Casino poker games

Casino poker versus player-versus-player poker

Casino poker means poker-based games played against the house, with a built-in house edge, while player-versus-player poker pits you against other players and the operator takes a fee from each pot or tournament. This page covers casino poker; your skill against other players plays no role in it.

In casino poker you play your hand against the dealer’s hand, and payouts follow a fixed pay table. Your decisions still matter, because each game has an optimal strategy for when to raise or fold. The house edge figures below assume that strategy, according to the Wizard of Odds.

House edge of popular casino poker games

Casino poker games range from under 1% for well-paying video poker to above 7% for some side bets, so the game and the pay table matter more than the poker theme. The table shows figures calculated by the Wizard of Odds for the most common pay tables.

For games where you can raise, the house edge is measured against the first bet only. The Wizard of Odds also gives the “element of risk”, the expected loss relative to the average total bet, which is lower: 2.56% for Caribbean Stud and 2.01% for Three Card Poker ante and play.

Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker is a five-card game where you place an ante, see your cards and then either fold or raise twice the ante to compete against the dealer. With optimal strategy the Wizard of Odds calculates a house edge of 5.22%, and the optimal player raises 52.23% of the time.

The optional progressive jackpot side bet is far more expensive: the Wizard of Odds puts its average house edge at 26.46%, although the figure falls as the progressive jackpot grows.

Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker has two separate games on one table: Ante and Play against the dealer, and Pairplus, which pays on the strength of your own three cards alone. On the most common pay table the Wizard of Odds puts Ante and Play at 3.37% and Pairplus at 7.28%.

The ante bonus pay table varies between casinos, and the Wizard of Odds lists versions with an Ante and Play edge from 0.33% to 4.28%. The help screen shows which one you are playing.

Video poker pay tables

In video poker the pay table is the house edge: each payout for a full house or flush changes the return. “9/6” Jacks or Better pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush per coin and returns 99.54% with optimal strategy; the “8/5” version returns 97.30%, according to the Wizard of Odds.

A simplified strategy costs little: the Wizard of Odds puts its return for 9/6 Jacks or Better at 99.46%. Video poker states its return as RTP, which you can turn into an expected cost with the RTP and house edge calculator.

How to choose a casino poker game and casino

Choose the casino by licence and payout record, then the game by its pay table.

• Confirm the licence in the list, then compare stated withdrawal times.
• Read the pay table in the help screen and compare it with the figures above.
• Treat side bets and progressive add-ons as separate, more expensive bets.
• Live versions follow the same maths; see our live casino page for the differences in pace and limits.

The raise decisions make casino poker feel like a game of skill, but the house keeps its edge on every hand. Set a budget before you play, and use the tools on our responsible gambling page if you want to limit your play.

Frequently asked questions

What is casino poker?

Casino poker covers poker-based games you play against the house rather than against other players, such as Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and video poker. Payouts follow a fixed pay table and every game has a house edge. Your decisions to raise or fold affect the edge, but you cannot outplay the dealer in the long run.

Which casino poker game has the best odds?

Full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker, which returns 99.54% with optimal strategy according to the Wizard of Odds, a house edge of 0.46%. Among table games, Ultimate Texas Hold’em at 2.19% on the ante is lower than Three Card Poker at 3.37% and Caribbean Stud at 5.22%.

Is the Pairplus bet worth it?

Pairplus is a simple bet that pays if your three cards contain a pair or better, but it costs more than the main game. On the most common pay table, the Wizard of Odds calculates a house edge of 7.28%, compared with 3.37% on Ante and Play. Pay tables vary, so check the help screen.

How do I read a video poker pay table?

Look at the payouts for a full house and a flush on the one-coin line. A Jacks or Better game paying 9 and 6 is the full-pay version with a 99.54% return; one paying 8 and 5 returns 97.30%. The other lines are usually the same, so these two numbers tell you most of what you need.

Can I play poker against other players at an online casino?

Some operators run a separate poker room for player-versus-player games, where the house takes a fee from each pot or tournament entry instead of holding an edge. The casino games covered on this page are always played against the house, with the house edge shown in the table above.

Sources: Wizard of Odds: house edge of casino games, Wizard of Odds: Caribbean Stud Poker, Wizard of Odds: Three Card Poker, Wizard of Odds: Jacks or Better pay tables