Royal Casino is the classic English-speaking form of Casino (Cassino), a fishing-type card game for 2 players or 4 players in two partnerships, played with a standard 52-card deck. Unlike plain Casino, the picture cards have capture values — jack 11, queen 12, king 13 — and aces count 1 or 14 at the discretion of the player. You capture table cards of equal rank or sets summing to your card's value, combine cards into builds, and race to 21 points across hands.
Play now — it's freeA standard 52-card deck is used (no jokers). Every card has a capture value: ace = 1 or 14 (you choose when you play it), 2–10 at face value, jack = 11, queen = 12, king = 13. All cards can be captured by rank, by sums, and can be incorporated into builds.
Two play heads-up; four play in fixed partnerships sitting opposite each other. Play passes clockwise.
The dealer deals four cards face up to the middle of the table and four cards to each player. When all hands have been played, each player is dealt four more cards — the table is never replenished. With 2 players this makes six deals of four cards; with 4 players, three deals.
When the deck is exhausted and the last cards have been played, the hand is scored and any cards left on the table go to the side that made the last capture (this does not count as a sweep).
On your turn you must play exactly one card from your hand face up. With it you may capture:
| Card played | Result |
|---|---|
| Same rank as table card(s) | You capture all loose table cards of that rank |
| A set of table cards summing to your value | You capture the set (e.g. Q captures 5+7; a 10 captures 4+6) |
| Both at once | Equal-rank cards plus sum sets in the same play |
| A build of equal value | The whole build is captured as a unit — never in parts |
| Nothing | Your card trails (stays) on the table |
Capturing is never compulsory — you may always trail instead, unless you own a build (see below). An ace captures other aces and, counting as 14, can capture sets such as K+A (13+1) or 8+5+A.
Instead of capturing, you can combine the card you play with cards on the table into a build, announcing its capture value. You must hold a card of that value to make the capture later.
| Build type | Rule |
|---|---|
| Single build | Cards whose values sum to the announced value (e.g. play a 3 onto a 5 → building 8). Value may be raised by adding another card. |
| Multiple build | Two or more groups each equal to the announced value (e.g. 9-build of 5+4 plus 6+3, or two nines). Its value can never be changed. |
| Taking over | Add a card to an opponent's single build to raise its value and take ownership — you must hold the new capture value. |
| Extending | Add a card (alone or with loose cards) equal to a build's existing value to make or extend a multiple build. |
| Protection | The owner of a build may not trail — you must capture or keep building. You may never play so as to leave yourself unable to capture your own build. |
Cards in a build can only be captured as a unit by a card of the announced value — never separately, and never rearranged. Every build must include the card just played; you cannot build only from table cards.
Capturing every card on the table in one play is a sweep and scores 1 bonus point. Cards won at the very end merely as residue (because you made the last capture) do not count as a sweep.
After the last deal is played, the residue goes to the last side that captured, and the hand is scored:
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Each ace (A) | 1 (4 total) |
| 10 of Diamonds — Big Casino | 2 |
| 2 of Spades — Little Casino | 1 |
| Most cards | 3 (none if tied) |
| Most spades | 1 (none if tied) |
| Each sweep | 1 |
A hand is worth 11 points plus one per sweep. The match continues hand after hand — dealer moving on — until one side reaches 21 points; if both pass in the same hand the higher scorer wins, and a tie is played off with another hand.
Build when you hold a pair: build with one card and keep its twin to collect later.
Never trail scoring cards (aces, the 2 of spades, 10 of diamonds) onto a loaded table.
Raise an opponent's single build to a value you hold — you steal everything locked inside.
Count cards: if no card of your build's value is unseen, your build is safe to milk for captures.
A standard 52-card deck — no jokers.
Two players heads-up, or four players in two partnerships sitting opposite each other.
An ace counts as 1 or 14 — the player chooses when playing it. It can capture other aces and, as 14, sets like K+A or 8+5+A.
Jacks count 11, queens 12 and kings 13. In Royal Casino they capture, are captured and build just like number cards.
A build is a combination of the card you play with table cards, announced for a capture value you hold. It can only be captured whole by a card of that value.
Yes — capture it with a card of its value, or take it over by adding a card that raises a single build's value to one you hold; you then own the build.
No. The owner of a build must capture or keep building, and may never leave themselves without a card that can capture their own build.
A sweep — capturing every card on the table in one play — scores 1 bonus point.
The first side to reach 21 points or more across hands wins the match.
Yes — you can play Royal Casino online free at royalcasino.yeeqia.com directly in your browser, no download or sign-up required.