
Caribbean Stud Poker is a popular card game played at real land casinos, online casinos, live casinos, and mobile casinos. Kiwis love playing this game and last year an Auckland player won NZ$ 1.1 million Progressive Jackpot at SkyCity Casino playing Caribbean Stud Poker.
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This player is a woman who managed to grow a NZ$35 bet into winning over a million at the SkyCity casino. She wins one of the largest-ever progressive jackpot winnings offered at a New Zealand casino. Even more impressive is the fact that she hit the jackpot after placing a modest bet on one hand of Caribbean Stud Poker only and was dealt a hand which is extremely rare to get.
The winner hit the progressive jackpot with a Royal Flush, by placing only a single hand of Caribbean Stud poker. She won the entire jackpot, to be handed a cheque for a total of NZ$1,108,585.60.
Caribbean Stud Poker is thus a pretty cool game of poker and is established based on traditional “stud” poker in which only one hand consisting of five cards is dealt with players who do not play against each other but against the house.
The player’s objective is to make a five-card poker hand that is higher than the one of the dealer. Players can also make a side bet to compete for a progressive jackpot. In case they are dealt a Royal Flush hand, which is the highest hand in the Caribbean Stud Poker game, they are granted the entire amount of the progressive jackpot.
What we advise before you begin to play on mobile

- Always play at reputed online casinos in NZ
- Grab bonus offers if playing for real money
- Play for free first to be familiar with the game
- When ready to play first examine the table layout.
- You’ll see a set of clickable chip icons in the corner of the screen, usually beginning with $1 chips and climbing in increments through $100, and these will be used to place your wagers.
- Two betting circles are lined out in the center of the table, with one labeled Ante and the other labeled Raise. Your chips will be placed in the appropriate betting circles during each hand.
- Also, you’ll see an array of buttons in the lower part of the screen, typically labeled Fold, Raise, and Deal. These will be used to control the game action during each hand.
- Finally, you’ll notice a side button labeled Progressive, and this is where you can place an optional wager to give yourself a shot at your online casino’s progressive jackpot prize pool.
How To Begin Playing Caribbean Stud Poker?

To begin a hand of Caribbean Stud Poker, you’ll need to place a mandatory ante bet, say for example $5. Once you’ve anted up, click deal to begin the hand.
The dealer will distribute five cards face up in your direction, before dealing themselves five cards as well. The dealer’s hand will have four cards face down at the beginning, with one card exposed to provide players with the partial information on which the game hinges.
The objective of Caribbean Stud Poker is simply to beat the dealer’s five-card hand with your own, according to the standard poker hand hierarchy. That means one pair beats a high card, two pairs beat one pair, and so on.
With no ability to improve your five-card holding, Caribbean Stud Poker might seem a bit boring by that description, but the game actually hinges on a single decision as to whether or not to raise the stakes or simply fold out.
Right Decision at the Right Time

By comparing your five-card hand to the dealer’s lone exposed card, players can decide whether or not to up the stakes by raising or leaving the ante bet as their only risk. In other words, after you’ve anted for $5, and assessed the strength of your five cards relative to the dealer’s upcard, you can raise and place an additional wager.
The raise bet will always equal double the amount of your original ante bet, so with $5 already in the pot, raising will cost you $10 more.
You can also elect to fold or forfeit your cards and the ante bet, along with any side bets in play.
After you’ve made the game’s only decision, raising or folding, the dealer will reveal their four down cards and complete their five-card hand. Your hand is compared with the dealer’s hand, and the highest hand is declared the winner.
However, one thing to remember about the dealer’s hand is that it must reach a certain level of strength to qualify for a win.
In the case of Caribbean Stud Poker, the dealer must make a hand of ace-king high or better to qualify. To visualize dealer qualification, the worst qualifying hand a dealer can hold is A K 2 3 4, while the best non-qualifying handstands are at A Q J 10 9.
When the dealer fails to produce a qualifying hand, your ante bet will be paid out at even money, while your raise bet will be returned as a push. When the dealer does qualify and beats your hand, you’ll lose both the ante bet and the raise bet.
On the other hand, when the dealer does qualify and your five cards outrank theirs, the real fun of Caribbean Stud Poker begins. By beating a qualifying dealer hand, you’ll earn a payout of even money on your ante bet, along with an additional payout on your raise bet.
Hand Rankings and Payouts
Hand rank | Description | Ante | Raise odds |
Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit | 1 to 1 | 100 to 1 |
Straight Flush | 5 cards of the same suit in sequence | 1 to 1 | 50 to 1 |
4 of a Kind | 4 cards of the same rank | 1 to 1 | 20 to 1 |
Full House | 3 of a Kind, plus a pair | 1 to 1 | 7 to 1 |
Flush | 5 cards of the same suit | 1 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
Straight | 5 cards in sequence, mixed suits | 1 to 1 | 3 to 1 |
3 of a Kind | 3 cards of the same rank | 1 to 1 | 2 to 1 |
Two pair | 2 pairs of different rank | 1 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
One pair | 1 pair (2 cards) of the same rank | 1 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
High card | 3 cards of the same rank | 1 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
Caribbean Stud Poker at Mobile Casinos is powered by Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, Playtech, and many other gaming providers. You can click here to play this poker game now with your mobile be it iOS or Android.
Conclusion:
Recently, a Kiwi player at SkyCity Casino struck gold, turning a $35 bet into a NZ$1.1 million jackpot. This mobile-friendly card game, cherished by New Zealanders, offers a unique gaming experience.
Players should begin by choosing reputable online casinos, utilizing real money bonuses, and practicing for free to familiarize themselves. The game starts with a mandatory ante bet, and players decide whether to raise or fold based on their hand’s strength against the dealer’s upcard.
With hand rankings, from a Royal Flush at 100 to 1 to a High Card at 1 to 1, Caribbean Stud Poker on mobile promises excitement and jackpot thrills from trusted providers like Evolution Gaming and Microgaming. Enjoy responsibly and aim for that Royal Flush jackpot!
FAQs
What is Caribbean Stud Poker?
Caribbean Stud Poker is a popular card game played against the house rather than other players. It’s known for its simplicity and the chance to win big with progressive jackpots.
What are the basic rules of Caribbean Stud Poker?
Players make an ante bet, receive five cards, and decide whether to bet against the dealer’s hand. The goal is to have a better poker hand than the dealer.
How does the progressive jackpot work in Caribbean Stud Poker?
Players can place a side bet for the progressive jackpot. If they hit a high-ranking hand like a Royal Flush, they can win a large jackpot prize.
Are there strategies to improve my chances of winning?
While largely a game of chance, understanding the hand rankings, when to fold or raise, and managing your bets can improve your chances.
What makes Caribbean Stud Poker appealing to players?
Its simplicity, the thrill of playing against the house, and the potential to win big with progressive jackpots make it a popular choice among casino players.
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