Every now and again we take a definitive look at a large section of online gambling and try to present its intricacies to you in the best way possible. So, what’s on the menu today? In short: the most common types of casino games. Namely, we’ll be glancing at various different kinds of casino games there are, go over a comprehensive list of casino games with you, try to answer the question which casino games are the most popular games in an online casino, and even present to you a handy infographic that sums up the entire issue succinctly.
So, before we jump to our very own AskGamblers infographic depicting different types of online gambling, here’s a couple of quick questions for you: do you know how many types of online gambling there are? How would you divide them by categories? Which casino games would you say are most widely played? Would online slots and table games go into the same category? What about online poker, lottery or bingo? If you’d much rather just have these questions answered, well… that’s why we’re here!
Types of Online Gambling
Surely, when talking about online gambling, it’s important to make a distinction between certain types. For starters, we could broadly divide the entire world of online gambling into three major categories: online casino games, sports betting and instant win games. However, all these categories have subcategories of their own, which leads us to the next section.
Types of Casino Games
While playing in an online casino you’ll notice that casinos feature various types of casino games, ranging from online slots and table games to casino games based on random numbers, dice and tiles.
In short, there’s something for everyone in an online casino. For your convenience, we’ve sorted different types of online casino games according to certain criteria, as you can see in the following infographic.
What Kind of Casino Games Are There? List of Casino Games
Ready for our list of the most popular names of casino games? While we cannot possibly name all the games typically found in a casino (mostly because there are dozens of variants of every game imaginable!), we’ll try and list the most popular casino game names — and in alphabetical order, too.
- Baccarat
- Backgammon
- Bingo
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Crypto Gambling
- Keno
- Lottery
- Pai Gow Poker
- Poker
- Roulette
- Scratch Cards
- Sic Bo
- Slots
- Tombola
- Video Poker
- Wheel of Fortune (The Big Six)
All right, buckle up; it’s time to dive into each of the casino games, examine what makes them unique, and give a short overview of the most popular types of casino games in online casinos.
Slots
Let’s face it — most of us are here for the slots! In fact, online slots are, without a doubt, some of the most popular casino games in the world of online gambling. And it isn’t hard to understand why; there are so many different versions of slot machines that it’s practically impossible to ever get bored or lose interest.
Whether you’re a fan of classic slots, reminiscent of the old-school slot machines found in land-based casinos, or you’re more likely to spin the reels of video slots, brimming with special features, scatters, wild symbols and bonus rounds, one thing is for sure: enter any online casino and you will be spoiled for choice. That includes progressive jackpot slots and the coveted jackpots that are on the rise daily!
Speaking of slot machines, have you ever wondered how slots work? Well, wonder no more, for we explained that mystery in great detail in one of our previous blogs. The answer is only a click away (but the knowledge lasts a lifetime).
Poker
If you’re familiar with poker in the offline world, then you already know all there is to know about poker in online casinos. Five cards (usually!), pairs, flushes, full house, and, ultimately, the best hand winds!
While there are numerous types of online poker, we’ll name several of the most famous poker variants. The list includes Texas Hold’em, 7 Card Stud, Omaha Hold’em, Razz, Pineapple, 5 Card Draw and others.
Blackjack
Again, blackjack is one of the most famous card games in the world, so it’s only natural that its online version is as popular as it is. Formerly spelled as Black Jack, this casino game is typically played between the player and the dealer (the house). Both players take turns in turning cards over with the aim to get as close to 21 without ever going over (aces count as one or 11). Winning in blackjack may sound like pure luck initially, but blackjack is, actually, a game of skill as much as it is a game of luck.
Roulette
Unlike blackjack where skill plays an important role, roulette is truly a casino game for those who believe in Lady Luck and Lady Luck alone. All you need to do is throw the ball onto the spinning wheel and call your outcome. You can bet on the number the ball will land on, the colour (black or red), even the row, column, or square!
Don't like strategizing? Then roulette is the casino game for you!
Online roulette comes in different variants, as well, and some of the most popular roulette games are American Roulette, European Roulette, French Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, amongst others.
Bingo
When you hear the word “bingo”, you might see in your head the clichéd image of old folks spending their quieter days playing this famous game, but hey, you can play bingo in an online casino from the comfort of your home, too! The rules are pretty simple: the numbers are drawn (or “called out”) and, once you get a winning pattern on your card, you win.
Baccarat
Baccarat has long been a preferred game by the aristocracy, but nowadays, you can enjoy baccarat regardless of your blood being red, instead of the coveted blue. Especially thanks to online gambling.
For those of you who have never tried it before, baccarat is a fairly simple card game where each coup (which translates to a round of play) may result in one of three possible outcomes: "player" (where the player has the higher score), "banker", or "tie". The most famous variants of baccarat are Punto Banco (North American Baccarat), Chemmy or Shimmy (chemin de fer), and Baccarat Banque.
Wheel of Fortune (The Big Six)
Look, who hasn’t wanted to spin the Wheel of Fortune at least once in their life? It’s fun, it’s easy, and it may just result in you winning some truly attractive prizes.
Just like it is in the offline world, if you play the Wheel of Fortune in an online casino, you can bet on one of the six symbols located on 52 equal sections on the wheel. If the pointer stops on the betted symbol, you win.
Keno
Keno can be found in most online casinos, and while it may come in various different forms, it’s, in its pure form, a type of lottery game. Still, most variants agree on one rule: you pick numbers between one and 80, make your bet, and wait to see what the keno machine has drawn. If your numbers are up, you win!
Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow Poker is a version of the traditional game Pai Gow, played with Chinese dominoes. Unlike the traditional Pai Gow, the Pai Gow Poker (also referred to as double-hand poker) is played with cards.
What sets Pai Gow Poker apart from other poker games is the fact it's played against the house, not other players.
What’s special about Pai Gow Poker is that it isn’t played against other players, but the house. The goal is to create a five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand from seven cards and both need to beat the dealer’s hands.
Video Poker
The goal in video poker is the same as it is in regular poker: to get the best possible five-card hand. What makes video poker stand out amongst other casino games is that it is sometimes referred to as a full-pay casino game. What that means, in a nutshell, is that you could have a 100% return in the long run. No wonder it’s so widely played, huh?
The most popular video poker variants are All American, Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Joker's Wild, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus and Double Double Bonus, to name a few.
Scratch Cards
Scratch cards, or scratch-offs, are some of the most beloved casino games in various countries all over the globe. They’re quick and easy to work, and, if you’re in luck, you may win hefty sums. Basically, with scratch cards you don’t need to exert any effort; just hope for the best and scratch away!
Craps
Craps is, without a doubt, the most famous dice game in the world. How does it work? Essentially, you make a bet on the outcome of your roll, or a series of rolls, and simply throw the dice. Voila!
Sic Bo
Like craps, sic bo is a type of a dice casino game (albeit dating from ancient China). However, unlike craps, where certain strategizing may be applied, sic bo is said to be a pure game of chance. Another difference is that sic bo is typically played with three dice, whereas craps is played with two.
Skill Based Casino Games
Skill-based games are the type of games whose outcome is determined by skill rather than chance. Essentially, you get rewarded for utilizing the best strategies for the given moment and win more by betting more. The most popular skill based games are roulette, blackjack, poker and their variants.
The key distinction between skill-based and luck-based games is that the game designers construct scenarios based on a wide range of identifiers, paying better players more.
Skill Games vs. Games of Chance
Throughout this blog post we’ve encountered different types of casino games that rely mostly on chance, some that allow strategizing and others that combine the two in order to produce the most favourable outcome.
If you're a player who enjoys a challenge, perhaps skill-based games are the perfect option for you.
If you’re a casino game newbie, it might be best to start with online casino games that rely purely on luck (e.g. online slots). However, if you would like a challenge, then skill-based games might be the perfect option for you. Whichever you’re drawn more to, just remember that luck is also a factor in most casino games and no amount of strategizing can make up for the fact that someone else might have Lady Luck on their side that day.
What Is the Most Popular Game in a Casino?
Earlier in the blog we posited that online slots are definitely some of the most popular casino games in the world of online gambling. However, that doesn’t mean that any of the Big Three (blackjack, roulette and craps) are any less popular among casino players. But then again… how could we skip over poker and all its variants? Or craps and sic bo?
The answer to the question of what the most popular game in a casino is, in short, depends on the type of casino player you are.
Regardless, which casino game would you say is the most popular one? Much like anything in the world, this topic is open for debate, so why don’t you share your thoughts with us? You know us; we’re always ready for a lively discussion… and you know where to find us!
