The objective of Cactus Poker is to win as much money as you can in under ten rounds of poker with three other computer-controlled players. At the end of the tenth round, your winnings will determine the cutscene shown as your reward for completing the game.

You can switch any or all cards in your hand before placing a bet, and cards are only revealed once the betting phase is over. The more chips you own, the more you can bet, but lose all of them and you won't be allowed to participate in the next round.