Casino card games offer some of the best odds and most exciting action you’ll find on any casino floor. Whether you’re playing online or in person, these games combine skill, strategy, and chance in ways that keep players coming back. Understanding which games are available and how they work helps you make better choices about where to spend your time and money.

The most popular casino card games include blackjack, poker variations like Texas Hold’em, baccarat, and Caribbean Stud, each offering different odds and gameplay experiences. Some games rely mostly on luck while others reward players who learn proper strategy. The house edge varies significantly between different card games, which affects your chances of winning over time.

This guide breaks down the main casino card games you can play in 2026. You’ll learn about classic favorites and newer variations, along with what makes each game unique. By the end, you’ll know which card games match your interests and skill level.

Popular Casino Card Games

Card games at casinos come in many forms, from blackjack’s quick decisions to baccarat’s simple betting choices. Each game offers different odds, rules, and ways to play.

Blackjack Variants

Blackjack remains one of the most played casino card games because you can influence the outcome through your decisions. The basic goal stays the same across all versions: get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.

Classic Blackjack uses standard rules where the dealer stands on 17 and you can split pairs or double down. Spanish 21 removes all 10-value cards from the deck but gives you better payouts and more flexible rules. You can double down on any number of cards and surrender at any time.

European Blackjack differs because the dealer only receives one card face-up at the start. Double Exposure Blackjack shows both dealer cards, but ties go to the house and blackjack pays even money instead of 3:2.

Blackjack Switch lets you play two hands at once and switch the second card between hands. This advantage means blackjack only pays 1:1 and the dealer pushes on 22.

Baccarat Types

Baccarat offers some of the best odds in the casino with three simple betting options. You bet on the player hand, banker hand, or a tie before cards are dealt.

Punto Banco is the version you’ll find in most casinos. The rules are fixed with no decisions for you to make after betting. Chemin de Fer gives players more control because one player acts as the banker and decides whether to draw a third card.

Baccarat Banque uses three decks and deals two player hands against one banker hand. The banker position stays with one player until they choose to give it up or run out of money.

Mini Baccarat follows Punto Banco rules but uses a smaller table and lower betting limits. The dealer handles all the cards, which makes the game move faster.

Poker Game Variations

Poker games at casinos put you against the house instead of other players. Each variation has its own hand rankings and betting structure.

Caribbean Stud Poker starts with an ante bet and optional progressive jackpot. You get five cards and decide to fold or raise after seeing one dealer card. The dealer must qualify with ace-king or better.

Texas Hold’em Bonus uses community cards like regular Texas Hold’em. You can bet before the flop, after the flop, and after the turn based on your hand strength.

Three Card Poker combines two games in one. The Ante-Play bet wins if your three-card hand beats the dealer’s qualifying hand. The Pair Plus bet pays based on your hand alone, regardless of the dealer’s cards.

Let It Ride gives you three betting circles and three cards to start. Two community cards are revealed one at a time, and you can pull back two of your three bets as more information comes out.

Three Card Games

Three card games offer faster play and simpler rules than traditional casino games. These games typically take less time to learn and complete each round quickly.

Three Card Brag is popular in British casinos and works like poker but with only three cards. You bet before seeing your cards and can raise or fold after looking at your hand.

Casino War is based on the children’s game War. You and the dealer each get one card, and the highest card wins. Ties lead to a war where you can surrender or double your bet for another card.

Red Dog deals two cards with a spread between them. You bet that the third card will fall between the first two cards in rank. Wider spreads pay less, while consecutive cards result in a push.

Casino Card Games by Type

Card games at casinos fall into three main categories based on how you play against the dealer or other players. Each type requires different skills and offers unique ways to win.

Banking Card Games

Banking card games pit you directly against the house or dealer. The casino acts as the bank and pays out winning bets while collecting losing ones.

Blackjack stands as the most popular banking card game. You try to get cards totaling 21 or as close as possible without going over. The dealer follows strict rules about when to hit or stand.

Baccarat offers simpler gameplay where you bet on either the player hand, banker hand, or a tie. The dealer handles all cards according to fixed rules. You don’t make decisions about drawing cards.

Three Card Poker combines poker hand rankings with fast-paced action. You can bet against the dealer or wager on getting a good poker hand regardless of what the dealer has.

Casino War uses the basic concept of the childhood game War. You and the dealer each get one card, and the highest card wins.

Comparing Card Games

Comparing card games involve players competing against each other rather than the house. The casino makes money by taking a small percentage from each pot or charging table fees.

Texas Hold’em dominates poker rooms worldwide. Each player gets two private cards and shares five community cards. You build the best five-card hand possible.

Omaha Poker works similarly to Texas Hold’em but gives you four private cards instead of two. You must use exactly two of your private cards and three community cards.

Seven Card Stud gives each player their own cards without community cards. Three cards come face down and four face up over multiple betting rounds.

Caribbean Stud Poker combines poker hand rankings with house-based play. You compete against the dealer’s hand rather than other players.

Matching Card Games

Matching card games require you to create specific card combinations or patterns. These games blend luck with quick decision-making.

Pai Gow Poker uses a standard 52-card deck plus one joker. You split seven cards into a five-card hand and a two-card hand. Both hands must beat the dealer’s corresponding hands to win.

Red Dog involves betting on whether a third card’s rank falls between two initial cards. The payout depends on the spread between the first two cards.

Andar Bahar is a simple matching game where you bet on which side will match the value of a single drawn card first. The dealer places cards alternately on two sides until a match appears.