Online casinos offer pretty much every single real money slot or table game you can think of, as well as ones you would never find in a land based casino. Along with more player-friendly odds and better bonuses and promotions, it is no wonder many casino games are more popular online.
If you’re still not sure of what to expect when visiting an Internet casino, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular games that have made the leap into the digital space, and are ready to play now for real money.
Screenshot of an online blackjack game from NetEnt
Blackjack: The game of 21 is widely available at all major online casinos, and it’s as popular on the Web as it is at the local casino – even more so due to the availability of so many different variations, including European Gold, Atlantic City Blackjack, Hi-Lo 21, Spanish 21, Pontoon, and more. You can even play multi-hand 21 – and it’s a lot faster on the computer and mobile, too. Add in live dealer blackjack, where you can play with real dealers across a video feed (and choose to play with attractive female croupiers in Playboy Bunny outfits at some online venues) and it’s easy to understand why real money blackjack thrives online.
Craps – Rolling a pair of dice down the virtual craps table has proven to be a hit with Internet punters. A simple game, players bet on the total of their roll or the overall success or failure. With offered odds superior at casino sites due to less overheads, Craps is best played online.
Poker: Poker is one of the most popular card games at online casinos. However, there isn’t the enormous amount of traffic that you would see if it weren’t for the independent online poker sites. All the popular types of poker are available online, like Casino Hold’em, Texas Hold’em, and Caribbean Stud.
Fairytale Legends online slot game by NetEntPokies/Slot machines: Taking a spin at the pokies on the Net is easier and more convenient than at the local pub or RSL. Players have access to 5 reel video slots, bonus slots, progressive jackpot slots, and even the simpler classic slots with a click of a button, and winning a jackpot spin from the comfort of home isn’t exactly a bad thing.
Roulette: Ever get frustrated at never being able to find European or French roulette at your local land-based casino? Online, every variant is abundant, so you can always get a single-zero table for the best house edge and odds, guaranteed. Like blackjack, there is live dealer roulette where you can get a real deal to spin the wheel via a high-quality video feed – the casino atmosphere directly from home.
Sample of an online keno gameKeno: Keno is a luck-based number game that’s becoming increasingly popular online, as it is well loved by players who avoid games of skill or strategy. All you need to do is pick your lucky numbers, place a wager and hope these are the ones called from the winning draw.
Video poker: Just like video poker is a big hit in the traditional setting, it is also a big hit on online casinos. Some of the more popular types of the game that you will see online include Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Aces & Faces and Bonus Poker.
Scratch cards: Online scratch cards, also called instants or scratchies, are the virtual cousin of the scratch cards available for purchase in real life, but instead of using a coin or sharp object to scratch the surface, all you need is the click of a mouse to reveal the panels hiding underneath. The computerised format allows for much more creative and interactive scratch games, with instant-wins available for even the most novice of players.
Screenshot of the Playboy live dealer game softwareDeserving of its own section, live dealer casino games are an increasingly popular format to play online baccarat, blackjack, roulette and poker from the comfort of your home. These games are fully dedicated to capturing the authenticity and social atmosphere found in land based casinos, with online casinos broadcasting the dealers and equipment directly to the player’s computer screen via high-quality video feeds.
Not only do you get the genuine feel of a game of blackjack or roulette with the real cards, table or wheel, but you also get real human dealers and no RNGs (random number generators) – which is ideal for those who don’t enjoy playing computerised casino games as much as the real thing. It also helps with any concerns you may have about the reliability of random number generated games. Along with some extremely attractive female dealers (and males at certain casino websites, too), it’s the perfect medium for those who want the best of both worlds. Microgaming even offers a Playboy Bunny live dealer suite for those seeking some extra visual engagement.
How to play real money online casino titles
Playing pokies, blackjack or any other casino game that tickles your fancy is getting easier every year thanks to the continuous advancement and refinement the Internet age has brought casino game developers such as BetSoft, Microgaming, Net Entertainment, Play’n Go and more.
Several catalogues from these developers are readily accessible at the best Internet casinos and playable via Web browsers, which uses Flash, HTML5 and JavaScript technology to load the game directly in your browser without the need to download dedicated software. However, the option to download a dedicated casino suite is still offered at almost all major online casinos for those who want a ‘hub’ or ‘lobby’ type interface to access games from.
Mobile and tablet play has also exploded in potential and availability – logging into the same account you may have opened with a casino website, you can also play your favourite casino games on-the-go on your portable device so long as you have a data connection and an up-to-date mobile Web browser. While the catalogue of available games is less, it grows every year and more games are being ported over to the mobile scene.
Ready to give online casino games a go? Sign up for an account with any of our recommended casino sites and you can claim an exclusive welcome offer that includes things like matched deposit bonuses and free spins.
