Online Casino Games
If you want to experience the thrill and excitement of slots and table games, you're in luck! You should know that you no longer have to go to a casino to experience these games - you can find almost anything you want in an online casino. These online casino games are as sophisticated, exciting, and fun as their real-world counterparts.
Indeed, at GambleGuys, our job is to bring you all the latest online gaming information. Whether you regularly play at online casinos, or you haven't touched one in a while (or perhaps you've only ever played at land-based casinos), here's your guide to all that's available when it comes to online games. As you will see, it's quite a lot and surpasses most physical casinos!
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What Games Are Available At Online Casinos?
Everything! That's the short answer, at least.
Historically, online gaming has been a subset of what you would find in a brick-and-mortar casino. The casinos in Vegas, for example, would have an abundance of table games and slots. In contrast, online casinos would be a little rudimentary, featuring plenty of fun but perhaps not entirely of the same quality.
That paradigm no longer applies.
Online casino games now easily surpass what you will find in traditional casinos. There are more slots and more variations of table games (one game developer, for example, has dozens of blackjack variations), and you'll often find these games have more flexible minimum and maximum bets. And, if you play slots, you'll find that the online versions almost always have better odds than the land ones. At your local casino, it's not inconceivable to have slots that pay 90% or less. In the online world, most slots pay about 96%. Statistically, your money will go further in an online game than in a traditional game.
In recent years, the online gaming industry has proliferated. Now, when you play online, you're accessing some of the best slots, table games, and live dealer games. Of course, with many states in the US (as well as other jurisdictions like Canada) now completely legalizing online gaming, these games and experiences will only get better!
Classic Table Games
If you can think of it, you can play it at your favorite online casino. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are seven familiar classic table games that you can find if you play online!
Poker
Poker is one of the most commonly played games online. It has also been the subject of much debate. Proponents have always alleged that poker is a game of skill, while opponents of its legalization have always contended it is a game of luck.
Regardless, assuming you live in a jurisdiction where online poker is legal, you can play almost any variant online. The most common poker game is Texas Hold'em, followed by Omaha (typically pot-limit Omaha, or PLO, for short). Some casinos offer other poker variations, like 5-Card Draw, although these are much less common than Texas Hold'em and Omaha.
In Texas Hold'em, players receive two-hole cards, and there are five community cards on the board. Players can take any of the seven cards (their two plus the five community) to construct a poker hand. The player with the highest hand wins the round.
One of the best aspects of playing poker online is that the game betting limits and styles are often significantly more flexible than what you'll find at a traditional casino. For example, you can play a low-money tournament to learn how to play poker online. Or, if you want to bet thousands, you can find a cash game with really high limits. The choice is entirely up to you!
If you love poker, try playing it online! You'll find it's easily one of the best online casino games!
Roulette
Roulette is one of the most popular games, both online and in a traditional casino.
The game itself is pretty simple. There are 36 numbers, ranging from 1-36 and anywhere from one to three zeros (American roulette has two zeros, European has one; Vegas has recently introduced triple-zero roulette, although this is not prevalent online). Each number is red or black. Zeros are green.
Each round, a dealer spins the wheel and a ball. The ball will circle the wheel before bouncing around and eventually settling into one of the spaces corresponding to a number. Once the ball drops, the number that the ball landed on is the one that wins the round.
Players can bet on the color of the number that the ball will land on, whether it will be odd or even if it will be in the first, second, or third dozen, and more. Players can also bet directly on one of the numbers, which pays a remarkably high 35-1 if it hits!
If the online casino you're playing at has the option of single-zero roulette, that's the best option. The green zeros (neither red nor black) are the house edge in roulette. A single-zero roulette table has a house edge of 2.7%, while a game of double-zero roulette has a 5.26% edge (that makes roulette statistically worse than many online slots!). And avoid triple-zero roulette at all costs - it has a house edge of about 7.69%!
Roulette is always a favorite among gamblers, especially compared to other online casino games. It's exciting, intuitive, and has a low house edge - if you're playing the single-zero version, that is!
Blackjack
Of all the casino games in the world, blackjack is arguably the most popular and well-known. Part of blackjack's popularity is that it is both a game of skill and a game of luck. Players who count cards at real-life casinos (not recommended as they will kick you out) can gain a house edge statistically over the casino. Even if you don't count cards, knowing the proper blackjack strategy can reduce the house edge to 0.5%, the lowest of any table game a casino offers.
At its core, blackjack is a straightforward game. The dealer has two cards, and the player has two cards. The dealer and the player have the same goal: get the closest to 21 without going over. Face cards count as 10, Aces can be 1 or 11, and all other cards have their stated value. After receiving their first two cards, players can do one of the following:
Hit (take another card)Stand (keep the cards you have)Double down (double the bet for double the potential payoff, but only one card is allowed)In some cases, surrender (forfeit the hand in exchange for 50% of your bet back)
If the player stands at a hand value at or below 21, the dealer reveals their second card and deals themselves cards according to a pre-defined set of rules. If the dealer busts or the player's hand exceeds the dealer's, the player wins. However, the dealer has a higher hand that hasn't busted causing the player to lose.
One of the best parts of playing blackjack online is that many online casino game providers have created different versions to try. Each one of these versions is a take on the old classic. Some of them can be remarkably exciting, and you'll only find them online - pretty much all land-based casinos only offer traditional blackjack!
If you ever get a chance to try blackjack online at a best games casino, do so! You'll likely discover that playing online is just as good - if not better - than playing in a traditional casino!
Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the most-played games in the world. It's infinitely popular in Asian casinos and many casinos in Europe. As a game of sophistication and stature, it's only fitting that baccarat is also the choice of James Bond.
Unfortunately, many people turn away from baccarat because they believe it to be a complex game. However, the version of baccarat you'll find online (punto banco) is remarkably straightforward for players. It's easy to play and very entertaining!
Playing baccarat is as simple as betting between two hands of cards. One hand belongs to the "player." The other hand belongs to the "banker." All gamblers do is place a bet on which one will win. Winning in baccarat means getting a total as close to nine as possible (so, a four and five, for example, would be nine).
Once all bets are in, the dealer deals two cards to the player and two cards to the banker. The dealer reveals the cards and, if necessary, will deal a third card to the player or banker (or both). The baccarat tableau determines if the dealer should give either hand a card or not. The tableau is a complex set of instructions but something only the dealer needs to know. Players only must understand that the tableau ensures that both the player and banker win almost 50% of the time.
A winning player bet pays 1:1, while a winning banker bet pays 1:1 minus a 5% commission. Even with the 5% commission, the banker's bet has a lower house edge, 1.06%, versus the player, which has a 1.24% edge. Both are incredibly low, though, and are some of the best bets in a casino.
Online baccarat is an exciting and thrilling game, and it's available at almost any online casino!
Bingo
Bingo is one of the most popular games to play at both traditional casinos and online ones. Players fill entire bingo halls, searching for the next B9 or O64 to win the round. Fortunately, players can now replicate the joy of this game on any device with online bingo.
Online bingo works pretty much the same as its real-world counterpart. Players buy one or more bingo cards, and the dealer or computer system calls out numbers. There's a set winning combination, typically a line, although sometimes the casinos make it interesting by offering other win conditions (like filling up the entire board).
A significant reason for bingo's popularity is the game's excitement. There's nothing quite like the feeling of being one spot away from having a winning combination and then hearing the caller call the number you've been waiting for so you can win the prize!
Craps
Walk into any casino, and one of the loudest, most excited-looking tables is almost invariably the craps table. Ten or more players often gather around, waiting in anticipation of what the next roll of the dice will bring.
Craps has numerous bets, but the game's premise is simple: you want to roll the point before you roll a seven if you're betting the Pass Line. If you're betting the Don't Pass Line, you want to roll a seven before the point.
When a new round commences, the shooter (the person throwing the dice) will throw them down the table for the come-out roll. The Pass Line bets automatically win if the dice read 7 or 11, while the Don't Pass bets lose. If the dice read 2, 3, or 12, the Pass Line bets lose, and the Don't Pass wagers win on 2 or 3 but push on 12.
Any other number (four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten) is the point. The dealer will mark it as "on." Pass-line bets pay if the shooter rolls the point before a seven (so if the shooter rolled a five on the come-out roll, Pass Line bets would win if another five happens before a seven). Conversely, Don't Pass wagers win if the seven come first.
Most casinos let players put odds bets in addition to their Pass or Don't Pass wagers after the shooter establishes the point. These odds wagers are fantastic because they pay true odds. There's no house edge on them! Therefore, putting maximum odds lowers your overall house edge. For example, the Pass and Don't Pass wagers have about a 1.4% house edge. Adding 2X odds after the point brings that edge down to a minuscule 0.85%, making craps one of the best online casino games to play!
Keno
Keno is essentially a private lottery. Depending on your jurisdiction, the government may offer a lottery where you pick six numbers out of fifty possible ones, for example, for the chance to win a huge jackpot. In some places, these jackpots can be hundreds of millions of dollars.
While you won't find jackpots that big at an online casino, keno games operate similarly. Players usually pick fifteen numbers from 1-80. When the betting comes to a close, the online casino will draw 20 numbers. Usually, matching 10 of the 20 drawn numbers will give you the biggest prize. There are lower prizes for matching fewer numbers. Some casinos even give out an award for matching zero numbers.
It is worth noting that, historically, most keno games had a high house edge, sometimes approaching 50%. Now, with the internet, gambling games with that high of an advantage don't last long, so many places have improved the odds. Many modern keno games have an RTP rate of 85%-90% - still worse than most other online casino games, but better than in the past!
Slots
Nothing beats the thrill and excitement of seeing the reels spin and watching the bells and whistles go off for many players. There's something enjoyable about hitting the bonus, watching the credits add up, and getting one of those big payouts (if you're lucky, of course!).
Fortunately, replicating that thrill and excitement is super easy with online casinos. And, as we'll see, many of the slot machine online casino games are just as good, if not better, than what you'll find in popular gaming places like Las Vegas!
Most Popular Slots
At any online casino, there are invariably thousands of slots to try. Of course, for most players, the question is: which ones are worth playing? Fortunately, our expert team at GambleGuys has identified the five of the most popular slots and the ones that are sure to show you a good time!
- Jammin' Jars (Push Gaming)
- Book of Ra (Novomatic)
- Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead (Play'n GO)
- Bonanza (Big Time Gaming)
- White Rabbit (Big Time Gaming)
If you want to see some of the slots we've reviewed, check out the slots section, where you can find all the hottest games and our opinion of them!
Megaways Slots
Megaways slots are some of the most popular online slots, as they take the excitement of these games to the next level (and it's worth noting that traditional land slots do not have Megaways!). Initially created by Big Time Gaming, these slots have six reels that can accommodate between two and seven symbols each. Sometimes, there's also a horizontal reel with an extra four symbols. When there are seven symbols on each reel, there are a stunning 117,649 ways to win (or, as Big Time Gaming calls it, there are 117,649 Megaways to win!). Some Megaways slots even feature more ways to win.
As you can imagine, having that many ways to win have the effect of opening up tremendous possibilities for players. Indeed, having 100,000 (or more) pay lines has many more potential ways to win than the old classic slots that just paid with three matching symbols on the center line!
Best RTP slots
As noted above, many online slot machines have RTP (return-to-player) rates that are better than what you'll find at land-based casinos. The figure quoted was an average of 96%. While that may be the rough average of what online slots return, it's nowhere near the maximum.
The best RTP slots have a return-to-player rate of 99%.
Yes, you read that correctly! The best RTP slot games online have better odds than table games like baccarat, blackjack (not using the perfect strategy), craps (no odds), and roulette. A slot with a 99% RTP is pretty much the best game in any casino, online or on land (although, you almost assuredly would not find such a high-paying slot anywhere but online!).
Not only can you find such high-paying slots, but these games are also quite plentiful. Indeed, Book of 99 by Relax Gaming pays 99%. Goblin's Cave has a stunning 99.32% RTP. There are dozens of games that pay over 98% and hundreds more that pay over 97%.
Gaming online is the best option if you are looking for slots that give you excellent odds. No traditional casino in the world can offer so many 99% and 98% RTP games whenever and wherever you want to play (and on any device you want)!
Live Games
For many people, the social aspect of going to a casino is a big part of the reason to go! There's something fun about standing with others, with a live dealer, and experiencing the anticipation of the game's outcome together. Craps, roulette, blackjack, and others often rely on the human connection to make the game even more exciting.
There's good news if you're hesitant to play online games because you feel you might miss this experience! Live games at online casinos replicate this experience remarkably well. Live games feature a real-life dealer and a real-life table. Players can usually chat with each other to simulate all playing together.
If you love the feeling of community and have avoided online casino games because you may not get that same experience over the internet, here's what you need to know about live games and why they are just as good as heading to your local casino!
Classic Live Dealers Games
The most common live games are the classic table games with human dealers. From blackjack to roulette and everything in between, online casinos offer all the table games you know and love - with real human dealers.
These games stream video, and everyone participating in the game can bet on the outcome using their computer or mobile device. For example, roulette usually has a real table with an actual wheel. The dealer will wait for people to make their bets, call no more bets (just like a physical casino) and then all the players will watch the ball spin around the wheel until it lands on one of the numbers.
Classic live dealer games offer the same odds and excitement you'll find going to a traditional casino. Additionally, many online live dealer games have benefits over their conventional counterparts - no more fighting for a seat at the blackjack table, for instance! And, playing online often has more flexible minimum and maximum bets than playing in a land casino.
If you've been hesitant to try an online casino because you love the thrill of table games, try the live dealer online versions! You will likely discover they are just as good (if not better) than what you will find in your local casino!
Game Shows
Many online casino game providers have created different live game shows that offer something entirely new for players. Players can participate in their favourite game shows, like Deal or No Deal, or try their luck with some of their favourite board-game-themed shows, like Monopoly. These game shows almost always have an incredibly high production quality, so you will feel like you are a part of them!
Casino Games Providers
With online gambling increasing in popularity in recent years, as people play online games more often, there is no shortage of providers looking to create some of the best experiences possible. While some of the most popular providers have been around for a decade or two (or even longer), many of the best providers have started in recent years, having found success creatively with a few games to start and expanding from there.
If you're looking for games providers, here are five that you'll want to keep an eye out for at your favourite best games casino - games from these providers will invariably be of the highest quality:
- Evolution Gaming: maker of some of the best-rated live dealer games
- Play'n GO: produces many of the gambling industry's most iconic slots, such as Book of Dead and the Reactoonz series
- Pragmatic Play: offering some of the best mobile- and crypto-friendly games, this company has created hits like Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, Wolf Gold, and more
- Nolimit City: creating some of the world's most thematically-interesting games, any game from this provider is an experience you'll want to try
- Push Gaming: this London-based team sets the bar higher and higher for online slots with popular series like Jammin' Jars and iconic games like Razor Shark
Hundreds of other providers are creating high-quality games that you will find in your preferred online casino. The best way, of course, to figure out which providers and games you like is to read the reviews here at GambleGuys and try them out in your favourite online casino.
Online Games Tips and Strategies
Gambling online is not that much different from gambling at a land-based casino. The standard tips and strategies still apply, like never gambling more than you can afford to lose, knowing the best strategy and bets for each game (like when to double down in blackjack), and sticking to lower house edge games.
However, online gambling has a few unique advantages.
For slot players, most online slots tell you their RTP rates. Always choose the ones with the highest RTP percentages because those games will use less of your money over time. While you may not always want to play slots with a 99% RTP (since there are so few of them), try to stick to ones that at least pay 96%-97%. Most online games pay at least that, so that should keep most of the catalogue open while helping you avoid some games that won't pay as well in the long run.
The same idea goes for table game players. For example, you may log in to an online casino and see they offer European (one-zero) and American (two-zero) roulette. If you have the choice, pick the European version, as it has a significantly smaller house edge!
Finally, if you're playing a game, like a blackjack, with a well-defined optimal strategy, have a copy of it handy on your computer screen or mobile device so you can refer to it while playing. That way, you can always ensure you are making the right move in your online casino games and not giving the casino an unnecessarily higher house edge!
