If there’s one thing you can say about casinos, it’d be this: you’ll never run out of stuff to do. There’s no shortage of games to play. And new games are coming out all the time.
This is great if you play online. Because with just a few clicks of your mouse you could be playing a different, unique or brand new game – one of hundreds, if not thousands available at any ONE casino.
The question I have for you now is:
Do you know all the casino games are available to you? All the variations you can play? Then start with this brief guide. We’ll fill you in on all the types of casino games you can find and play online.
List of Casino Games Online
Let’s start with an overview of the games you’ll usually find at a casino.
But before I list the games, I want to quickly explain how a casino might list them on their website. That way you know exactly where to find the games you’re most interested in.
Each casino will list their games differently. But here’s how Bovada does it:
- Slots – This includes all variations like 3D or progressives.
- Table Games – This includes all card games like blackjack, baccarat and pai gow poker. It also sometimes includes dice games, like craps, as well as roulette.
- Video Poker – This includes all poker games played on a machine similar to slots.
- Specialty Games – This includes anything that doesn’t fit in the categories above such as keno, scratch tickets, lottery games and bingo. It may also include roulette or craps.
Some casinos will also have an arcade or games section. Here they’ll list bingo or scratch card games.
Once you click on the general game you’re interested in playing, you’ll find yourself on a page of related games and variations.
Here are the most popular games and variations you’ll find online:
Slots – This includes:
- 3, 5, 7 reel machines
- Classic slots
- Video slots
- Fruit machines
- 3D slots
- Progressive slots
- Single and multiple payline slots
- Multipliers
- Free spins
- Cascading
- Bonus rounds
And more.
You could even add licensed slot titles to the list. This would expand to cover licensed movie, video game, celebrity and board game slots.
Blackjack – There are many variations of 21. The most popular variations found online include:
- Perfect Pairs
- Spanish 21
- Pontoon
- Blackjack Switch
- Chinese Blackjack
- Super Fun 21
- Atlantic City Blackjack
- Bonus Blackjack
- European Blackjack
And others. You’ll also find payout variations, such as 6:5 or 3:2 for a natural blackjack.
Video Poker – You’ll find many variations online, such as:
|
|
Most casinos I’ve reviewed have 10+ different video poker games. Some are variations you’ll find everywhere, while others are exclusive to that casino or software provider. Variations also include progressive and multi-hand video poker machines.
Roulette – Roulette variations include:
|
|
Almost hard to believe a simple game like roulette could have so many variations, huh?
Anyway, these casino games have the most variations. Most other games don’t have variations, nearly this many variations, or variations you’ll find at more than one or two casinos.
Other than what’s listed above, here are the most popular casino games you can play today:
|
The biggest variations you’ll find with these games (the table games, at least) will be side bets. But I’ve found that they’re often exclusive to a (brick and mortar) casino. They’ll be hit or miss.
Other than side bets, other types of variations or twists to casino games you’ll find include:
- Live Dealer – Available only online. A real person will deal your game, which will be streamed live to the casino.
- 3D
- Progressive – Every (max) bet contributes a small portion to a single jackpot that can be won at random by someone making the max bet.
- Video
- Multi-line
The options you have will vary from casino to casino. It usually depends on the software.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some games will have a different name due to licensing and/or copyrights. For example, tri-card poker is identical (or near identical) to 3-card poker.
Skill Games vs. Games of Chance
When reading or talking about casino games, you might hear someone refer to them as skill games or games of chance.
For example, blackjack is considered a skill game. Slots are a game of chance.
The difference between skill games and games of chance is there’s more or less a right and wrong way to play games of skill. If not right or wrong, then definitely optimal and not optimal. You can learn these studying various books and websites. Then practice what you learned at the casino.
But games of chance? Those are totally random. There’s not anything you can really do outside of cheating to gain an edge playing those.
That all said, skill games are only skill games if you yourself become skilled at them. Otherwise they might as well be games of chance.
On top of that, few games can truly be beaten for a profit. Blackjack is one of those games. Some video poker variations can be, too.
Other games such baccarat, pai gow poker or craps, have strategies or optimal plays or optimal bets you can make to get the house edge down. Add in some bonuses and you might turn a slight profit. But I wouldn’t count on it.
I point that out because unless you choose a game that can be beaten for a profit – and you’re willing to put in dozens, maybe even hundreds of hours learning it – and hundreds, probably more like thousands of dollars practicing it live – you’re unlikely to become skilled enough to beat the house for a profit.
The point?
Don’t choose a game for any other reason than you like to play it. Because you’re most likely going to lose playing it – at least in the long run.
Finding & Playing Casino Games Online
Let’s talk a minute about finding casino games online.
Most casinos will have the same options – blackjack, various table games, video poker and slots. There are few exceptions.
Those exceptions include variations – live table games, 3D slots or something “rare” like multi-wheel or multi-ball roulette.
It also includes exclusive games or titles. Since many casinos work with different and/or multiple software companies, you’re likely to find a different selection of casino games at every casino you join.
This will also affect game rules, payouts and odds – but on a much lower scale.
And it’ll effect the number of games you can play. Some casinos will be lucky to have a few dozen games. Others will have hundreds. Some more than a thousand. Seriously.
Then you’ll have casinos that offer full-blown mobile casinos (for smartphones and tablets), while with others you might be lucky to have 5 or 10 mobile friendly games. Some casinos – if you can believe it – won’t have any.
I guess the point of all this is you’ll have to do some research if there’s a specific game or variation you want to play. One of the best things you can do is join a casino that works with several software companies. That way you have a wide variety of games to choose from.
Conclusion: Where Will You Start?
There’s so much you can play online. It can be overwhelming.
If you already know what games you like to play, I highly suggest looking for software companies you have them. From there find out what casinos work with those software companies. Then read our casino reviews.
For everyone else?
Read our reviews. Find a casino with LOTS of games to play. Then get busy. You’ll find the type of casino game you like to play in no time.
