Casino Card Game Rules: How to Play and Score (2, 3 or 4 Players)
Nov 11, 2026 · The Editors
Casino card game rules: the deal, capturing by pairing and adding, building, trailing, sweeps, and the points for cards, spades, big casino, little casino and aces.
Casino (also spelled cassino) is a fishing game: you play a card from your hand to capture cards from the table that match it in rank or add up to it. Points come from capturing the most cards, the most spades, the aces and two special cards — the ten of diamonds (big casino) and the two of spades (little casino). It is played with one standard deck and is at its best with two players.
What you need
- Players: 2, 3 or 4 (four play as two partnerships).
- Cards: one standard 52-card deck, no jokers.
- Card values: ace = 1, number cards = their number. Kings, queens and jacks have no number value — they can only capture by pairing.
The deal
The dealer gives four cards to each player and four face up to the table (two at a time in the two-player game). When everyone has played their four cards, deal four more to each player — but none to the table — until the deck runs out. Announce the last deal.
What you can do on your turn
Play one card from your hand to do one of these:
- Pair. Capture table cards of the same rank as your card. A seven captures a seven — or several sevens. Face cards can only capture this way, and in the strictest rules a face card captures just one matching card at a time.
- Add (combine). Capture table cards that add up to your card. A nine captures a five and a four. You can take several combinations at once: a nine could take 5 + 4 and 6 + 3 together.
- Build. Put your card on a table card to make a total you hold another card for. Holding an eight, you could put a three on a five and announce "building eight". On a later turn you capture the build with your eight — unless an opponent captures it first or increases it.
- Trail. Lay a card face up on the table without capturing anything.
If you have a build on the table, you may not trail; you must capture or build again.
Sweeps
Capturing every card on the table in one play is a sweep, worth 1 point. Mark it by turning one captured card face up in your pile. Many groups do not count a sweep on the very last play.
When the last cards are played, any cards left on the table go to the last player who made a capture.
Scoring
| What you captured | Points |
|---|---|
| Most cards (27 or more) | 3 |
| Most spades (7 or more) | 1 |
| Big casino (10♦) | 2 |
| Little casino (2♠) | 1 |
| Each ace | 1 (4 in all) |
| Each sweep | 1 |
That makes 11 points each deal, plus sweeps. If the cards split 26–26, nobody scores the 3 for cards. The first player to 21 points wins.
Casino rules for 2 players, 3 or 4
- 2 players: the classic game, with six deals of four cards from one deck.
- 3 players: each plays alone; four cards each, four to the table at the start; the deck lasts four deals.
- 4 players: partners sit opposite and combine their captures. You may capture your partner's build.
Tips
- Watch the casinos. Keep track of where the ten of diamonds and two of spades are.
- Count spades as they are captured; seven wins the point.
- Do not trail high cards you will need for captures later.
Casino is one of the best card games for two. A well-made deck that stays flat on the table, like gold foil playing cards, makes the table cards easy to see.
Frequently asked questions
What is big casino and little casino?
Big casino is the ten of diamonds, worth 2 points. Little casino is the two of spades, worth 1 point.
How many points do you play to in casino?
The usual target is 21 points, scored over several deals.
Can you capture with a face card in casino?
Yes, but only by pairing: a king captures a king. Face cards have no number value, so they cannot add or build.
What is a sweep in casino?
Clearing every card from the table in one play is a sweep, and scores 1 point.
