Casino poker differs from poker rooms: you play against the house, not other players. Games like Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker, and Caribbean Stud are dealt by the casino — your skill affects outcomes, but the house always has a mathematical edge.
Casino Poker vs Poker Rooms
Casino poker games (house-banked) are available at almost all online casinos. Poker rooms (player vs player) are a separate product. This guide covers casino poker; if you're looking for tournament or cash-game poker against other players, you'll need a dedicated poker site.
Popular Casino Poker Games
- Casino Hold'em — Texas Hold'em structure against the dealer; house edge ~2.16%
- Three Card Poker — Compare your three cards to the dealer's; house edge ~3.4% on Ante
- Caribbean Stud — Five-card stud vs dealer; house edge ~5.2%
- Ultimate Texas Hold'em — Full Texas Hold'em with raise opportunities; skilled play reduces edge
- Video Poker — Solo machine-based; Jacks or Better with full-pay returns 99.5%+
Video Poker: The Overlooked Option
Video poker offers some of the best RTPs in a casino. Full-pay Jacks or Better (9/6 pay table) returns 99.54% with optimal play. Deuces Wild and other variants can exceed 100% with perfect strategy, though these are rarely offered anymore. Look for casinos with a range of video poker variants.
Live Poker in Irish Casinos
Evolution Gaming offers live Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold'em at many Irish-facing casinos. Live poker studios have dealers, side bets, and in some cases jackpot side bets that can pay significantly more than the base game.
Also available: Slots Gallery — casino games specialist. 18+ | T&Cs apply | Play responsibly
Frequently Asked Questions
Casino Hold'em has a house edge of around 2.16% with optimal strategy — one of the lower edges among casino poker games. Video poker (Jacks or Better, 9/6 pay table) is better still at ~0.46% with perfect play.
Not at a standard casino. Player-vs-player poker requires a dedicated poker room. Casino poker games are always house-banked — you play against the dealer.
Video poker is a solo machine-based game where you're dealt five cards and choose which to hold. The machine replaces discards and pays out based on the final hand. Jacks or Better is the most common variant.
No. GRAI issued only remote betting licences from July 2026. Casino gaming licences are expected 2027–2028. Irish casino poker players use MGA, UKGC, or Gibraltar-licensed sites.
Casino Hold'em vs Texas Hold'em
| Factor | Casino Hold'em | Texas Hold'em |
|---|---|---|
| Played against | The house (dealer) | Other players |
| Skill element | Low - basic strategy exists | High - bluffing, pot odds |
| House edge | Approximately 2-3% with optimal play | Rake taken from pot |
| Minimum bet | Usually 1-5 euro | Varies by table stakes |
| Speed | Fast - dealer-managed | Slower - player decisions dominate |
| Live version | Evolution Gaming live tables | Live poker rooms or tournaments |
Typical poker variants at Irish licensed casinos: Casino Hold'em (player vs dealer), Three Card Poker (fastest), Caribbean Stud Poker (5-card, progressive jackpot), and Ultimate Texas Hold'em (raise early or late). For serious poker players, most live casinos also offer tournaments and Sit & Go formats. 18+.
Written by Mark Craic, editor at CraicBet with 8 years in gambling analytics. See how we review.