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Caribbean Poker Casino Games – The True History at Springbok Casino
Hit the table games menu at Springbok Casino and you’ll be presented with a bespoke collection of blackjack, poker and even baccarat. Three casino games on the menu stand out with their juicy jackpots – and these are our Caribbean poker games. There’s Caribbean Draw Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker and Caribbean Hold’Em Poker.
Yet how ‘Caribbean’ are these casino games? Let’s first look at what the games offer before we delve into their origins.
Caribbean Draw Poker
Caribbean Draw Poker is one of the most exciting casino games at Springbok Casino. It is a variation of five-card draw poker where you play against the dealer rather than other players.
The game starts with you placing an ante bet, which is the minimum amount required to play. You can also place an optional side bet for a chance to win the progressive jackpot, which is a pooled prize that grows with every bet placed by players across the network.
You and the dealer are then dealt five cards each, with only one of the dealer’s cards face up. The next move is up to you, as you need to choose to fold or draw. If you fold, you lose your ante bet and the side bet, if any. If you draw, you can exchange up to two cards from your hand for new ones from the deck. You also have to place a bet equal to twice your ante bet.
The dealer then reveals its cards and qualifies with a pair of eights or better. If the dealer does not qualify, you win even money on your ante bet and push on your bet. If the dealer qualifies and has a better hand than you, you lose both bets. If the dealer qualifies but has a worse hand than you, you win even money on your ante bet – and according to a paytable on your bet.
The paytable for Caribbean Draw Poker is as follows:
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Four of a Kind: 20 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Straight: 3 to 1
- Three of a Kind: 2 to 1
- Two Pair: 1 to 1
- One Pair (8s or Higher): 1 to 1
The progressive jackpot is won if you have a royal flush in your hand before and have placed the side bet before the draw. You can also win a portion of the jackpot if you have a straight flush, four of a kind, full house, or flush in your hand and have placed the side bet. The payouts for the progressive jackpot are as follows:
- Royal Flush: 100% of the jackpot
- Straight Flush: 10% of the jackpot
- Four of a Kind: R500
- Full House: R100
- Flush: R75
These percentages and amounts that you can win, along with the rules, apply to all the Caribbean poker casino games at Springbok Casino, which share the same prize pot – currently worth over R200,000.00. That said, the maximum aggregate payout is R400,000.00 and winnings will be capped at this amount for any single game.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud Poker is another thrilling variant you’ll find in the casino games menu at Springbok Casino. It is based on five-card stud poker, and again, it’s a showdown between you and the dealer.
The game kicks off with you placing an ante bet – the minimum that is required to play. You can also opt in to qualify for the progressive jackpot by placing a side bet (same as in Caribbean Draw Poker). Both you and the dealer are then dealt five cards, with just one of the dealer’s cards face up. You can then choose to fold or raise (bet).
If you fold, you lose your ante bet and the side bet, if it applies. If you raise, you’re required to place a bet equal to twice your ante bet. The dealer then reveals its cards and qualifies with an ace and a king or better.
If the dealer does not qualify, you win even money on your ante bet and push on your raise bet. If the dealer qualifies and has a better hand than you, you lose both bets. If the dealer qualifies and has a worse hand than you, you win even money on your ante bet and according to a paytable on your raise bet.
The paytable for Caribbean Stud Poker is as follows:
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Four of a Kind: 20 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Straight: 4 to 1
- Three of a Kind: 3 to 1
- Two Pair: 2 to 1
- One Pair or Less: 1 to 1
Caribbean Hold’Em Poker
Caribbean Hold’Em Poker is the third casino game at Springbok Casino that features the Caribbean theme. It is a variation of Texas Hold’Em poker, and as with the other two casino games, you play against the dealer and there are no other players involved.
Again, you need to place the minimum bet required, known as the ante bet – with the optional progressive jackpot side bet. This is where Caribbean Hold’Em differs from the other casino games – instead of five cards, you and the dealer are each then dealt two cards each, face down.
Three community cards are then dealt face up on the table. These are cards that both you and the dealer can use to make the best five-card poker hand. Based on the community cards, you’ll be able to fold or call You can then choose to fold or call. If you fold, you lose your ante bet and side bet, if you placed one. Choosing to call will require double your ante bet.
Two more community cards are then dealt face up on the table, after which the dealer reveals its cards. The dealer needs a pair of fours or better to qualify. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, you’ll win even money on your ante bet and push on your call bet. If the dealer qualifies with a better hand than you, you lose both bets. If the dealer qualifies with a worse hand, you win even money on your ante bet, and according to a paytable on your call bet.
The paytable for Caribbean Hold’Em Poker is as follows:
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
- Straight Flush: 20 to 1
- Four of a Kind: 10 to 1
- Full House: 3 to 1
- Flush: 2 to 1
- Straight or Less: 1 to 1
Are These Really Caribbean Casino Games?
Now that we have seen what these casino games offer, let’s look at their origins and why they are called ‘Caribbean’ poker games. The truth is that none of these games were actually invented in the Caribbean islands. They were all developed in different parts of the world and later adopted by casinos in the Caribbean region.
Caribbean Draw Poker is believed to be based on an old British game called Brag, which was popular in the 16th century. Brag was a three-card game that involved bluffing and betting. It later evolved into five-card draw poker, which became popular in America in the 19th century.
Five-card draw poker was then modified into Caribbean Draw Poker by adding an ante bet, a dealer qualification, and a progressive jackpot. The game was first introduced in Aruba, a Dutch island in the Caribbean Sea. It soon spread to other casinos in the Caribbean region and beyond.
Caribbean Stud Poker on the other hand is believed to be based on the old American game called Casino Brag. This was a variation of five-card stud poker that involved playing against the house rather than other players. It later evolved into Caribbean Stud Poker with an ante bet, a dealer qualification, and a progressive jackpot.
In conclusion, our Caribbean poker casino games are more Dutch than they are Caribbean. It just so happens that they gained popularity in the region. History or not, you can play these fabulous casino games at Springbok Casino – from the comfort of your home in South Africa!
