The ins and outs of the most popular online casino games

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Over the years, online casino platforms have expanded their game libraries to offer a wider selection, each with unique rules and features. You’ll typically find a selection of both modern and classic table games, from the likes of video Slots all the way down to classic Roulette and Blackjack casino games.

Understanding how these games work is essential to make informed decisions about which to play. Below is a breakdown of some of the most popular online casino games today and how they are typically structured:

Online Slots

Slots are among the simplest games to play, in both land-based casino venues and online platforms. These games consist of reels, rows, and paylines, and the aim of the game is simple – spin the reels and attempt to land matching combinations to receive a payout.

You’ll find many variations of Slots, since their game variety is a key reason for their popularity today. This includes classic three-reel Slots, five-reel video Slots, and progressive jackpot Slots where a portion of each bet contributes to a growing prize pool.

Different games will also include features such as wilds, scatters, and bonus rounds to add more layers to gameplay.

Roulette

The spinning wheel of Roulette is one of the most recognisable aspects in online casino gaming. This game involves a spinning wheel with numbered pockets and a small ball, and you need to place bets on where you think the ball will land on the wheel.

In a game of online Roulette, bet types range from single numbers (straight up) to groups of numbers, colours (red or black), and odds or evens. This allows you to choose a bet that aligns with your playing style.

There are different variations online, such as European Roulette (with a single zero) and American Roulette (with an extra double zero), which affect the house edge. Make sure you know the features of each game before playing.

Blackjack

Blackjack is a traditional card game that has you playing against a dealer – except in the case of online Blackjack, the dealer is the game software. In live Blackjack, you’ll play against a real-life professionally trained dealer, streamed directly from a specialist studio in real time. Either way, the goal remains to have a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.

Each card has a value in online Blackjack – numbered cards are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10, and Aces can count as one or 11 (depending on your preference for the round). You also have actions you can take during gameplay, including hit (draw a card), stand (keep your current hand), double down (double your bet and take one more card), or split (if you have a pair).

Online versions of Blackjack can also include multiple decks and side bet options.

Baccarat

Another classic card game that’s popular on digital platforms today is Baccarat. Unlike Blackjack, this is a comparing card game where you bet on whether the player or the banker hand will be closer to a total of nine – or whether the result will be a tie.

The cards two to nine keep their face value, Aces count as one, and 10s and face cards count as zero. The hand closest to nine wins, and payouts are made according to matching bets. Online baccarat frequently offers side bets like ‘player pair’ or ‘banker pair’, adding further betting possibilities when playing.

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Each online casino game operates under specific rules and mechanics, and by familiarising yourself with these details, you can approach each game with a better understanding of how it works and the choices available to you.