Caribbean Stud is a variant of Poker that is played in casinos. The simple rules of the game have made it one of the favorite Poker variants. Since its invention, the game has undergone several changes. Although the Poker variant has its origins in a Spanish game, it was an American who was credited with the creation of this variation of Poker.

Origin – Spanish Game Primera in 1500s

During the early 1500s, Primera, a card game, was played in Spain. The ancient game is the first authenticated version of Poker. The game was played in other parts of the world under different names. Despite this, the Spanish version is considered to be the original. In Italy, the game was known as Primiera and in France, Prime. All the names were coined from the Latin word primarius which means first.

1700 and 1800s– Game Introduced in US and Becomes Well-Known

In 1700, the game was introduced in the US by Frenchmen. Over the years, some of the terms and betting options were changed in the game. The Americans took to the new game quickly. The game was widely played well into the 19^th century. By the early 20^th century, it became one of the favorite games. The legalization of gambling in early 1930s allowed people to play the game legally.

Early 1980s - Sklansky Creates Casino Poker

In 1982, an American, David Sklansky, a gambling genius, formulated a new game based on Poker and named it Casino Poker. Sklansky’s version is said to be the basis on which the game was created. However, it could not be patented by Sklansky due to legal issues.

Mid 1980s – Sklansky’s Game Brought to Cuba and Modified

By mid 1980s, Sklansky met a Poker player from Cuba to whom he explained the concept of the new game. The player went back to Aruba and struck a deal with a local casino owner. Together they modified the rules of the game and added a progressive jackpot. The game was titled Caribbean Stud Poker and was patented. With a progressive jackpot, the game became a big success in Cuba with people flocking to the country to play the game.

Early 1990s – the game is Launched in the US

Owing to the popularity of the game, it was introduced in land-based betting houses at Las Vegas. As in Cuba, the progressive jackpot feature attracted lots of players who immediately liked it even though it had a higher house edge than other card games.

Online version

Today, with an increase in the number of gambling sites, players can enjoy online Caribbean Stud Poker from the comfort of their homes. The game is one of the widely played Poker variants. The online version offers larger progressive jackpots than the ones offered at land-based betting houses owing to the high volume of players who wager on it.