Whether your preference is roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, poker, live dealer tables, or video slots with eye-catching progressive jackpots, this guide covers the details that matter. We outline the leading online casino games today so you can compare their formats, features, and ways to play.
ROULETTE CASINO GAMES
When people are asked to name a well-known casino table game, ‘Roulette’ is likely to be among the first answers. It remains one of the most recognisable casino tables and one of the leading casino games available.
Roulette games using a European/French wheel have just a single zero. The American version adds a ‘00’ pocket to the wheel. That extra ‘00’ raises the house edge, which is why the European or French versions are generally preferred when return to player (RTP) is the priority.
Online roulette is generally available in two main forms of roulette casino games:
- Virtual (RNG): These computer-coded gambling games use a random number generator (RNG) algorithm to determine each bet's result. Stakes are often low, and play has no time limit. Many virtual tables also include a free-play demo mode, allowing you to learn the betting layout before using real money.
- Live Dealer: Live Casino tables suit players who want a land-based-style experience without travelling to a casino. A webcam streams the action in real time as a real-life croupier runs the table. With this format, outcomes are not generated by a computer.
Variants include mini-Roulette, played on a smaller wheel with fewer numbers. Multi-Ball or Double-Ball Roulette puts more than 1 ball on the wheel, while multi-Wheel Roulette uses more than one wheel. These formats give the familiar game a different pace and presentation.
Players seeking larger potential wins may want to examine live dealer roulette tables featuring multipliers, bonuses, and/or progressive jackpots. Age of the Gods Roulette is one notable jackpot title. Lightning Roulette and Quantum Roulette add multipliers, while random multiplier roulette tables offer another distinctive online casino experience.
Before playing, consult our 'how to play roulette' and "roulette strategies" guides for the rules, bet types, and strategic considerations.
BLACKJACK GAMES
Few casino tables match the popularity of Blackjack. Online casinos commonly carry a broad selection of variants, each with its own rules, novelty features, and stakes ranging from low to high.
‘Vegas Blackjack’ follows familiar blackjack rules, whereas ‘Double Exposure’ changes the format by displaying both of the dealer’s cards. In ‘Blackjack Switch’, you play multiple seats and can move cards from one hand to another under its distinctive rule. These represent only a small selection of the available variants.
Players who would rather avoid an RNG deciding the outcome can choose live dealer blackjack. There are several rule sets, including ‘Free Bet Blackjack’, with ‘free double downs’ and ‘free splits’, and ‘Power Blackjack’, which removes all 9s and 10s from the shoe.
Read our essential 'how to play blackjack' and 'blackjack strategies' guides before taking a seat.
BACCARAT CASINO GAMES
Baccarat appeals to players with different bankrolls, even though it is often associated with high rollers. It is available at almost every casino and, like Blackjack, comes in numerous forms. Alongside the standard variation, options include Speed Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Peek Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, and Baccarat No Commission.
Many baccarat tables include a range 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 add multipliers too. Evolution's selection includes Lightning Baccarat, Golden Wealth Baccarat and Red Envelope Baccarat.
For live-table fans, Lightning Baccarat is a prominent choice, paying random multipliers of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 8x your bet. ‘No Commission’ baccarat is another long-standing variant; winning banker bets do not carry the usual 5% commission on this table.
CRAPS GAMES
Craps is a major dice game in both land-based and online casinos. It is also known by the nickname ‘Snake Eyes’.
Evolution's live dealer platform offers virtual and Live Craps. First-Person Craps has become a widely recognised virtual-table format because intelligent 3D rendering and animation are used to give the game a land-based 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 are used at each table, creating a land-based-style experience on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop device.
A trained dealer or croupier manually hosts and operates the table, so there are no RNGs involved. Bets are placed with virtual chips through the platform's betting technology.
The best live dealer table for you will often depend on the software provider you prefer. Roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat appear in many formats and styles. Other popular options include dice games such as Sic Bo, Craps Dice Duel, Lighting Dice and Bac Bo.
Providers such as BetGamesTV and TVBet also offer less conventional live formats. Their range includes War of Bets, live lottery, live bingo, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti, and other titles that move beyond the usual table-game selection.
Among the most distinctive live dealer game shows are Live wheel of fortune titles such as Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Adventures Beyond Wonderland and Sweet Bonanza Candyland. These shows advertise prize money running into millions of Euros from single spins. Other examples include Deal or No Deal, Mega Ball, Boom City and Football Studio, while Playtech Live also offers 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' roulette titles.
ONLINE VIDEO SLOTS
Video slots remain a central part of online casino gaming. Reel layouts vary: one slot may use 5 reels and 3-pay lines, while another may have 6 or more reels. Newer mechanics include MegaWays, which provide thousands of ways to win, and cluster pays titles, where symbol clusters can form combinations in multiple directions.
Theme is another major attraction. Developers continue to release hundreds of slots based on films, rock bands, cartoon characters, superheroes, ancient civilisations, science fiction, fantasy, and many other subjects.
Slots also combine their themes with features designed to make the 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.
Frequently mentioned slot titles include Gonzo’s Quest, Book of Dead, Book of Ra, John Hunter, Starburst, and Narcos. In the progressive jackpot category, players often cite Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, Divine Fortune, Hall of Gods, and Mega Joker.
VOLATILITY AND RTP
Check a game's volatility and return to player (RTP) percentage before playing. In general, a higher RTP corresponds to a lower house edge, making such a title attractive when comparing gambling games online.
Variance, also known as volatility, is another important consideration. Casino games are usually described as having low, medium or high volatility. The level is normally fixed, although providers such as Wazdan may let players select a volatility setting. Low volatility tends to produce frequent small wins; high volatility produces wins less often, but the wins can be larger. Medium volatility sits between those patterns.
Video slots can have different variance levels from one title to another. Roulette, Sic Bo and Craps offer several bets, each with its own variance/volatility profile. Blackjack, Baccarat, and Poker are fixed low-variance games, while Keno is classed as highly volatile because it follows a lottery/bingo-style format.
Theoretical RTP indicates the percentage of bets expected back over an extended period, not a guaranteed result for an individual session. An RTP of 94% or lower is considered low RTP, while anything above 97% is classed as high RTP. 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 vs. Free Games
Online casino play does not necessarily require spending money. You can either make a deposit or use a game's demo mode, depending on the experience you want.
These are the 3 main ways to play:
- Play free casino games online in a free play money demo mode
- Play with real money, such as Dollars, Euros and other currencies
- Play with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and others
Online casinos for real money almost always provide demo versions of slots and virtual tables. The demo generally uses the same RNG as the real-money game, but a free-play win has no tangible reward and cannot produce real money. Crypto gambling is still real-money gambling: a win is paid in crypto, which may be exchanged for cash through an exchange after cashing out.
BEST CASINO GAME SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Casino software developers, also called software providers, create video slots, table games, and live dealer titles. Some work across both brick-and-mortar and online casinos, while others focus exclusively on games designed for online play.
Examples of providers associated with leading online casino games include:
Casino Online Games Land-based: 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.
Live Dealer Games Online: Well-known live dealer developers include Evolution, Ezugi, Playtech Live, BetConstruct, Pragmatic Play Live, Lucky Streak, Vivo Gaming, BetGames and Authentic Gaming.
Online Casino Games Only: Providers focused solely on online casino games include NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n Go, Betsoft, Pragmatic Play, Endorphina, NYX, BGaming, NextGen, Wazdan, and Yggdrasil.
Mobile Casino Games & Apps
Online casino games can be played on a desktop or mobile device. Nearly all video slots and table games, including live dealer titles, are designed for smartphones and tablets as well.
Casino App: Some casinos provide a downloadable app, commonly for iOS or Android. If your device does not support Android or iOS, there is still another way to access casino games.
Web Browser Casino Gambling Games: An app download is not required when you use Chrome, Safari, Edge or another web browser. Today's gambling platforms and game designs are responsive and use HTML5 technology, allowing play from any operating system on demand.
How to Choose the Best Online Casinos
The best casino games are ultimately the ones you most enjoy. However, when researching the best gambling game online, you should still examine several practical points before deciding where and how to play.
Consider these points when assessing whether an online casino gaming experience is fair:
- Licensed Software Provider: The developer should hold a licence from a reputable iGaming licensing authority.
- Licensed Online Casinos: The casino operator should hold an appropriate licence as well.
- Non-Computer-Generated Results: If you prefer not to use RNGs, choose live dealer games where cards, dice or a wheel determine the outcome and each round unfolds in real time.
- Fair RNGs: Software providers and casino platforms should have certification for their random number generators. 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
Checking RTPs, variance, and the hit rate is sensible before playing, but the best gambling game online will usually be the one you find most enjoyable. Graphics, bonus features, side bets, and plenty of action may influence your choice, yet enjoyment and results will still vary from player to player.
Casino Games FAQ
Which are the best casino games?
There is no single answer: the best games are the ones you personally enjoy. Video slots are among the most popular online choices, although other players may prefer table games or live game shows.
Which software providers have the best games?
This is largely a matter of personal taste. Many established developers are known for strong game portfolios, including Evolution, Playtech, Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, Yggdrasil, Play’n GO, and Pragmatic Play. With over 100 development companies to explore, you may prefer other providers' styles and mechanics.
Are live games safe to play online?
Live dealer developers hold licences from regulatory bodies such as the UKGC and MGA and that licensing arrangements include regular fairness testing. Those statements should be checked against the relevant operator and jurisdiction; a developer licence alone does not establish that a casino is authorized for every player.
Which casino games can I play online (besides slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat etc)
Slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat are common choices, but they are not the only options. Table-game fans can try dice games such as Craps and Sic Bo, or card games including Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker and Rummy. Live dealer selections may also include 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 promos related to specific games?
Yes, some casinos run promotions tied to particular games. For example, a welcome bonus or no deposit bonus might include 50 free spins on a specified video slot. Developers may also run their own campaigns; Pragmatic Play's Drops & Wins promotion is described as awarding random prizes to players using selected slots and live dealer titles from the firm.
