Popular Casino Games
Anyone who is familiar with casinos has probably heard of
games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and the popular slot
machines. Maybe you've heard of them and never played the game.
Not knowing how to play a particular game can be frightening to
some and may prevent them from approaching the game.
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We have supplied basic how-to articles for many of the most popular casino games to help you learn how to play the game and even get a little strategy under your belt. Every casino game has pre-determined odds, so you won't be able to gain an edge over the casino. However, most games have a very small edge if you use the correct strategy. The odds in some games get much worse when you start moving away from the basic strategy.
Below is a list of the most popular online casino games. You might find more games than these at some online casinos, but these are the major players at any casino. There are often multiple versions of these games - especially blackjack and slots. You can learn more about these games and pick up a few strategy tips by visiting any of the links below.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most known games in the world. You
will find this being played at places other than a casino and is
a very easy game to learn.
You
simply need to get your cards as close to 21 as you can without
going over. There are multiple methods people use such as card
counting to try to beat the odds.
If you're interested in taking up card counting, remember that it's not as easy as it looks on TV. Card counting in blackjack is a very difficult skill to master. Not only does card counting require technical skill, but it also requires wit because casinos will kick you out if they suspect you of card counting. On top of that, casinos have taken a variety of measures to make card counting difficult. Card counting is not impossible, but it is important to go in fully away of the challenges that face all card counters.
If blackjack is your game and you would like to play online, make sure check out our rankings for the best online blackjack sites.
Slots
Slots - In most casinos around the world, you will see that there are more slot machines than anything else. They are extremely popular and are perhaps the easiest game in the casino to learn. You can play at your own pace and you don't have to worry about other table members since there aren't any. Some slots allow you to bet as little as one penny per wheel spin, so you can get quite a long time of gambling in for a relatively low cost.
Online slots are actually quite a bit easier on your bankroll than live slot machines. The slot machines at most online gambling sites have payout rates of 98% or higher. Live casino slot machines can have significantly lower payout rates (70% in some cases). View our list of the best slot machine sites to play slots online.
Bingo
Bingo is a popular game that is played all over the place. You've probably seen it held at your local fire hall for a fund raiser event. You can also play it at casinos across the world. The game is somewhat similar to Keno and is a game of luck rather than a game of skill.
If you ever played bingo as a kid, you will already know how to play the online version of the game. All the basic rules of the game are the same. The online version of bingo adds more patterns and side games, but you won't have any problem getting the hang of it. Try any of these popular bingo sites to give online bingo a try.
Video Poker
Video Poker is a popular casino game that is similar to 5
card poker. The difference is that it's played on a machine and
purely automated with no live dealer. Some may prefer video
poker over 5 card table poker as it's quicker and you don't have
to worry about other players at the table.
On top of that, video poker has a very low house advantage if played correctly. Payout rates at online video poker sites can approach 99% when the right strategy is applied. By the same token, video poker can be very expensive if played incorrectly.
Craps
Craps is another very popular game in the casino. If you've ever heard an entire group jumping up and down and cheering, then there's a good change you were hearing a craps table that was on a good roll. This is one game that isn't easily learned in full. There are several basic bets that can be learned right away and actually are your best bet in terms of odds. Once you get the basics down, you may want to learn a little more about advanced craps bets.
Craps is worth learning because once you get it down pat, it's endlessly fun to play. Not only do you have a lot of betting options, but there is a strong sense of camaraderie at the table. If you pick your bets correctly, craps can have a surprisingly low house advantage.
Roulette
Roulette - The famous roulette wheel is probably something you've seen when walking through a casino. To play roulette, you place your bet on a table and then wait for a ball to be spun around the roulette wheel. If the ball lands on a number you picked or anything else that you bet on then you win. It's a fairly simple game to learn.
If you have the option to choose between American roulette and European roulette, make sure you always choose the European version. The only difference between both types of roulette is that the American version has an extra green slot labeled "00." That extra slot results in American roulette having twice as much house advantage as European roulette.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a casino game that may sometimes be reserved for the high rollers. Baccarat has been around for a long time and continues to entertain. It's not very complicated to learn but is one game that regular casino players may not have tried.
Most brick and mortar casinos keep baccarat tucked away in the higher roller's pit, but online casinos allow anyone to jump in and play baccarat. The online version of the game requires no dealer and thus costs almost nothing for online casinos to run. Because of that, online casinos are willing to offer low stakes baccarat tables.
Backgammon
Backgammon is a game of skill and luck. You do have to rely on rolling the dice, so there is luck in that sense. However, the moves you make after the roll can make or break the game for you. Over the long run though, backgammon is clearly a game of skill. The better players will always beat the unskilled players over the long run.
Backgammon is not offered at most traditional online casinos. You will have to do a little looking around to find good real money backgammon sites. Some major online gambling sites offer backgammon, but you will also find sites that are dedicated specifically to backgammon.
Let it Ride
Let it Ride Poker is a game that is easy to learn and can offer quite a bit of entertainment. The house edge is pretty high at this game if you don't use any sort of strategy. In Let it Ride, you only play against the casino, so the better your hand, the more you win. Everyone else at the table has no effect on your hand or winnings.
You can reduce the house advantage to about 3.5% if you play with the right Let It Ride strategy. This is still a little higher than some other casino games, but it's acceptable. As long as you understand that the house has an advantage, there is nothing wrong with playing Let It Ride and hoping for a little luck.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud is another game that is played against the house rather than against the other players at the table. The game is pretty easy to pick up and not very hard to play. Just like in Let it Ride, there is also an optional side bet that can be made while playing.
The optional side bet has a high house advantage, but it offers significant rewards. The side pot gives you a chance to win the progressive jackpot, which can grow to staggering sums. If you don't mind giving up a little house advantage, the optional side bet has a massive upside.
3 Card Poker
3 Card Poker is one of the games you have probably seen if you've walked past the tables in a casino. This casino game can be a lot of fun and is relatively easy to learn. There are essentially two games on one; Ante and Play and Pair Plus.
Three Card Poker is also sometimes called Tri Card Poker at online casinos. This can cause some confusion, but they are both the same game. If you play a smart game, you can keep the house advantage of 3 Card Poker to about 3.4%.
Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow is another form of casino poker, which is a bit different than other poker forms. The game is played against the house rather than other players and there can be up to 7 players at a time playing this game. There is also a joker card that can be used as a wild card in certain situations.
Pai Gow Poker is not to be confused with just "Pai Gow." Although the names are similar, the games are quite a bit different. Pai Gow is an old Chinese dominos gambling game that is much more complicated. Pai Gow Poker is based loosely on this game, but there are still significant differences between the two games.
Keno
Keno is another easy to learn and very popular casino game. It has been around for a very long time and has proven to be a popular hit among gamblers. It is kind of like the game of bingo in the sense that you get a card and pick some numbers in the hopes of guessing the numbers that get drawn.
Keno has a terrible house advantage, but it somewhat makes up for that with very large payouts. If you're OK with the high house advantage of Keno, it can be a fun and relaxing game. You can sit back, get a few free drinks and enjoy the game.