One of the biggest advantages online casinos have over their land-based relatives has always been the huge variety and number of games you can play on the internet. If there’s a specific kind of game you want to play, there’s probably an online version of it out there somewhere.
If you’re new to online casinos or just looking to expand your horizons beyond your current favorites, this quick guide will give you an idea of what kinds of games are out there and where you can play them. Let’s get started.
Slots
Online Slots
Slots are by far the most popular type of game at online casinos. There are three main reasons for that:
- They’re easy to learn and play.
- It is possible to win large sums of money with relatively small bets.
- There are thousands of different slot machines to choose from.
The third point is key. Even the smallest land-based casinos have dozens of slot machines. The largest online casinos have hundreds times that number to choose from. There are also progressive jackpot slots in which a portion of all wagers made by players feed into a growing prize that can grow to more than $1 million.
mobile casino slotsAll online slots use random number generation (RNG) to determine the results of each spin. This makes it impossible for a player or casino to control the outcome of a particular spin. The selection of slot machine varieties is virtually unlimited as developers only need to program the look of the machine and its various winning combinations.
Table Games
Table Games
Table games encompass a wide range of games. In fact, pretty much any game that isn’t a slot machine or a lottery game is usually classified as a table game whether it’s played with cards, dice or some other method of play.
of the Best Legal Online Casinos in the USA for 2023Most online casinos have several dozen table games available. Some of the most popular options include:
- Blackjack. A classic card game in which you face off against the dealer to see who can get the closest total to 21 without going over.
- Baccarat and Minibaccarat. A simple card game in which you bet on whether your hand or the banker’s hand will end up closer to a total of 9. Minibaccarat is simply a version of regular baccarat played at a smaller table.
- Craps. A dice game in which you place bets on your own roll of the dice or the roll of another player.
- Roulette. A wheel game in which a small white ball is rolled on a wheel containing numbered slots. Betting options include betting on what number the ball will come to rest in as well as betting on whether the ball will land in a group of odd or even numbers, a certain color or other categories.
- Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and other “house brand” casino games that simulate traditional poker or casino games. Most of these games involve betting based on the strength of your hand or the strength of your hand compared to the dealer’s hand.
- Video Poker. Not really a table game, but often categorized as such. Video poker games typically take the place of slot machines on casino floors, but they allow players to hold cards if they believe they can make a winning poker hand.
Live Dealer Games
Live Dealer BlackJack
Words That Will Get You Banned from a CasinoTechnology has advanced to the point where it is now possible to combine the convenience of online gaming with the realism and social aspect of a land-based casino through live dealer games.
In a live dealer game, you place your bets online via your computer or mobile device. Meanwhile, a real human dealer spins the roulette wheel, deals blackjack cards or does whatever is appropriate for the game you’ve chosen.
cash and casino reviewsThe action is filmed by a live video camera and streamed back to you so you can see exactly what is happening as if you were sitting at the actual table. Some live dealer games also allow you to interact with the dealer and the other players through a chat function.
Live dealer games are especially popular for blackjack, roulette, baccarat and Hold’em because they let you replicate a typical casino experience in the comfort of your home or while you’re out and about.
Lottery Games
Bingo
Casino Review NZ 2023 | Bonuses, Win Rate & Games - Indivisible GamingLottery style games are becoming increasingly popular at online casinos due to their simplicity and big potential payoffs.
In general, these games work by having players purchase virtual tickets or cards. Various numbers or symbols are then drawn at random. If your numbers match those on your ticket, you win a prize.
Examples of lottery style casino games include:
- Bingo. A long time favorite among older players, bingo involves trying to match numbers on your card to numbers drawn at random. Many variations on the basic bingo rules are available, as well as variations in the card layout and the number of matching numbers required to win.
- Keno. Originally devised as a way for cash strapped Chinese villages to raise funds, keno involves selecting from 1 to 15 numbers out of a pool of 1 to 80. Up to 20 rounds are drawn at a time and losing tickets offer proportionately bigger prizes. That means you have a better chance of winning a larger prize with the tickets nobody else wanted.
- Scratch Offs. Virtual scratch off cards allow you to simulate the fun of scratching off the coating of a lottery ticket to reveal your fate. Match three symbols or digits to win a prize.
Poker
Poker
Best Real Money Poker Apps for Android & iPhone (2023) - PokerListingsPoker isn’t traditionally thought of as a casino game, but it certainly fits the bill these days. Most people first learn to play poker with friends or online and then sometimes graduate to playing at a casino.
In fact, casino poker games are vastly different from any other kind of casino game. All casino games pit you against the house. You hope to win some hands, but ultimately the house has an edge over the long run.
Free Offline Slot Games for Android and iPhone (2023)Poker is different in that you compete against other players. If you’re a better poker player than the other folks at the table, you have a long term expectation of profit even though individual hands or sessions could be losers.
That being said, casino poker varies from poker played in private homes or over the internet in a few significant ways:
- Rake. Casinos take a percentage of each pot as it forms. This percentage is called rake and it ranges from 3-5% depending on the game, the stakes and the region of the world in which you’re playing.
- Blinds. Most casino poker games require the two players to the left of the dealer to post “blind” bets before the start of the hand. These are usually equal to the minimum bet on the table. This speeds up the action since you don’t have to wait for everyone to place their bets.
- Minimum bets. It's rare to find a casino poker game where you can play as low as a single cent or penny like you can online. The minimum bet is usually higher to account for the rake and often ranges between 5 and 10 units.
- Maximum bets. This one may seem counterintuitive, but casino poker games often have lower maximum bets than you’ll find in an online poker room or private game. This is done to prevent wealthy players from overwhelming their opponents and making the game unwinnable.
Where to Play
Between the various types of games mentioned above and all the different variations and spin-offs, there’s something for everybody when it comes to online casinos. And the list of games keeps getting longer as developers introduce new ideas and technologies.
Four Winds Casinos in Michigan - Online & Land-Based OptionsSo where’s the best place to play? Here at PokerListings, we’ve been reviewing online gaming sites for nearly 20 years. We’ve identified eight essential qualities that set the good sites apart from the bad:
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