Whether you prefer roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, poker, live dealer tables or video slots with eye-catching progressive jackpots, this guide covers the details that matter. We look at leading online casino games so you can compare their formats, features and ways to play.
ROULETTE GAMES
Ask someone to name a well-known casino table game and ‘Roulette’ is likely to be one of the first answers. It remains one of the most recognizable casino games and a mainstay of casino tables.
European and French roulette wheels have a single zero, while the American wheel also includes a ‘00’ pocket. This additional ‘00’ increases the house edge, making the European or French versions the usual preference when return to player (RTP) is the main concern.
Online roulette generally comes in two main forms of roulette casino games:
- Virtual (RNG): These computer-based gambling games use a random number generator (RNG) algorithm to determine each bet’s outcome. Stakes are often low, and there is no time limit. Many virtual tables also offer a free-play demo, so you can learn the betting layout before wagering real money.
- Live Dealer: Live Casino tables offer a land-based-style experience without the need to travel to a casino. A webcam streams the action in real time as a human croupier runs the table. Outcomes in this format are not generated by a computer.
Variants include mini-Roulette, played on a smaller wheel with fewer numbers. Multi-Ball or Double-Ball Roulette uses more than 1 ball on the wheel, while multi-Wheel Roulette has multiple wheels. These formats give the familiar game a different pace and feel.
For a chance at larger potential wins, look at live dealer roulette tables with multipliers, bonuses and/or progressive jackpots. Age of the Gods Roulette is one notable jackpot title. Lightning Roulette and Quantum Roulette feature multipliers, while random-multiplier roulette tables offer another distinctive online casino format.
Before you play, check our ‘how to play roulette’ and ‘roulette strategies’ guides for the rules, bet types and strategic considerations.
BLACKJACK GAMES
Few casino table games match the popularity of Blackjack. Online casinos commonly offer a wide range of variants, with different rules, special features and stakes from low to high.
‘Vegas Blackjack’ uses familiar blackjack rules, while ‘Double Exposure’ changes the format by showing both of the dealer’s cards. In ‘Blackjack Switch’, you play multiple hands and can move cards between them under its distinctive rule. These are just a few of the available variants.
If you’d prefer not to have an RNG determine the outcome, you can choose live dealer blackjack. Several rule sets are available, including ‘Free Bet Blackjack’, with ‘free double downs’ and ‘free splits’, and ‘Power Blackjack’, which removes all 9s and 10s from the shoe.
Read our essential ‘how to play blackjack’ and ‘blackjack strategies’ guides before taking a seat.
BACCARAT GAMES
Baccarat suits players with a range of bankrolls, although it’s often associated with high rollers. It’s available at nearly every casino and, like Blackjack, comes in many forms. Options include Speed Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Peek Baccarat, Mini Baccarat and Baccarat No Commission, alongside the standard variation.
Many baccarat tables offer side bets, and the original game has inspired spin-offs such as Dragon Tiger, essentially a hi-lo game with a tie bet. Some versions also feature multipliers. Evolution’s selection includes Lightning Baccarat, Golden Wealth Baccarat and Red Envelope Baccarat.
For live-table fans, Lightning Baccarat is a notable option, with random multipliers of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 8x your bet. ‘No Commission’ baccarat is another long-running variant: winning banker bets do not incur the usual 5% commission at this table.
CRAPS GAMES
Craps is a popular dice game in land-based and online casinos. It’s also known by the nickname ‘Snake Eyes’.
Evolution’s live dealer platform offers virtual and Live Craps. First-Person Craps is a well-known virtual-table format, using 3D rendering and animation to recreate a land-based casino atmosphere.
LIVE CASINO GAMES
Live dealer tables and game shows stream in real time from licensed live casino studios. Ultra-HD webcam technology and advanced audio bring a land-based-style experience to smartphones, tablets and desktop devices.
A trained dealer or croupier hosts and operates the table, so there are no RNGs involved. Players place bets with virtual chips through the platform’s betting technology.
The live dealer table that suits you best may depend on your preferred software provider. Roulette, blackjack, poker and baccarat are offered in many formats and styles. Other popular options include dice games such as Sic Bo, Craps Dice Duel, Lighting Dice and Bac Bo.
Providers such as BetGamesTV and TVBet also offer less conventional live formats. Their line-ups include War of Bets, live lottery, live bingo, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti and other titles beyond the usual table-game selection.
Some of the most distinctive live dealer game shows are live wheel-of-fortune titles such as Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Adventures Beyond Wonderland and Sweet Bonanza Candyland. These shows advertise prize money worth millions of Euros from single spins. Other examples include Deal or No Deal, Mega Ball, Boom City and Football Studio. Playtech Live also offers ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ roulette titles.
ONLINE VIDEO SLOTS
Video slots are a mainstay of online casino gaming. Reel layouts vary: a slot may have 5 reels and 3-pay lines, while another may use 6 or more reels. Newer mechanics include MegaWays, which offer thousands of ways to win, and cluster pays games, where groups of symbols can form combinations in multiple directions.
Themes are another big draw. Developers continue to release hundreds of slots based on films, rock bands, cartoon characters, superheroes, ancient civilizations, science fiction, fantasy and many other subjects.
Slots combine their themes with features that add variety to rounds and create multiplier opportunities. Free spins, Wild symbols, cascading reels, multipliers, Scatter symbols, progressive jackpots and bonus rounds are among the features found in leading video slots.
Frequently discussed slot titles include Gonzo’s Quest, Book of Dead, Book of Ra, John Hunter, Starburst and Narcos. Popular progressive jackpot titles include Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, Divine Fortune, Hall of Gods and Mega Joker.
VOLATILITY AND RTP
Check a game’s volatility and return to player (RTP) before playing. Generally, a higher RTP means a lower house edge, which may be useful when comparing online casino games.
Variance, also called volatility, is another key factor. Casino games are typically described as low, medium or high volatility. The level is usually fixed, though providers such as Wazdan may let players choose a setting. Low volatility tends to mean frequent, smaller wins; high volatility means wins occur less often but may be larger. Medium volatility falls between the two.
Video slots can have different variance levels from one title to another. Roulette, Sic Bo and Craps offer different bets, each with its own variance or volatility profile. Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker are low-variance games, while Keno is considered highly volatile because it follows a lottery- or bingo-style format.
Theoretical RTP indicates the percentage of bets expected to be returned over an extended period. It does not guarantee an individual session’s results. An RTP of 94% or lower is considered low, while anything above 97% is considered high. RTP and house edge can be calculated in relation to each other: a Blackjack table with a 0.5% house edge has an RTP of 99.5%.
Real-Money and Free Games
Playing at an online casino doesn’t always mean spending money. Depending on the experience you want, you can deposit funds or use a game’s demo mode.
There are 3 main ways to play:
- Play free casino games online in demo mode using play money
- Play for real money, such as Dollars, Euros and other currencies
- Play with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and others
Online casinos offering real-money play almost always provide demo versions of slots and virtual tables. A demo generally uses the same RNG as the real-money game, but free-play wins have no tangible value and cannot be converted into real money. Crypto gambling is still real-money gambling: winnings are paid in crypto, which may be exchanged for cash through an exchange after you cash out.
LEADING CASINO GAME SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Casino software developers, also known as software providers, create video slots, table games and live dealer titles. Some work with land-based and online casinos, while others focus exclusively on games designed for online play.
Examples of providers behind popular online casino games include:
Casino Games for Online and Land-Based Play: Providers active in both settings include Merkur, Quickspin (Playtech), WMS, IGT, Ainsworth, 2 By 2 Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, Reflex gaming, Barcrest, SG (Light & Wonder), Aristocrat, EGT Interactive (Amusnet), Aristocrat, DWG, Inspired Gaming and many others.
Online Live Dealer Games: Well-known live dealer developers include Evolution, Ezugi, Playtech Live, BetConstruct, Pragmatic Play Live, Lucky Streak, Vivo Gaming, BetGames and Authentic Gaming.
Online-Only Casino Games: Providers focused exclusively on online casino games include NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n Go, Betsoft, Pragmatic Play, Endorphina, NYX, BGaming, NextGen, Wazdan and Yggdrasil.
Mobile Casino Games and Apps
You can play online casino games on desktop or mobile devices. Nearly all video slots and table games, including live dealer titles, are designed for smartphones and tablets too.
Casino Apps: Some casinos offer a downloadable app, usually for iOS or Android. If your device doesn’t support either system, there’s another way to access casino games.
Browser-Based Casino Games: You don’t need to download an app to play using Chrome, Safari, Edge or another web browser. Today’s gaming platforms and titles are responsive and use HTML5 technology, enabling on-demand play on any operating system.
How to Choose an Online Casino
The best casino games are ultimately the ones you enjoy most. Still, when researching online gambling games, consider several practical points before deciding where and how to play.
When assessing the fairness of an online casino, consider these points:
- Licensed Software Provider: The developer should hold a licence from a reputable iGaming licensing authority.
- Licensed Online Casino: The casino operator should also hold an appropriate licence.
- Results Not Generated by a Computer: If you prefer not to use RNGs, choose live dealer games where cards, dice or a wheel determine the outcome and each round takes place in real time.
- Fair RNGs: Software providers and casino platforms should have their random number generators certified. Where a brand holds a reputable iGaming licence, the licensing authority may require the developer and/or operator to provide an RNG test certificate.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CASINO GAMES
It’s sensible to check RTP, variance and hit rate before playing, but the best online gambling game is usually the one you enjoy most. Graphics, bonus features, side bets and plenty of action may shape your choice, but both enjoyment and results vary from player to player.
Casino Games FAQ
What are the best casino games?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer: the best games are the ones you enjoy. Video slots are among the most popular online options, while others may prefer table games or live game shows.
Which software providers offer the best games?
It mostly comes down to personal taste. Many established developers are known for their strong game libraries, including Evolution, Playtech, Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, Yggdrasil, Play’n GO and Pragmatic Play. With more than 100 development companies to explore, you may find that other providers better suit your preferred styles and mechanics.
Are live games safe to play online?
Live dealer developers hold licences from regulatory bodies such as the UKGC and MGA, and licensing arrangements include regular fairness testing. Check the relevant operator and jurisdiction: a developer’s licence alone does not establish that a casino is authorized for every player.
What casino games can I play online besides slots, blackjack, roulette and baccarat?
Slots, blackjack, roulette and baccarat are popular options, but there are plenty of others. Table-game fans can try dice games such as Craps and Sic Bo, or card games like Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker and Rummy. Live dealer offerings may also include Crazy Time, Gonzo's Treasure Hunt, Deal or No Deal, Monopoly Live, Mega Wheel and Adventures Beyond Wonderland. Other categories include video poker and scratchcards.
Are there promotions for specific games?
Yes, some casinos offer promotions linked to particular games. For example, a welcome or no-deposit bonus might include 50 free spins on a specified video slot. Developers may also run their own campaigns. Pragmatic Play's Drops & Wins promotion is described as awarding random prizes to players using selected slots and live dealer titles from the company.
