Overview
Casino poker uses standard poker hand rankings, but you play against the house rather than against other players. In dealer games your hand is compared with the dealer's; in video poker your final hand is paid from a fixed paytable. Because there is no opponent to outplay, the result depends on the cards and on the decisions the game allows you to make.
How a Round Works
- Place an ante (and any optional side bet) to receive your cards.
- Review your hand and decide whether to fold or continue by placing a further play bet, or in video poker choose which cards to hold.
- The dealer's hand is revealed and must usually qualify with a minimum hand for the play bet to be in action.
- Bets are settled from the game's paytable.
Rules
Hand rankings
From highest: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. Three Card Poker ranks a straight above a flush because it is rarer with three cards.
Dealer qualification
In most dealer games the dealer needs a minimum hand to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, the ante is typically paid and the play bet returned, as specified in each game's rules.
Paytables
Video poker returns depend entirely on the paytable. The same game with a lower payout for a full house or flush has a noticeably lower RTP.
Optimal play
Published RTPs assume optimal decisions. Holding the wrong cards or folding strong hands lowers your expected return.
Common Variants
- Casino Hold'em
- You and the dealer each use two hole cards plus five community cards.
- Three Card Poker
- Ante-and-play against the dealer, plus an optional Pair Plus bet paid on your hand alone.
- Caribbean Stud
- Five-card stud against the dealer, with the dealer needing ace-king or better to qualify.
- Video poker
- A single-player machine format such as Jacks or Better, paid from a fixed paytable.
Payouts and House Edge
Standard published figures for common paytables, assuming optimal play:
| Game | Measure | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better (9/6 full pay) | RTP | about 99.5% |
| Casino Hold'em | House edge (ante) | about 2.2% |
| Three Card Poker | House edge (ante) | about 3.4% |
| Caribbean Stud | House edge (ante) | about 5.2% |
Figures are standard mathematical values for the rules described. Each game displays its own rules and RTP, which apply if they differ.
Fairness
Cards are dealt from a freshly shuffled virtual deck for every hand using certified RNG software. Live versions use physical cards and scanners.
Play Responsibly
House-banked poker is not a contest of skill against other players; the house edge applies to every hand. Keep stakes within the budget you set before playing. See responsible gambling for the tools available in your account.