Whether you’re drawn to roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, poker, live dealer tables or video slots with eye-catching progressive jackpots, this guide covers the details that matter. We look at leading online casino games and their formats, features and ways to play.
ROULETTE CASINO GAMES
Ask someone to name a well-known casino table game and Roulette is likely to come up. It remains one of the most recognizable casino games and table games available.
European and French roulette wheels have a single zero, while the American wheel also has a ‘00’ pocket. This additional ‘00’ increases the house edge, so European or French roulette is usually the preferred choice for players prioritizing return to player (RTP).
Online roulette is generally offered in two main types of roulette casino games:
- Virtual (RNG): These computer-based games use a random number generator (RNG) algorithm to determine the outcome of each bet. Stakes are often low, and there is no time limit. Many virtual tables also offer a free-play demo, so you can learn the betting layout before wagering real money.
- Live Dealer: Live Casino tables are for players who want a land-based-style experience without going to a casino. A webcam streams the game in real time as a live croupier runs the table. Results in this format are not generated by a computer.
Variants include mini-Roulette, which uses a smaller wheel with fewer numbers. Multi-Ball or Double-Ball Roulette features more than 1 ball on the wheel, while multi-Wheel Roulette uses multiple wheels. These formats give the familiar game a different pace and presentation.
For the potential of bigger wins, look into live dealer roulette tables with multipliers, bonuses and/or progressive jackpots. Age of the Gods Roulette is a notable jackpot game. Lightning Roulette and Quantum Roulette add multipliers, while random multiplier roulette tables offer another distinctive online casino experience.
Before playing, check out our 'how to play roulette' and "roulette strategies" guides for the rules, bet types and strategic considerations.
BLACKJACK GAMES
Few casino table games are as popular as Blackjack. Online casinos typically offer a wide range of variants, each with its own rules, special features and stakes from low to high.
‘Vegas Blackjack’ uses familiar blackjack rules, while ‘Double Exposure’ shows both of the dealer’s cards. In ‘Blackjack Switch’, you play multiple seats and can move cards between hands under the game’s special rule. These are just a few of the many available variants.
Players who don’t want an RNG to determine the outcome can choose live dealer blackjack. Several rule sets are available, including ‘Free Bet Blackjack’, with ‘free double downs’ and ‘free splits’, and ‘Power Blackjack’, which removes all 9s and 10s from the shoe.
Before taking a seat, read our essential 'how to play blackjack' and 'blackjack strategies' guides.
BACCARAT CASINO GAMES
Baccarat suits players with a range of bankrolls, although it’s often associated with high rollers. Almost every casino offers the game, which comes in numerous forms, much like Blackjack. Variants include Speed Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Peek Baccarat, Mini Baccarat and Baccarat No Commission.
Many baccarat tables feature a selection of side bets, and the original game has inspired spin-offs such as Dragon Tiger, essentially a hi-lo game with a tie bet. Some versions also offer multipliers. Evolution’s games include Lightning Baccarat, Golden Wealth Baccarat and Red Envelope Baccarat.
For live-table players, Lightning Baccarat is a prominent option, awarding random multipliers of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 8x your bet. ‘No Commission’ baccarat is another established variant, where winning banker bets are not subject to the usual 5% commission.
CRAPS GAMES
Craps is a major dice game at land-based and online casinos. It’s also known by the nickname ‘Snake Eyes’.
Evolution’s live dealer platform offers both virtual and Live Craps. First-Person Craps has become a familiar virtual-table format, using 3D rendering and animation to create a land-based casino atmosphere.
LIVE GAMES
Live dealer tables and game shows stream in real time from licensed live casino studios. Ultra-HD webcam technology and advanced audio help create a land-based-style experience on a smartphone, tablet or desktop.
A trained dealer or croupier manually hosts and runs the table, so no RNGs are involved. Players place bets with virtual chips using the platform’s betting technology.
The best live dealer table for you may depend on which software provider you prefer. Roulette, blackjack, poker and baccarat are available in many styles and formats. Other popular options include dice games such as Sic Bo, Craps Dice Duel, Lighting Dice and Bac Bo.
BetGamesTV and TVBet are among the providers offering less conventional live games. Their selections include War of Bets, live lottery, live bingo, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti and other titles beyond the usual table-game lineup.
Some of the most distinctive live dealer game shows are live wheel-of-fortune titles, including Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Adventures Beyond Wonderland and Sweet Bonanza Candyland. These shows advertise prize money worth millions of Euros from single spins. Other examples include Deal or No Deal, Mega Ball, Boom City and Football Studio. Playtech Live also offers 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' roulette titles.
ONLINE VIDEO SLOTS
Video slots are a mainstay of online casino gaming. Reel layouts vary: one slot may have 5 reels and 3-pay lines, while another may use 6 or more reels. Newer mechanics include MegaWays, with thousands of ways to win, and cluster pays titles, where symbol groups can form combinations in several directions.
Themes are another major draw. Developers continue to release hundreds of slots based on films, rock bands, cartoon characters, superheroes, ancient civilizations, science fiction, fantasy and countless other subjects.
Slots pair their themes with features intended to make rounds more engaging and create multiplier opportunities. Free spins, Wild symbols, cascading reels, multipliers, Scatter symbols, progressive jackpots and bonus rounds are among the features found in leading video slots.
Popular slot titles include Gonzo’s Quest, Book of Dead, Book of Ra, John Hunter, Starburst and Narcos. Progressive jackpot favorites include Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, Divine Fortune, Hall of Gods and Mega Joker.
VOLATILITY AND RTP
Before playing, check a game’s volatility and return to player (RTP) percentage. In general, a higher RTP means a lower house edge, making it an appealing factor when comparing online casino games.
Variance, also called volatility, is another factor to consider. Casino games are generally described as low, medium or high volatility. The level is usually fixed, although providers such as Wazdan may let players select a setting. Low volatility tends to mean frequent, smaller wins; high volatility means wins are less frequent but may be larger. Medium volatility falls between those patterns.
Video slots can have different variance levels from one title to another. Roulette, Sic Bo and Craps offer a range of bets, each with its own variance or volatility profile. Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker are fixed low-variance games, while Keno is considered highly volatile because it follows a lottery- or bingo-style format.
Theoretical RTP estimates the percentage of bets returned over an extended period; it does not predict the outcome of an individual session. An RTP of 94% or lower is considered low, while an RTP above 97% is classified as high. RTP and house edge can be calculated in relation to each other: a Blackjack table with a 0.5% house edge has an RTP of 99.5%.
Real-Money Play vs. Free Games
You don’t necessarily have to spend money to play online casino games. Depending on the experience you want, you can deposit funds or use a game’s demo mode.
There are 3 main ways to play:
- Play free casino games online in a demo mode with play money
- Play for real money, using Dollars, Euros or other currencies
- Play with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and others
Online casinos that offer real-money play almost always provide demo versions of slots and virtual tables. A demo generally uses the same RNG as the real-money game, but free-play wins have no tangible value and cannot be converted into real money. Crypto gambling is still real-money gambling: winnings are paid in crypto, which may be exchanged for cash through an exchange after you cash out.
TOP CASINO GAME SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Casino software developers, also known as software providers, create video slots, table games and live dealer titles. Some serve both land-based and online casinos, while others focus exclusively on games built for online play.
Examples of providers associated with leading online casino games include:
Land-Based and Online Casino Games: Providers active in both land-based and online casino gaming include Merkur, Quickspin (Playtech), WMS, IGT, Ainsworth, 2 By 2 Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, Reflex gaming, Barcrest, SG (Light & Wonder), Aristocrat, EGT Interactive (Amusnet), Aristocrat, DWG, Inspired Gaming and many more.
Online Live Dealer Games: Notable live dealer developers include Evolution, Ezugi, Playtech Live, BetConstruct, Pragmatic Play Live, Lucky Streak, Vivo Gaming, BetGames and Authentic Gaming.
Online-Only Casino Games: Providers focused exclusively on online casino games include NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n Go, Betsoft, Pragmatic Play, Endorphina, NYX, BGaming, NextGen, Wazdan and Yggdrasil.
MOBILE CASINO GAMES AND APPS
Play online casino games on a desktop or mobile device. Nearly all video slots and table games, including live dealer titles, are also designed for smartphones and tablets.
Casino Apps: Some casinos offer a downloadable app, usually for iOS or Android. If your device doesn’t support either system, you can still access casino games another way.
Browser-Based Casino Games: You don’t need to download an app to play in Chrome, Safari, Edge or another web browser. Today’s gambling platforms and game designs are responsive and use HTML5, enabling on-demand play across operating systems.
How to Choose the Best Online Casinos
The best casino games are the ones you enjoy most. Still, before deciding where and how to play, consider a few practical points when researching online casino games.
Keep these points in mind when assessing whether an online casino experience is fair:
- Licensed Software Provider: The developer should be licensed by a reputable iGaming authority.
- Licensed Online Casinos: The casino operator should also hold an appropriate licence.
- Non-Computer-Generated Results: If you prefer not to use RNGs, choose live dealer games where cards, dice or a wheel determine the outcome, with each round played in real time.
- Fair RNGs: Software providers and casino platforms should have their random number generators certified. Where a brand holds a reputable iGaming licence, the licensing authority may require the developer and/or operator to provide an RNG test certificate.
CHOOSING THE BEST CASINO GAMES
It makes sense to check RTP, variance and hit rate before playing, but the best online casino game is usually the one you enjoy most. Graphics, bonus features, side bets and action may shape your choice, but enjoyment and results vary from player to player.
Casino Games FAQ
What are the best casino games?
There’s no single answer: the best games are the ones you enjoy. Video slots are among the most popular online options, while other players may prefer table games or live game shows.
Which software providers have the best games?
It mostly comes down to personal preference. Many established developers are known for their game libraries, including Evolution, Playtech, Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, Yggdrasil, Play’n GO and Pragmatic Play. With more than 100 development companies to explore, you may find other providers whose styles and mechanics suit you better.
Are live games safe to play online?
Live dealer developers hold licences from regulatory bodies such as the UKGC and MGA, and licensing arrangements include regular fairness testing. Check these details against the relevant operator and jurisdiction; a developer’s licence alone does not confirm that a casino is authorized for every player.
What casino games can I play online besides slots, blackjack, roulette and baccarat?
Slots, blackjack, roulette and baccarat are popular choices, but there are plenty of other options. Table-game fans can try dice games such as Craps and Sic Bo, or card games such as Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker and Rummy. Live dealer selections may also feature Crazy Time, Gonzo's Treasure Hunt, Deal or No Deal, Monopoly Live, Mega Wheel and Adventures Beyond Wonderland. Other categories include video poker and scratchcards.
Are there promotions for specific games?
Yes. Some casinos offer promotions linked to particular games. For example, a welcome bonus or no deposit bonus might include 50 free spins on a particular video slot. Developers may also run campaigns of their own. Pragmatic Play's Drops & Wins promotion, for instance, is described as awarding random prizes to players using selected slots and live dealer titles from the company.
