this takes 6 deals for 2 players, 4 deals for three players, 3 deals for 4 players). The dealer must announce 'last' when dealing the last cards. After the last cards have been played and the hand scored, the deal passes to the left for the next round.
The Play
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer and continuing clockwise, each player in turn must play one card out from hand face up on the table. This card may or may not capture one or more cards from the table.
- In case of a capture, when the other players have had an opportunity to see the capturing card, the player picks up this card and the captured cards and stores them all face down in a pile.
- If there is no capture the played card remains face up on the table.
Irrespective of whether a capture was made or not, the turn passes to the next player.
In detail, the possible types of play are as follows:
Example:The Q and Q are on the table, and the Q is played. The player may capture one of the queens from the table but not both.
- cards which are part of a build (see below) can only be captured by a card of the rank announced for that build;
- when sets are captured, each captured card can only be counted as belonging to one such set.
Example If an eight is played it could capture one, two or three eights from the table. It could also capture a five and a three, or a four and two twos. If the following cards are on the table: A 2 3 5 6 8, then an eight could capture 8 6 2 5 3 or 8 5 2 A, but not all six cards.
- A single build consists of two or more cards whose capture values add up to the capture value of the build - for example a 5-build made of a 2 and a 3, or a 10-build made of A-4-5.
- A multiple build consists of two or more cards or sets of cards, each of which equates to the capture value of the build - for example a 5-build made of a 2 and a 3 plus a 4 and an ace, or a 5-build made of A-4 and 5, or a 9-build made of two nines, or a 9-build made of 6-3 plus 5-4 plus 9.
Examples
- If there is a 5 on the table, a player holding a 3 and an 8 may put the 3 on the 5 and announce 'building 8'; this single build can now only be captured by an 8.
- If there is an ace and a two on the table, a player holding two threes and a six could play one of the threes and either:
- capture the two and the ace;
- combine the played three with the ace and the two and make a single build, announcing 'building 6';
- combine the played three with the ace and the two and make a multiple build, announcing 'building 3';
- You may add a card from your hand to a single build, increasing the capturing number, provided that you also hold a card which will capture the new build. At the same time you may incorporate additional cards from the table into the build, if they are equal to the new capturing number. In this case the build will become multiple. You can never use a card from the table to change the value of a single build.
Example A The table contains a build consisting of two threes, announced as a build of six. If you hold a two and an eight, you can add the two to the build announcing 'building 8'. The next player, holding an ace and a nine, could then add the ace and say 'building 9'.
The capturing number of a multiple build can never be changed. If the original build of two threes in the above example had been announced as building three (rather than building six), it would not be possible for a player holding a two and a five to add the two to the build, making five, not for a player holding a two and an eight to add the two making eight.
Example B The table contains an ace, a two and a four; the ace and the four have been combined by a previous player into a build of five. You hold a three, an eight and a ten. You can play your three onto the single five-build and announce 'building eight', but you are not allowed to incorporate the two from the table into this build to make it a build of ten.
Example C The table contains a three and a four, built into a seven, and a separate nine. You hold a two and a nine. You can play your two, combining it with the seven-build to make nine, and at the same time incorporate the nine on the table into the build, converting it to a multiple build and saying 'building nine'.
- You may add to any build, single or multiple, by playing a card from your hand which, either alone or combined with other cards on the table which are not yet in builds, matches the existing capture number of the build, provided that you hold a card which can capture the combined build.
Example The table contains a 9-build consisting of a 5 and a 4, and there is also a 3 on the table. You hold a six and two nines. You can play your 6, combining it with the 3 and the existing build to make a new multiple build of 9. Then on your next turn (provided that no one else captured) you could add one of the nines from your hand to the build. Finally, on the following turn, you could capture the whole build with your second nine.
Note that when making or adding to a build, you must contribute a card to it from your hand. You cannot just combine various cards which are already on the table to form a build. Note also that once a build contains more than one card or sets of cards which add to the capturing number, it is a multiple build and the capturing number can no longer be changed.
Example. There is a multiple 8-build of 3-5-8 on the table, and there is also a loose 6 on the table. In your hand you have 2, 8, 8, 10. You may add one of your 8s to the build, making 3-5-8-8, or to add your 2 together with the 6 on the table, making 3-5-8-2-6, still with capture value 8. You cannot use your 2 to change the capture value to 10.
When all the cards have been played in the final deal, the last player who made a capture also wins any cards which are left on the table (these cards are sometimes known as the residue). That is why it is important that the dealer should announce 'last' when dealing the last cards.
Hint on tactics: it is often good for the dealer to hold back a face card to play last if possible; this will capture a matching face card on the table and thereby also win any other table cards that remain.
Scoring
Each player (or team) counts their score based on the pile of cards they have won. There are eleven possible points in each hand:
- whoever has the Most Cards gets three points;
- whoever has Most Spades is one point;
- each Ace is worth one point (capturing an ace with another ace is called 'cash' by some players)
- the ten of diamonds, called Big Casino or the Good Ten, is worth two points;
- the two of spades, called Little Casino or the Good Two, is worth one point.
If there is a tie for most cards or most spades, no one gets those points.
Whoever first reaches a total of 21 or more points, over however many rounds it takes, wins the game. If two people reach the target on the same round, whoever has the higher score wins. If there is a tie, another round is played.
Variations
Building Rules
Building is the most intricate part of the game, and there are several variations in exactly what is allowed when creating or capturing builds, and many of the card game books are ambiguous on this point. Some people play by more permissive rules, for example:
- Some players allow a player to trail a card and simultaneously make a build by combining other cards on the table, not including the card played.
- Some players allow a player who has a build on the table simply to trail a card on subsequent turns, leaving the build in place.
- Some players allow cards from the table to be used to help increase the value of a single build, provided that a card from your hand is also used to increase the value. In this variation, in Example B under rule 5 above, it would be legal when playing your 3 on the 5-build to incorporate the 2 from the table as well, making a single build of 10. On the other hand, if there was a 6-build and a 3 on the table and you had two nines in your hand, it would not be legal to combine one of your nines with the six-build and the three to make a multiple build of nines, because when changing the value of a build, the card you play from your hand has to contribute to the change of value.
- Some players treat a single build exactly like a single card of the same value, for the purpose of capturing it or extending the build. For example, if there is a build of 6 (5+A) on the table and a loose 4, a player who holds a 10 can capture the 6-build and the 4, and a player who holds two 10's can combine one 10 from hand with the 6-build and the 4 to make a multiple 10-build.
Sweeps
Many people play that a Sweep is worth one point. A sweep occurs when a player takes all the cards from the table, leaving it empty and forcing the next player to trail. Some players call this a clear. When making a sweep, the capturing card is stored face-up in the pile of won cards, so that the number of sweeps can be checked when scoring. It is possible to make a sweep with the last card of the final deal if it captures all the cards on the table, but if it does not, taking the remaining cards from the table because you made the last capture does not count as a sweep.
Scoring
Other targets for winning the game are possible:
- Some play to 11 points. In a two player game (or a 4-player game with partners), in each round the player with more points scores the difference between the points made by the two players or sides.
- Some play to 50 points.
Some people, instead of scoring three points for cards, award two points to the player with most cards and one point to the player who made the last capture during the game.
Some play that when deciding the overall winner, if more than one player or team reaches the target score in the same round, the points are counted in order: cards, spades, big casino, little casino, aces (in the order spades, clubs, hearts, diamonds), sweeps. If the aces are not sufficient to reach the target score then the player or team with more sweeps wins; if they have the same number of sweeps another hand is played to decide the winner.
Some players, when approaching the target score, count the points as they are earned - each sweep as it happens, aces, big and little casino as they are captured, and spades or cards as soon as one player has captured 7 or 27 of them respectively. In this case the play ends soon as a player correctly claims to have won by reaching the target score (even if the opponent has in fact scored more but failed to claim it). Some score sweeps as they happen, but the remaining points in a specific order, with an agreed order of suits for the aces.
Some books describe Spade Casino, a variant in which instead of counting a point for most spades, each spade counts 1 point and the jack of spades counts an extra point. The ace and two of spades still count an extra point as well, so that the total points available (excluding sweeps) are 24: cards (3) + ten of diamonds (2) + the four aces and the two and jack of spades (6) + the spades (13).
Other Variations
See also the pages on Royal Casino, African Casino, Nordic Casino and Krypkasino.
Software
With Mari J Michaelis's SpiteNET: Cassino computer program you can play against the computer or against a live opponent over the Internet.
You can download a freeware Casino program from Thanos Card Games.
Games4All has published a free Cassino app for the Android platform.
Carl Scafidi has published a free Casino app for iPhone or iPad.
Table Of Contents
- There are many Casino card games available online
- Some of them are games of based only on chance, other require some strategy too
- You'll find the best Casino card games on this list
How many Casino card games do you know?
If you play online games as much as I do, you know dozens of Casino card games. Some of them depend purely on luck, others leave some room to strategy and smart play.
Most of them are extremely fun to play.
But do you know which Casino card games are the very best ones? You can be sure you'll find them in this article.
The Most Iconic Casino Card Games
Some Casino games are so iconic, you won't imagine a Casino without them. Slots and Roulette always fall to this category.
When it comes to card games, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Video Poker are the most iconic games at a Casino.
Blackjack
Editor's rating | 10/10 |
Best for | Players who like to think |
Basic rules | Get a hand that's higher in points than the dealer's hand without exceeding 21 points. To do so, you can hit (ask for more cards) or stand (play with the current hand till the end). |
Min/max bet | 0.50/500 |
Difficulty level | Simple rules but a difficult strategy |
Games online | Classic Blackjack, European Blackjack, Double Xposure Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack Gold Series |
Blackjack is the ultimate card game you can play at a Casino.
Not only it's the most popular Casino table game, but it also has the best return to player (RTP) percentage of all table games is played with optimal play.
Many different variants of Blackjack games will keep you entertained while it's easy to learn the rules of this game even for the beginners.
If you want to get the highest chances to win at Blackjack, using the basic strategy is the way to go. You can find a Blackjack strategy table right here.
Baccarat
Editor's rating | 8/10 |
Best for | Players who like games of chance |
Basic rules | Predict the hand that will be closer to 9 or that there's going to be a tie. To do so, you can bet on Punto (the player), Banco (the banker), or the Tie. |
Min/max bet | 1/100 |
Difficulty level | Simple rules and no strategy needed |
Games online | Baccarat Pro, Punto Banco Pro, Punto Banco Pro Low Limit |
If you found your way to Casino card games from the Roulette wheel or Slot machine, Baccarat (a.k.a. Punto Banco) should be the first card game you play.
Why?
It's also a game of chance. Whether you win or lose depends on luck, there's very little place for strategies.
Unless you're talented in edge-sorting. But we all know what happened to Phil Ivey when he tried that, right?
The only strategy tip you need when playing Baccarat or Punto Banco is this: never bet on the Tie.
The Punto (Player) bet has a house edge of 1.24 percent, the Banco (Banker) - 1.06 percent. Meanwhile, you'd lose $14.44 of every $100 you bet on the Tie.
New to Baccarat?Find all the rules explained here.
What Games Do You Play In A Casino Game
Video Poker
Editor's rating | 10/10 |
Best for | Slot fans and newbie Poker players |
Basic rules | Make the best Poker hand by keeping and discarding particular cards in your 5-card hand. |
Min/max bet | 0.25/25 |
Difficulty level | Simple rules and a semi-difficult strategy |
Games online | Deuces Wild, Double Double Bonus Poker, Jacks or Better, Joker Wild, Bonus Deuces Wild Poker |
Video Poker is the only Casino card game that's not a table game. Instead, it's played on a machine just like Slots.
It may seem like a lonely or boring game from the first sight but it's anything but. If you choose the right Video Poker games, these machines have a payout that is better than Blackjack or Poker.
Set the coin value, draw cards to make a qualifying hand, and pick the right games to reach up to a 99.5 percent and higher RTP.
Best Casino Card Games for Poker Players
Let's be honest, some players swear by Poker games. So, naturally, at a Casino they play card games that resemble the card Poker.
It makes Oasis Poker, TXS Hold'em, and Casino Hold'em the best choice for Poker players.
Oasis Poker
Editor's rating | 8.5/10 |
Best for | Poker players |
Basic rules | Beat the dealer's hand with a better ranking hand. You get to see one card of the dealer's hand. Depending on your hand, you can switch some of your cards with new cards from the deck (it's paid). Then you raise (bet more and see the showdown) or fold (quit your hand). |
Min/max bet | 1/40 |
Difficulty level | Simple rules but a semi-difficult strategy |
Games online | Oasis Poker Pro, Oasis Poker Pro Low Limit |
What Games Do They Play In A Casino
Many Casino Poker games are pretty straightforward and Oasis Poker is no exception.
Both you and the dealer get five cards each. So, from the get-go, you know what hand you have. Until the showdown, you only know one card of the dealer's hand.
You can improve your hand by switching one or more of the cards with new cards from the deck. But it's paid and rarely advised.
Then, depending on your hand strength, you raise or fold.
Want a tip? Switch cards only if you're one card short to Flush, Straight, Straight Flush or Royal Flush. Fold when you have less than an Ace-King high.
TXS Hold'em
Editor's rating | 9.5/10 |
Best for | Fans of (Texas Hold'em) Poker |
Basic rules | Beat the dealer by having a better ranking card. Your hand combines two of your initial cards and three of the community cards. |
Min/max bet | 1/40 |
Difficulty level | Semi-difficult rules, a difficult strategy |
Games online | TXS Hold'em, TXS Hold'em Low Limit |
If you ever played Texas Hold'em Poker with your friends, TXS Hold'em Casino card game will be easy to grasp.
The only differences from the classic Texas Hold'em game are these:
- you play only against the dealer (not the other players)
- there's no point in bluffing - the dealer plays until the end
- your call (to see Flop) bet is always double your ante while the Turn and River bets are always equal to your ante
It's important to keep in mind that you'll need to make an ante bet and call bet if you want to play. That's at least $3 per hand.
After seeing the Flop, you can either bet more before seeing the Turn and River or check without making additional wagers.
Casino Hold'em
Editor's rating | 9/10 |
Best for | Newbie Poker players |
Basic rules | Similar to TXS Hold'em Poker. You need to beat the dealer's hand. There's also a side bet available and the dealer needs to qualify for you to get better payouts. |
Min/max bet | 1/100 |
Difficulty level | Semi-difficult rules and a semi-difficult strategy |
Games online | Casino Hold'em |
Casino Hold'em is the easier version of TXS Hold'em game. Mostly because there are fewer bets involved - only ante and call bets.
The game is also faster - after you decide whether to call or not, you won't see the Turn and River cards one by one. You'll see them together right away.
But you can win both of your bets only after the dealer qualifies - has a Pair of 4s or better. If the dealer doesn't, the call bet is a push and only ante payout counts for the winnings.
AA Bonus is an extra side bet you can make. You'll win the bet every time your hand with the Flop (and only the Flop) shows a Pair of Aces or better.
Interested in Casino Hold'em?Read more about the game here.
What Card Games Do They Play In Casinos
Other Casino Card Games Worth Your Time
There are plenty of other Casino card games that every player should try. But today I'd like to share only two more games with you - Pontoon and Red Dog.
These games guarantee an exciting and different gambling session. You'll see.
Pontoon
Editor's rating | 9/10 |
Best for | Blackjack players |
Basic rules | Similar to Blackjack. You also win by making a 5-card hand without busting. The dealer wins on all ties. |
Min/max bet | 1/40 |
Difficulty level | Semi-difficult rules and a semi-difficult strategy |
Games online | Pontoon Pro, Pontoon Pro Low Limit |
Pontoon is one of the most fascinating Casino card games you can play online.
Essentially, it's a variant of Blackjack. But it features different terms and slight modifications in the rules.
For example, you get the best payout not only when you have a pontoon (a natural 21-point hand) but also when you have a 5-card hand.
After all, it's not that easy to draw until you have five cards without going bust.
Red Dog
Editor's rating | 8.5/10 |
Best for | Fans of simple Casino card games |
Basic rules | The dealer deals three cards: first and third face-up, the middle one face-down. You win if the middle card has a higher value than the first card but a lower than the third one. |
Min/max bet | 1/100 |
Difficulty level | Simple rules and a very simple strategy |
Games online | Red Dog Progressive |
Red Dog is the perfect game for Casino newbies. Both the rules and the strategy of the game are as easy as it gets.
What Games Do You Play In A Casino Online
You make your ante bet if you want to play and you get three cards. The middle one is facing down.
What Games Do You Play In A Casino Games
If you believe the middle card will have a value that's in between the first and third cards - you make a raise bet. If you're doubting it, simply call and play with your current wager.
What Games To Play In A Casino
The payouts depend on the spread - the number of possible cards that would make you win by ending up in the middle.
It's important to understand the spread because you should always take it into consideration before you raise.
As far as the Red Dog strategy goes, raise only if your spread is seven cards or more. Pretty easy to remember, isn't it?
The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.