Roulette, craps, blackjack, slots, video poker… there are so many casino games to choose from and for those just stepping into the world of online gambling, it might be a real challenge to pick out the game they would like to play. No doubt, casino games provide the thrills for those who play regularly but for the newcomers, sampling the various games would make it easier to select the game of their choice. It would also be worthwhile to understand how the games are classified by online casinos and then search for them accordingly.
Online casino games are broadly classified into table games, slots and video poker. Some casinos also make a classification of the table games separately into those using playing cards and those that do not. So we have card games, table games, slots and video poker.
Card Games
Card games are usually a comparison between the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand. The most popular card game you’ll find at any casino is blackjack. In blackjack, the aim is to get a card total as close to 21 as possible. The other card game commonly found in both land based as well as online casinos is Baccarat. Here again, the aim is to get a card total of 9.
Poker is another card game found at online poker rooms and land based casinos. Poker is a game of skill and to be able to play it reasonably well one needs to learn the rules and strategies of the game. Yet, poker has a great fan following with millions of players from all over the world trying their hand at this thrilling game.
Table Games
Table games are those that do not use playing cards. The Roulette Wheel has become almost synonymous with a casino. Roulette is one table game that everyone is familiar with due to its frequent appearance in Hollywood films. In the game of roulette, players place a wager on a number or a group of numbers. The rolling ball on the spinning roulette wheel decides the winner of the game. Although the game is quite popular online, some believe that the glamour and excitement of Roulette can truly be experienced only at a land based casino.
The other well known table game is Craps. This is a game of dice and is played in a separate area at land-based casinos. Online, players bet on a number that is the result of the fall of the dice. Craps is a more complex game and hence requires that the player masters the rules well. Craps also has a higher house edge, meaning the odds are in favor of the casino.
Online Slots
Originally, slots machines were placed in land-based casinos more for the amusement of the gamblers who wanted a break from the tables. Gradually, slots machines became very popular with the gamblers and have not looked back since. The popularity of slots machines has reached such great levels that today it is the most favored game at the gambling websites. One reason for this reputation might be due to the fact that this is a very easy game, not requiring the player to learn many rules. Online slots games pay out huge money in the form of fixed jackpots and progressive jackpots. Casino fans play slots simply for the thrill and excitement.
Video Poker
The game of Video Poker is a mixture of slots and poker, played on a machine that looks like a slots machine. The main aim is to make the best hand with the five cards that are dealt. You do this by discarding and replacing cards. The rules of the game are similar to Draw Poker, so if you can play Draw Poker, Video Poker can be easily mastered. Online, you will be dealt with five cards on clicking the deal button. Out of these five cards, you must discard the ones which you think will not make a winning hand. You click the deal button a second time and get the final hand which may or may not be a winning hand depending on which cards you chose to retain earlier. The trick in Video Poker is to know which cards to keep and which to discard.
All gambling websites generally offer a variety of the games listed above. For example, you can play different variations of Blackjack like Super 21, European Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, Pontoon and Match Play 21 at most online casinos. Most sites also have a good collection of interestingly themed slots games including 5 reel slots, multi-line slots, bonus games and progressive slots. There is also video poker in a few different variants. Table games like Roulette, Craps and card games like baccarat are also available at popular Casinos.
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