Ultimate Guide to Casino Games

There are so many casino games available that it can be overwhelming to explore them all. We have compiled a comprehensive list of the options offered at both online and land-based casinos and written extensive guides on each of them.

Our casino game guides detail everything you need to know in terms of rules, variations, strategies, and more.

Here are all the casino game guides we have, so you can quickly jump to the ones that interest you the most.

Our ultimate guide to casino games also includes information about the different types of casino games, along with some tips on how to choose which games to play.

We offer advice on where to play casino games online, too, and answer some commonly asked questions about casino games.

Types of Casino Games

There are dozens of popular casino games. Most of them fit into one of a few main categories based on rules, gameplay mechanics, and some other factors.

Here’s a quick overview of the primary types of games you’ll find in casinos.

  • Slots – It’s hard to start anywhere else because slots are by far the most popular casino games available. They combine cool graphics, fast gameplay, and the opportunity to win big. Many believe that slots are also among the easiest casino games, but that’s not ALWAYS the case.
  • Table Games – Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and similar games belong here. You can find them in pretty much every brick-and-mortar and online casino.
  • Video Poker – No list of casino games can be complete without video poker. The likes of Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better have been around for decades and have a strong fan base among casino enthusiasts.
  • Specialty Games – This wide category of casino games includes bingo games, lottery-style games, scratchers, and all sorts of titles that simply don’t fit anywhere else. Specialty games are becoming increasingly popular online and more software providers are frequently releasing new products of this type.

Here are some examples of different games in each of the categories listed above.

Category Games
Slots 3D Slots; Video Slots; Progressive Jackpots; VR Slots; Classic Slots
Table Games Blackjack; Roulette; Baccarat; Caribbean Stud Poker
Video Poker Deuces Wild; Jacks or Better; All-American; Tens or Better
Specialty Games Keno; Scratch Cards; Lotto; Arcade Games

That’s the traditional categorization of casino games, mostly based on gameplay mechanics.

However, there are other factors you could use to split casinos games into different groups, such as the following.

  • Easy Casino Games – Some casino games don’t have any strategy involved and they are mostly about mindless entertainment. Most slots, roulette, and many specialty games fall into this type.
  • Casino Games Involving Skill – If you want your decisions to impact the end result, the best casino games to play are the likes of video poker, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, and other table games that have strategy involved.
  • Casino Games with a Low House Edge – All casino games come with a house edge, but your disadvantage is much lower in the likes of blackjack, French roulette, and video poker.
  • Casino Games with Jackpots – For some people it’s not about strategies or low house edge; they simply want the chance to win big. You have that chance if there’s a jackpot on the line and games from all categories can include a major prize.

If you want more information on the different types of casino games and their specific traits, we go into more detail on the following page.

Choosing Which Casino Games to Play

It’s hard to say what the best casino games to play are for everyone. The most suitable options for you depend on your individual preferences and objectives. What’s great for someone else might be a bad choice for you.

That’s why we recommend trying different options to figure out what you like the most.

You don’t even need to invest real money to try casino games because most online casinos have free versions of their titles.

If you’re new to playing casino games, the best place to start is with the most popular games. They’re popular for a reason!

Here are the most loved options and why so many people prefer them.

  • Slots – There are several reasons why slots are so popular. The wide range of titles, the opportunity to win big on a single spin, and the fun gameplay are arguably the most attractive traits of slots.
  • Video Poker – The house edge of video poker is almost non-existent if you play optimally. That’s the biggest reason why a ton of people love this type of game.
  • Blackjack – Many players put blackjack at the top of their personal best games to play at the casino because of the simple, yet entertaining, gameplay and the low house edge. There’s a strategy involved in this one, too, and that makes it even more exciting.
  • Roulette – Few casino games can compete with roulette when it comes to pure thrill. It’s a fun game with a low house edge if you pick the right variations.

Naturally, these might not be the best casino games for you personally. It’s always important to carefully think about what you’re looking for.

The following factors can help you make a better decision.

  • Luck or Skill – You should decide whether you want a game where strategy matters. You can achieve a lower house edge with the right strategies, but only if you study them carefully.
  • House Edge – Do you care about the house edge? A lower house edge technically means better value for money, but it doesn’t really matter too much if you’re just looking to have some fun.
  • Jackpots – If your main goal is to change your life overnight, you should pick gambling games with a progressive jackpot. You should know that your chances to win are very slim, though.
  • Social Element – Certain games like blackjack and roulette include interaction with dealers and other players. If you prefer to have a social experience, you should try them.
  • Easy or Hard – Some games require you to invest a lot of time and effort until you fully learn the optimal strategy. In other cases, you only need the casino games explained once and you’ll be good to go.

We have plenty of casino experts on our team and one of them shared has shared his thoughts on the ten best casino games and the ten worst casino games.

You might want to check his opinions that are based on years of experience playing casino games.

We also have a more detailed page on how to pick the right casino games if you want further advice.

  • How to Choose Which Casino Games to Play

Where to Play Casino Games Online

The mainstream casino games are offered by most land-based gambling venues across the globe. If you’re looking for obscure options, though, you would struggle to find them in most places.

It’s only the biggest gambling resorts in places like Las Vegas and Macau that cover pretty much all types of games.

That’s why picking online casinos is much better. Most gambling sites offer hundreds of casino games to play online, and they deliver other perks like huge bonuses and promotions.

Only a few of the biggest land-based casinos can compete with the online gambling sites in terms of game variety.

If playing online sounds appealing, we can help you choose where to play.

The following is a list of top online casinos handpicked by our resident experts.

The best casino sites online offer a great range of games to play for money in a safe environmen. They have mobile apps, too, and you can pick between different convenient banking methods if you decide to give them a go.

If you want to learn more about them, our page dedicated to the best casinos on the internet can certainly help. It also features brief online casino games guides for the most popular titles.

For those of you who can’t decide whether to play a casino game online or go to a land-based casino, the following page compares both options, dissecting their main pros and cons.

Our Casino Game Guides

We have plenty of guides that explain all about casino games like slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, and many more. We cover popular options and little-known titles that are not available in most places.

Here’s what information is delivered in every casino game guide prepared by our gambling writers.

  • Rules and How to Play – Learning how to play casino games is essential and we make sure the rules are clearly explained.
  • Betting Options – We provide information about every single betting option that’s available.
  • Strategy – If the game includes strategy, we help you learn how to increase your chances to win money.
  • Variants – We explore the most popular variations of the game and all the different rule sets, unusual variants of the games at online casinos, and more.
  • History – We share more information about the history of the game and how it has evolved over time.

The goal of each casino game guide is to showcase what the game has to offer, and boost your chances to master it.

Here are all the games we cover.

Blackjack

Blackjack Game Icon

Millions of people from all over the globe love blackjack and for good reason. The game is easy to learn but hard to master which is always a recipe for success.

Almost all online and brick-and-mortar casinos have at least a few blackjack tables, so you can easily enjoy the game.

If you learn how to play well, the house edge can become really low compared to other popular casino games which is another reason to pick blackjack. You should be careful with the different variants, though, because the rule changes affect the optimal strategy.

Our guide to blackjack can help with the most popular options, as well as other topics related to the game.

Roulette

Roulette Game Icon

The legend says that famous mathematician Blaise Pascal invented the first version of roulette back in the 17th century. We don’t know if that’s true, but the casino game is among the most popular in the world nowadays.

You can enjoy it both online and live, but it’s important to be careful with the variant that’s offered.

The house edge can be much higher if there are two zeros on the board which is the case in American roulette.

Our guide on the game delivers much better alternatives and an overview of all wagers, so be sure to check it out before playing.

Slots

Slots Game Icon

There are hundreds of slots available online and most land-based casinos have plenty of machinesm too. They vary from classic titles with simple gameplay mechanics to modern VR products that rely on the latest technologies.

There are also many sub-categories based on jackpots, house edge, symbols, themes, and many other criteria.

It’s almost impossible to cover them all, but we did our best in our slots guide.

This guide also includes tips on how to pick the most suitable games and more useful information, including reviews of popular titles.

Craps

Craps Game Icon

There’s no doubt that craps is the most famous dice game you can find in a casino.

Some people hate it, others love it, but no one can deny that waiting for the dice to fall is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have in a land-based casino.

The online versions of the game are a little boring in comparison, as they lack the excitement that a crowded table generate. But a lot of people still love them because they deliver non-stop action.

One thing that complicate craps somewhat is the number of different wagers at your disposal. There are MANY options on the table.

If you want to learn more about them, our guide explains how every betting option works.

Video Poker

Video Poker Game Icon

Some people argue that video poker machines offer the most complete casino experience. The games involve strategy, they are fast, the house edge is low, and you can win big if you get lucky.

You could hardly ask for more! One of the few downsides of video poker, though, is that most online casinos exclude it from their bonuses and promotions.

If you want to learn more about the other pros and cons of playing the game, as well as check out the paytable and optimal strategy for the most popular variations, our video poker guide is for you.

Baccarat

Baccarat Game Icon

Baccarat is known as the game that attracts high rollers. You can see insane table limits in the biggest casinos in Macau and Las Vegas. Millions can be won or lost in baccarat, and while the popularity of the game is not that big online, it’s still available in many places.

There are certain ways to improve your chances and different variants you should probably learn before you start playing baccarat, though.

Our guide to baccarat covers them and goes deep into the history and rules of one of the most famous casino card games.

Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker Game Icon

There are many casino games based on poker and Caribbean Stud Poker is one of the most beloved variations.

The rules are simple, and you can learn them very quickly, but that doesn’t make the game boring.

Quite the contrary, in fact. Playing Caribbean Stud is a lot of fun, and the average house edge is decent compared to other popular casino games.

You can learn more about the rules and the optimal strategy in our Caribbean Stud Poker guide.

Casino Hold’em

Casino Hold'em Game Icon

Casino Hold’em is a card game that is loosely based on Texas Hold’em poker. The rules are simple, and you can find this one in plenty of online and land-based casinos all across the globe.

It’s an excellent alternative to blackjack if you’re looking for a dynamic game with a low house edge and strategy involved.

To learn more about the different variants and how to pick the right move in each of them, make sure to check the page below.

3 Card Poker

3 Card Poker Game Icon

If you want a fast-paced casino game with simple rules, you should probably try 3 Card Poker. You will learn how to play in mere minutes, and that opens the doors to countless hours of entertainment.

Some variations include large payouts, so they add even more emotions to an already exciting game. You can find most of them online and in some land-based casinos.

3 Card Poker is often included in live casinos on the internet too, so there are many options for this one. We cover them all in our guide, so make sure to read it.

Let It Ride Poker

If you are looking for a more complicated variation of casino poker, Let It Ride might be the best choice. It’s a relatively rare table game that’s available in some online and land-based casinos.

The trick here is that there are three stages and you can end the hand at any one of them, saving part of your initial wager.

Let It Ride is another game that includes strategy, so we highly recommend checking our guide before you try it out.

Casino War

Casino War Game Icon

Many of us played the fun card game War as kids and the casinos decided to launch their own version that has similar rules.

This is one of the simplest options available and you can start playing instantly. There’s no real strategy involved, but some people still find Casino War very enjoyable.

The only problem is that not many places offer the game. You can read about the rules and more in our guide to Casino War.

Sic Bo

Sic Bo Game Icon

Dice games have a lot of betting options and Sic Bo is no exception. You can choose between a ton of different wagers that look complicated at first, but it’s relatively easy to get used to them and enjoy the game.

Sic Bo is more popular in land-based casinos, but plenty of online gambling operators offer the game, too. There are even a few different variations.

To learn more about them, and the general rules of Sic Bo, visit the following guide.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Game Icon

If you love Chinese dominos, you should definitely try Pai Gow Poker. It’s one of the more complicated casino games available, at least initially, because there are plenty of things to consider. With some practice, though, most of the decisions become obvious.

One of the benefits of Pai Gow Poker is that it has some strategy involved, so it’s not only about hitting a button and hoping for the best.

We cover both the optimal play and the basic rules of the game in our guide, so check it out if Pai Gow sounds like an interesting choice to you.

Keno

Keno Game Icon

Keno is one of the most popular specialty casino games and you can find at least one version in most online and brick-and-mortar casinos.

The rules are simple and there’s usually a chance to win big which attracts plenty of people to the game.

However, the house edge is quite large in keno, especially if you don’t know what wagers to pick. We explain what the better options are and how to make the best of this game in our extensive guide.

Red Dog Poker

Red Dog Poker Game Icon

Red Dog Poker is another game that is very simple to learn and has no strategy whatsoever. The title is a bit misleading because the rules have nothing to do with any traditional form of poker.

Not many casinos offer Red Dog Poker, but we recommend you to give it a try if you like casual games. It must be mentioned that the house edge is usually low, so your chances to win are higher than many similar options.

If that sounds interesting, feel free to check out our Red Dog Poker Guide.

Andar Bahar

Andar Bahar Game Icon

Andar Bahar originates from India and you would’ve struggled to find it in many casinos outside of the country up to a decade ago. The simple and exciting gameplay won some fans from other regions, though.

This game is now widely available, especially at online casinos.

The concept of Andar Bahar is similar to Casino War. If you enjoy simplicity, then this is definitely a game worth considering.

We explain more about the rules and the house edge in our detailed guide to Andar Bahar.

Teen Patti

Teen Patti Game Icon

Another Indian game that makes this list is Teen Patti. Similarly to Andar Bahar, it slowly found its way around the world and even some online casinos offer this one nowadays.

It’s a variant of poker that includes other players and is available with different rule sets. The game is more complicated than most casino titles and it involves plenty of strategy.

If you want to master Teen Patti, our guide explains the rules and delivers tips on how to win.

Live Dealer Casino Games at Online Casinos

If you can’t decide between online and land-based casinos, there’s a solution that delivers the best of both worlds.

You can enjoy high-quality live casinos online that deliver streams from studios or brick-and-mortar casinos. There are real dealers, chips, and tables, but you have access at any given moment and the gameplay is fast.

Live online casinos combine elements of real life play with internet gambling.

Here are some of the popular games that most online casinos with live dealers offer.

  • Blackjack – You usually can pick between at least several different tables in terms of rules and limits.
  • Roulette – There are plenty of roulette tables with live dealers and we recommend you stick to French and European rules.
  • Baccarat – Some of the highest limits are at the baccarat tables with live dealers.
  • Caribbean Stud Poker – This is one of the most popular options and many live casinos have it.
  • Other – You can find plenty of other table games like 3 Card Poker, Sic Bo, Casino Hold’em, and even specialty games like Wheel of Fortune.

Visit our page dedicated to live casinos online for more information.

Casino Game FAQ

Is There Skill Involved in Casino Games?
A

Yes, some casino games like blackjack and video poker require skill and your decisions matter. Others like roulette and craps are down to pure luck.

Are Casino Games Fair?
A

If you visit a legit brick-and-mortar casino or a licensed online casino, the games are fair and there’s usually a regulator that makes sure the operators don’t cheat.

Can You Win at Casino Games?
A

Yes, but only if you get lucky because every casino game comes with a house edge that puts you at a disadvantage.

What is the Best Casino Game to Play?
A

There’s no straight answer to this question it depends on your personal preferences. You should try different options to find the games you like the most.

What is the Best Casino Game to Win Money?
A

That’s a complicated question because there are plenty of factors in play. Video poker and blackjack are good because of the low house edge, but you have to play with an optimal strategy to achieve it. Slots are solid too because most online casinos offer plenty of bonuses for them which adds extra value.

What is the Most Popular Casino Game?
A

Slots are the most popular casino games both online and in land-based casinos.

What is the Easiest Casino Game?
A

Many casino games are very easy, but Casino War is probably the easiest one of all.

Can You Cheat at Casino Games?
A

It’s forbidden to cheat at casino games and all casinos monitor their customers closely, so we don’t recommend even trying to cheat.

What is the House Edge in Casino Games?
A

It varies greatly depending on the games. It could be less than 0.5% in video poker, for example, and over 10% in certain keno bets or slots.

Are There Limits on What You Can Wager on Casino Games?
A

Yes, all casino games come with a maximum wager that is preset. In certain cases, you can lift the limits by talking to the dealer or a pit boss.

Are Casino Games Truly Random?
A

Yes, the games are random in licensed online and land-based casinos.

Should I Play Casino Games Live or Online?
A

That depends on what you prefer. Playing online is easier, cheaper, offers more games, and you have a higher chance to win. And yet, live casinos have their charm and the atmosphere can’t be recreated on your computer or phone.

Kevin Roberts
Kevin Roberts Administrator

Kevin Roberts, previously published under the pseudonym Noah Davis, is one of the more diverse writers at GamblingSites.com. Like many of his colleagues, he's a huge fan of both football and basketball. But he also writes about box office records, TV show prop bets, DFS, and all kinds of other subjects.

When it comes to the NFL, Kevin's favorite team is the Green Bay Packers. He enjoys cheering them on with his wife and daughter.

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