Casino War takes the classic card game of War and brings it to gamblers in-person or at online casinos in Canada. One of the easiest casino games to learn, Casino War is surprisingly exciting, fast-paced, and dramatic. But don't let its simplicity fool you. This is a game that all gamblers will enjoy. In fact, it is one of the few casino games where you stand a 50/50 chance of winning against the dealer.
While Casino War goes by different names, you can find variations of the game at many of Canada's top casinos. Finding those casinos on the web can be tedious if you don't know where to look. That is where our team of experts can help.
Are you ready to go to war? Let's get started.
Casino War is one of the easiest casino games to learn and play. You will be up and running in no time because the rules are simple. At the start of each round, the dealer splits six decks of cards evenly between them and the player. Before any card is dealt, you must make the first wager to begin the round.
You play Casino War directly against the dealer on a table similar to a blackjack surface. When you make the first wager, the dealer will give you one card and hand him/herself a single card. You simply need to get the higher-value card. If you have a higher-value card than the dealer, you win the hand and double your wager return. If the dealer has the higher card, you lose your stake. It is really that simple!
Aces are always the high card in Casino War. Any other card has its traditional value: cards 2 to 9 are face value, followed by the Jack, Queen, and King.
So, why is a remarkably simple casino game so popular and capable of generating loads of excitement? Well, the fact this game is one of the only even-odd bets in the casino realm helps, but there's something more. It's all about that word "War" and what happens when a hand is tied. If the first two cards dealt are of equal value, the player is given two chances: You can either surrender the hand and lose your stake or choose to "go to war".
This option means you will need to double your stake. When you double your stake, the dealer will hand you another card, burn three cards, and then turn over his/her own.
If your card is higher, you will get returns of 2/1 on your stake. For example, if the original bet was $5, which was then doubled to $10, it will pay out $15. Another element of online Casino War is the opportunity offered by some sites to bet on a tie arising. The player can place a stake on the next draw being a tie. If the outcome occurs, they win at a rate of 10/1 on their original bet.
Gamblers love playing Casino War because it is an even/odds game. That means that on every hand, you have an equal chance of winning. When the first hand is drawn, both player and dealer have a 46.3% chance of winning the round. This might be confusing because you're probably correctly wondering about the house edge.
Of course, the casino needs to maintain a slight advantage over the player to turn a profit. In Casino War, this advantage comes when there is a tie. When a hand is drawn, the player could surrender, allowing the casino to win the stake. Alternatively, the player can "go to war" and risk another stake. Sure, the player could win, but the odds are now stacked in the casino's favour.
Does that mean you should avoid going to war on a tied hand? Not at all. In fact, it's advisable to always go to war against the dealer when there is a draw. You are giving the casino the house edge, but you could also win a bigger prize rather than lose your initial stake. In most circumstances, players think it is worth the risk.
Unlike many other online casino games, Casino War does not offer various side bets and additional wagers. You won't find any extra bets as this game is all about simplicity and the drama of a head-to-head battle with the dealer. Side bets are an excellent accompaniment to games like roulette and blackjack, but in Casino War, they would be an unnecessary distraction.
In terms of odds for each potential outcome, your chances of winning depend heavily on the number of decks used. The fewer decks being dealt in the game, the more chance you will win the first stake. However, fewer decks also reduce your chances to win a tie. It's worth choosing a game based on what suits your playing habits effectively. Here's what you need to know about Casino War odds:
Number of Decks | Hand with Bonus | No Bonus | Surrender | Tie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2.06% | 2.42% | 2.94% | 35.29% |
2 | 2.24% | 2.70% | 3.40% | 25.24% |
3 | 2.29% | 2.79% | 3.55% | 21.94% |
4 | 2.31% | 2.84% | 3.62% | 20.29% |
5 | 2.32% | 2.86% | 3.67% | 19.31% |
6 | 2.33% | 2.88% | 3.70% | 18.65% |
7 | 2.34% | 2.89% | 3.72% | 18.18% |
8 | 2.34% | 2.90% | 3.73% | 17.83% |
By now, you are probably excited about Casino War and you may have already started your search for an online casino that hosts Casino War games. If you have, you may be returning here disappointed. That's because not many casino apps or sites offer Casino War online.
Don't go clicking off just yet because we have some good news. While at first glance it seems like Casino War is not available, that is not actually the case. The trademark rights for the "Casino War" term are owned by online casino software developer Shuffle Master, a division of Scientific Games. That means casinos that want to run a similar game must call it something else.
So, you need to look for name variations of the game. Some examples include Casino Battle, Card Trumps, or other titles with "war" or "beat" in the name. What's important is that you don't dismiss an online casino simply because you don't see Casino War on its game list.
It can get confusing trying to find casino sites with their own version of Casino War. That's where we can help by providing you with a list of top-rated casino sites that have a variation of the game. Every Casino War site we recommend is regulated and meets fair play standards. We have recently reviewed the newly legal top online casinos Ontario so be sure to check those out if you're looking for a place to play in that province.
At the same time, we also look for casinos with a diverse game selection, a wide range of payment options, and excellent customer support. We even list in our reviewed casinos whether any no deposit bonus casinos offer Casino War in their games lobby.
Casino War is closely linked to other casino games, so there's a good chance you'll find plenty to like at the casino sites we recommend here at Gambling.com. Other types of games that could be attractive include:
It's not always easy to find bonuses for Casino War because the game itself is not available at many online casinos. However, it is worth remembering that sites have their own version of Casino War (that may be called something else) sometimes offer bonuses that are focused on these games.
Even if there are no casino bonuses for Casino War games, there are many promotions available for other popular casino formats. Whether it's a welcome bonus, demo Spins, or other offers you're after, you can often find a lucrative promotion to help boost your bankroll with these online casino bonus sites from the leading betting sites.