An Overview of all Casino Games

Classic Games vs Live Casino Games

When it comes to online casino games, they can generally be separated into 2 different types. Those which are software-based only, and those which can be played against real dealers. For many years, online casinos only offered virtual games. They featured the same rules as the games found in land-based casinos, the major difference being that the results were determined by a random number generator. Yet these software-based games had drawbacks. Many players missed the thrill and excitement of seeing the cards being physically dealt, or the roulette ball spinning round the wheel, eventually coming to land on the winning number. There were also some players who were sceptical about how trustworthy the random number generators were in providing fair results that had not been tampered with. Payout reports proved the reliability of the provider and the integrity of their games, but still, these software-based games lacked a certain something. Therefore, in order to recreate the atmosphere and experience of playing in a real casino, live dealer games were created.

How Live Games Work

The first live games were far from perfect. They were streamed from real land-based casinos, which posed several problems. For one, so as not to interfere with the players at the casino, cameras were mounted high above the tables. This meant online players had a pretty limited view of the games as they took place and the view was often obscured by other players at the table. The quality of streaming also left little to be desired, plus, no interaction was possible with the dealer. This meant that only simple and straightforward bets could be placed, so it was often only roulette that was available to online players. Yet a lot has changed since the early days of live streaming. Nowadays, live games are streamed from purpose-built studios, that exclusively provide live games to online casinos. The quality of the video streaming is much better, and numerous cameras provide different perspectives of the game to be seen, enhancing the playing experience. This is particularly valuable in roulette, as you can see the ball spinning and landing on the winning number. Another significant development is the possibility to interact with the dealer. So when you play blackjack, you can instantly tell the dealer to hit you with another card. What’s more, you can even chat to the dealers in many live casinos. You can type any questions or comments and the dealer will talk back to you directly via live stream.

The Role of Software in Game Selection

Online casinos do not develop their games themselves. Instead, they offer games from one or more software providers. When an operator uses games from a variety of providers, their game selection can look quite unique, compared to those casinos that just use one provider. In this situation, the game selection at casinos that use the same provider can look pretty similar. Generally speaking, you will always find roulette, blackjack and slots, plus a selection of other table games at any casino on the Internet. So if that is the case, does it matter which one you choose to play at? Well, if you want to play a certain game, then yes, it matters. On the other hand, if you are relatively new to online gaming, then it is less important as all casinos provide the key games.

So how do the game selections from the various software developers differ from each other? Perhaps the most striking difference is the sheer number of games they offer. There are some providers that offer a relatively small selection, such as NetEnt with around 135 in the collection. There are others that provide hundreds. Take Microgaming for example, who have a portfolio of over 800 games. So then why would you opt for the likes of NetEnt over Microgaming you may wonder? Well size isn’t everything. You also need to consider the distribution of the games, as well as their overall quality.

Within Microgaming’s wide selection of games, the primary focus is on slots (450+) and blackjack (50+). There are relatively few roulette variants, and minimal scratch cards. Although there is a large selection of slots, many of these look quite dated. Since the software provider has been developing games since 1996, many of the games are well over 10 years old, and this is reflected in the quality of the graphics. Playtech on the other hand have only 200 titles in their portfolio, yet the distribution of the game selection is well balanced. What’s more, the graphics of all the games are relatively modern. Playtech is also able to boast a large number of progressive jackpots. In fact, they have paid out more million-pound jackpots than any other provider.

As for NetEnt, what they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality. The Swedish developer provides around 135 games only, yet each and every one has superb graphics and is visually stunning. They think outside the box, and provide many innovations within their games. Another highlight is that nearly all of the games are compatible for mobile play and have been touch screen optimised.

Real Money vs Play Money

One advantage of playing at an online casino is that you can usually try out the games for free. This gives you the chance to play for as long as you like, without having to part with any real money. There are a few exceptions to this rule, with live games, some jackpot slots and selected mobile games only available to play for real money. There are clear advantages and disadvantages for both modes of play. Free play gives you the chance to learn the rules and get a feel for a game and the casino before you make a deposit. In many cases, you do not even have to sign up to a casino to play the games for free.

Of course, free play is great for trying out a game, but it is playing with real money where the real fun and excitement begins. It is only by playing with real money that you experience the thrill of potentially winning real cash. Is it your lucky day? Will you be the next jackpot winner and multimillionaire? Anything is possible when you play online. Forget slots that have just been emptied and will therefore pay very little. This does not exist online – every spin has a chance to win big. What’s more, the payout percentages are usually significantly higher online than in land-based casinos or amusement arcades – but more about that in the next section.

House Edge and What It Means for You

Everyone has heard the expression “the house always wins” and every game is designed to ensure that this is the case. The rules of each game are developed to give an advantage to the casino. This advantage, or house edge is usually very small, but ensures that in the long run, the operator makes a profit from the games they provide. At the same time, in the long run, players will generally win slightly less than they bet. Within the game rules, you will often see the return-to-player percentage (RTP) listed. This expresses the percentage of all money bet that is returned to the player. The RTP plus the house edge is always 100%. So for example, European Roulette has a house edge of 2.7% and an RTP of 97.3%. It is important to remember that RTP is an average figure, as determined over many thousands of game rounds. It does not indicate the actual amount you will win or lose in a single playing session. As the house edge is very small, you can lose much more than average, or win a large amount in the short term.

What You Need to Know About RTP

As the RTP of a game depends on its rules, it stands to reason that different types of games have different payout rates. Table games, like roulette, blackjack and baccarat usually have a high RTP of over 97%. In fact, most blackjack variants are even higher than 99%. American roulette on the other hand comes in at just under 95%. When it comes to slots, the situation is somewhat different. Most slots have a payout percentage of over 95%, with some even reaching as high as 98%. Yet the value for jackpot slots is usually significantly lower, at around 90%. The reason for this is that a small percentage of all money bets goes into a pooled prize fund, and is therefore not available for regular payouts.

Table of Payouts for Online and Offline Games

Compare the Payout Rates	Online Casinos	Land-Based Casinos
Slots	94% – 98%	60% – 70%
Jackpot Slots	90% – 94%	50% – 60%
Roulette	92.3% – 97.3%	94.7% – 97.3%
Blackjack	99.3% – 99.86%	99.3% – 99.64%
Video Poker	95.7% – 99.5%	95.7% – 98.0%
Arcade Games	85% – 99%	70% – 95%

When you play slots, it is not only the rules of the game you choose that impact the RTP, but also where you play. When you play a slot machine in an amusement arcade, or brick-and-mortar casino, the house edge is much higher. Unlike online casinos, the RTP is not clearly stated on offline machines. Therefore, you can only guess at what the payout percentage is. Yet there are slot machines that are configured with a payout rate of as low as 60 – 70%. At the same time, strict legislation from the UK Gambling Commission means the maximum amount that can be won from an offline slot machine is much lower than what can be won on the Internet. As for table games, there is no difference in the RTP depending on where you play. The payout rates for games such as roulette and blackjack remain the same in both online and offline casinos.

Conclusion: Having Fun Is the Most Important Factor

No matter what game you choose to play, and whether you decide to play for free or with real money, the most important thing is that you have fun. Of course, winning money is a big driver in playing casino games – which can only be done when playing with real money. But do not simply think about making money, there is a lot more that gambling can provide you with. The best approach is to look at gambling as a recreational activity or pastime, which offers the possibility of winning money. The money you use to play is simply the fee for the entertainment it provides.

FAQs

“Casino Games” is a topic that really has no end and cannot but fully covered on one simple web page. This is why we asked you, our readers, if you have any additional questions that you could not find the answers to in this article. Here is what you asked us: