As the online casino platform continues to grow, so does the number of games that you’re able to choose from. Most online casinos have hundreds if not thousands of games and whilst brick and mortar casinos are a little more limited, they are still able to offer a massive range.
Popularity for each game type will range based on the type of casino and the location of the casino. Below we’ve included some of the most popular casino games in the world right now, highlighting why we think they’re the best of the best.
Slots
Slots have the biggest selection of games to choose from and the competition in the market, as a result, is fierce. There are dozens of game developers, which is a good thing, as the rivalry has meant the weak simply get flushed out.
One of the lures of slots is the chance to win big, from what is essentially a small initial investment. Some games, such as progressive jackpots, have millions of pounds up for grabs and no minimum spin amount (aside from game minimum) to trigger these wins.
Slots come in a multitude of different shapes and sizes. You can get your classic 3-reel games with a single payline to replicate the original games from decades ago or you can get modern games, that come with thousands of paylines and sometimes no reels at all, just a grid with clusters on them.
The best thing about slots is that the games offer something for everyone. Most people think that games just look different and work the same, but this is very much not the case.
Modern slots are now highly intricate and complex, which adds to the user experience. They have bonus rounds, feature rounds, scatters, wilds, free spins and so much more. They are as advanced as any casino game and why they are one of the most popular casino games in the world.
In terms of games, there are plenty of great slots, but one of the best has to be that of Book of Dead, by Play N’ Go. The slot has turned into a brand of its own, such has been the popularity.
The game takes advantage of a popular Egyptian Theme and even though it’s been around for a number of years now, still has an incredible gameplay engine. It’s extremely high in volatility, comes with a nice RTP of 96.21%, has features such as free spins and expanding symbols, all accompanied with a compelling soundtrack.
Given there are thousands of online slots on the market right now, it’s hard to narrow it down to a top 5, but if we were, this would be it:
Book of Dead – Play N’ Go
Starburst – NetEnt
Gonzo’s Quest – NetEnt
Bonanza – Big Time Gaming
Reactoonz – Play N’ Go
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most iconic casino games and is often the one that is found in many Hollywood movie. It’s a relatively easy game to play in that, you need to beat the dealers score by having 21 or less.
Blackjack can be a highly complex game, however, and it’s this that makes it a firm favourite with more advanced players. It’s one of few games that you can apply a strategy to and by playing the “perfect” game makes it one of the lowest house edges of any casino game.
Roulette
Games don’t come much easier than roulette and it’s for that reason why it has to have a place on our list. There are generally three games, French, European and American, which most casinos stock.
The backbone of each game is the same in that, you choose to bet on a certain number of areas of the board and then if the ball lands on that number or area, you win. There is no strategy involved and a lot of gamble, but it’s a game that allows players to have small, consistent wins and also larger wins that are usually less frequent. Key elements to a successful casino game.
Craps
Craps is a game that is generally less popular than the three mentioned above, but it’s another that has a sense of glitz and glamour about it. The game is a little more complex to grasp from the outside looking in, but it’s another that, once accustomed to, is fairly straightforward.
Knowing when to bet and what to bet on is one of the reasons why craps is an exciting addition. The table has many different sections and games move in and out as they progress.
Poker
Most good casinos will stock a decent range of poker variants, which again, are a popular choice. These games can be a little more limited and “niche” if we can call them that.
What’s great about poker is that there is a wide range of adaptations of the game that you can choose from. These include the likes of video poker, Pai Gow, Caribbean Stud, Texas Hold’em. 3 Card Poker and Red Dog, to name just a few.
As a quick note on these games, it’s worth checking the house rules for each as some can differ, which transforms how the game is played. Video poker, for example, has several different game types and whilst most are notable by name, some will have the same name but different rules.
House Edge
With any game that you play, it’s imperative to have some understanding of how these games work. All games come with a house edge attached, which is how the casinos make their money. To put it simply, games are in favour of the casino, but that doesn’t mean that you lose every time that you play.
There are two key components of house edge and that is RTP (Return to Player) percentages and volatility.
RTP is classed as a percentage and each game has one in some form. This is the amount of money that the player gets, with the remaining amount paid to the casino.
For example, if a game has an RTP of 95%, then this would mean that 95p of every £1 staked would go back to the player and the casino would take 5p as their profit. As a player, the higher the RTP, the less money the casino makes per spin/hand.
Given that getting 95p back every time we stake £1 would be pretty grim and something that no one would want to play, casino games also have a volatility rating. This means that the frequency of when games pay-out is adjusted to make them more interesting.
Low volatility games pay out more often, but smaller amounts. High volatility games pay out less often, but larger amounts. This allows the player the opportunity to win money on all casino games.
All games come with a unique RTP. It’s worth noting that these RTP’s will change even for games that are the same, but slightly different rules.
A great example of this is roulette. The three most popular formats are that of European, French and American. The games may look very similar, but they each work slightly differently.
As a result, they each have different RTP’s. French has the highest with 98.65%, then European at 97.30%, with American bringing up the rear at 94.74%. As you can see, it makes a lot more sense to target French roulette over American, just on RTP percentages alone.
The highest RTP of any game at most casinos is that of blackjack. You’re able to find games that come in at a staggering 99.45%, which gives the casino only a tiny margin here.
However, there is a caveat with this. You see, this insanely high RTP will only be possible with players playing what is known as a “perfect game”. This means making the right decision for each and every hand. If you fail to do this, the RTP starts to grow. If you played randomly, as lots of people do, then the RTP will grow to be huge.
Other notable RTP rates for games are 3 card poker with 98.24%, craps at 98.64% and baccarat at 98.94%.
