Caribbean Stud Poker History
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As per history, it is believed that this poker game originated in Aruba, an island in the Caribbean. The poker game was discovered while being played on a cruise ship sailing to Aruba. Caribbean Stud Poker. This game’s history is generally associated with legends of the Wild West, pistols and saloons. Play Caribbean Stud Poker online! Casino Gran Madrid now offers you the possibility to play Caribean Stud Poker in its online casino, so that you can enjoy all the excitement of the game wherever and whenever you want.
Many casino games have muddled origins. But most of these games with murky histories are centuries old, including baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette.
Caribbean Stud Poker is not one of these games. Instead, it was developed at some point in the 1980s and eventually sold for a great deal of money.
Caribbean Stud has since become one of the most popular table games in modern history. But despite this game’s massive popularity, its backstory and original creator are still up for debate.
Assuming you’re up for a good mystery involving a casino game, you can keep reading as I discuss the strange origins of this game and uncover who likely created it.
Where Did Caribbean Stud Originate?
The first point I want to cover is where the game was conceived. All signs point to Aruba as being the birthplace of Caribbean Stud.
This Caribbean island makes sense when considering the game’s name. However, the key issue is whether the game was actually developed in Aruba or on a cruise ship around the island.
The game’s birthplace involves three possibilities:
- Caribbean Stud was discovered on a cruise ship that was en route to Aruba.
- It was developed at a nondescript Caribbean casino resort and spread around the islands, becoming most popular in Aruba.
- It was invented by a Las Vegas-based poker player and author.
The first possibility doesn’t need much explanation. If Caribbean Stud Poker was invented on a cruise ship, or at least first played on one, the ship’s name has already been lost.
The second version doesn’t necessarily state a specific country or territory where the game was conceived. Instead, it just notes that Aruba became the primary hub for Caribbean Stud after its invention in the 1980s.
The King International was allegedly the first major casino to run multiple Caribbean Stud Poker tables. Located in Noord, Aruba, this establishment is known as the Excelsior Casino today.
As I’ll cover next, the third possible location is based on claims made by a famous poker author who may very well have invented this game.
Who Invented Caribbean Stud Poker?
In 2007, noted gambling author and three-time WSOP champ David Sklansky came forward regarding rumors about him developing Caribbean Stud.
Writing on his TwoPlusTwo forums, Sklansky stated that he indeed created the game in 1982. However, his version was titled “Casino Poker” and not Caribbean Stud.
Caribbean Stud Poker Las Vegas
The main ways that Casino Poker differs from the latter is that it features two exposed cards (instead of one) and no progressive jackpot. Other rules are the same, though, including:
- One-unit antes
- Two-unit bets/raises
- Dealer’s hand qualifies with AK
- Larger payouts for qualifying hands
Given that progressive jackpots have fueled Caribbean Stud Poker’s growth, Casino Poker might have never become as popular. Nevertheless, it may have still served as the precursor to Caribbean Stud.
If Sklansky went to the trouble of inventing Casino Poker, why didn’t he patent it? He notes that the laws regarding game patents changed shortly after he developed his poker variation.
Sklansky did trademark Casino Poker and trial it at the Vegas World convention. However, he stopped marketing the game because his girlfriend passed away around the same time.
A few years later, a fellow poker player asked Sklansky about Casino Poker. The player took the game to an Aruban casino owner, added a progressive jackpot, exposed just one card, and patented it. The casino owner later sold the rights to Caribbean Stud to Mikohn Gaming for $30 million.
A Second Source
Richard Marcus’ book Dirty Poker backs up David Sklansky’s claims to some degree. Although Marcus never mentions names, the world-famous casino cheat is likely alluding to Sklansky.
Marcus states that a “down-and-out poker player” with an alcohol problem developed “Tropical Poker.” The player took their idea to a “high-profile” pro who’s known as the “author of poker strategy books.”
This famed author performed mathematical calculations to determine that Tropical Poker was indeed a viable table game.
The pair was supposed to split the profits from Tropical Poker 50/50. However, the struggling player jetted off to Aruba with the idea and left Sklansky in the dust. They allegedly got their karma when somebody named Rick Sayers stole the idea from them.
This account contradicts certain parts of Sklansky’s story, namely that he created Casino Poker out of thin air. But it does provide another source that states he was a key figure in the game’s development.
Another Person Claims to Have Invented Caribbean Stud
So far, the prime candidates who may have invented Caribbean Stud include David Sklansky and an anonymous, alcoholic poker player. However, these aren’t the only possibilities who might have conceived the game.
Dennis King, former owner of the King International Resort (Excelsior), also claims to have invented Caribbean Stud. He gets little credit, though, because he’s not as well-known worldwide as Sklansky. And he has no proof.
King may have been involved in the game’s adaptation once it reached Aruba. Furthermore, he could be the casino owner who sold Caribbean Stud’s rights to Mikohn Gaming.
Major Growth of Caribbean Stud Since Its Inception
You can see the difficulty in solving just who really developed this game. The only confirmed detail is that Caribbean Stud experienced a popularity surge at some point in the 1990s.
One huge factor behind the game’s growth is the cheap progressive jackpot feature. For just a $1 side bet, you can play for jackpots that sometimes reach $250,000 or more.
Caribbean Stud Poker History Sites
You need a royal flush to claim 100% of the jackpot. However, you can still win 10% of the progressive prize by getting a straight flush. These jackpots are reseeded at $10,000. They typically grow fast after being won due to the cheap side bet and large potential payout.
Unfortunately, Caribbean Stud jackpots are sucker bets. Casinos usually carry over a 26% house edge with these wagers.
The bonus payouts for high hands have also accelerated Caribbean Stud’s popularity. These prizes are available regardless of if you make the $1 side wager or not.
These payouts are commonly delivered as follows:
- Royal flush = 100:1 payout (assuming you don’t place the side bet)
- Straight flush = 50:1 (assuming you don’t place the side bet)
- Four of a kind = 20:1
- Full house = 7:1
- Flush = 5:1
- Straight = 4:1
- Three of a kind = 3:1
- Two pair = 2:1
- One pair = 1:1
Thanks to its progressive jackpots and large hand bonuses, Caribbean Stud is one of the most popular casino games among jackpot or bonus hunters. It also draws plenty of gamblers who want to play an in-depth table game that involves strategy.
Conclusion
Developed in the 1980s, Caribbean Stud isn’t that old compared to other successful table games. Nevertheless, the location and inventor of the game are still a mystery.
Nothing is 100% confirmed regarding either of these aspects. However, the most-likely scenario is as follows:
- David Sklansky came up with the rules that form Caribbean Stud’s foundation.
- He never patented his Casino Poker invention.
- A broke poker player chatted with Sklansky about Casino Poker.
- The player modified the idea and took it to Aruba.
- They worked with a resort owner (Dennis King?) to patent the game and spread it around.
- Caribbean Stud eventually reached a much larger audience in the United States.
This scenario largely favors what Sklansky discussed on his forum. I have reason to believe him, considering that nobody else has come forth with a solid story.
Of course, Richard Marcus’ book paints a slightly different picture. Marcus writes that another poker player developed “Tropical Poker” and took it to Sklansky for help.
The player later reneged on a 50/50 profit-sharing deal and ran to Aruba with the concept. Here, they had the idea stolen from them.
The problem with Marcus’ angle, though, is that it’s based on heresy. He admits in Dirty Poker that the story comes from rumors swirling around poker rooms.
In summary, Sklansky is the only one who appears to have a real claim to inventing Caribbean Poker, or at least its precursor. Additionally, the game was likely taken to Aruba, where the finished version was first played.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.While it hasn’t been around for nearly as long as other games in a casino,
Caribbean Stud has quickly risen to be one of the more popular table games found
both online and in a land-based environment. The game’s combination of speed and
poker-style play makes it a favorite amongst novice and advanced players alike.
Online casino gambling introduced the game to a wider audience, and this also
helped to increase the overall popularity.
This page is dedicated to all things Caribbean Stud – where it came from, how
it is played, and where to find the best places to play the game online today.
A Brief History of Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud Poker, like many other casino games, has several versions of
stories of how it was invented and by whom. The game, as you can probably
imagine from the name, did originate in the Caribbean, and it seems generally
agreed that it was in Aruba. The game grew in popularity after it was introduced
in the 1980s, especially with tourists who got to play the game when visiting
the islands.
In the late 1980s, the game made its way into casinos in the United States,
and while it was a novelty for many gamblers, it didn’t really make a ton of
money for the operators. It wasn’t until the progressive jackpot was added that
the game really took off, skyrocketing in popularity. Today, Caribbean Stud is
essentially only behind blackjack and roulette when it comes to the table games
in a casino.
The Best Caribbean Stud Sites
Caribbean Stud Poker is an excellent game to play online. The game is really
a house vs. player game, so it doesn’t require any other players around during a
hand. We have reviewed as many online casinos as we have been able to find for
GamblingSites.org, and from these reviews, we have created the following list of
sites we recommend for fans of Caribbean Stud.
Rank | Gambling Site | Deposit Bonus | Get Started | |
#1 | 100% Up To €250 | Visit Site | ||
#2 | Europa Casino | 200% Up To €500 | Visit Site | |
#3 | 100% Up To €400 | Visit Site | ||
#4 | Spinia | 100% Up To €250 | Visit Site | |
#5 | 100% Up To €400 | Visit Site |
Each of these sites offers a great version of Caribbean Stud, but there is
much more going on at all these sites. Our reviewers have determined that these
sites are the best for finding big progressive jackpots. Also, the sites on this
list will have excellent bonuses for you to stretch the value of your money, as
well as excellent loyalty programs that reward you for playing with the site for
long periods of time. Finally, each of these sites gives you the chance to play
Caribbean Stud from your mobile device, so you can play conveniently wherever
you please.
How to Play Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud is actually quite simple to play, especially when you factor
in that there is nothing you can do to your hand to improve it once it is dealt
to you. To understand how Caribbean Stud works, you should have at bare minimum
an understanding of the ranking of poker hands. We realize that many of you
already know this, but for those that are new to the game, here are all the
possible combinations of hands ranked from highest to lowest.
- Royal Flush – ace,
king, queen, jack, and 10 of the same suit - Straight Flush – Any 5
cards of the same suit in numerical order, i.e. 5-9 of spades - 4 of a Kind – a hand
with all 4 cards of the same number - Full House – a hand
featuring both a 3 of a kind and one pair - Flush – any five cards
of the same suit - Straight – any five
cards in numerical order - 3 of a Kind – a hand
with any 3 cards of the same number - 2 Pair – any two
different pairs of matching cards in your hand - 1 Pair – having one
pair of matching cards in your hand - High Card – a hand that
has no matching cards, straights, or flushes in it
Okay, now you have a sense of what hands you are hoping for when you are
playing. Let’s look at the gameplay itself. This is a game between the dealer
and the player, and there can be several players sitting at one table each
receiving their own hand. There are three betting spots in front of each player.
The first one is for the ante, which is the bet that every player must place to
receive cards.
Once you have placed your bet, the dealer deals 5 cards to each player
face-down and a 5 card hand to the dealer spot with one of the 5 cards face-up
for the players to see. Each player looks at their hand, finds it on the ranking
of hands, and then has a choice to make. A player can choose to fold their hand,
in which case the hand is discarded, and the bet is lost. If the player wants to
stay in the hand, a bet equal to twice the size of the ante must be placed in
the raise spot.
When all betting is complete, the dealer exposes its hand. The dealer has to
have a minimum hand to qualify which has to include at least an ace and a king.
If the dealer’s hand is worse than the minimum, then the hand does not qualify,
and all players will receive even money on their ante bet, but the raise bet is
not paid out.
If the dealer qualifies, then the dealer’s hand is matched against each
player hand. If the dealer’s hand is stronger, then the player loses both bets.
If the hand is a tie, then the player bets are pushed. If the player hand is the
higher hand, then the player is paid even money on the ante bet, and the raise
is paid according to this table:
Royal Flush | 100 to 1 |
Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
Four of a Kind | 20 to 1 |
Full House | 7 to 1 |
Flush | 5 to 1 |
Straight | 4 to 1 |
Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
Two Pair | 2 to 1 |
All Other | 1 to 1 |
We mentioned that there are three betting spots – the third is a progressive
jackpot bet that is optional for players. If you choose to play this spot, you
are rewarded for having a minimum hand regardless of if you win the hand against
the dealer. The typical progressive bet pays the following:
- Royal Flush: 100% of progressive jackpot
- Straight Flush: 10% of progressive jackpot
- Four of a Kind: $500
- Full House: $100
- Flush: $50
Once the bets have been paid, the cards are shuffled, and the next hand
begins!
Free Caribbean Stud Poker Game
Conclusion
Caribbean Stud Poker continues to be one of the easier games in a casino to
play, which makes it one of the more popular games for new players. Online
Caribbean Stud gives players a chance to play far more hands per hour, and this
means more chances to win a progressive jackpot. We think it is a great game for
all types of players, and while playing the progressive bet does change the
house edge, it is still worth giving it a shot in our opinion.
As always, we encourage our players to try the game for free first to get
used to the gameplay and rules. Also, it is important to play with your head and
stick to a budget that you are comfortable with so that you can continue to
enjoy the entertainment that gambling provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many decks are used in Caribbean Stud Poker?
Typically, the game is played with one 52-card deck with no jokers. Online,
this deck is “shuffled” instantly by the computer. At a land-based casino, a
table may have two decks in use to speed up play.
What is the minimum I can bet playing Caribbean Stud Poker?
This depends on the casino and whether or not you are playing online. The
online casinos tend to have lower limits for the games, as they do not have the
overhead of tables and dealers to worry about.
Can I play at more than one spot at a Caribbean Stud Poker table?
Caribbean Stud Poker History Game
No, in this game, you can only play one spot at a time.