Everyone’s been in a casino or are at least familiar with how they look. For decades, iconic Hollywood movies such as James Bond and Ocean’s Eleven have depicted them as glamorous arenas of flashing lights and high stake table games.

Online casinos, however, despite having been around since 1994, haven’t received the same media attention and are shrouded in a little more mystery. 

If you’ve never tried an online casino, you might be curious about which classic games they offer and whether they’re at all different online. Read on for our guide on what there is to explore!

Slots

Slot machines are one of the most popular types of games available at Casinos, both land-based and online. They are easy to play and quite gripping, with tons of flashy bonus features that spice up the fun. The game is entirely random, so there’s no way of predicting the outcome. You simply bet on the hope of getting a good spin and trust in your luck. 

To play online slots, instead of pulling a lever, you’ll hit a ‘spin’ button to set a series of reels into motion. If you get matching symbols across paylines, you win! How much depends on the value of those symbols and your stake. Symbols and paylines will vary from game to game but are quite straightforward to pick up. Popular titles include Hotline Slo and Jolly Fruits but you might have your own favourite game.

Roulette

Another casino classic If you’re a strategist, this game can get a little complicated. 

A European (also known as a French) roulette wheel has 37 numbered slots and the American version has 38. For each round, a ball is spun around the wheel and eventually slows and stops to rest in one of the slots. To win, the player must correctly bet on where the ball will land. You can bet on any outcome, or place multiple bets simultaneously. You could bet on an exact number, or increase your chances by betting on a group of numbers, for example, on black or red, numbers 1-18 or 19 to 36, evens or odds. 

Card games

There are endless possibilities in a deck of 52 cards. These games work much the same online as in physical casinos, besides some flashier visuals. So remember to be wary – face cards (ace, jack, queen, king) have different values depending on the game, so check the rules before you hit play. 

There are three main card games on offer at online casinos. 

Poker

Probably the most famous casino game, poker is a card game which requires skill and strategy. The biggest benefit of playing this game online is that you don’t need to master your ‘poker face’ as the other players can’t see you!

You win depending on the cards you’re dealt and the hierarchy of your hand. Even if you’re new to the felt, you might be familiar with the names royal flush, four of a kind, full house, straight. It’s important to learn what beats what to win!

Baccarat

Here’s one where the dealer does pretty much everything. Players bet either on the player’s side, the dealer’s side, or for a tie. Both you and the dealer will be dealt two cards each face-up and whichever hand totals closest to nine wins. 

Blackjack

The classic game of twenty-one! Originally known by the french name vingt-et-un, the goal of this game is to bet your hand against the dealer’s hand without going over 21. You start out with two cards and ‘hit’ to ask for another card until you’re confidently close enough to 21 without risking going over. 

Live dealer games 

If you’re old school, live dealers might be a huge draw for you to visit online casinos as they offer the experience of a physical casino from the safety and comfort of your home. It’s the best of both worlds. Through a live video stream, you’ll get to witness a real human dealer spin a roulette wheel or deal cards onto a table. You can even talk and ask questions through a live chat function. Perfect for those who want a more sociable experience.

If you’re curious about getting started with any of these games, we recommend you first brush up on how to play for free as a risk-free way of getting some practice in before committing any money down. 

To learn more about how to play casino games and how to choose an online casino be sure to read our handy guides. 

Instant win & scratchcards

For those who don’t like to wait, these games will give you that instant fix to test your luck. Many of these games are exclusive to the online experience and don’t exist at land-based casinos. For most games, you’ll have to perform an easy task to receive the outcome, such as dropping coins, throwing a dice, scratching a scratchcard, or guessing if the next number will be higher or lower. There’s no strategy involved and they’re easy for on-the-go mobile gameplay.

Bingo

Bingo is another entertaining, lighthearted game enjoyed by all kinds of folks, from kids to pensioners. The way it works online is very similar to an in-person bingo party. On most sites, you simply buy tickets for a game and watch your numbers get crossed off as they randomly get called out by the host. To win, you’ll need to be the first player in the room to get a row, two rows or a full house of numbers crossed off.