Technological advances have allowed us to enjoy casino games on our mobiles and in the comfort of our homes. We can now get the casino experience without traveling to Macau or Vegas. If you’re new to online casinos, you will quickly realize that not all casino games are created equal. To offer some insight, we highlight below the most popular games available at land-based and online casinos.
Slots
Slot games have been around since the 1800s. That’s wild to imagine, considering how fun they are to play. The first coin slot was created in 1894 by Charles August Fey. By 1898, Fey had improved his machine and developed a three-slot machine with automatic payouts. Fast forward a few centuries, and there isn’t a casino without slot machines; slots are so popular you can find them in hotel lobbies and gas stations.
Slots are easy to understand. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing in Vegas or at an online casino on your phone, the concept is the same. Place a bet, spin the reels, and cross your fingers. They’re also quick; win or lose, you get to know immediately. Slots also carry a low risk and don’t require enormous bet amounts. Minimum bets can be as low as $0.01, so you don’t need a considerable bankroll. And, most importantly, they’re fun: the sound of the machine, the bright colors, and the different themes of the backgrounds all keep drawing more players to the game.
Roulette
You’ll find the loudest crowd around the roulette table in any casino. Roulette, just like slots, is a game based on chance. It’s fun, and the spinning wheel gets people going back to the casino for fun. You can burn through your bankroll quickly when playing roulette, especially when you’re online and not holding physical cash. So, stick to your budgeted amount and don’t go over it, even if you’re on a winning streak. Those wins can quickly turn into loss after loss if you are not cautious. Most online casinos have local dealer options where you can play roulette, making it more interactive than most casino games.
- The most popular strategy is the Martingale strategy
- Roulette means ‘little wheel’ in French
- Roulette numbers add to 666, giving it the nickname ‘devil’s game’
- The wheel and ball spin in opposite directions
- One of the biggest wins in roulette was $3.5 million
Poker
Poker would be that celebrity, if there were ever a celebrity among casino games. You don’t need to be in a casino to play it. Poker is so famous there are tournaments worldwide for it, and it doesn’t get more rockstar than that. Poker is a skills-based game with just a little bit of luck at play. It is another one of those old casino games dating back 1,000 years or more. The basic concept of having the best hand has remained the same, but variations have been made over the years to the original straight poker. The famous variations are Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha.
People love poker because it’s competitive. It has nothing to do with physical ability and requires skills and strategies you can learn and improve on over time. The inception of poker tournaments made poker more than just a game. People like Phil Ivey and Jeniffer Tilly have profited from professional poker. Phil Ivey has made $31.7 million from a career of playing poker.
Even if you don’t want to play professionally, playing online, at a casino, or with your family and friends is still fun. The best part about playing online is not having to maintain a poker face.
Blackjack
The history of blackjack is highly debated, but the one thing experts agree on is that blackjack originated from Europe. Some claim the game started in France, others, in Italy. The competition aims to get a combination of cards that will give you 21 or as close to 21 as possible. Blackjack is another skill-based game, and people have adopted different strategies to win. The famous movie, 21, about the MIT blackjack team, focuses on card counting. You will probably be kicked out or banned from the casino if caught counting cards, just like Ben Affleck was in the movie.
Craps
To win at craps, you must correctly predict the outcome of the roll. This game needs some skill and strategy. Craps can get a bit complicated, especially when it comes to the rules. You can place different types of bets: roll bets, hardaways, and hop bets.
Craps Terms:
- Pass Line – This is an even money bet; you win if a 7 or 11 roll.
- Don’t Pass Line is the opposite of a pass line; you lose on a 7 or 11 roll and win on a 2 or 3.
Playing Craps online is the same as playing in a casino; the rules and terms are the same. Most online casinos offer demo games so you can practice before playing for real money.
Enjoy Playing your Favorite Online Casino Game
Nonetheless, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which game you start with as long as you have fun playing it. Pick a safe online casino, and don’t bet with money you can’t afford to lose.