Casino Hold'em
Officially Casino Hold'em Poker
CASINO POKER VARIANT invented by STEPHEN AU-YEUNG (2000, HONG KONG) — players play HEADS-UP vs. DEALER using Texas Hold'em rules. Player makes ANTE, receives 2 HOLE CARDS + shares 3 COMMUNITY CARDS with dealer, then decides to CALL 2× ANTE or FOLD. Turn + River dealt, best 5-card hand wins. Dealer needs PAIR OF FOURS OR BETTER to qualify. Popular in EUROPEAN + ASIAN + LATIN AMERICAN CASINOS + widely offered as ONLINE LIVE-DEALER game.
Quick facts
Category
Casino & Gambling
Type
Individual
Players
1–6
Duration
~2 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Estimated origin
Designed 2000 by Stephen Au-Yeung, first placed 2000 in UK cruise-ship casinos; adopted internationally 2002-2005; live-dealer online launch 2010s (Evolution Gaming, Playtech).
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Beat DEALER'S 5-CARD HAND using 2 hole cards + 5 community cards.
Rules
Basic rules
PLAYER places ANTE + OPTIONAL AA BONUS (side bet on receiving Pair Aces or better)
Signature Ante + AA Bonus wagers.
DEALER + PLAYER receive 2 HOLE CARDS each face-down; 3 COMMUNITY CARDS dealt face-up (the FLOP)
Signature 2 + flop deal.
DECISION: PLAYER either CALLS 2× ANTE (advances) or FOLDS (loses Ante)
Signature 2x call or fold.
TURN + RIVER community cards dealt; 5-card best hand evaluated
Standard turn + river.
DEALER QUALIFIES with PAIR OF FOURS or better; if NOT qualified, ANTE 1:1 wins, Call PUSHES
Signature dealer 4s-to-qualify.
IF DEALER QUALIFIES: WIN = Ante + Call pay 1:1 (Call pays bonuses on Flush+); LOSS = both lost; TIE = both push
Signature qualify pay/loss/tie.
AA BONUS side-bet pays based on player's 5-card hand: Pair Aces 7:1, 3-of-Kind 8:1, ... Royal Flush 100:1
Signature AA Bonus paytable.
Scoring
House edge ~2.16%; AA Bonus varies ~6% edge. Call bet gets bonus payouts on Flush + higher hands.
Win condition · Player's 5-card hand > dealer's when dealer qualifies.
Equipment
STANDARD 52-CARD DECK
Standard poker deck.
CASINO HOLD'EM TABLE layout: ANTE + CALL + AA BONUS side-bet circle
Signature 3-circle layout.
STANDARD CASINO CHIPS
Standard chips.
Terminology
- AA Bonus
- Optional side-bet paying on Pair of Aces or better.
- Qualify
- Dealer needs Pair of 4s or better.
- Flop / Turn / River
- Standard Hold'em community-card sequence.
- Push
- Tie or non-qualifying-dealer bet returned.
Major competitions
No formal tournament; house-banked + live-dealer online
n/a · Global casinos + online · since 2000
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Regional gaming regulators + online licensing (UKGC, MGA)
Founded 2005 · UK + Malta + Global
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Stephen Au-Yeung (HK/UK, designer)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Casino Hold 'em— Wikipedia
- Wizard of Odds — Casino Hold'em— Wizard of Odds