Caribbean Stud, also known simply as Casino Stud, is a popular table game found at most online casinos in the US. The rules are derived from five-card stud poker, but you play against the house rather than taking on other players.
This guide explains how to play Caribbean Stud as well as where to play the game online. We’ll break down Casino Stud’s odds and payout rates while providing our top tips to maximize your chances of success.
Contents
Best Online Casinos for Caribbean Stud
How To Play Caribbean Stud
Play Free Caribbean Stud
Payout & Odds
Caribbean Stud Strategy
More Online Casino Games
Best Online Casino for Caribbean Stud Players
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How To Play Caribbean Stud
Caribbean/Casino Stud is a simple casino game created to capitalize on the growing popularity of poker. The format is straightforward, and it works the same way whether you’re playing Casino Stud online, at a live dealer table, or in-person at a brick-and-mortar casino.
- Start by choosing your initial bet amount, which is known as the ANTE. You will then be dealt five cards face up.
- The dealer will also receive five cards. Four will be dealt face down, and one will be revealed.
- You then have two choices. If you have a poor hand, you can FOLD. That will end the round, and you will lose your ante.
- Alternatively, you can place a bet worth double the initial wager (X2 ANTE) if you think you can beat the dealer’s hand. This is known as raising. For example, if your ante were $10, you would need to bet $20, taking your total risk amount to $30.
- If you decide to raise, the dealer’s face-down cards will be turned over. The dealer needs an Ace/King or better to qualify.
- The round will continue if the dealer has an Ace/King or better. If not, the dealer will not qualify, and your ante bet will be paid out as a winner at 1:1. Your raise bet will be graded as a push, and you will get the money back.
- If the dealer qualifies, you will win if you have a better hand than the dealer.
The dealer will qualify approximately 56% of the time. If the dealer qualifies, there are three potential outcomes.
- The dealer has a better hand than you. If so, you lose your ante and your additional bet.
- You and the dealer have the exact same hand. In this case, all bets are returned, meaning you get your money back.
- You have a better hand than the dealer. If so, your ante bet will be paid out at 1:1. Your additional raise bet will be paid according to the strength of your hand, which is explained below.
Casino Stud Table Minimum & Maximum
You’ll find much lower table minimums online compared to brick-and-mortar casinos, but Caribbean Stud’s table minimum is a bit different than other casino games. Online Caribbean Stud, the table minimum is usually $2 per round, but you’ll need to be $6 total to win the game. In Vegas, you can find Casino Stud as low as $10, but that’s the minimum amount you’ll lose. To win, you’ll have to bet $30, so it’s best to triple the table minimum of Caribbean Stud to truly plan for what you might spend.
Odds of Winning Caribbean Stud Casino Poker
Caribbean Stud has Return to Player (RTP) rate of 98.35%. That equates to a house edge of just 1.65%, meaning your chances of winning each hand are pretty close to 50/50. Check out our list of casino games with the best odds.
Play Caribbean Stud Free Online

The best way to learn is to play free casino games so that you can practice without risking your own money. Give Caribbean Stud a try for free. If you run out of betting credits, simply refresh the page to have the bankroll reset.
Caribbean Stud Payouts & Hand Rankings
If you beat the dealer’s hand in Casino Stud, you’re paid out according to the strength of your hand. The payouts can vary from one Caribbean Stud game to the next, but the chart below highlights the typical hand rankings and the probability of receiving each one.
Hand | Payout | Chances of Receiving the Hand |
---|---|---|
Royal Flush | 100:1 | 0.0001% |
Straight Flush | 50:1 | 0.001% |
Four of a Kind | 20:1 | 0.02% |
Full House | 7:1 | 0.1% |
Flush | 5:1 | 0.2% |
Straight | 4:1 | 0.4% |
Three of a Kind | 3:1 | 2.1% |
Two Pair | 2:1 | 4.7% |
One Pair | 1:1 | 42.2% |
High Card | 1:1 | 50% |
Caribbean Stud Strategy & Tips
You need to make the correct strategic decisions to maximize your chances of winning when you play Caribbean Stud. These are the key points to remember.
- Always raise if you are dealt a pair or better.
- Always fold if your hand is worse than Ace/King.
If you have an Ace/King, there are three situations in which you should consider raising:
- The dealer’s card is 2 through Queen, and it matches one of your cards.
- The dealer’s card is an Ace or King, and you have a Queen or Jack in your hand.
- The dealer’s card does not match one of yours, but it is lower than your fourth-highest card, and you have a Queen.
The betting limits will vary according to which Caribbean Stud game you play. For instance, you will find a minimum bet of $2 and an upper limit of $500 at DraftKings. The limits on the jackpot bet may be lower on certain games.
Caribbean Stud Progressive Jackpot
Caribbean Stud games also feature a progressive jackpot. That gives you the chance to earn a large payout from a relatively small bet, provided you have a strong hand. However, the house edge tends to be very high if you opt to place the jackpot bet.
For example, the RTP is 98.35% on the Caribbean Stud game at DraftKings, whereas the jackpot bet has an RTP of just 77.62%. That equates to a house edge of 22.38% on the jackpot bet. For that reason, avoid the progressive bet if you want to maximize your chances of success.
Final Thoughts on Casino Stud
Many players like to face off against others when it comes to stud poker. Others like to play the game against the house. If you fall into the latter category, Caribbean Stud is an excellent choice, offering a nice balance of luck and strategy without the pressure of going against other players. In fact, if you play Caribbean Stud at a live dealer casino, you’ll win when other players win, and vice versa.