How to Play Casino War
Casino War is the simplest casino table game available — based on the classic children's card game War. You and the dealer each receive one card; the higher card wins. Ties trigger the 'go to war' decision. No skill decisions beyond one choice: go to war or surrender on a tie.
Casino War is available at our recommended casino — perfect if you want a break from strategy games and just want to see which card comes out higher.
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How to Play Casino War
Setup: Place your ante bet.
Deal: You and the dealer each receive one card face up.
Outcome:
- Your card is higher: you win 1:1 on your ante
- Dealer's card is higher: you lose your ante
- Equal rank: Tie — choose 'Go to War' or Surrender
Card rankings: Ace is always highest. 2 is lowest. Suits don't matter.
If you choose Surrender on a tie: you forfeit half your ante.
If you choose Go to War:
- You post an additional bet equal to your original ante
- The dealer burns three cards, then deals both players one new card
- Your new card vs dealer's new card:
- Your card ≥ dealer's: you win 1:1 on the war bet; the ante pushes
- Dealer's card is higher: you lose both ante and war bet
Tie Bet Side Bet
Most Casino War tables offer an optional Tie side bet — place this before the deal, and if a tie occurs, you win 10:1 (some tables pay 11:1). This sounds attractive given that ties occur roughly once every 13 hands.
However, the tie side bet carries a house edge of approximately 18–35% — one of the highest in any casino game. Avoid it.
House Edge and Strategy
Casino War's house edge with optimal play is approximately 2.88% (6-deck game). The single strategic decision:
Always go to war — never surrender on a tie.
Surrendering on a tie costs half your bet guaranteed. Going to war gives you approximately 50/50 odds on a doubled bet — statistically superior. The only situation where surrendering could theoretically matter is if you're extremely risk-averse with your last funds, but mathematically 'go to war' is always correct.
House edge comparison:
- Surrender on every tie: ~3.7% house edge
- Always go to war: ~2.88% house edge
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Casino War vs Other Casino Games
Casino War has a higher house edge than blackjack (0.5%), baccarat (1.06%), and European roulette (2.7%), but lower than keno (20–35%) and many slot machines (5–12%). It's the easiest casino table game to understand and is often used as an introduction to table game gambling.
The game's appeal is pure simplicity — no strategy to memorize, no decisions to second-guess. You flip a card and find out. That straightforward experience has kept Casino War on casino floors for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the house edge in Casino War?
2.88% with optimal play (always go to war on ties) using a 6-deck shoe. Always going to war is the only strategy decision — surrendering increases the house edge to 3.7%.
Should I always go to war in Casino War?
Yes. Going to war on a tie is always mathematically superior to surrendering. Surrendering loses half your bet with certainty; going to war gives you roughly even odds on a larger bet with the ante pushing on a win.
Is Casino War available online?
Yes. Casino War is offered as an RNG table game at MGA-licensed online casinos. Some live dealer providers also offer live Casino War tables for an authentic experience.
What happens when there are multiple ties in a row?
Each tie is independent. You go to war (or surrender) on each tie individually. Multiple consecutive ties are rare but not impossible — they're independent random events, not streaks.
Casino War is available at our recommended casino — perfect if you want a break from strategy games and just want to see which card comes out higher.
Claim Your Welcome Bonus →18+ · Play responsibly · T&Cs apply