Caribbean Stud Poker
CASINO POKER VARIANT (invented late 1980s ARUBA/CURAÇAO Caribbean cruises) — each player plays 1v1 vs. HOUSE DEALER, not other players. 5-CARD STUD hand ranked vs. dealer's 5-card hand (dealer needs A-K OR PAIR to QUALIFY). Player places ANTE + optional PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT bet; after seeing own 5 cards + dealer's 1 upcard, player FOLDS (loses ante) or RAISES (2× ante). Raises pay 1:1 if dealer qualifies + player wins; big BONUS payouts (flush 20:1, quads 100:1, straight-flush 200:1, royal 200:1 to 1000:1). Progressive jackpot linked-machine ~$100K-$1M+.
Quick facts
Category
Casino & Gambling
Type
Individual
Players
1–7
Duration
~2 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇦🇳 AN
Estimated origin
Invented late 1980s by James Suttle on Caribbean cruise ships (some sources credit Aruba's King International Casino); popularized 1990s worldwide via progressive jackpot linked networks; MGM Grand + WSOP Circuit casino table.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Beat dealer's 5-card poker hand + trigger PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT payouts.
Rules
Basic rules
ANTE: player places ante bet + OPTIONAL $1 PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT SIDE-BET (usually $1)
Signature ante + optional jackpot side-bet.
DEAL: dealer + each player 5 cards; dealer shows 1 card face up (upcard)
Signature 5-card deal + 1 dealer upcard.
DECISION: player FOLDS (loses ante + jackpot bet) or RAISES 2× ante
Signature fold-or-raise-2x decision.
DEALER QUALIFIES: needs A-K or better (any pair or higher)
Signature dealer AK+ qualifying rule.
DEALER DOESN'T QUALIFY: ante pays 1:1, raise is a PUSH (returned)
Signature non-qualify push rule.
DEALER QUALIFIES + WINS: player loses both ante + raise
Signature dealer wins scoring.
DEALER QUALIFIES + LOSES: ante pays 1:1; raise pays by bonus schedule (1:1 pair/high card; flush 5:1; full house 7:1; quads 20:1; straight flush 50:1; royal flush 100:1 — schedules vary)
Signature bonus payouts.
PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT ($1 side-bet): pays fixed for flush + full house + quads; % of pot for straight flush; 100% JACKPOT for ROYAL FLUSH ($100K+)
Signature progressive jackpot payouts.
Scoring
Ante 1:1 + raise per bonus schedule; jackpot per fixed schedule.
Win condition · Beat dealer's qualifying hand.
Equipment
STANDARD 52-CARD DECK
Standard 52-card deck.
CARIBBEAN STUD TABLE LAYOUT (ANTE, RAISE, JACKPOT boxes per seat)
Signature casino stud table.
PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT METER (LINKED across many casinos)
Signature progressive jackpot display.
CASINO CHIPS
Standard casino chips.
Terminology
- Ante
- Initial bet placed before deal.
- Qualify
- Dealer must have A-K or better to trigger full payouts.
- Raise
- 2× ante to continue in hand.
- Progressive jackpot
- Linked $1 side-bet with growing prize pool.
- Royal flush
- Highest hand — often 100% jackpot on side-bet.
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Individual casino operators; no central body
Various
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Caribbean stud poker— Wikipedia