War Gambling

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Gambling and War applies lessons learned from poker, blackjack, roulette, and other games of chance to the study of international conflict. Drawing on scholarly insights from a variety of fields, including probability, statistics, political science, psychology, and economics, the book offers thoughts on how we can better manage and prevent.

  • Civil War reproduction gaming/gambling Kit with dice and chips, comes with instructions TredegarBearWorks. From shop TredegarBearWorks.
  • Gambling is betting something of value on the outcome of an event — like a football or baseball game, a card game, or a race — when the likelihood of winning or losing is uncertain. Although many people gamble occasionally, some people gamble even when it causes problems for themselves or others.

On This Page

Introduction

Casino War is without a doubt the easiest card game to play in the casino. If you have ever played war as a child, or simply made a bet on who could draw the highest card, then war will seem instantly familiar. Following are the specific rules.

Rules

  1. The game is played with six decks. Cards are ranked as in poker, except aces are always high. The suit does not matter.
  2. After the players have made a wager each player and the dealer shall get one card.
  3. Each player's card shall be compared with the dealer's card. If the player's card is higher he wins even money. If the dealer's card is higher the player loses.
  4. In the event of a tie the player shall have two choices: (1) surrender and forfeit half the bet or (2) go to war (see rule 5)
  5. If the player elects to go to war he must raise his bet by an amount equal to his original wager. The dealer will do the same but this is just for show. The dealer will then burn three cards and give the player and dealer another card each. If the player's second card equals or beats the dealer then the player shall win even money on the raise only and the original wager shall push. If the dealer's second card is greater the player shall lose both bets.
  6. At some casinos, the Mirage and Casino Niagara to name just two, a tie after a tie will result in a bonus equal to the original wager. At the Casino Niagara they say the raise pays 3 to 1 but the initial bet loses, which is mathematically the same thing.
  7. A tie bet is also available, which pays 10 to 1 if the first two cards tie.
War Gambling

I'm often asked where the house edge lays in this game. Where the edge comes from is when there is a war you either win one unit or lose two. For example, if you originally bet $5 you have to double your bet, risking $10, to win only $5.

Analysis

Stingy Rules

The following table shows the possible outcomes in a six-deck game with no bonus for a tie after a tie, assuming the player always goes to war.

Six Decks — Stingy Rules

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win10.5027350.502735
Lose original bet-10.463023-0.463023
Lose after war-20.034242-0.068484
Total1.000000-0.028771

The element of risk under these rules is 2.70% and the standard deviation is 1.05.

Liberal Rules

The next table shows the possible outcomes in a six-deck game with a bonus equal to the Ante for a tie after a tie, assuming the player always goes to war.

Six Decks — Liberal Rules

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win with tie after tie20.0054710.010942
All other wins10.4972650.497265
Lose original bet-10.463023-0.463023
Lose after war-20.034242-0.068484
Total1.000000-0.023301

The standard deviation under these rules is 1.057637.

Super Liberal Rules

Internet casinos using Gamesys software feature a rule where the player gets a bonus of 3x the Ante bet if the player gets a tie after a tie. The following table shows this lowers the house edge to 1.24%.

Six Decks — Super Liberal Rules

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win with tie after tie40.0054710.021884
All other wins10.4972650.497265
Lose original bet-10.463023-0.463023
Lose after war-20.034242-0.068484
Total1.000000-0.012358

Some Interent casinos use unusual number of decks. The following table shows the house edge under the bonus rules, normal 'no bonus' rules, surrendering on ties, and the tie bet itself.

Casino War House Edge

DecksWith BonusNo BonusSurrenderTie
12.06%2.42%2.94%35.29%
22.24%2.70%3.40%25.24%
32.29%2.79%3.55%21.94%
42.31%2.84%3.62%20.29%
52.32%2.86%3.67%19.31%
62.33%2.88%3.70%18.65%
72.34%2.89%3.72%18.18%
82.34%2.90%3.73%17.83%

Tie Analysis

The following table shows the probability of winning and expected return on the Tie bet, assuming it pays the usual 10 to 1.

Tie Bet Analysis

War Gambling
DecksProbability
Win
Expected
Return
10.058824-0.352941
20.067961-0.252427
40.072464-0.202899
50.073359-0.193050
60.073955-0.186495
80.074699-0.178313
Infinity0.076923-0.153846

Internal Links

You might enjoy playing my Casino War game.

External Links

German translation of this page.


Written by:Michael Shackleford

Casino war online or land-based is a game you probably played as a child. It’s the most basic of comparing style card games; each player gets a card and the player with the higher ranked card wins.

In war, if there’s a tie, you and your opponent deal three dead cards and another face-up card for each of you, and the winner of that hand wins.

Casino war is a gambling version of the game that’s available at some casinos, and at first glance, it seems like a game where the casino would have no edge. After all, isn’t the casino just as likely to lose each hand as you are?

Like any casino game, casino war is a game of exceptions, and the exceptions are what gives the house an edge in casino war.

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How to Play Casino War Online

Casino war game is played with six card decks. The cards are ranked as they are in poker, the only difference is that aces are always high. The suit does not matter.

War

You play casino war online at a casino table similar to a blackjack table. On one side you have a dealer, and on the other side, you have the players. You place a bet, the dealer gives you a card, the dealer takes a card, and the ranks of the cards are compared.

There are two possible outcomes at first:

  • If the dealer’s card ranks higher than yours, he/she wins your bet.
  • If your card ranks higher than his/hers, you win even money from the casino.

Online Casino War Rules

So far, casino war sounds like an even-odds game, doesn’t it? However, what happens when there’s a tie?

Ties in Casino War

In many casino games (such as blackjack), a tie almost always results in a “push,” which means that the casino doesn’t win your bet, but they also don’t have to pay you any money either.

In casino war online, when there’s a tie, you have to put up another bet equal to your first bet in order to “go to war.” Then, the dealer deals three dead cards to you and him/her and a face-up card, and then you compare once again.

Here’s the catch.

If you win, after going to war with the casino, you only win the amount of the original bet. If the casino wins, they win both bets.

Other Casino War Game Options

Surrender

If you have a tie, you do have another option besides going to war with the casino. You can choose to surrender. In that case, you lose half your bet to the casino.

That hardly seems fair, to lose half your bet to the casino in the case of a tie, but that’s the deal. Surrender or go to war.

Betting on the Tie

You can also place a side wager at the beginning of the game that the result will be a tie, and if you do, then you’ll win 10 to 1 in the event of a tie. 10 to 1 odds might sound pretty good, but if you do the math, you’ll find that the casino has an 18.65% edge on this bet.

That’s an incredibly high house edge, so you’d have to be a crazy person to make a bet with that much of a disadvantage. (In reality, casino war online odds are similar to those of roulette or slots.)

Online Casino War Strategy

The only decision you get to make is whether or not to surrender or go to war during a tie. What odds does that give you?

Casino War Online – House Edge & Odds

  • If you surrender every time there’s a tie, the house has a 3.7% edge.
  • If you go to war every time there’s a tie, the house has a 2.88% edge.

So the correct strategy is simple. Every time there’s a tie, go to war.

The best strategy for casino war is simply this:

“Never surrender.”

Casino War Online Tips

The rules of casino war online are simple and that is probably why so many players try the game. However, in online play, you are facing the dealer and it can be hard to know how to act, especially if you are new to the game. Having a casino war strategy and learning the best casino war tips will ensure you make the right moves to hopefully earn a win.

War

Avoid Betting on a Tie

Casino war requires that six decks are used to give the dealer and the player an equal opportunity to win the game. Based on mathematical statistics, the dealer and the player both have a 46.3% chance to win the game. If the game continues after a tie, a loss would equal losing the first bet as well as the wager placed as the game goes to war. Avoid betting on a tie so you don’t lose more than you bargained for.

If you win after a tie, you will receive a 10 to 1 payout, which is enticing. However, the odds are against you and for the most part, betting on a tie will cause a larger loss instead of a win.

Look Out for the Aces

In the world of casino war online, the ace is considered the highest card. When considering casino war strategy, it is important to be on the lookout for aces. If you have not seen an ace dealt, then expect one soon. Once you get it, you will be at a win or tie within the game. Watch the cards on the layout to know what to expect.

Place Small Wagers

Whenever you play casino war, always remember that the house has the advantage. During game play, remember to place small wagers. With every successive wager placed, double your initial bet. When you win a hand, you win what you wagered.

Play the game knowing that you will not be leaving with a major prize but probably a loss. Keep in mind that you are playing for fun and not to make a profit. Placing small wagers will help you to have fun playing casino war online for real money but keeps you from losing too much during game time.

Walk Away

Casino war online is a losing game. When playing, be sure to set a stopping point. Have a set time you will stop playing or a certain amount you plan on wagering. Once you reach that time frame or wagering amount, stop playing. Knowing when to walk away keeps the game fun and helps you to avoid losing more than you can afford to.

Don’t Cheat

There are no special casino war tricks that will ensure a win. It is important for players to recognize that casino war odds put the edge towards the house, so know when to quit. Never think about cheating, especially when playing at a casino. Card marking is often a way that players try to cheat during casino war. You cannot trick the dealer and will get caught. Never try to cheat and just enjoy the game, even if you lose.

Play Real Money Casino War Online

Playing casino war online for real money is easy to do. However, you want to make sure you choose a top-rated casino in which to play the game. We recommend Las Vegas USA for your casino war gaming needs. You can easily play for real money and have access to the best bonus options, good betting limits and quality payouts. Las Vegas USA Casino offers great versatility for casino players, including the option to play the game of casino war.

Casino War at Las Vegas USA Casino

When members of Las Vegas USA play casino war, they have access to wagering options from $1 to $250. Based on the strategy tips above, it is best to wager less on this game as the edge leans towards the house. If you earn a win playing the game, easily make a withdrawal by choosing to remove funds via check or direct deposit to a savings or checking account.

War Casino Odds

For new members of the online casino, there is currently a 400% bonus on offer with up to $10,000 in free bonus cash provided. Players can claim the promotion once, and play scratchcards, slots and keno to clear. A max of $2,000 can be cashed out via this promotion.

Should You Play Casino War?

That’s up to you, however, the house edge is similar to other games where you don’t want to have to think about strategy.

War Casino Rules

The problem only problem you may find with casino war online is that it can become a bit boring after a while. It’s so straightforward and lacking in nuance that it could be hard to find the game compelling for a long time.