Play Caribbean Stud poker at US online casinos


The best Caribbean Stud online casinos for March 2024

Rank Casino Bonus Offer Main points Play Online
#1 Top Rated Casino
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  • Extensive library of slot games
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  • Widely available in the US
2
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  • Accepting US players
  • Over 300 slot games
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3
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  • Offers a range of sweeps games
  • Great variety of slots from Pragmatic Play, Evoplay and more
  • Daily bonuses, rewards and promos for coins

Best Caribbean Stud poker online casinos in the US - our summary

✅ Best Caribbean stud poker casino
✔️ Best for payouts
Chanced
💎 Best Caribbean Stud bonus
Gambino Slots
📱 Best mobile poker app
McLuck

Last updated: March 28th 2024

Online Caribbean Stud poker sites to avoid in the US

We only ever recommend the very best Caribbean stud poker casinos. Our team of experts uses a thorough 25-step rating process to ensure that only top-quality, premium poker sites appear in our rankings. If we think a site isn't worth your time, we add it to our list of Caribbean stud poker casinos to avoid.

Why play Caribbean Stud poker online?

There's a lot of hype around real money Caribbean Stud poker. The game has similar rules to five-card poker, but with the key difference that you're only playing against the house. In turn, this means there's no bluffing and no lengthy rounds of betting. Here's just a handful of reasons to play Caribbean Stud poker online:

  • The game is simple and easy to play.
  • It's single player and you only ever play against the dealer.
  • There's no need to bluff or practice your poker face.
  • Some Caribbean poker games even come with a progressive jackpot.

How we rate the best online Caribbean Stud poker sites

We strive to only ever recommend the best online Caribbean Stud poker sites. Our team of experts uses a comprehensive 25-step process to ensure this happens. Below is a snapshot of our rating criteria and how we rank US online casinos.

  • Safety & security

    It goes without saying, we'll only ever recommend safe and secure online gambling sites. We look for Caribbean stud poker online casinos that hold valid state licenses in the US for real money or social play. We also ensure that every gaming site is secure. This means that a casino has up-to-date SSL encryption that protects a player's personal information.

  • Caribbean Stud poker games

    As standard, the gaming site has to offer a range of Caribbean Stud casino games. We look for a range of games from top developers like Microgaming and NetEnt. The best sites to play Caribbean Stud poker will even offer live dealer games with plenty of open tables to join. This is why we highly recommend McLuck which offers a range of 10+ poker variants including Caribbean Stud.

  • Poker bonuses & tournaments

    Everybody loves casino bonuses and promotions. We look for welcome offers that cater to poker and Caribbean Stud players, and that have fair T&Cs. Not to mention we search for gaming sites that have regular promotions for existing players too. The cherry on the cake is if the gambling site has a range of regular poker tournaments too. These will include buy-in options, prize pools, side bets, and more that are tailored to Caribbean Stud.

  • Poker casino apps

    The best online Caribbean Stud poker sites will be well-optimized for mobile devices. In particular, we look for gaming sites that have a dedicated app with plenty of online Caribbean Stud games. Failing that, we only ever recommend sites that have HTML5 technology and that work perfectly on a mobile browser. Top casinos like Gambino Slots fall into this category and offer a seamless mobile gaming experience.

  • Customer support

    The hallmark of a top online casino is a great customer support team. The best sites for Caribbean poker online will be easy to contact via multiple methods such as phone, email, or live chat. We also look for sites that have a fully fleshed-out FAQ section that guides customers with common queries. If we can't easily contact a casino, we won't recommend it on our shortlist.

Try our #1 US Caribbean Stud casino today

How to play Caribbean Stud poker online

Caribbean Stud poker is very similar to five-card poker. Below is a quick recap of how to play Caribbean poker at an online casino in the US. To learn more, head to our how to play poker guide.

  • 1

    Join a Caribbean Stud online poker game

    Head to our shortlist to find some of the best Caribbean Stud poker online casinos.

  • 2

    Place an initial bet on the table

    This is also known as the 'Ante'.

  • 3

    The dealer then deals you five cards.

    All of the player’s cards are face-up, the dealer reveals just one of their cards.

  • 4

    Make your next move

    You can choose to fold or surrender. Alternatively, you can 'call' and continue your hand or 'raise' to double the ante.

  • 5

    All cards are revealed

    The dealer needs an Ace-King or better to 'qualify'. If this happens, all ante bets are paid out at even money and raise/call bets are returned.

  • 6

    Bets are paid out

    If the dealer does qualify and is beaten, ante bets are paid out at even money and raise/call bets are paid according to the hand. If the dealer qualifies but has the same hand as the player, all bets will be returned.

How to win at Caribbean Stud poker online

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There are two ways to win Caribbean Stud poker: beating the dealer's qualifying hand, or if the dealer fails to qualify. The dealer would need to have an ace (A) and a king (K) in order to qualify, and the lowest possible hand needed would be A-K-4-3-2. If the dealer doesn’t have the qualifying cards, and you’re still in the game, you'll get your ante paid out at even money.

Caribbean Stud poker hands explained

To beat the dealer's qualifying hand, you'll need to have a stronger poker hand. Below is the hierarchy of hands for online Caribbean Stud poker. Payouts will also vary based on which hand you play. But just remember, the payouts are only for the 'Call' bet. Ante bets always get paid out at 1 to 1. Plus, if you’ve hit a high hand, like a Royal Flush for example, and the dealer did not qualify, you won’t get paid out for your Call bet.

Poker hand Payout
Royal Flush
100 to 1
Straight Flush
50 to 1
4 of a Kind
20 to 1
Full House
7 to 1
Flush
5 to 1
Straight
4 to 1
3 of a Kind
3 to 1
2 Pairs
2 to 1
Pair
1 to 1
High Card
1 to 1

Caribbean Stud poker vs Texas Hold'em

Caribbean poker online is just one variant of the iconic game. Most people will be familiar with Texas Hold'em poker as standard - but what's the difference? Despite following similar basic poker rules, the two variants are very different games. Take a look below for our snapshot of how playing Caribbean stud poker compares!

Online Caribbean Stud poker

Caribbean Stud has a high house edge of 5.224%.

You only play Caribbean poker against the dealer, nobody else.

There are no multiple rounds of betting.

Caribbean Stud is more niche, with fewer variants at online casinos.

Caribbean Stud poker is often considered a game of chance.

You can play with side bets and progressive jackpots.

Online Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is a complex game with no clear house edge.

Most Hold'em games let you play against up to 10 people at a time.

There are four rounds of betting to play through.

Online casinos will offer a variety of Texas Hold'em games.

Texas Hold'em combines skill and luck, hence its huge popularity.

Progressive jackpots don't exist in classic Texas Hold'em.

Online Caribbean Stud poker Online Texas Hold'em

Caribbean Stud has a high house edge of 5.224%.

Texas Hold'em is a complex game with no clear house edge.

You only play Caribbean poker against the dealer, nobody else.

Most Hold'em games let you play against up to 10 people at a time.

There are no multiple rounds of betting.

There are four rounds of betting to play through.

Caribbean Stud is more niche, with fewer variants at online casinos.

Online casinos will offer a variety of Texas Hold'em games.

Caribbean Stud poker is often considered a game of chance.

Texas Hold'em combines skill and luck, hence its huge popularity.

You can play with side bets and progressive jackpots.

Progressive jackpots don't exist in classic Texas Hold'em.

Quick Caribbean Stud online poker tips

Learning to play online poker can be complex if you're just starting out. While you can never predict what your hand will be, there are some simple tips that can help boost your Caribbean Stud strategy. Take a look below for some of our expert advice on Caribbean Stud poker.

Fold anything less than Ace, King

Fold anything less than Ace, King

The dealer needs an Ace and a King at a minimum to qualify. If you have a hand worse than this, it won't be possible to beat the dealer.

Play hands with a pair

Play hands with a pair

Expert Caribbean Stud players will say this is a secure way of knowing you have a secure hand. If you want to raise, try to do it when you have a pair.

Don’t be afraid to surrender

Don’t be afraid to surrender

That’s how to play smart. You’ll start to get a better feel for how your hand looks when you sit a game out and see what the competition does.

Find a healthy progressive jackpot

Find a healthy progressive jackpot

Make no mistakes, hitting the jackpot isn’t an easy thing to do. But it's still worth your while playing for it!

Online Caribbean Stud poker strategy

Looking for a winning Caribbean Stud poker strategy? Below is some more in-depth advice for playing Caribbean stud poker.

  • Be cautious with progressive jackpot bets

    Players will have the choice to make a side bet on their next hand. This is where the progressive jackpot element of the game comes into it. Typically, if you get a Flush or higher you're able to release the entire progressive jackpot amount. However, even though a progressive payout can take you to the top in an instant, the actual chances of hitting a high suit is very low. If you’re playing for fun, by all means, go for it, but if you’re playing for keeps you should rather keep your attention on the game at hand.

  • Avoid additional side bets

    Side bets can be fun and make the game feel more entertaining, but they aren't going to be your winning strategy. The house edge for Caribbean Stud poker is just over 5% and you want to keep it as close to that as possible. Adding wild side bets can give the house a higher advantage and mean you lose out more. Side bets can be great, but try to avoid getting derailed by them.

Caribbean Stud poker history

While the game might be a fairly recent addition to the online casino and gambling world, there are a lot of stories to tell about the development of Caribbean Stud.

  • Caribbean Stud Poker was introduced by casinos in an effort to lure more players to the tables - players who were more interested in poker rooms and home games over table games.
  • The origins of the game are up for debate.
  • Officially, James Suttle gets credit for creating the game. It’s said that he acquired the game rules from a fellow poker player in Vegas back in the ‘80s, and then sold the concept to Danny Jones, who owned a casino in Aruba.
  • The rights to the game were eventually bought by a Nevada distribution company known as Mikhon Gaming.
  • Other casino players claim they played Caribbean Stud poker on a cruise ship in Aruba prior to Suttle’s invention of the game.

Caribbean Stud poker glossary

Term Summary
Ace-King
The lowest qualifying hand.
Ante
The bet that all players must place at the start of the game.
Ante box
The box on a Caribbean Stud table used for placing wagers.
Dealer
The person that operates the Caribbean Stud games.
Drop slot
The slot on the table where players can place their side bets.
Flush
A hand where all five cards are of the same suit.
House edge
The statistical advantage that the house has in its games.
Folding
The decision to forfeit a hand after seeing ones cards.
Progressive jackpot
To be eligible, you must make a side bet and then ultimately raise your hand.
Push
The technical term for a tie in Caribbean Stud poker.
Qualifying
A qualified hand is any hand held by the dealer that is at least an Ace-King hand.
Raises
The bets that are made after a player has received his or her cards.
Royal Flush
The top ranked hand in Caribbean Stud poker.
Side bet
The kind of wager made on the progressive jackpot.
Straight Flush
The second best hand in the game.

FAQs about online Caribbean Stud poker

Where is the best Caribbean Stud poker online casino?

The best Caribbean Stud poker casino is McLuck for this month. Head to our shortlist to find more top online casinos to play Caribbean Stud poker online.

Are online Caribbean Stud poker games fair?

Yes, online Caribbean Stud poker games are fair if you play at a regulated, reputable casino. Most poker games will use random number generators (RNGs) to make sure every outcome is fair.

What is Caribbean Stud poker?

Caribbean Stud is a poker game that you play against the dealer. The game uses a standard 52-card deck. To win, the dealer must first qualify, so players can win even with low-ranking hands if the dealer doesn't have a qualifying opening hand.

What are the card rankings in Caribbean Stud poker?

Just like in standard five card stud, the hands are (from lowest to highest) one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush. Learn more in our poker hands rankings guide.

What is an 'Ante' in Caribbean Stud poker?

Your ante is your initial bet. You pay your ante to be dealt with the hand. If you fold, you lose your ante.

What is a 'Bet' in Caribbean Stud poker?

After the ante, you can choose to bet. This consists of wagering another sum equal to your ante, but this time around you have the benefit of seeing your cards.

What is the best strategy for Caribbean Stud poker?

Some players claim the best strategy is to raise if you've been dealt a pair or higher. Anything less should be folded. Other popular strategies include raising when one of the dealer’s up-cards matches and raising on A, K, or better.

When should I fold when playing Caribbean Stud poker?

Because the dealer has to qualify with a specified type of hand to win, you should never fold unless you have less than one pair. If you fold, you lose your initial bet anyway, but there could still be a chance that a low hand can still win.

What is the casino advantage playing online Caribbean Stud poker?

The house has a slight edge with around a 5% slant in their favor. This places Caribbean Stud poker at the same odds for winning as roulette as well as other casino games of chance.

Adam Ryan

Adam Ryan

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Senior Content Editor

A writer and editor with a penchant for games and strategy, Adam Ryan has been with the Casino.org team for eight years now. Having written for and edited numerous iGaming brands in his career, he’s something of a content sage when it comes to our iGaming copy in the US.