If there’s one thing you can say about casinos, it’s that you’ll never run out of things to do. There is no shortage of games to play. And new games are coming out all the time.
This is great when you play online because, with just a few clicks, you can play a different, unique, or brand new game—one of the hundreds (if not thousands) of games available in just one casino.
The question we now have for you is this: do you know all the casino games that are available to you? Any variations you can play? If not, start with this quick guide. We will tell you all about the kinds of casino games that you can find and play online and in mainland locations.
An overview of casino game types
Let’s start with an overview of the games you normally find in a casino.
But before we list the games, let’s quickly explain how an online casino might list them on their website. That way, you know exactly where to find the games you are most interested in when you play online.
Each casino will display their games differently. Here’s an example:
- Slots: This includes all variations, such as 3D or progressives.
- Table Games: This includes all card games such as blackjack, baccarat, and pai gow poker. It also sometimes includes dice games such as craps and roulette.
- Video Poker: This includes all poker games played on a machine similar to slots.
- Special Games: This includes anything that doesn’t fit into the above categories, such as keno, scratch cards, lottery games, and bingo. It can also include roulette or craps.
Some casinos also have an arcade or gaming area. Others list bingo or scratch-card games separately. Some may have their own unique categories.
In general, however, what we have listed here broadly covers all the major types of casino games.
Variations of popular casino games
Many popular casino games come in different variations. These variations sometimes come with only minor differences, while others have more significant differences.
Let’s take a look at some of the main variations of the most popular casino games. Many of these are available at both online and land-based casinos, while some are only available at one or the other.
Slots
- Machines with 3, 5, and 7 rolls
- Slots with single and multiple paylines
There are also more. And then there are the different features that you will find with some slots, but not others. These include multipliers, free spins, cascading reels, and bonus rounds.
You can even add licenced slot titles to the list. This would be extended to slots for movies, video games, celebrities, and licenced board games. In short, slot games come in many variations.
Blackjack games
- Blackjack in Atlantic City.
These are just a few examples, and there are several other blackjack variants. You will also find pay variations such as 6:5 or 3:2 for a natural blackjack.
Video poker
- Bonus Deuces that are wild
- Double Jackpot on Video Poker
Again, these are just a few examples. In many land-based casinos, especially the big ones in Las Vegas, you can find dozens of different video poker games. Most of the online casinos we’ve reviewed have at least ten, and many of them have many more.
Some common video poker variants can be found everywhere, while others are exclusive to a specific online casino or software provider. Other variations also include progressive and multi-hand video poker machines.
Roulette
- Live Dealer Roulette (Online Only)
It is hard to believe that a simple game like roulette can have so many variations, isn’t it?
Anyway, these casino games have the most variations. Most other games either don’t have variations, don’t have as many variations, or don’t have variations that you will find at more than one or two casinos.
Apart from what has been mentioned above, these are the most popular casino games that you can play today.
- Three-Card Rummy in Las Vegas
One of the biggest variations you will find with these games (at least the table games) is side bets. They are often exclusive to land-based casinos, but some online casinos offer side bets for these games. In terms of value for money, they are hit and miss.
Besides side bets, you can find other types of variations or twists on casino games, including the following:
- Online access to a live dealer is available.A real person trades, and the action is live streamed. Read more here.
- Progressive: Each (max) bet contributes a small portion to a single jackpot that can be won randomly by anyone who makes the maximum bet.
The options you have vary from casino to casino. The software provider(s) used determines the online variations.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some games will be renamed due to licencing and/or copyrights. Tri-card poker, for example, is identical (or nearly identical) to three-card poker.
Games of skill vs. games of chance
When you read or talk about casino games, you may hear someone refer to them as games of skill or games of chance. For example, blackjack is considered a game of skill. Slots are a game of chance.
The difference between games of skill and games of chance is that there is more or less a right and a wrong way to play games of skill, and if it is not right or wrong, then it is definitely optimal and not optimal. You can learn this by studying various books and websites and then practising what you learned in the casino.
But games of chance? These are completely random. There’s nothing you can really do other than cheat to get an edge by playing that one.
That said, skill games are only skill games if you become skilled at them yourself. Otherwise, it might as well be a game of chance.
Plus, few games can really be beaten for a win. Blackjack is one of those games. Some video poker variations can be, too.
Other games, such as baccarat, pai gow poker, or craps, have strategies, optimal plays, or optimal bets that you can make to lower the house edge. Add some bonuses and you can make a small profit. But you shouldn’t count on it.
We point out that unless you pick a game that can be beaten for a win and you’re willing to put in tens or maybe even hundreds of hours learning it, and hundreds, or probably more like thousands of dollars, practising it live, you are unlikely to become skilled enough to beat the house for a win.
Our point? We only recommend that you do not choose a game for any reason other than that you enjoy playing it. Because you are most likely to lose while playing—at least in the long run—
Online casino games can be found and played.
Let’s talk for a moment about finding casino games online.
Most casinos have the same options: blackjack, various table games, video poker, and slots. There are a few exceptions.
Those exceptions are variations, such as live table games, 3D slots, or something “rare,” like multi-reel or multi-ball roulette.
It also includes exclusive games or titles. Since many casinos work with different and/or multiple software companies, chances are you will find a different selection of casino games at every casino you join.
This also affects the game rules, payouts, and odds, but on a much lower scale.
And it affects the number of games you can play. Some casinos only have a few dozen games. Others have hundreds. Some have more than a thousand. Seriously,
Then you have casinos that offer complete mobile casino apps (for smartphones and tablets), while at others you may be lucky enough to have five or ten mobile-friendly games. Some casinos-if you can believe it-don’t have one.
The point of all this is that you need to do some research if you want to play a specific game or variant. One of the best things you can do is join a casino that works with several software companies.
That way, you have a wide variety of games to choose from.
Where do you begin?
There are so many types of casino games that you can play. It can be overwhelming.
If you already know what games you love and want to play online, we highly recommend looking for software companies that have them. Find out from there which casinos work with those software companies. Then read our casino reviews.
For everyone else, Find a casino with LOTS of games to play. Then get started. In no time, you will find the type of casino game you like to play. Here are some of our recommended casinos that have a great selection of games, and they all offer bonuses for new customers too.