UltraGambler earns a commission if you sign up through some links on this page. It never changes our ratings. 18+. How we make money
Quick answer: Cassino is a classic “fishing” card game for 2–4 players using a standard 52-card deck. Each player gets four cards and four go face up on the table. On your turn you play one card to capture table cards (by matching rank, adding up to its value, or through builds) or simply lay it down. After the deck runs out, points go for most cards (3), most spades (1), the 10♦ “Big Casino” (2), the 2♠ “Little Casino” (1) and each ace (1), plus 1 per sweep if you play with sweeps. The first to 21 points wins.
Cassino at a glance
| Players | 2–4 (four play as two partnerships) |
| Deck | Standard 52 cards, no jokers |
| Goal | Capture cards, especially spades, aces and the two “casinos” |
| Points per deal | 11, plus any sweeps |
| Game | Usually first to 21 points (older rules played to 11) |
18+. T&Cs apply. Check that online gambling is legal where you live.
How to deal
- The dealer gives each player four cards and places four cards face up on the table, usually two at a time.
- When everyone has played all four cards, the dealer deals four more to each player, but no more to the table.
- This continues until the whole deck has been dealt. The deal then passes to the left.
Card values
Aces count as 1 and number cards count at face value when you add up or build. Jacks, queens and kings have no number value: they can only capture a card of the same rank by pairing. Most rules let a picture card take one matching card; some let it take all cards of that rank on the table, so agree before you start.
What you can do on your turn
You must play exactly one card from your hand. It can do one of four things:
| Move | How it works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pairing | Capture table cards of the same rank as the card you play. | Play a 7 to take a 7 from the table. |
| Combining | Capture a group of table cards that add up to the card you play. | Play a 9 to take a 4 and a 5. |
| Building | Put a card onto table cards to make a total you can capture next turn. You must hold a card of that value. | Add your 2 to a table 6, announcing “building 8”, while holding an 8. |
| Trailing | Lay a card face up on the table without capturing. | Play a 3 that can’t capture anything. |
You can capture several things at once with one card, for example a matching card plus a combination that adds up to the same value. Captured cards go face down in a pile in front of you.
Builds: the key rules
- Hold the capturing card. You can only make or raise a build if you hold a card to capture it.
- Raising a build. You can add a card to an existing build (yours or an opponent’s) to raise its total, again only if you hold a card for the new total.
- Multiple builds. You can add more cards of the same total to a build, for example a 3+5 and a 6+2 grouped together as “eights”. These are captured together by one 8.
- No trailing with a build. While you own a build on the table, you can’t trail. You must capture, build or add to a build.
Sweeps
A sweep is capturing every card on the table in one play. In many games, each sweep scores 1 point (often marked by turning one captured card face up). Some players leave sweeps out, so agree on it first.
End of the hand and scoring
When the last cards have been played, any cards still on the table go to the last player who made a capture (this doesn’t count as a sweep). Then score:
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Most cards | 3 |
| Most spades | 1 |
| Big Casino (10♦) | 2 |
| Little Casino (2♠) | 1 |
| Each ace | 1 (4 in total) |
| Each sweep (if used) | 1 |
| Total per deal | 11 + sweeps |
The first player or team to reach 21 points wins.
Cassino strategy tips
- Count the key cards. Track the aces, the two casinos and how many spades have gone. Knowing what’s left tells you what to chase.
- Protect your builds. A low build is easy for an opponent to raise and steal. Build to totals you hold more than one card for when you can.
- Be careful what you trail. Trailing a 10♦, a 2♠ or an ace offers your opponent free points. Trail low-value cards that are hard to combine.
- Leave awkward tables. Avoid leaving a table total of 10 or less that your opponent could sweep in one go.
- Remember the last capture. Late in the hand, making the final capture wins all leftover table cards, which can decide “most cards”.
Popular variants
- Royal Cassino: picture cards get number values (jack 11, queen 12, king 13, and ace 1 or 14), so they can combine and build too.
- Spade Cassino: every spade scores 1 point, and the jack of spades scores an extra point, making 24 points per deal. It’s traditionally scored on a cribbage board.
A short history
Cassino first appears in English card-game books at the end of the 18th century, in the 1790s. Despite the name, there’s no evidence it came from Italy, and it isn’t a casino gambling game. You’ll see it spelled both Casino and Cassino.
Like card games? Try these
If you enjoy the counting and strategy in Cassino, you might like our guides to blackjack, baccarat and poker, or the fast casino game 3 Card Rummy. For real-money card games online, our top-rated casino is 1win (9.9/10); use promo code Ultragambler and check your local laws first.
Cassino FAQ
How many points do you need to win Cassino?
Usually 21. Each deal is worth 11 points plus any sweeps. Some older rules play to 11.
What are Big Casino and Little Casino?
Big Casino is the 10 of diamonds, worth 2 points. Little Casino is the 2 of spades, worth 1 point.
Can face cards be used in builds?
Not in standard Cassino, where jacks, queens and kings can only pair with the same rank. In Royal Cassino they count as 11, 12 and 13 and can be built with.
What happens to cards left on the table at the end?
They go to the last player who captured cards. Taking them doesn’t count as a sweep.
Can you trail if you have a build on the table?
No. If you own a build, you must capture, build or add to a build instead of trailing.
Our top-rated casino
1win scores 9.9/10 in our reviews: thousands of slots and live games, and our test withdrawal was paid in 15 minutes. Use promo code Ultragambler at sign-up.
Play at 1win18+. T&Cs apply. Read our 1win review · Promo code details.
