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What Is Casino War Card Game: Objective And Basic Rules
Casino War is played between two sides. In other words, only two sides play against each other- the dealer and the player. The game is played using 6 to 8 decks of 52 cards. Between 2 to 8 players can play at a physical Casino War table. When you play online, the number of players is higher.
Your ultimate goal is to get a card that is higher in value than the dealer’s. The side with the higher card wins suits do not matter. To help you better follow the rules, let’s summarize them here:
- Only two cards are dealt.
- In every draw of the game, the dealer deals one card face-up to each side.
- The Player side always receives the first card.
- If both sides have the same value cards, the draw finishes in the War outcome, and depending on whether you play online or at a land-based casino, your options vary(more details later.)
- There are two betting rounds during which players can place their wagers. The first betting round starts before dealing cards. And second betting rounds starts after the Player side receives its card.
- Card values in this game also differ, with Aces being the highest and deuces(2) being the lowest(Ace, K, Q, J, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2).
How To Play Casino War: Online VS Land-Based
Land-Based Casino War: Gameplay and Payouts
At the start of each Casino War game, every player must place a Casino War Wager. It is an ante that is also known as the Primary Wager. If the first dealt card (to the player side) is higher in rank than the dealer’s, you win the wager and will be paid on a 1:1 odds. In addition to this wager, you can choose to bet on the Tie option. If you do so, the player and dealer side should be the same value cards for your wager to pay out. The tie option has a payout of 10:1. If both sides end up having the same value cards, you have two options:
- Go to “War” and see who wins. To do so, you should match your initial wager- place another bet equal to your initial wager.
- Surrender and forfeit half of your initial wager.
If you choose War, the dealer draws another card for the player’s side and another one for the dealer’s side. If the player side has a higher rank card, you win the ensuing battle, and the house pays you 1:1 on your second bet, while the initial bet is considered a push. If the outcome is another tie, the player side is the winner, and the house pays you 2:1 on your war wager(second bet).
Online Casino War: Gameplay and Payouts
You can find both video and live dealer Casino War at top online casinos. The minimum and maximum betting limits vary from casino to casino and table to table. But typically, you can play for as little as $1 to as much as $1,000. The basic rules are the same. The dealer deals two cards to each side face-up.
There is no surrender option in the online version of Casino War unless stated by the house. It means the draw always has three possible outcomes: either side wins, OR both sides have the same value cards, and the draw ends in War. So, you have three options to bet on according to the following steps:
- The first betting round starts before any cards are drawn. You can place your wager on either player, dealer, or War option.
- The dealer draws the first card for the player side.
- The new odds are listed, and the second round of betting starts.
- The outcome of the first and second betting rounds are independent. It means you can place your second wager on the same or different outcome.
- The dealer deals the second card to the dealer’s side.
- The cards are compared, and the outcome of the draw is determined.
- The new draw begins with the exact same rules and steps.
The payouts for each outcome depend on the listed odds at the time of placing your bet. For example, the odds for each outcome in the first betting round are:
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
Dealer Wins | +105 |
War | +1150 |
Player Wins | +105 |
The second betting round odds for the same draw would be:
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
Dealer Wins | +1800 |
War | +1100 |
Player Wins | -2000 |
This is where strategy comes into the picture, and you have to decide whether or not to place the second bet. A general rule of thumb: the higher the odds, the less likely the outcome to happen. So, don’t let the odds fool you.
Read more about the casino card games with the best odds
Online Casino War Side Bets: It’s A No-No!
Aside from the three main betting options, you can wager on:
- The color of the player’s and dealer’s cards: ♦♥♠♣
- The suit of the player’s and dealer’s cards: ♦♠♥♣
- The player’s and dealer’s card values
The payouts widely differ from bet to bet. But what is common among all is the huge house advantage. In other words, side bets have high odds and are less likely to have a winning outcome. This is why they come with tempting payouts. Make sure to stay away from side bets unless you just want to try them once or twice to feel the thrill.
Casino War Winning Strategy: Should You Go To WAR?
The game is one of the most random casino games. So, there is not much to do to manipulate the outcome, especially when you play at a land-based casino. Since both the player and dealer cards are drawn randomly, neither side has a significant advantage over the other when it comes to their odds of winning.
However, analysis shows that the player has around a 46.3% chance of being dealt the highest card at the table. The odds for the War(tie) option are substantially lower. In other words, there is only around 7% for the draw outcome to be a tie. This is what makes War wagers more infrequent, rewarding, and exciting.
But should you go to War? The answer depends on your willingness to lose twice as much as your initial wager. Suppose your primary wager is $5. The draw ends in a tie, and you choose to place the War wager. Now, you doubled your wager: $10. It means you are risking $10 to win $5, while the house is risking $5 to win $10. So, the odds are still against you. If you decide to go to War, know the risks.
History Recap: When Did The War Start?
Casino War is a proprietary table game derived from the super easy card game known as War or Battle(in the UK). The gameplay is simple to the extent that the game is mainly played by children using a standard deck of 52 cards. There are only two hands in play: the player and the dealer. The objective is to get the highest rank value card and win. It has many variations, with the German 32-card Tod und Leben (“Life and Death”) being one of the most famous ones
Casino War was developed based on the traditional game by a small company in Carson City, Nevada, called Bet Technology. In 1993, the patent on the game was filed, and one year later, Harrah’s Tahoe was the first casino in Northern Nevada to offer the game. By the end of 1994, four more casinos joined the club in the same region. In 2004, SHFL Entertainment(Shuffle Master, a division of Scientific Games) acquired most of the company’s assets, including the game Casino War. So, now the game is owned, patented, and/or copyrighted by SHFL.
Where to Play Casino War for Real Money in Florida
Top legit US online casinos offer Casino War with varying betting limits. From MultiHand Casino War to live dealer War of Bets, you can find the best Casino War tables at our expert reviewed trusted casinos. Whether you are on a tight budget or have a deep pocket, top legit online casinos allow you to recreate your childhood memories of War while playing for real money on the go.
Final Thoughts
Casino War stands out as one of the simplest casino card games, deriving from the traditional game of “War” or “Battle”. Its simple objective is the main reason behind its popularity among newbie casino players; the player’s card should be higher in value than the dealer’s, with Aces being the highest and deuces the lowest.
In this guide, I equipped you with all the knowledge you need to get into the War and win! Make sure to try this fun casino game today and always gamble responsibly.
