When gambling on the internet, it’s vital to have at least a basic understanding of the online casino games you are playing. For this reason, we have gathered the essential information on all the best casino games out there. Now, we want to share our knowledge of the world of online gambling with you!
We provide numerous in-depth guides for online casino enthusiasts – for blackjack, roulette, slots, baccarat, sic bo, live dealer games, and craps, to name a few; certainly for all the best casino games online.
On this page, you can browse different online casino games, pick up some tips from our gambling experts and find options on where to start playing for real money.
What are the best online casino games?
To satisfy all kinds of players and potential customers, most online casinos offer a wide range of different games – games from online slots to almost real-life poker games. You’ll surely experience no shortage of options when playing on the internet.
However, some casino games stand out above others in terms of their online popularity. The following games are the hottest in the online gambling world today.
Slots
Slots are the most popular game amongst online casino players. Online slots provide huge wins due to progressive jackpots and countless features that will make your games more exciting. Today, casinos offer hundreds of online slots from a large number of game providers. Learn tips from the experts and explore the best slots in our free to play section.
Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in the world and is a regularly featured element in movies and music. The game comes in many different variants – some you’ve probably never heard of before. And yes, you can easily find casino sites to play online as well.
Blackjack’s popularity comes from a blend of complex strategy and a low house edge. With the correct strategy, at some casinos, you can lower the house edge to 0.5%.
Of course, you must find casino sites that offer favorable variations if you want to enjoy the lowest house advantages – the top-rated blackjack casinos feature such games.
Explore our guides below and learn the optimal strategy to beat the house.
Roulette (meaning “little wheel” in French) is the famous casino game played on a wheel, where you can bet on multiple different outcomes, such as red or black and single numbers, which are among many options.
With a history dating back hundreds of years, roulette is one of the oldest casino games. Despite its age, roulette has remained one of the most popular picks among players at online casinos as well.
You can find several common online variations, including American, European, and French roulette. You may also play unique variations, such as 3D, double-ball, mini, and pinball roulette.
Online roulette is a very common choice at online casinos today, and we have put together guides for beginners and experts in case you want to play. Enjoy!
Similar to blackjack, video poker offers a combination of low house advantage and strategic play. In some cases, video poker gives you an even better chance of winning real money online than blackjack.
However, you must play the right variations to enjoy the best video poker odds. Full-pay Jacks or Better and “Not So Ugly Ducks” (Deuces Wild) are examples of video poker games with high RTP.
Keno
Keno is a lottery style game that gives you the chance to win big prizes. You can chase bigger payouts by choosing more numbers (a.k.a. spots).
Keno carries a reputation for offering low return-to-player (RTP). However, online casinos are helping change this reputation by boasting higher keno RTP.
Craps
Craps is widely regarded as one of the most exciting casino games in brick-and-mortar casinos. You can experience this excitement at gaming sites too.
Online craps give you the opportunity to roll (a.k.a. “shoot”) the dice every time. You can also back ‘pass line’ and ‘don’t pass line’ bets with ‘odds,’ which don’t carry a house edge.
Sic bo
Sic bo is a popular dice-themed game that’s based on Chinese dominoes. It features dozens of bets — some of which give you strong odds of winning some real money online.
At first glance, sic bo looks like a confusing game. Fortunately, you can use help screens at online casinos to quickly learn it.
Baccarat
Baccarat was previously only available to wealthy gamblers in brick-and-mortar casinos. However, it’s now widely available at online casinos, too, if you want to play and try your skills.
You can play this game cheaply for $1 per hand. You can also lower the house edge to 1.06% by betting on the win of the banker’s hand.
Poker
Online poker’s popularity exploded in the mid-2000s. Thanks to the big tournaments, it remains highly popular today, with its complex strategy and profit potential.
If you become skilled enough, you can even make a living through online poker. You also have the opportunity to compete for six and seven-figure prizes through tournaments. This is what we call playing for real money.
Caribbean stud
Caribbean stud is a house-banked poker game that pits you against the dealer. It also features side bets that qualify you for a progressive jackpot and other large payouts.
Here, you can combine the strategy of poker with the chance to play for real money. Some Caribbean stud progressive jackpots offer even five or six figures.
Pai gow poker
Pai gow poker is a poker variation that sees you dealt seven cards. You must form two different hands with your pile of cards.
The bottom hand features five cards and must be stronger than the front hand. Bottom hand payouts are based on traditional poker rankings.
The front hand features two cards. You can only form a pair or high card with this hand.
Factors that determine the top casino games
It is impossible to find an online casino game that would be perfect and have all the possible benefits. However, the best casino games combine most, or at least some, of the following attributes:
Engaging play
The top online casinos offer so much more than just the opportunity for avid players to gamble. They also need to feature engaging play to keep people coming back and make the casino popular online. And not all casino games can provide that.
Craps, for example, gives you the opportunity to roll the dice and determine the fate of your bet. It also offers dozens of wagers.
Big payouts
Jackpots are one of the biggest draws for gambling. The thrill and excitement are incredible, but the more if you play for real money. Thus it’s no surprise that there are even games that rely mainly on their progressive jackpots to tempt players.
Commonly, slots offer the biggest jackpots in online casinos. The progressive jackpots affiliated with certain slots are worth millions of dollars – what players wouldn’t like to play online slots in this case?
Caribbean stud is another game that features sizable payouts. You can place a $1 side bet and play for a progressive jackpot worth five or six figures.
High RTP
In general, online casinos deliver higher RTP when compared to land-based gambling. However, even among the best online casinos and their games only, some stand out from the others regarding payout percentages.
Depending on the variation, online blackjack can feature RTP worth over 99.5%. Certain video poker variations offer payback ranging from 99.54% to 99.92%. This is something that definitely favors the online casino experience over even the top-rated games offered by brick-and-mortar casinos.
Strategic play
Gambling can undoubtedly be fun, even when you play for some real money online, not in a land-based casino. However, most players prefer to have some control over the results instead of relying on pure luck. The lottery can also be fun, but not for a long time.
To a certain extent, strategic games provide this control. Blackjack, Caribbean stud, pai gow poker, and video poker are among the most popular online casino games that allow players to regain some control over their fate.
Multiple variations
If you gamble long enough, you’re bound to fall in love with certain games more than the others. Eventually, though, you’ll likely get tired of playing the same options over and over.
You can avoid this problem by picking casino games that feature multiple variations. Roulette and video poker are especially engaging in terms of offering plenty of options.
This is one of the biggest advantages of online casinos – they are not limited by space or workforce, so they can easily provide a much wider variety of games, from an online slot machine to table games.
Free vs. real-money casino games
Online casinos give you the opportunity to play for free; you may also get welcome bonuses or free spins to use and try playing different games for real money.
However, contrary to land-based gambling establishments, you don’t need to bet at all to enjoy casino games. You may wonder, though, why you should consider free games. After all, free online casino games diminish some of the thrills of winning or losing real money.
Many people have found that free gaming at casino sites offers certain advantages versus real-money gambling. Below, you can see the pros and cons of both real-money and free casino games:
Free online casino games
Pros
VS
Cons
Testing an online casino and its software
Big wins count for nothing
Free entertainment
Boredom sets in faster
Practice strategy
No bonuses
Try new games for free
No live-dealer games (usually)
Real-money casino games
Pros
VS
Cons
More excitement
Bad sessions count
Earn casino bonuses
House edge grinds away at bankroll
Live-dealer casino games
Less relaxing
Large Jackpots
Some games can be restricted
Live Dealer Casino Games
Traditional online gaming has always lacked social elements, which, for some, constitute a vital part of the gaming experience. The software-generated games don’t allow you to interact with the dealer and other players.
For an authentic casino experience live dealer casino games are the best choice. They allow you to play against real dealers located in various studios or casinos around the world. Interacting with the live dealer and the other players is possible via the chat function and live video stream.
Live casino games feature a real-life dealer and real casino equipment. If you’re playing table games, such as baccarat, you’ll see a croupier dealing cards on a real table.
These games also feature handy virtual betting options and a chat function. The latter allows you to send questions and comments to the dealer, and they can answer you when they have an opportunity.
This scenario beats software-generated casino games in the social department. You should definitely try if it’s something you miss when you play online.
Available live casino games
Baccarat, blackjack, and roulette are the most-commonly available live casino games. You’ll also find the following options spread across different online casino sites:
Caribbean stud
Casino hold ‘em
Dreamcatcher
Hi-Lo
Sic bo
Super 6
Ultimate Texas hold’em
Why choose live casinos?
If you’re craving a more social gambling experience, you won’t find a better option than brick-and-mortar casinos. This setting allows you to sit next to other players and chat with them in person.
However, online live-dealer casinos make for suitable alternatives thanks to the following benefits:
they are available through your mobile device or PC,
you can chat with the dealer,
it’s easy to navigate to different games with only a few clicks/swipes,
you have the chance to pursue casino bonuses while playing,
you may easily enter and leave online casinos without the need to travel,
you can use the “bet behind” option when tables are full.
The gaming world offers several different types of deals. Each of the following casino bonuses can be lucrative in its own way.
Welcome bonus
All new players qualify for welcome bonuses after placing their first deposit. Some of these deals only cover one deposit, while others encompass multiple deposits.
Here’s an example of the latter:
An online casino offers a welcome bonus worth up to $5,000.
This deal is spread across your first three deposits.
1st deposit is eligible for a 100% match bonus up to $1,000.
2nd deposit is eligible for a 75% match bonus up to $2,000.
3rd deposit is eligible for a 50% match bonus up to $2,000.
You must meet terms and conditions before cashing out a welcome bonus — or any other deal. Playthrough, or rollover, is usually one of the most important terms.
Rollover refers to how much you must wager before withdrawing bonus funds. Casinos typically express playthrough as a multiple of the bonus, though withdrawal and wagering requirements may differ.
A reload bonus is the same as a welcome offer in many respects. It includes similar terms and conditions and is also based on a match percentage of your deposit.
However, reload bonuses are only available after you’ve already tried for/earned the welcome bonus. They allow you to continue picking up extra cash as an existing casino member.
After a satisfying playthrough, these bonuses only let you withdraw what’s left of the offer plus any potential winnings.
Here’s an example of earning a no-deposit casino bonus:
You receive a $25 no-deposit offer.
Rollover is 40x.
$25 x 40 = $800 must be wagered
You have $15 left after satisfying playthrough.
You can withdraw the $15 (pending other T&Cs).
VIP rewards
Most gaming sites feature a VIP program that delivers various benefits to their VIP players. Cashback, deposit bonuses, free spins, VIP hosts, and more are commonly available through these programs.
You only need to deposit and begin making real-money wagers to qualify for loyalty perks. This situation differs from how you must sign up for VIP programs at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Free spins
Free spins can be part of deposit or no-deposit casino bonus deals. They give you a chance to win real money by playing an online slot without spending anything.
If you know and meet all the terms and conditions, you can keep the winnings you accrue through free spins.
Here’s an example on free spins:
You receive 50 free spins.
You win $12 with the spins.
Playthrough is 30x.
$12 x 30 = $360 must be wagered before cashing out winnings
Free bet (live casino)
Casinos might offer you a free wager to try their live-dealer casino sites. For example, you could receive a free $25 blackjack bet.
Assuming you win the wager, you get to keep the money. If you lose, then you have a chance to win back the funds.
Here’s an example on a free bet:
You receive a $25 free wager.
Rollover is 25x.
$25 x 25 = $500 must be wagered
You get the $25 back after satisfying playthrough.
Does it matter where you play online casino games?
There are numerous online casinos in the online gambling industry right now. However, they may differ significantly from each other, so you shouldn’t blindly choose the first casino that you find.
Instead, you want to be more selective by considering important factors that determine the high quality of an online casino. You will see it is worth spending some time to find the best online casino available.
You should keep the following aspects in mind before depositing at a gaming site:
Reputation – Any casino with a history of quality service is worth considering.
Game testing – Casinos that obtain third-party testing approval offer more assurance of fair gaming.
Licensing – You should only consider licensed gaming sites.
Customer support – The best support representatives are responsive and knowledgeable.
Bonuses – You should have an opportunity to earn extra cash on the side of your play.
Mobile compatibility – Most gaming sites are now compatible with Android and iOS devices, but it would be wise to check before choosing one.
Website navigation – Each online casino needs to make it easy for you to maneuver across their websites.
Of course, you should also consider your individual preferences, requirements, and needs in order to find the best online casino for you.
Casino Games FAQ
Are online casino games fair?
Most online casino sites seek out third parties to test their games. They want to provide you the assurance that their games are indeed random and fair.
Third-party, such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs, examine casinos odds and RNGs. Once they have completed testing and confirmed everything is working correctly, they issue a certification that can be posted on online casino sites.
You can gamble safely at online casinos that have undergone third-party testing and stay leery of sites that haven’t.
Which Online Casino Games Offer the Biggest Jackpots?
Some games feature multimillion-dollar payouts that can make you rich in a single spin. On average, slots feature the largest jackpots at online casino sites. So, if you want to try your luck with the chance of winning big, you can easily find an online slot machine to do that.
How do I play free casino games?
Some online casinos let you try their games without the need to set up an account. In these cases, you just select the game that interests you and start playing for fun, not real money.
Most casinos, however, require you to register for an account before playing, even for free. You must enter personal information on the registration form, such as your email, phone number, username, and password.
Which online casino games offer the best chance to win?
Baccarat, blackjack, craps, and French roulette offer the best odds of winning at internet casinos.
Many consider blackjack superior because it sometimes offers over 99.5% RTP. Of course, you need to choose the right variation and use the correct strategy to enjoy this high payback.
Here’s what you can expect in terms of RTP from the other top games:
1. Baccarat = 98.94% house edge (on banker hand) 2. French roulette = 98.65% (on even-money bets) 3. Craps = 98.64% (on don’t pass line bets)
Which casino games feature the worst odds?
Your chances of winning at online casinos are greater than at brick-and-mortar venues. Nevertheless, online gambling doesn’t always offer great odds.
Here are three games that you need to avoid if you want higher chances of winning:
1. American roulette = 5.26% house edge 2. Caribbean stud = 5.24% 3. Slots = 2% to 6%
Do all casino games qualify for bonuses?
Unfortunately, no. Many online casinos exclude certain games from satisfying playthrough. You must read the terms and conditions to determine if there are any game restrictions.
When there are restrictions, it’s often table games that are excluded from meeting rollover. Stingy casinos prevent baccarat, blackjack, craps, and/or French roulette from contributing to playthrough.
Can I beat games at internet casinos?
Online gambling sites don’t offer consistent advantage-play opportunities. When they do, it’s either because they’re running faulty games that favor players or they have made a math mistake on a bonus.
Outside of these rare cases, you can’t guarantee an edge over gaming sites. Your best chance of winning lies in learning the correct strategy and seeking casino games that offer a high payback.
Video poker and blackjack typically give you the best chance to beat an online casino. In the right circumstances, you can play yourself into a near coinflip situation with these games.
