Card Games Still Found in Casinos Today

Card games have rich and compelling histories and have been enjoyed as hobbies and pastimes for many centuries. Even today, games that were invented hundreds of years ago are still played by millions in casinos. From poker in Las Vegas to baccarat in Macau, here are the most popular casino card games in modern times.

Blackjack

The idea of Blackjack is pretty simple. Everyone is dealt two cards, and the dealer is dealt two cards with one face up. Players can decide whether to 'hit' or 'stand' in order to get closer to a combined value of 21 than the dealer, without going bust.

Blackjack was first mentioned in a short story written circa 1601 and was played in Castille in the early 17th century before later gaining popularity in France and Spain and spreading throughout the world.

When it reached the USA, bonuses were added to make the game more enticing for casino players; this included a bonus for drawing the Ace of Spades with any black Jack—hence the name 'Blackjack'. Nowadays, casinos often offer a bonus for any Ace and any face card, and this combination is still known as 'Blackjack'. Regional rules and bonuses apply.

Blackjack is now undisputedly the most popular casino table game in the world, and it has been for well over 50 years. It is also incredibly popular online and at mobile casinos like the PokerStars Casino app. The popularity is possibly due to the low house edge, which can be reduced to 1% or less using basic strategy and favourable house rules. It is also a fairly easy game to learn and play.

Poker

Poker in its many forms became popular in America in the early 1800s, later evolving into the many variations that are still played today. The most popular kind of poker is Texas Hold'em, which was played in Texas in the 1900s before being popularised by legends like Doyle Brunson, who (with others) took the game to the casinos of Las Vegas.

Poker is one of the most complex casino card games that you can play. It requires skill to win in the long term, and, as such, it's recommended that you learn and practice before playing seriously. Poker is played against other people, and the casino takes a fee or rake on hands or tournaments. Players must get the best hand and extract value by betting, bluffing and folding at the right times.

Texas Hold'em became immensely popular in the 2000s with the rise of huge televised tournaments and the online poker boom. Nowadays, most major casinos have regular cash games and tournaments, and they might occasionally also have variations like Omaha, Stud, Casino Hold'em and more.

Baccarat

The final card game still found in casinos today is Baccarat, which originally hailed from France or Italy in around the 1400s. Two hands are dealt, and the player must decide on which hand will win: the banker's or the player's. It's also possible to bet on a tie.

Baccarat is extremely easy to play because the rest of the hand is automatically decided based on complicated rules. The player is only required to pick the hand that they think will win. The house takes a commission on banker bets to gain an edge. (Note: Betting on ties gives the worst odds!)

Whereas Blackjack and poker are the main games you would expect to find in Vegas, Baccarat is the casino card game of the East and can be found all over Macau, where it makes up over 90% of the casino revenue. It's simple to play and often enjoyed at high stakes—so be prepared if you ever visit!