When you’re new to casino gaming, finding a suitable game to play can be a grind. Worse yet, navigating through the thousands of games ranging from Keno, scratch cards, poker, to blackjack, can overwhelm you. The terms used in casino gaming can be difficult to understand even for seasoned players.
Whether you’re an amateur or experienced casino player, you’ll find this guide helpful, as it’ll help you get a better grasp of casino games, so that you can improve your overall gameplay. You’ll learn:
- What are online casino games?
- Land-based casino games VS online games. Are they different?
- Differences between strategy games and games of chance
- How to start playing online casino games
- Gaming suppliers
- How to play free online casino games
- Popular types of casino games
- How to take advantage of casino games
So let’s get started.
What are online casino games?
Casino games are games that allow you to win money by wagering with some of your cash. Based on chance, they’ve continued to rise in popularity since the internet came into the scene in the 90s. They’ve been a favourite pastime for many players over the years, and are now part of a multi-billion dollar industry. Players can now enjoy hundreds of casino games from wherever they are.
Land-based casino games VS online games.
If you’ve ever visited any brick and mortar casino, then you know that land-based and online casino games differ to some extent. Some of the differences include:
- You can access online games more easily.
- You can play a larger variety of games.
- Table games are dealt faster than in any land-based casino game.
- You get a higher return in online slot games.
- You’re not limited to the number of online games you can play.
- You don’t have to tip the dealer when playing online.
Differences between strategy games and games of chance
Casino games can be either: skill-based or chance-based. Winning in skill-based games depends largely on your strategy, understanding, and know-how of the game. Chance-based games, on the other hand, have random outcomes which are out of your control.
Given both types are rewarding in different measures, choosing one type will depend on your preference and taste.
Blackjack, a game whose history stretches back to the 1700s, is predominantly skill-based –your playing strategy determines how much you make in the game, as we’ll see later. Understanding each optimal play in this well-known game, however, requires a lot of commitment and time. Luckily, thanks to the internet, you can set aside a strategy sheet and use it to plan your next cause of actions when playing online Blackjack, ensuring you have a more calculated game. You can also read our how to play blackjack guide to gain a further understanding to how the game is played.
Among chance-based games, slot and roulette are the most popular. Earning a profit from such games is beyond your control. When playing slot games, for example, you can’t control spinning reels, so you only have to hope for luck to be on your side.
The good news is that you can boost your chances by researching for high-return slot machines. Information on casino games’ returns is readily available in many review sites – it can help you evade rip-offs, make more money, and improve your betting strategy.
Before playing online casino games, you should understand that most casinos often have house edges on their games. A house edge is a mathematical advantage on a casino’s odds meant to favour the operators. This advantage is present in almost all casino games, and you can’t eliminate it, even if you’re playing at your A-game. What you can do, though, is minimize the advantage by devising ideal betting strategies.
As a rule of thumb, always play casino games to entertain yourself; earning some profit should be a bonus to the fun you have. After all, casino games main aim is to entertain you, above everything else. Gambling shouldn’t feel like a grind, but rather an immersive pastime.
How to start playing online casino games
Now that you know what casino games are, it’s time to start playing them. Fortunately, getting started with online gaming is fairly easy. You can do the following:
Choose an online casino
There are over hundreds of online casinos in the market today. Despite this, choosing a casino site may be the biggest hurdle in your casino gaming journey. Making a wrong choice could see you join dodgy online operators and rack up a lot of losses. To avoid this mishap, you have to look for casinos that are not only lucrative but also reputable. Join a casino that guarantees safety for your money and offers you sizeable winnings. Be sure to check our list of regulated brand new online casinos for the best options for the UK.
A hassle-free way of checking for a site’s credibility is by examining a casino’s licence. Licences from relevant authorities like e-cogra and Malta Gaming authority can be enough to certify a site’s credibility.
Accept a casino’s rewards
Most casinos are willing to give you free stuff in return for your loyalty. When you’re trying to get into casino gaming for the first time, you’ll notice is an abundance of welcome bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, and other promotions. Ensure you take advantage of these rewards.
Decide on banking — This is a crucial step if you’re looking to making your gaming experience as convenient as possible. Options like PayPal and Skrill guarantee almost instant deposits and cash-outs, allowing you to receive and deposit your money in mere seconds. On the flip side, options such as bank transfers can take up to a few days to process your funds.
Choose a casino game
— After registering in a casino, you’re often met with thousands of games to choose from. While this variety may be beneficial to you, it might pose a problem when its time to select a game that suits your tastes.
The key to choosing the right game is to avoid thinking too hard about it. If you’re a novice player, read game reviews from relevant sites, choose an appealing title, and focus on learning the tricks of the game. Slowly, you’ll understand the ins and outs of casino gaming, and you’ll soon branch out to better ones.
Getting to know the nuances of the game allows you to be more confident when you start playing – the higher your confidence the more chances you have of you walking away with some profit.
Get any information you can before you start playing your first game. Aside from reading reviews, you can also check the odds tables and read what your fellow gamblers are recommending.
Gaming Suppliers
Most beginners assume that casino games are designed by the operators themselves. This assumption, however, couldn’t be further from the truth. Online developers design casino gamers, and operators feature the titles on their platforms.
Gaming suppliers specialise in releasing new, high-end games and improving the old ones to ensure they match the tastes of new players. Microgaming and NetEnt, for instance, are some of the most popular gaming providers, boasting of huge gaming catalogues from most genres.
The majority of suppliers direct most of their efforts to specific genres. A few examples include:
- Evolution Gaming specializes in designing top-notch live dealer games.
- NetEnt develops various budget versions of traditional games like Roulette and Blackjack.
- Microgaming releases new versions of table games that other developers don’t focus on.
This means that you have a variety of exclusive gaming titles at your disposal. If you’re into live dealing, then evolution Gaming might be your ideal gaming supplier. If you’re into traditional games, then Microgaming might suit you. And lastly, if you’re into table games, then NetEnt might appeal to you.
Other lesser-known gaming providers create enjoyable games, too. They include:
- Bgaming
- Red tiger
- Novomatic
- Skillzgaming
- Dragonfish
How to play free online casino games
Playing online games for the first time can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Experimenting using trial and error can help you relieve some stress, giving you a feel of online games without requiring you to wager your own money. Better yet, it’s risk-free and allows you to explore the gambling world. To do this, you can take advantage of the free games casino operators provide for first-time customers.
The process is simple; you only have to register at a licensed and reputable online casino. Most of these operators offer free games that you can download and try out their demos. The gaming experience is almost the same and real gambling and you get the same features. The difference, of course, is that you can’t win any real money.
Going through gambling forums can help you identify a few casino sites that offer free downloadable games.
Popular types of casino games
Slots
A traditional slot machine features only one payline and three different reels. You win in this game by aligning winning symbols on the payline. The latest versions of slot games now feature new, exciting options like bonus rounds, autoplay, and extra spins. With newer upgrades, online slot games have become a bit more confusing to amateur players. On the flip side, they’ve brought about more engaging, immersive features.
Branded slots, for example, are among the fresh slot machines in the e-gaming industry. Based on movies’ and TV Shows’ themes, they’ve amassed huge followings of film, thanks to their engaging storytelling. Narratives are now common features in slot games; they bring more immersion to the traditional casino games. Playing these games will get you hooked, as you’ll find yourself constantly logging in to your casino account to discover how the next scene progress. If slots are your game of choice, you can view our list of new mobile slot sites recently launched in the UK.
Progressive jackpot slots
Unlike regular jackpots that promise fixed amounts of money, progressive ones continue to increase in value as more players play the game. So how do they work? When playing progressive jackpots, you’ll notice different casinos linked to one prize pool. As more players join in the fun, the pool increases; anyone winning the jackpot might walk away with a staggering amount
And with the help of random number generators, RNG, casinos ensure the game is fair and just.
Roulette
A mainstay in the casino world, roulette has gained popularity because of its easy-to-understand model. It’s made up of three major components: one board, one spinning wheel and one ball. You have to predict where the ball lands to win some money. You can place your wagers on specific numbers, either order or even, and in some cases, colours such as red or black.
The game’s layout comprises of a few numbers and some boxes. Using the layout, you can select then place your wagers. When playing, a dealer spins the wheel in either direction, while the ball goes in another direction, to determine the winning combination. After the ball starts slowing down, it might land on any of numbered pockets, and that’s when you know whether you’ve won or not.
Blackjack
Gamblers have been betting in blackjack for years, and to this date, it continues to rank among the most well-known games in the e-gaming sphere. Newer blackjack versions feature a more realistic feel and come with top-tier graphics.
Regardless of the Blackjack variant, your aim is almost always the same: to beat the table’s dealer. As we mentioned earlier, it’s a chance-based game. If you’re smart enough you can make some decent earnings.
Blackjack is also famed for its low house edge (generally less than 5%). With this lower house edge, you stand better chances of winning some money. Getting enough Blackjack experience can help you lower this house edge even further; it’s possible to play versions with less than 1% house edges.
Even if you’re not a seasoned gambler, you can gain some money by being strategic. This is because winning at blackjack requires you to make the well-thought decisions based on the hand you’re dealt. This makes for an exciting game, where you can tilt the odds to your favour by learning the game’s ins and outs.
Live dealer games
These games feature actual croupiers dealing cards in real-life tables, streamed live by video. Playing live-dealer games gives you an immersive experience, making you feel like you’re in a real-life brick-and-mortar casino. You can get the land-based casino experience from the comfort of your PC desk. And you can even enjoy the thrill of the casino game on the go if you use your mobile device.
Some well-known live dealer games include:
- Roulette — You can play various variations of this game, from French roulette to American roulette, live and in real-time.
- Blackjack – Since the game’s aim is beating the dealers, you can enjoy it from wherever you are, as it’s streamed live.
- Casino Hold’em — Unlike most poker variations where you compete with other players, Casino Hold’em allows you to contest with the croupier.
Instant games
You can access such games using either your computer, mobile phone, or any other device’s browser provided you have access to a stable internet connection.
Downloaded games
With such games, you can play easily without having to visit your device’s browser. Downloaded games come in handy when you’re commuting or when you don’t have any mobile data. The only drawback to them is that they require and high initial bandwidth amount to download.
How to take advantage of casino games
When starting, you might want to wager on any game you find appealing. But this may not be the best strategy. A better strategy, however, would be to bide your time before playing casino games. While there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for all casino games, there are some things you can do to ensure you’re not losing money constantly. You can do the following:
- Take some of your time to understand different wager types.
- Ensure you understand the gaming terms you come across in online casinos.
- Design a strategy that might get you a sizable return on your betting investment.
- Take note of the risk and rewards of each game you play
This way, not only will you make some decent profit, but you’ll also enjoy the game you’re playing.
Also, learn to manage your money. If you’re not careful when playing casino games, you can easily lose focus and start wagering on almost option available. And before you realise, you’ll have depleted your bankroll. Avoid falling Into the trap of debts and endless losses by cultivating money-management skills.
Good money management helps you place bets responsibly, providing you with a better chance of earning decent returns.
To manage your bankroll better, you can start by playing free games at first. You might not make any profit with this method, but at the same time, you might not lose your own money, either. Playing for free allows you to understand each casino game, exposing you to different betting styles. It will give you an idea of what works and what doesn’t. Download the demo versions of popular games to start playing without using your cash. If you can’t find any demo versions, you can leverage on some exclusive bonuses, like the no deposit bonus, that allows you to make bet using the casino’s money.
FAQ
Jennifer Wright is an online casino and slots writer since 2010. She has an eye for detail and take pride in her in-depth analysis of new casino sites that enter the UK market. A regular at iGaming conferences and events, she is also a keen follower of industry news. In her downtime, she is an avid gamer and regularly takes part in esports tournaments. Jennifer currently resides in the north of England.
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