Betting XP

Progressive Caribbean Stud's Betting Features

Progressive Caribbean Stud is a five-card Poker game, no draw, and is really like a combination of table Poker and a slot machine. It is played on a Blackjack-style table, and features a five-card Poker game similar to draw Poker, but no draw, and with an added $1 slot. Into this slot the players deposit a $1 gaming chips prior to the start of each hand, and it is this $1 that plays for the progressive jackpot, plus offering Bonus Pays on hands of flush or better.

Depending on how much money you offer to change into chips, dealers will almost always automatically break your chips into the most common denominations. For example, if you offer up $100, you will most likely get $90 in red $5 chips, and $10 in white $1 chips. Whatever the breakdown is, it doesn't matter to the game. You can request chips of any denomination, as long as this matches the amount of currency you offered and the table playing rules and limits.

The game has a specific layout for betting. As I've said, it is played on a Blackjack-sized table, and traditionally has seven player positions. In front of each player position is a betting area, which has three distinct features.

The "Ante" Bet

This is a mandatory required bet. If you do not make this bet, you cannot be in the next hand. The amount of this bet is determined by the table minimum limits set by the casino you are in. Most casinos will offer a $5 minimum bet, and hence the mandatory "ante" bet is $5. However, other casinos may have different table limits. In Las Vegas, some casinos have a $3 minimum table limit bet, while most of the Strip casinos offer either $5 or $10 minimum ante bet requirement. Check the minimum ante bet requirements at the casinos where you intend to play, and select the one that best fits your budget and win expectations.

The "Bet" Box

Behind the mandatory "ante" bet area is a semicircular area marked "bet." Once your cards have been dealt to you, if you wish to proceed with the game, you must bet twice the amount of your ante bet in this area. Once you do this, you're in the game to the showdown, and must place your cards face down to the left of the betting areas after you have made the bet. This signifies to the dealer that you are "in the game."

If you do not do this, automatically you will lose your mandatory ante bet, as well as your $1 bet for the progressive and Bonus Pay jackpots (provided you made that $1 bet, which is optional).

Progressive Jackpot and Bonus Pay Optional $1 bet

This is the $1 side bet you can make. You do not have to make it, but it is highly advisable to do so since you cannot win the jackpot, or any of the Bonus Pays, if you do not make this bet.

You make this bet by putting your $1 chip into the mounted slot which is on the playing table directly in front of the "ante" bet area. This slot is nearest to the dealer in front of you, and is a mechanical device which will automatically drop the chip into the tray below the table once the dealer presses the requisite button to start the game.

Once the chip drops below, a little red light above the chip slot lights up, and this signifies that you are in the jackpot and Bonus Pay game.