Many people assume casino poker games like Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, and Casino Hold'em are similar to traditional poker played in card rooms or online poker sites. They're actually fundamentally different games with different rules, strategies, and odds. Understanding these differences is critical. Casino poker games are house-banked table games similar to blackjack or roulette. Traditional poker is a player-vs-player skill game. The distinction affects everything from your expected outcomes to how you should approach the game. This guide explains the key differences between casino poker variants and traditional poker, helping you understand what you're actually playing.
The Fundamental Difference: Who You're Playing Against
Traditional Poker (Cash Games, Tournaments, Online Poker Rooms):You play against other players. The casino or poker room takes a small fee (rake or tournament entry fee) but doesn't participate in the game. Your opponents are other people, and skilled players can win consistently.
Casino Poker (Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, Casino Hold'em, etc.):You play against the house. The casino banks all bets and pays winners from its own funds. The casino has a built-in mathematical edge, just like blackjack or roulette.
Why this matters:In traditional poker, skill creates edges over weaker players. In casino poker, you're fighting a house edge that cannot be overcome through skill alone.
Casino Poker Variants Explained
Casino poker games use poker hand rankings but are fundamentally different from traditional poker.
Common casino poker games:Caribbean Stud Poker:- Ante bet required - Play against dealer's hand - Qualify rules (dealer needs Ace-King or better) - House edge: approximately 5.22%
Three Card Poker:- Two betting options: Ante/Play and Pair Plus - Play against dealer with three-card hands - House edge: 3.37% (Ante/Play), varies for Pair Plus
Casino Hold'em:- Based on Texas Hold'em - You and dealer each get two cards; five community cards - Play against dealer, not other players - House edge: approximately 2.16%
Pai Gow Poker:- Seven cards split into five-card and two-card hands - Play against dealer - House edge: approximately 2.84% For detailed rules, see our guide on [how to play Casino Hold'em](#).
How Casino Poker Games Work
Unlike traditional poker, casino poker follows a fixed sequence:
Step 1: Ante betYou place an initial bet (the "ante").
Step 2: DealCards are dealt to you and the dealer according to the game's rules.
Step 3: DecisionYou decide to fold (lose ante) or continue (place additional bet).
Step 4: Dealer revealsThe dealer's hand is revealed.
Step 5: Qualification checkIn some variants, the dealer's hand must "qualify" (meet minimum requirements) for play to continue normally.
Step 6: PayoutsHands are compared and payouts made according to fixed payout tables.
Key difference from traditional poker:There's no bluffing, no reading opponents, no betting rounds. You're simply comparing hands against the dealer according to mathematical probabilities.
House Edge in Casino Poker
All casino poker variants have a house edge, meaning the casino has a mathematical advantage.
Typical house edges:- Casino Hold'em: 2.16% - Pai Gow Poker: 2.84% - Three Card Poker (Ante/Play): 3.37% - Caribbean Stud: 5.22% - Mississippi Stud: 4.91%
What this means:Over time, you'll lose money at a rate determined by the house edge. This is unavoidable through strategy, unlike traditional poker where skill can create an edge.
Comparison to traditional poker:Skilled traditional poker players can have positive expected value (they win money over time). Casino poker always has negative expected value for the player. For more on house edge, see our guide on [understanding house edge](#).
Skill vs Luck
Traditional Poker:- Highly skill-dependent over the long term - Short-term luck, but skill dominates across thousands of hands - Professional poker players exist because skill creates edges
Casino Poker:- Primarily luck-based - Basic strategy exists (knowing when to fold/continue) but doesn't eliminate the house edge - No professional casino poker players exist because the house edge makes long-term profit impossible
Example:In Texas Hold'em (traditional), a skilled player can consistently beat weak opponents. In Casino Hold'em, even perfect play still faces a 2.16% house edge against the house.
Betting Structure
Traditional Poker:- Multiple betting rounds - Bet sizing varies (pot limit, no limit, fixed limit) - Raising, re-raising, bluffing - Pot odds and implied odds matter
Casino Poker:- Fixed bet structure - Usually just an ante and play bet - No raising against the dealer - Pot odds don't apply
Payout Tables and Side Bets
Casino Poker:Many casino poker games offer bonus payouts for strong hands (like straight flushes or royal flushes) and side bets with large payouts.
Side bet house edges:These typically have much higher house edges than the main game — often 5-20% or more. They should generally be avoided.
Traditional Poker:Payout is whatever money is in the pot. No bonus tables or side bets (in standard games).
Strategy Complexity
Traditional Poker:- Positional play - Reading opponents - Bet sizing - Bluffing and value betting - Pot odds and equity calculations - Game theory optimal (GTO) strategy - Opponent-specific adjustments
Casino Poker:- Basic strategy (fold or continue decisions based on hand strength) - No bluffing or opponent reading - Fixed decision trees
Example - Caribbean Stud basic strategy:Raise with any pair or Ace-King or better. This is the optimal strategy, and it's far simpler than traditional poker strategy.
Online Poker vs Online Casino Poker
Online Poker (PokerStars, GGPoker, etc.):- Play against real opponents - Rake taken from pots - Skill-based, beatable for good players - Regulated poker rooms
Online Casino Poker (Casino Hold'em, Caribbean Stud at casinos):- Play against RNG-powered dealer - House edge built into game - Not beatable long-term - Part of online casino offerings These are completely different environments despite both being online.
Can You Win at Casino Poker?
Short term: Yes, you can win individual sessions due to variance (luck).
Long term: No, the house edge ensures you'll lose money over time with continued play.
Why people play casino poker:- Simpler than traditional poker - Don't need to compete against skilled opponents - Can play at your own pace - Lower mental effort - Entertainment value
Why skilled traditional poker players avoid casino poker:The house edge makes it unbeatable, unlike traditional poker where skill creates edges.
Which Should You Play?
Choose Traditional Poker if:- You enjoy skill-based games - You're willing to study strategy - You want the possibility of long-term profit - You enjoy competing against other players
Choose Casino Poker if:- You want simple, casual play - You don't want to compete against skilled opponents - You understand and accept the house edge - You're playing for entertainment with a set budget
Neither is "better" — they're different types of games for different preferences.
Common Misconceptions
Myth: Casino poker is just easier pokerReality: Casino poker is a different category of game entirely, more similar to blackjack than to traditional poker.
Myth: You can use traditional poker skills to beat casino pokerReality: There's no bluffing, no opponent reading, and the house edge can't be overcome through skill.
Myth: Casino poker is rigged because you can't win long-termReality: The games aren't rigged — they have built-in house edges that ensure casino profit, just like any table game. This is disclosed and expected.
Myth: Online casino poker is the same as online poker roomsReality: Completely different. Online poker rooms are player-vs-player. Casino poker is player-vs-house with a house edge.