While baccarat, blackjack, and roulette dominate the lobby, online casinos offer a deep selection of other table games. These include poker variants where you play against the house rather than other players, and specialty games like Dragon Tiger or Keno that offer fast, simple action.
This guide covers the most popular games in this category. We'll look at how they work, what the house edges are, and why you should verify the platform's PAGCOR licence before sitting down at any table.
What this guide covers
1. Poker vs. the House
Online casinos don't usually offer traditional poker where you play against other players (that's a separate category). Instead, they offer poker table games where you play against the dealer.
| Game | How it works | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Casino Hold'em | You get two hole cards and five community cards. You form the best five-card hand to beat the dealer. | ~2.16% |
| Three Card Poker | You get three cards. Beat the dealer's hand to win. Simple, fast rounds. | ~2.0% – 3.4% |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | You get five cards. The dealer must qualify with at least Ace-King to pay out. | ~2.56% |
These games combine the thrill of poker hands with the structure of a casino table game. The house edge is generally slightly higher than blackjack, but the games are much easier to learn.
2. Dragon Tiger
Dragon Tiger is a simplified baccarat variant. It's one of the fastest card games in the casino.
- The deal: The dealer deals one card to the Dragon and one card to the Tiger.
- The goal: Bet on which hand will have the higher card.
- The payout: Wins pay 1:1 (minus a 5% commission if you bet on Dragon and win).
- House edge: ~2.7% (or 3.7% on Tie bets).
Because it requires no decisions and only two cards are dealt, Dragon Tiger is popular with players who want instant results. It's available at both software and live dealer tables.
3. Keno
Keno is a lottery-style game. It's entirely luck-based, but the massive top payouts make it popular.
- How it works: You pick a set of numbers (usually 1 to 10 numbers from 80). The game draws 20 numbers.
- Winning: Depending on how many of your numbers are drawn, you win a corresponding payout.
- Top payout: Catching all your numbers can pay 10,000x or more.
- House edge: ~25% to 35%. High-volatility and high margin.
Note on Keno: Because the house edge is so high, Keno is best treated as a lottery ticket rather than a strategic game. Play it for entertainment, not to grind out a long-term profit.
4. Craps
Craps is a dice game that is incredibly popular in land-based casinos. The online version is usually a simplified software game.
- How it works: You roll two dice. On the "Come Out" roll, a 7 or 11 wins (Pass Line); a 2, 3, or 12 loses. Any other number becomes the "Point."
- The goal: Roll the Point again before rolling a 7.
- House edge: 1.41% on the Pass Line bet.
The Pass Line bet in Craps actually has one of the lowest house edges of any table game (1.41%). But the game has dozens of complex side bets with much worse odds. Stick to the Pass Line or Don't Pass Line if you want the best value.
5. House edge comparison
Here's a quick comparison of how the "other" table games stack up against the big three.
| Game | House Edge | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5% | Medium |
| Craps (Pass Line) | 1.41% | Medium |
| Baccarat (Banker) | 1.06% | Low |
| Casino Hold'em | 2.16% | Medium |
| Dragon Tiger | 2.70% | High |
| European Roulette | 2.70% | Medium |
| Three Card Poker | ~3.4% | High |
| Keno | ~25%+ | Very High |
6. How to verify a PAGCOR-licensed platform
Before you deposit to play any of these games, confirm the operator is actually licensed. This takes two minutes and protects every bet that follows.
- Check the PAGCOR accreditation. Go to PAGCOR's official channels and verify the operator against the public register of accredited Gaming System Administrators. Licensed operators are listed by their legal corporate name — not just their marketing brand.
- Use the PAGCOR Guarantee portal. PAGCOR operates a public verification portal at pagcorguarantee.ph where you can check whether a brand and domain are on the official register.
- Confirm the corporate entity. The operator behind the brand should be a named corporation — for example, Skyline Nexus Corporation, which operates Juan365 (juan365.com) and holds PAGCOR accreditation COE No. 25-0035.
- Check the PAGCOR Guarantee seal or verification link on the operator's own site. Licensed operators are encouraged to link to the official verification portal so players can check them independently.
Warning: a PAGCOR logo, a "Licensed & Regulated" badge, or a PDF of a certificate on a website is not proof of licensing. Anyone can upload an image. Always verify through PAGCOR's own database, not through the operator's site.
Frequently asked questions
Yes and no. Dragon Tiger is widely available in live dealer format. Casino Hold'em and Three Card Poker are also available live on some platforms. Keno and Craps are almost always software-only games.
Keno has a very high house edge (~25%+). It's not a good game for grinding out a profit. However, if you treat it as a lottery ticket — playing for the thrill of a massive payout — it can be fun. Just don't expect to win long-term.
Mathematically, the Pass Line bet in Craps (1.41% house edge) is the best of the specialty games. For poker variants, Casino Hold'em (2.16%) is slightly better than Caribbean Stud (2.56%).
Some games have optimal strategies (like Casino Hold'em), but they are more complex than blackjack basic strategy. For games like Dragon Tiger or Keno, there are no decisions to make after the bet.
Contribution varies. Poker variants often count at 10%–20%. Specialty games like Keno may count at 100% (like slots) or 0%, depending on the operator. Always check the game contribution table before claiming a bonus.
Check PAGCOR's official register of accredited Gaming System Administrators, and use the PAGCOR Guarantee verification portal at pagcorguarantee.ph. The operator's legal corporate name should appear in the register — not just their marketing brand. If a platform isn't on the register, do not deposit.
This article is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and is not a recommendation of any specific operator. Online gaming involves financial risk. Only participate on platforms you have independently verified as licensed, and only with money you can afford to lose. 21+.