Casino War
One card each and the higher card wins: the rules of casino war, what happens on a tie, every payout, the odds and the house edge.
Casino War is the simplest card game in the casino. You and the dealer each get one card, and the higher card wins. If the cards tie, you choose between going to war and surrendering half your bet. If you played War as a child, you already know most of it. This guide covers how to play casino war, every payout, the odds and house edge for each number of decks, and the one decision that matters.
How to Play Casino War
- Bet. Place your main bet. You can also add the optional Tie bet.
- The deal. You and the dealer each get one card, face up. Cards rank as in poker with aces always high (2 is lowest). Suits do not count.
- Higher card wins. If your card is higher, your bet pays even money. If the dealer’s is higher, you lose your bet.
- A tie. If the two cards are the same rank, you either surrender and get half your bet back, or go to war by adding a second bet equal to the first.
- The war. The dealer burns three cards, then deals one new card to you and one to themself. If your card is equal or higher, the raise pays even money and your original bet is returned. If the dealer’s card is higher, you lose both bets.
The standard game is dealt from six decks. Online versions shuffle after every hand.
Casino War Payouts
| What happens | Bet of 10 returns |
|---|---|
| Your card is higher | +10 (1 to 1) |
| The dealer’s card is higher | −10 |
| Tie, you surrender | −5 |
| Tie, you go to war and win (or tie again) | +10 on the raise, original bet pushes |
| Tie, you go to war and lose | −20 |
| Tie bet, when the first two cards tie | +100 (10 to 1) |
A tie in the war itself counts as a win for you in the standard rules. Some tables add a bonus on a tie after a tie, usually equal to your original bet, and some online versions pay more. The paytable in the game’s help screen shows which rule the table uses.
Casino War Odds
With six decks, the first two cards break down like this:
| First two cards | Chance |
|---|---|
| You win | 46.30% |
| The dealer wins | 46.30% |
| Tie | 7.40% |
A tie comes up about once every 13.5 hands. Once you go to war, your chance of finishing level or ahead is 53.7%, because a tie in the war counts as yours. That still costs you money on average, because a winning war pays 10 on a 20 stake while a losing war costs the full 20.
House Edge
The house edge depends on what you do on a tie and on the number of decks. Each figure below is the exact long-run loss as a share of your original bet:
| Decks | Go to war, tie-after-tie bonus | Go to war, no bonus | Always surrender | Tie bet (10 to 1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.06% | 2.42% | 2.94% | 35.29% |
| 2 | 2.24% | 2.70% | 3.40% | 25.24% |
| 4 | 2.31% | 2.84% | 3.62% | 20.29% |
| 6 | 2.33% | 2.88% | 3.70% | 18.65% |
| 8 | 2.34% | 2.90% | 3.73% | 17.83% |
Casino War Strategy
- Always go to war on a tie. Surrendering looks safer but costs more: 3.70% against 2.88% with six decks.
- Skip the Tie bet. At 10 to 1 it carries an 18.65% house edge with six decks. Where it pays 11 to 1 the edge drops to 11.25%, still far worse than the main bet.
- Look for the tie-after-tie bonus. It takes the edge down to 2.33%.
- Size your bet for the war. Every tie asks for a second bet the size of the first, so keep enough in your balance to match it.
There is nothing else to decide: each card is dealt at random and every hand is independent.
Casino War Online
Online, Casino War is an RNG table game. Habanero’s War (2017) is one version, and casinos group the game with other one-card games such as Dragon Tiger. Availability varies by casino and by country, so search the table-games section of the lobby. These casinos run large table-game lobbies:
| Casino | Welcome offer | Our rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iWild Casino | Up to 550% + 400 free spins | 4.8 | Open iWild Casino |
| Amunbet | 450% up to €3,000 + 450 free spins | 4.2 | Open Amunbet |
| 1Red Casino | 225% up to €11,500 + 225 free spins over 3 deposits | 4.0 | Open 1Red Casino |
Casino War vs Dragon Tiger and Baccarat
Dragon Tiger is the closest relative: one card to each side and the higher card wins. The difference is the tie. In Dragon Tiger you bet on a side rather than playing against the dealer, aces are low, and a tie usually costs half your bet with no war. Baccarat uses two or three cards per hand and fixed drawing rules, but it is also decided entirely by the cards, with no decisions after the bet.
More quick table games: Three Card Poker, Sic Bo and blackjack.
Set a budget before you play for real money and stick to it. Free, confidential support is available at BeGambleAware.org. 18+ only.
Also worth a look: Chase the Ace, the British party game where the lowest card loses a life.
Another simple card game: Snap, a race to spot two cards of the same rank.
The children’s game it comes from: War, where two players turn up cards until one has the whole deck.
Casino war: frequently asked questions
How do you play casino war?
What happens if you tie in casino war?
Should you go to war or surrender?
What are the odds in casino war?
What is the house edge in casino war?
Is the tie bet in casino war worth it?
Is ace high or low in casino war?
How many decks are used in casino war?
Fadi Hayek
Author & Casino Expert
After going through several successful experiences with several industry pioneers, Fadi Hayek has managed to excel in the world of content for online gaming by providing unique content for several projects that allowed him to obtain the necessary experience to launch his career. Last but not least, Fadi also holds several certificates, including but not limited to content marketing and iGaming.
