Casino Games Basics
You can step into a land-based casino or log in to the best online casino and find a wide variety of games to play. Why else would players be searching for phrases like casino games blackjack ballroom? Most of the games are exciting and easy to learn, which makes them popular with all types of players. Even the most challenging ones are not that difficult.
We’ll confess, most of us here at slots.xyz have spent a lot of time at casinos. We’ve also ardently scoured books and publications on casino games rules, bankroll management, odds, and more. We can say with confidence that we managed to gain smart techniques, tips, and tricks, and it’s all been worth the effort. Fortunately for our readers, we’ll freely share pretty much all there is to know about casino games.
If you’re still a newbie, then you stand to start on the right foot, at the best places to play each game online. Seasoned players will also get to understand why some of their gaming methods work wonders and cut out any ineffective approaches. Time spent learning the ropes is always time well spent, as it’ll make for a more enjoyable casino experience.
Casino Games by Category
If you were to look at a comprehensive list of casino games, you might quickly get dizzy and confused. However, we can assure you that there’s a method to the madness. If you know how to classify casino games by category, then the list suddenly looks more manageable. It also becomes easier to learn the rules and start enjoying more games. Although many games fall into multiple categories, casino games are classified according to the following categories.
Card Casino Games: Are, quite obviously, any casino games that are played using cards. Technically speaking, card casino games also fall into the table games category, since they are played on casino tables. Seasoned players, however, tend to classify them in their own right. The most popular casino card games include Baccarat, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Blackjack.
Table Casino Games: Put simply, table games are casino games that are played on a felt table in land-based casinos. Like we mentioned earlier, most card games fall in the table games category. You’ll also find other popular non-card table casino games like Craps and Roulette.
Electronic Casino Games: The older generation of casino players may quickly identify with the distinction between electronic games and internet casino games. Electronic games include games that are played on a machine, such as Video Poker and Slots. These casino games are, however, played at land-based casinos.
Lottery Casino Games: Aren’t the most popular in casinos. Your chances of winning at a lottery game are entirely based on luck, as no skill is involved. The most common examples of lottery casino games are Scratchcards and Keno. Depending on how long it takes for players to get the game outcome, some lottery games can also be classified as instant win casino games.
Jackpot Casino Games: Any game at which players stand to win a jackpot falls into this category. A lot of Video Poker, Slots, Scratchcards, and table casino games have jackpots. For example, you can find Caribbean Stud Poker games with a progressive jackpot that’s claimed if you get a royal flush.
Online Casino Games: Have taken the world by storm and are now arguably the most popular with players. Like the name suggests, online casino games are ones that you can play at online casinos. Virtually every game that’s available at brick and mortar casinos has an online variant.
Casino Games by House Edge
When you’re still a newbie, it’s okay to try and win every game that you play. Seasoned players, however, know that playing casino games is more about having fun, refining your strategies, and casually competing with other players. Either way, you should also consider that your chances of getting favourable results don’t only depend on your skill level and luck. The house edge also plays a huge part. The house edge or house advantage is the casino’s margin of advantage over players. Put simply, the house edge represents the probability of winning or losing on each casino game expressed as a percentage.
And before you ask, no, you can’t go around the house edge—it is how casinos stay profitable. The phrase the house always wins exists for a reason. You can use your skill and employ strategies to minimise the house edge, but even then, you’ll never manage to get it down to zero.
Low house edge casino games are those in which the casino has a smaller margin of advantage. However, there’s a trade-off. Low house edge games usually have lower payouts relative to the stakes amounts. High house edge casino games have higher payouts, but lower chances of winning. Nevertheless, you may want to know which have the most winning chances. We’ll, therefore, classify casino games by house edge.
Low Edge Games
To some extent, it’s debatable where the line between low and high house edges lies. What one player sees as a low edge may be too high for another. For us at slots.xyz, anything below 3% is worth trying. Games like Baccarat, Blackjack, and Pai Gow Poker have an indisputably low edge. Specific bets in Craps, as well as some Video Poker variants also have very low house edges. Games like Blackjack may, however, require the maintenance of a bit of strategy to keep the house edge low.
High Edge Games
With a house edge that’s around 25%, Keno has one of the lowest chances of winning. That’s probably why it’s become less popular. At 5.26%, American Roulette also has a high house edge, especially when you compare it with the 2.70% edge of European Roulette. Some slot casino games have a house edge that’s as high as 15%. Also, some bets in Craps may have a house advantage that’s well over 10%.
Casino Games by Skill Factor
All casino games have a degree of randomness, so players ultimately depend on luck to win. However, some games also involve a degree of skill. In these games, you can influence the results by honing your skills and developing strategies. Some players enjoy the simpler games of chance, where their fate lies entirely in the hands of lady luck. At slots.xyz, we always advise players to go for games that are the most fun and enjoyable to them, rather than focus on winning. After all, playing casino games is all about entertainment.
High Skill Casino Games: Popular casino games that require high levels of skill to reduce the house edge include Blackjack and Poker. Playing in poker tournaments is also another example of how players with the best ability may influence their chances of winning. In Blackjack, counting cards is an example of a skill that used to work against casinos. In Video Poker, you can need a high level of expertise to determine which cards to keep or discard. In Craps, players can arguably learn how to control dice and improve their winning chances.
Low Skill Casino Games: Some games require some skill to master. However, your expertise won’t have much influence over the overall house edge. Some Poker games fall into this category.
Chance-Based Casino Games: Winning at most casino games is purely a matter of luck. There’s nothing you can do to affect the house edge. Slots are the closest example, but Baccarat and Roulette fall into this category as well. You can influence where the slot reels or Roulette wheel will stop. Some games, however, have higher RTPs, and savvy players will do their research and go steer clear of the rip-offs.
Popular Casino Games
In the previous sections, we categorised the various types of casino games. And as you may have gathered, the games are as diverse as the players who enjoy them. You’re so spoilt for choice that you may get a bit overwhelmed when you register for a new account at a casino. While we can choose for you, our experts at slots.xyz can point you in the right direction. We’ve listed some of the most popular casino games that you can start playing and have tonnes of fun. Go on, pick your poison.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular traditional casino games, mainly due to its simple rules and learning curve. The game has been immortalised in movies, books, and pop culture. The basic rules of Blackjack require the player to have a hand of cards that’s higher than the dealer’s, without going above 21. Players rely on both luck and skill for standing, hitting, splitting, and doubling to reduce the house edge to a bare minimum. There’s an optimal way to play each hand, and learning each one takes a lot of time and practice. Improving your skills is, however, relatively simple if you have a blackjack strategy chart.
Roulette
Roulette is yet another iconic game that symbolises all that is casino in movies and visuals. The rules are also pretty straightforward. A croupier spins the hypnotic Roulette wheel and throws in a ball. Players just need to look at the numbers to predict the slot where they think the ball will sit when the wheel stops turning. Roulette has the American, European, and a few variants. There are also even fewer strategies, which makes the game less complicated. You can try playing free online roulette to get the hang of how everything works. However, the game is still purely luck-based, and you won’t be able to influence the outcomes.
Slots
Players who’ve ever been in a land-based casino probably know that slots are easily the most popular among casino games. Even at online casinos, you’ll usually get the same rows upon rows of online slots real money. You can even find free slot machines with free spins no download and have a great deal of fun without spending any money. Progressive slots also have substantial potential winnings. The colourful video slots that you see in casinos today are a far cry from what mechanical one-armed bandits of old. Slots are straightforward to play, and there’s really no thought or strategy to playing them. You just enter your coins, pull a lever or click a button, and the reels start spinning. Modern slots have bonus rounds, multipliers, wilds, and other features, but they remain luck based.
Craps
You’ll find dice casino games few and far between, and the best-known of them is Craps. That’s despite the fact that it’s one of the more complicated options. The basic game rules can’t have been simpler—players bet on the outcome of a roll of two dice. The different wagers and combinations that you can place can, however, quickly get confusing. Craps also have one of the lowest house advantages. You also don’t really have to master all the bets at once, as just knowing the basics is enough to have plenty of fun.
Video Poker
Video Poker is pretty much based on five-card draw poker. One significant difference is that you’ll not be playing against any opponents. There also aren’t any physical cards, as the game is played on machines and not card tables. Players simply try to come out with the best five-card Poker hand to get a correspondingly better payout. Video Poker is an easy game to learn, as players only have to know which cards to keep or discard. A certain level of skill is required to consistently make the best decision, though.
Baccarat
Baccarat is considered one of the oldest casino games and was usually associated with high rollers. In fact, if you visit a land-based casino, you may find several wealthy-looking players crowded around the table. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t play for low stakes as well. It’s very easy to learn how to play Baccarat, and the house advantage is also surprisingly small. You basically have to bet on the banker’s hand or your own and hope you’ve made the right call. There’s pretty much no skill or strategy that you can follow.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Among the wide range of Poker casino games available in casinos, Caribbean Stud Poker is considered as one of the best. The simple rules and massive potential payouts make the five-card stud based game popular with players. You play Caribbean Stud Poker against the house, not other players. A bit of strategy is involved, but learning when to fold or play a hand is quite easy to take in stride. Some versions of the game also have a progressive jackpot that players can claim if they are dealt a royal flush.
3 Card Poker
3 Card Poker is arguably the quickest-paced Poker variant. It’s also one of the easiest to learn, which is why it’s yet another player favourite. Very little thought or strategy is required, but the potential payouts are massive for the right hands. 3 Card Poker is lightly based on another traditional gambling game called Brag. However, it’s played against the house and not other players. Another factor that helps to make 3 card poker one of the most appealing casino games is that the stronger your hand, the bigger the payout.
Let It Ride Poker
Let It Ride is a relatively new variant of Poker that’s a bit more complicated than more traditional options. But worry not, slots.xyz has your back. The major difference with the other Poker games we mentioned earlier is that you can remove part of their stake after the dealer deals you your third and fourth cards. This nifty rule allows players to cover their bankroll against more losses if they think they’ve been dealt a bad hand.
Casino War
We’ve played a lot of casino games, but we doubt that you’ll find one that’s simpler than Casino War. The game distils gambling to its purest level. You and the dealer are dealt one card each, and the highest card wins. That’s pretty much all there is to the game, unless, of course, there’s a tie. If you get the same-ranked card as the dealer, you can choose to surrender and lose half your stake. You can also double your stake and go to war again.
Sic Bo
Sic Bo is a dice game that has recently started gaining a lot of popularity. Unlike with Craps, players wager on Sic Bo using three dice. As you can imagine, there’s an even more extensive range of bets, which makes Sic Bo one of the more complicated casino games to learn. The complexity also adds a broader range of degrees of risk, which allows players to opt between going for the kill and playing it safe.
Pai Gow Poker
Okay, this is the last time we’re going to mention Poker. The game has one of the most unique variants, but we’re sure you’ll find more as you get more experienced. This variant of Poker is inspired by the Chinese game, Pai Gow. You’re dealt seven cards from which you should make a two-card hand, as well as a five-card poker hand. Most Pai Gow gaming decisions are straightforward, but playing and setting up your hands optimally is quite complicated. Once you play the game a couple of times, you’ll start getting the hang of it.
Keno
Keno is a simple lottery-based type of gambling. Winning at Keno is purely a matter of luck, and the game is quite similar to Bingo. Even though Keno has one of the highest house edges, its simplicity makes it popular with players who don’t want to do too much thinking. Twenty numbers are drawn randomly per Keno game. However, Keno players get to choose their own numbers, as well as how many numbers they want to play. Your payout is based on the numbers you manage to match.
Bingo
Bingo is another lottery-style game that’s stolen the hearts of players from all over the world. You can kick back and relax while you mark the numbers being called on your Bingo cards. The game also has a strong social aspect, as players in the same Bingo room interact and get to know each other. Players used to throng land-based Bingo rooms all over the UK, but today online Bingo is more popular.
Scratch Cards
Scratch Cards are yet another simple way to gamble. You can usually find paper cards at convenience stores and lottery booths. Some online casinos also offer scratch card casino games. If you’re not familiar with this form of cheap fun, let slots.xyz fill you in. To play scratch cards online, you only have to register at an online casino or lottery site and navigate to the scratch cards section. You can also buy a paper scratch card. The cards usually have a 3×3 grid of hidden symbols that you reveal by scratching. If you find matching symbols, you’re a winner.
Live Dealer Casino Games
Live dealer games make for a more authentic online casino gaming experience by bringing the brick and mortar casino experience to the comfort of your home. You get to enjoy playing table games against real dealers and croupiers via video streaming. If you’re playing live casino online games, you can usually be in contact with the dealer via live chat. Casino games like Roulette, Blackjack, Casino Hold’em, and Baccarat are typically available in this format.
Casino Games Bonuses
We’ve been saying over and over that casino games are easy to learn and fun to play. New players may be a bit sceptical, but the good news is that you can learn the ropes playing free casino games.
Welcome Bonus
New players at most casinos usually make their first deposit, enter a promo code, and receive a welcome bonus. The latest bonus codes are always available on the promotions page. The typical welcome offer matches your initial deposit up to a certain amount, such as 100% up to £200. If you read our casino reviews, you’ll find some new websites offering new casino no deposit offers. This means you can start playing free casino games without having to pay anything. At other sites, new mobile casino new customers can get an exclusive bonus when they download a native app and join using their mobile device.
Free Spins
Free spins are usually offered alongside matched bonuses. So when you get 100% up to £200, you may get 50 free spins as well. Free slots UK fans can also take a few titles on a spin using slots no deposit bonus offers. This type of bonus allows you to spin the reels without making a deposit, and get real money winnings after completing wagering conditions. With free spins no deposit no wager bonuses, you get all your winnings instantly, without staking any of your money.
Regular Promotions
As a regular customer, you can visit the bonuses and promotions page and claim more promotions, depending on which games you prefer playing. For example, when existing customers recommend the website to a friend or two, they also get a few pounds added to their bankroll. If you’re now a casino games expert and would like to know more about bonuses, we also have a complete guide.
Choosing Which Casino Games to Play
By now, you may be wondering what the best way to choose the best casino games to play is. Our advice is that there’s really no need to pick favourites or stick to a few games. You can consider the factors that we mentioned earlier, such as potential payouts, skill factors, and house edge. It’s okay to play a few games if they are the ones you enjoy the most, but don’t be afraid to experiment once in a while. Ultimately, betting on casino games is all about fun and adventure, after all.
Playing Casino Games Safely
Before we call it a wrap—a word of caution. Playing casino games can be a fun and enjoyable experience. A small but significant proportion of players, however, end up enjoying gambling too much and fail to control their casino games time and budget. Children who share devices with players also sometimes stumble on gambling content, which can negatively affect their young minds. Problem and underage gambling are, therefore, real menaces that always hang a dark cloud over the excitement of playing casino games. The good part is that the best UK casinos always have a Responsible Gambling page, where you can find tools to make sure you stay safe. You can also contact customer support if you have any complaints or any safe gambling related concerns.
