Let It Ride Guide: How to Win & Where to Play in 2025

Let It Ride is a classic casino table game. It involves making the best five-card hand. There is no house hand. Payouts are based solely on the player’s hand strength.

A hand of Let It Ride starts with the player making three equal bets. However, only one of these bets is necessarily in jeopardy. The player has the option of removing two of the chip stacks before the end of the hand.

Most major casino markets deal Let It Ride. This includes Atlantic City, Biloxi, Detroit, Las Vegas, Reno, and many state regional ones. It is also available at most online casinos. The game is usually called Let ‘em Ride or Ride Em Poker at internet casino sites.

Advantages of Playing Let It Ride at Online Casinos

Let It Ride is a better online game than a live one. The most important feature is the ability to play from home or anywhere else with an internet connection.

The minimum bet for online Let It Ride is no higher than $1. Some casino sites deal it for just a dime. Live casinos start at $5. Some require $10, $15, or $25 per stack. That can really add up. A $25 Let It Ride game requires at least $75 to play, and that is before considering any side bets.

Live Let It Ride only deals 20 or 30 hands an hour. It takes time for players to make bets, the dealer to distribute cards, flop the community cards, push bets back, grade hand ranks, and handle the resolution of bets. Online casino software handles all of this quickly. A hand of Let It Ride dealt over the internet can finish in five to ten seconds.

The player controls the speed. There is no waiting on other players or the dealer.

Five of the Best Online Casinos for Let It Ride

Let It Ride is dealt by most online casinos. It is sometimes called Let ‘em Ride or Ride Em Poker. Some have progressive jackpots. Here are Professional Rakeback’s recommendations.

1

MYBOOKIE CASINO

BONUS:

150% up to $750

★★★★★

4.8 / 5

CASINO WITH EXCELLENT LOW STAKES GAMES

SOFTWARE:

NUCLEUS, RIVAL, RTG, BETSOFT

GAMES

500+

RELOADS

MANY

MORE INFO

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My Bookie deals Ride Em Poker. Don’t let the name fool you. It is Let It Ride. The software is simple to use. There are two versions of the game here, one with a five-card side bet and another with a three-card side bet. My Bookie’s Ride Em Poker starts at $1 per stack.

VISIT MYBOOKIE CASINO NOW

2

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.7 / 5

RELIABLE OPTION FOR ONLINE LET IT RIDE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG, BETSOFT

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

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BetOnline deals the classic Let It Ride title with a three-card sidebet. The three 100% up to $1,000 bonuses may be used for the game, which contributes to the bonus at a 5% rate. The minimum deposit bonus is only $25.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

3

WINPORT CASINO

BONUS:

NA

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

LET IT RIDE PROVIDER WITH LOW HOUSE EDGE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG, BGAMING, BETSOFT

GAMES

300+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

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The version of Ride 'em Poker at Winport Casino has no side bets, but it uses a modified payout table, which reduces the house edge by about a half of a percentage point. However, this game is excluded from bonus clearance, so it's best to play here when you've run out of bonuses elsewhere.

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4

IGNITION CASINO

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

LONGSTANDING CASINO OPERATOR WITH LET IT RIDE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

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Ignition Casino also has Let ‘em Ride with a progressive meter. Jackpots start at five figures and often grow over $100,000 for a dealt royal flush. Let 'em Ride contributes a higher-than-average 20% to bonus release here.

VISIT IGNITION CASINO NOW

5

BOVADA CASINO

BONUS:

125% up to $1,250

★★★★★

4.3 / 5

LONGSTANDING CASINO OPERATOR FEATURING LET IT RIDE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

100% up to $1,000

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Bovada uses the Let ‘em Ride version that plays backward from the original game. This means players raise instead of taking stacks back. Let ‘em Ride has a $1 royal flush progressive jackpot. There is also a $1,250 signup bonus available for all new players on the first three deposits.

VISIT BOVADA CASINO NOW

What is Let It Ride?

Let It Ride is a five-card poker game that uses one 52-card deck. It is played in casino pits, not in a poker room.

It starts with the player making three even bets. The dealer gives each player three cards and places two community cards in the center. There is no house hand.

The player may let all three stacks ride or pull up to two of them back one at a time. This action depends on the strength of the player’s hand and potential draws. One stack may be pulled back after seeing the three dealt cards. The other opportunity is after the first community card is exposed.

Since there is no house hand, the player is paid based on the strength of the five cards. A pair of 10s is the minimum winning hand at Let It Ride. Some casino sites call this game Ride Em Poker.

What is Let ‘em Ride?

Let ‘em Ride is found at some online casinos. The concept and paytables are the same. However, it plays in reverse.

The player puts one stack up as an ante. Stacks are raised instead of pulled back.

Let ‘em Ride has a $1 progressive jackpot. A royal flush scoops it. A straight flush takes 10%. Four of a kind pays $500, while a full house is $100. The flush is the lowest hand on the Let ‘em Ride side bet progressive paytable. It pays $75.

Let Em Ride rules at Bovada

The Let ’em Ride progressive often ties in with other games. This includes Caribbean Stud Poker.

History of Let It Ride

Let It Ride was created as part of the automatic shuffling machines promotion. John Breeding, founder of Shuffle Master, used the game he invented as a way to promote these devices that are now fixtures in nearly all major casinos.

Poker pit games were difficult to deal before the early ‘90s when these machines entered the market. Automatic shufflers now allow these games to play fast enough for casinos to make enough money to justify the costs associated with live table games.

How to Play Let It Ride

Let It Ride is a simple poker table game. It is played at both live and online casinos. The two versions play nearly identically.

Online Let It Ride

At an online casino, players can choose the free Let It Ride option. This allows players to try out the software before taking advantage of real money Let It Ride online.

Playing for cash requires a deposit. The best methods are crypto, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Many casino sites also accept debit and credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

Once your account is funded, choose Let It Ride, Let ‘em Ride, or Ride Em Poker from the game menu. It is usually under table games. Your chips automatically move to the virtual table when it opens.

Next, choose the denomination of chips you want to use. The lowest is usually $1. However, some online casinos have dimes for $0.10 Let It Ride.

Once you choose the denomination, click the betting circle as many times as needed to create your desired bet. You need three times the bet to play as there are potentially three equal stacks in action. Only one is at risk unless you elect to let the others ride. When you are ready, hit the deal button.

Three cards are dealt to the player. Two cards are placed face down in the center of the table. The player decides whether to take the first stack back or let it ride.

One community card is exposed. The player has the option of taking the second stack back or letting it ride. The action is over for the player. The second community card is exposed and the hand is graded for its strength.

Let ‘em Ride plays in the opposite direction. Players raise instead of taking stacks back.

Winning bets are paid automatically. Losing bets are removed by the software.

To place an equal bet on the next hand, click the rebet button. To make a different bet size, repeat the original process. To leave the game, close the table. Your chips automatically return to your bankroll.

Let It Ride at Live Casinos

At a live Let It Ride table, use chips from another game or buy them from the dealer. Place cash on the felt for the chip exchange.

The player places three equal chip stacks in the circle in front of them. Once all bets are placed, each player with bets receives three cards with two placed in the center. Only one hand may be used to hold the cards.

The player motions the dealer with the cards. To pull back a stack, drag your cards on the felt towards your seat. To let the stack ride, wave off the dealer.

If the player knows that all three stacks will ride, tuck the cards under the chips. This helps speed the game up. This is done most often when the player is dealt a pair of tens through aces or three of a kind.

Types of Let It Ride Games

There are three ways to play Let It Ride. The most common is at a live table. There are also video versions in casinos and on the internet.

Live Let It Ride

Live Let It Ride is the most popular way to play the game. Over 20 Las Vegas casinos deal the game. It is available in dozens more regional gaming markets.

A shuffling machine is usually used at live tables. It uses two decks, rotating one between each per game. One deck is shuffled while the other is in use.

The shuffling machine drops three cards for each player at the table. When cards are dealt to all players, three cards are placed in the center, and one is removed and placed in the discards. Real chips are used for bets.

Online Let It Ride

Online Let It Ride is a much simpler game than its live counterpart. An electronic deposit is used for real money action.

Cards are virtual and determined by a random number generator after the deal button is clicked. The cards are shuffled and dealt automatically. Instead of chips and hand motions, players click buttons to let stacks ride or pull them back.

Let ‘em Ride is used at some online casinos. It plays a little differently. Instead of placing three equal stacks in the circles to start a hand, an ante is placed. Stacks are added as raises when the player desires.

Let Em Ride at Bovada

Video Let It Ride

Video Let It Ride was widely available in the early 2000s on Bally's Gamemaker and Shuffle Master machines.

The Bally's Gamemakers are mostly extinct. These were heads-up games in quarter, half dollar and dollar denominations. The software prevented players from making mistakes by pulling stacks back when holding a winning hand.

The Shuffle Master machines were multiplayer. These are also mostly gone from casino floors.

Live Dealer Let It Ride

The only way to play live dealer Let It Ride is in a casino. This software has not been invented at online casinos, at least not yet.

Let It Ride Paytable

When a player makes a pair of tens or better, the hand wins. Each stack left riding is paid based on the following paytable.

For example, if a player left all three $10 stacks up and made a royal flush at 1000/1, the payout is $10,000 for each stack, for a total of $30,000. The original bet is also returned. All video and online Let It Ride versions include the chip stack in the payout, so add one to each paytable for those games.

• Royal flush: 1000
• Straight flush: 200
• Four of a kind: 50
• Full house: 11
• Flush: 8
• Straight: 5
• Three of a kind: 3
• Two pair: 2
• Pair of tens, jacks, queens, kings, and aces: 1

Let Em Ride payouts at Bovada

Side Bets

There are two common Let It Ride side bets. One is based on the five-card hand. The other is like the Pair Plus in Three Card Poker and is based on the player's first three cards.

These side bets can be any amount that meets the table minimum. Multiply the number shown by the number of chips wagered. In video versions, the bet is returned and included in the payout.

There are many paytable variations found at brick-and-mortar casinos around the world. The ones reproduced below are among the most common of them.

5-Card Bonus

• Royal flush: 20,000
• Straight flush: 2,000
• Four of a kind: 100
• Full house: 75
• Flush: 50
• Straight: 25
• Three of a kind: 9
• Two pair: 6

Pair Plus - Three Card Bonus

• Suited ace, king, and queen: 50
• Straight flush: 40
• Three of a kind: 30
• Straight: 6
• Flush: 3
• Any pair: 1

Progressive

Some casino sites have a $1 progressive that ties to Caribbean Stud pools. It pays 100% of the meter on a royal flush. A flush is the lowest winning hand.

• Royal flush: 100% of the progressive
• Straight flush: 10% of the progressive
• Four of a kind: $500
• Full house: $100
• Flush: $75

Let It Ride Strategy

Let It Ride is a game that mixes skill and luck. There is no strategy involved in the side bets. These payouts are based purely on luck. The game's main bet has two points where action is required that involves skill.

Leave your first stack in play or raise in Let ‘em Ride in all five of these scenarios:

• Winning hand (pair of tens, jacks, queens, kings, aces, or three of a kind)
• Three suited cards ten and higher, also known as a three-card royal flush draw
• Three connecting suited cards with at least one card a five or higher
• Three suited cards with one gap if at least one card is a ten or higher
• Three suited cards with two gaps if at least two cards are ten or higher

After the first community card is exposed, let your second stack ride or raise in Let ‘em Ride if you hold:

• Any winning hand
• Any flush draw
• Four connecting cards
• Four cards ten and higher

Four connecting cards without a ten or higher has no house advantage, and neither does four cards ten and higher. However, they should be played every time. This helps clear the bonus, earn slot points, or increase your table rating at a casino.

Let It Ride House Advantage

The house advantage on Let It Ride is one of the highest for any table game that uses cards. When accounting for proper strategy and all stacks in action when warranted, the house holds 2.85% of the bets, which is properly known as the element of risk.

Using the paytables provided above, the five-card bonus has a 13.8% house edge while the Pair Plus has a 7.1% house advantage. The house advantage of the progressive bet, where present, varies greatly depending on the jackpot total.

Practice & Free Games

Online casinos are the best places to play free Let It Ride games. Accounts are not required at most sites for free play games. This allows players new to casino sites to try out the software and its features. It is a perfect way for those who want to learn Let It Ride, often called Let ‘em Ride or Ride Em Poker at casino sites.

Players can keep the proper strategy on one screen or tab while practicing on the other. When new players feel up to speed, it is simple to get into real money action.

Let It Ride Bankroll Strategies

Let It Ride is a volatile game. The house edge of the main game is almost 3%. The side bets are double and more than quadruple that. Royal and straight flushes return about one percent for each. Four of a kind is about 3% of the return.

For all of these reasons, a large bankroll is required. Players should consider starting with at least 100 bets. It is exponentially more than that to play the side bets.

That is the largest reason online Let It Ride is preferred over the live version. Online casinos offer the game for as little as a dime per stack. That can be played with as low as a $10 bankroll. The $1 game only requires $100. Players who prefer side bets should triple both of those numbers.

Online Let It Ride Promotions

Let It Ride is permitted with almost all online casino bonuses that are not slots-only. This makes it a good game for that purpose. Let It Ride might only contribute fractionally to any bonus playthrough depending on the rules of any particular casino. It also pays VIP points and can generate reload bonuses and other offers.

However, Let It Ride's house advantage is high for this type of game. In Professional Rakeback’s opinion, Three Card Poker is a better option. It is also permitted for most online casino bonuses.

Mobile Apps

Online Let It Ride may be played in many formats. It started on computers. In the early days, a software download was required. However, those days are over. No download is required at online casinos.

These games may also be played on phones and tablets with iOS and Android platforms. An app may be downloaded or the games can be played in a mobile browser.

Summary

Let It Ride is a casino poker table game that has slowly lost popularity over the years. Most large casinos still have at least one table. There are over 20 Las Vegas casinos with the game and many more throughout the United States. It is also dealt at online casinos, sometimes under the names Let ‘em Ride or Ride Em Poker.

A hand of Let It Ride starts with three equal bet stacks. Only one is at risk to begin with. The player has the option of bringing one of the stacks back after seeing the three dealt cards and an opportunity to do so again after the fourth card is dealt.

There is no dealer hand to beat at Let It Ride. The hand is paid based solely on its strength. The player needs at least a pair of tens to win. The jackpot is a royal flush, which pays 1000 to 1 before accounting for any side bets.

There are no draws in Let It Ride. The three cards dealt to the player and two community cards are used to determine the best hand.

The minimum Let It Ride bet at live casinos is usually $5 or $10 per stack. It can be as high as $25. At casino sites, it is either $0.10 or $1.

Let It Ride FAQs

We have done our best to cover all of the most important aspects of Let it Ride in this article; however, it is obviously not possible to go through every detail. If you have any remaining questions, please feel free to consult our frequently asked questions section below.