Play Live Casino Hold'em against the House

Ante Up for Live Casino Hold’em

In traditional Hold’em games, poker players compete against one another in pursuit of the winning hand. When you play Live Casino Hold'em, it's against the house. It's player versus dealer in a battle royale for the strongest hand. Live Casino Hold'em makes it possible for multiple players to beat the dealer in every round of play. Our live dealer tables can accommodate an unlimited number of players at any given time – what a win.

Payouts as high as 100:1 are possible, depending on the winning hand combinations that have been formed. When it gets to the showdown stage, that's where it counts. The player hand and the dealer hand will be compared, and the winner scoops the pot. Live Casino Hold'em differs from traditional online poker games because of the live dealer. These highly-experienced professionals – lords and ladies – are standing by to talk shop, place your bets, deal your cards, and pay your winnings.

They will deal you in with a single 52-card deck – that's all it takes. While the game is progressing, players and dealers can interact with one another in real time. Thanks to cutting-edge tech at 888casino Canada, you're always connected live to the action wherever you are in Maple country. Watch the dealer and the tables with HD audio-visual feeds, and chat via SMS. Live Casino Hold'em is light-years ahead of traditional online poker. Forget the avatars and animated screens. This is live poker online via streaming webcam. It doesn't get much better than this.

What's the deal? With Live Casino Hold'em, you're tasked with forming the best 5-card hand. You don't have to beat other players at the table, since you’re not competing against them. It's player versus dealer in Live Casino Hold’em. Play begins with 2 cards being dealt directly to players, and 5 community cards face up on the board. All active players in the game can use the community cards to help form winning hands. You may want to switch your screen view to Classic View, or 3D View for an up-close-and-personal view of the action.

No doubt the excitement is building inside you – it's time to learn to Play Live Casino Hold'em!

How to Play Live Hold'em

Live Casino Hold'em is a variation of the world's most famous online poker game, Live Texas Hold'em Poker. But, there are notable differences between the two poker variants. In Texas Hold'em players compete against one another for the pot. In Live Casino Hold'em, it's you against the dealer. The strength of other players’ hands doesn't matter. A single 52-card deck of cards is used – no jokers – with all the cards shuffled after every round of play.

The objective of the game is simple: Form a stronger 5-card hand than the dealer. Your hand must be made from the 2 pocket cards and the 5 community cards in the center of the table. Our virtual tables are limited only by the number of players who join in any given session. That's the beauty of Live Casino Hold'em games – anyone can play; we've always got room for another poker player. There is one seat available for every player, but only one.

What are the Rules of Play?

Rule #1 Ante up for a game of Live Casino Hold'em. The Ante is the initial bet that is mandatory if you want to play this live poker game for real money. But that's just the start. There is also a Bonus Bet that can be placed. This bet pays out if a pair of Aces, or better are dealt with the community cards on the table.

Play begins with 2 face-up cards dealt to you, followed by 2 face-down cards dealt to the dealer. Next, 3 community cards are dealt into the middle of the table. These are face-up cards, known as The Flop. All active players in the hand are welcome to use The Flop to form a 5-card hand. At this point, a decision needs to be made. Will you Call? Or will you Fold?

• Select Call to continue playing in the round. You will then place a Call bet which is equal to 2 X the Ante Bet. If you would like a payout on your Bonus Bet, you must select the Call option.

• If you wish to discontinue, simply click Fold. You'll forfeit your Ante Bet and your Bonus Bet for the hand.

After you have acted, the Live Casino Hold’em dealer will deal 2 additional community cards face-up onto the center of the table. These are the Turn, and the River. Next, it's time for the big reveal. The dealer will flip over the 2 face down cards.

Hot Poker Tip: You can use 5 of the 7 available cards to form the strongest 5-card hand. Your hand will be compared to the dealer’s hand, and the best hand wins.

Live Casino Hold'em Side Bets

An optional side bet, known as the Bonus Bet is available to players in Live Casino Hold'em. This bet must be placed at the same time as your Ante Bet. You'll notice a flashing arrow pointing you in the direction of the Bonus Bet at inception. It's easy to play this bet – just place an appropriate poker chip on it.

Only the first hand of 5 cards is assessed for the Bonus Bet. If lady luck be a Pair of Aces or better, and you decide to Call, the Bonus Bet will be paid according to the payout structure of the game.

Winning Hand Combinations

Cards are ranked in descending order, from Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, & 2. Aces can assume two values in the game – a high-value as in a Straight with Ace, King, Queen, Jack, & 10, or as a low-value card with 5, 4, 3, 2, & Ace.

Poker Hand Outcomes

The Live Casino Hold’em dealer requires a pair of 4s or better to qualify.

Player Wins

If the dealer doesn't qualify, you automatically win.

The Ante bet pays according to the payout schedule, but the Call bet will be returned to you.

If the dealer qualifies to play, but the dealer’s hand is weaker than your hand, you win. In this instance, the Ante bet is paid according to the paytable, and Call bets pay even money.

Player Loses

If the dealer's hand qualifies with 4s or better, and the dealer’s hand is stronger than your hand, you lose. But the Ante bet and the Call bet are lost.

Player/Dealer Draw

If you and the dealer have an identical hand, it's known as a Push. This means that there is no winner or loser – it's a draw. You will receive your Ante bet and your Call bet.

Other possibilities

If the player and the dealer both have the same hand type, such as Three of a Kind, then the ranking Three of a Kind hand wins. The same goes for any other type of hand. The highest ranking card wins out in the end. Suits don't matter.

An interesting situation develops when you and the dealer tie, with identical hand combinations. Then, the next highest card that does not form part of the paying hand will determine the winner. Consider the following:

Player Hand - King, King, 2, 2, 8 vs Dealer Hand - King, King, 2, 2, Jack. In this case, the dealer wins because the kicker card is a Jack.

Payout Ratios

Ante Bet

• A Royal Flush – 100:1
• Straight Flush – 20:1
• Four-of-a-Kind – 10:1
• A Full House – 3:1
• A Flush - 2:1
• A Straight – 1:1 (even money)
• Three-of-a-Kind - 1:1 (even money)
• Two Pairs – 1:1 (even money)
• One Pair or High Card - 1:1 (even money)

Bonus Bet

• A Royal Flush – 100:1
• Straight Flush – 50:1
• Four-of-a-Kind – 40:1
• A Full House – 30:1
• A Flush - 20:1
• A Straight – 7:1
• Three-of-a-Kind - 7:1
• Two Pairs – 7:1
• One Pair or High Card - 7:1

Call bet pay even money.

Game malfunctions void all plays and pays.

Live Casino Hold’em 

The Bet Limits panel indicate the permissible minimum and maximum bets with Live Casino Hold'em. Bets can range from $.10 – $1000. If your bet is insufficient, or too much, you will instantly be notified. If you play several bets, and some don't qualify, only those that do qualify will be accepted.

All players are required to have a sufficient account balance to cover the better options. Your available funds are displayed under Balance on your screen. There are green, orange, and red traffic lights, indicating how play is proceeding:

• Green – you can place a bet
• Orange – betting time is almost over
• Red – betting time has lapsed

Decision-Making Time

Once your cards have been dealt, you will see the combination of cards window alongside ‘make your decision’ posted on screen. You have two options at this point: Call or Fold. If you decide to continue in the round, you click Call. If you decide to forfeit the round, click Fold.

• If you click Call, a Call Bet is required of you
• If you click Fold, all placed bets or forfeited. You can still watch the rest of the game play out, but you just won't be a part of it.

If the decision-making time has lapsed, and you don't make a decision, your hand will automatically fold, and you will forfeit all your bets. The message in your display window will be ‘Auto Folded’.