beginner
6 min readOther Table Games
Quick overviews of Casino War, Sic Bo, and more.
BonusBell Team
Beyond the classic table games, casinos offer a variety of other options. Most have higher house edges than blackjack or baccarat, but they offer unique gameplay experiences. Here's a quick overview of what you might encounter.
Casino War
The simplest card game in the casino—you play the childhood game of "War":
- You and dealer each get one card
- Higher card wins (Ace is high)
- Ties go to "war" where you double your bet
Casino War Bets
| Bet | House Edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main game | 2.88% | With war option |
| Surrender on tie | 3.70% | Never surrender |
| Tie bet | 18.65% | Avoid completely |
Strategy Insight
Always go to war on ties. Surrendering gives the house extra edge. But honestly, at nearly 3% edge, there are better games to play.
Sic Bo
Ancient Chinese dice game using three dice:
- Bet on outcomes like totals, specific numbers, or combinations
- Purely luck-based, like roulette
- Popular in Asian markets
Sic Bo Best and Worst Bets
| Bet | House Edge | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Big/Small | 2.78% | 1:1 |
| Odd/Even | 2.78% | 1:1 |
| Any Triple | 11.11% | 24:1 |
| Specific Triple | 16.20% | 150:1 |
Stick to Big/Small or Odd/Even for best odds
Pai Gow Poker
A slower-paced game mixing poker with Chinese dominoes:
- Receive 7 cards, make a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand
- Beat both dealer hands to win
- Many ties result in slow bankroll erosion
- 5% commission on wins
Good to Know
Low volatility game. Expect lots of pushes. House edge is ~2.5% with optimal strategy, but hourly loss is low due to slow pace and pushes.
Pai Gow Tiles
The original game using Chinese dominoes:
- Complex tile rankings to learn
- House edge varies by skill level (1.5-2.5%)
- Rarely found outside high-limit rooms
Caribbean Stud Poker
A poker-style game against the dealer:
- Ante, receive 5 cards, decide to raise or fold
- Dealer needs A-K high to qualify
- Progressive jackpot side bet available
Caribbean Stud Strategy
| Hand | Action |
|---|---|
| Pair or better | Always raise |
| A-K-x-x-x | Raise only if dealer's upcard matches yours or is 2-Q |
| Less than A-K | Fold |
Strategy Insight
House edge is about 5.2% on the main game. The progressive side bet rarely becomes +EV and typically has a 20-50% house edge.
Let It Ride
A relaxed poker variant:
- Make three equal bets, receive 3 cards
- Two community cards are revealed one at a time
- After each reveal, you can pull back one bet or "let it ride"
- Final hand must be pair of 10s or better to win
- House edge: ~3.5%
Red Dog (Acey-Deucey)
Simple card game where you bet on whether the third card falls between the first two:
- Wider spreads are safer bets
- House edge: ~2.8% with optimal play
- Rarely found in modern casinos
Summary: Which Games Are Worth Playing?
Other Table Games Comparison
| Game | House Edge | Skill Factor | Pace | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pai Gow Poker | 2.5% | Low | Slow | Good for extending bankroll |
| Sic Bo | 2.78%+ | None | Fast | Okay on big/small only |
| Casino War | 2.88% | None | Fast | Skip it |
| Caribbean Stud | 5.2% | Low | Medium | Not recommended |
| Let It Ride | 3.5% | Low | Slow | Acceptable |
Pro Tip
If you want table games with low house edge, stick to:
- Blackjack (~0.5% with basic strategy)
- Baccarat banker (1.06%)
- Craps pass/don't pass with odds (~0.4%)
Key Takeaways
- 1Most "other" table games have higher house edges than classics
- 2Pai Gow Poker is good for slow, low-risk sessions
- 3Sic Bo's best bets (Big/Small) have 2.78% edge
- 4Casino War seems simple but has nearly 3% edge
- 5Caribbean Stud's 5.2% edge makes it a poor value