Casino Games
Casino games are popular across almost every demographic, all over the world from New York to New Delhi. One of the reasons that they appeal to so many is the sheer range of possibilities, from games of complete chance to ones that require skill and practice to find success. In years gone by, wagering and gambling were seen by many to be immoral activities, and governments created legislation to prevent citizens from engaging in them. Attitudes have thawed over the past half century, and now in Canada the provincial authorities are responsible for overseeing all land casinos, with much of the revenue going to the state budget. The playing of casino games has undergone a renaissance ever since the birth of the internet, and today it is a multibillion dollar industry which continues to grow year on year.
Online Casino Games
The table games that are available in online casinos are similar to those found in land casinos around the world, offering patrons a great range of diverse activities which can be enjoyed at any time and in any place with an internet connection and a device on which to play. More recently, the addition of live dealer casino games has enriched the online experience, giving players the chance to interact with real dealers on the screen. Improvements in mobile technology mean that anyone can have a portable casino in their pocket, and this is the sector which has shown the most rapid growth in the past couple of years. Playing casino games online also offers customers an unprecedented amount of choice when it comes to the type of table game played, with some more regional games being opened up to a much wider audience than ever before.
List of Casino Games
Online casinos offer a large variety of different casino table games, and it’s now possible to find a single casino that will let you play practically anything that your heart desires. Here we provide a casino games list to give a rundown of the most popular games, as well as some that are maybe less familiar than the traditional ones played at Canadian casinos.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the classic casino card games, and will doubtless be a familiar one even to those who have never played in a casino. The rules of the game are simple, as the only way to win is to make a hand that is closer in value to 21 than the dealer’s. Although the premise is not complicated, there are many ways and strategies used to achieve this goal, and it is beloved of players because it is a mixture of chance and skill and quite easy to pick up. Blackjack also offers a very low house edge, meaning that the casino itself is less likely to profit from this game, so players can be fairly confident of some wins if they follow a few basic guidelines. There are also plenty of variants to be found in online casinos, which can offset any potential boredom.
The main disadvantage of playing Blackjack is that the payouts are usually not so high in the classic game, although these can be improved with the judicious use of side bets, different types of which can be found in the online variants.
Roulette
Another game that was easy to adapt to the online format is Roulette. This iconic casino game is played with a spinning wheel and a ball which drops into a numbered slot. The numbers are from 1-36, with one slot for zero in the European version and an additional double zero slot in its American counterpart. The addition of the extra zero slot increases the house edge, so many players prefer not to play on these wheels.
Roulette is popular in part because of the number and variety of bets that can be placed on a single spin, and on the relatively high chance of winning certain wagers. These are known as the outside bets, and include betting on red or black and odd or even, for a chance of around 40% that you will get a 1:1 return. These favourable odds are part of the appeal, but they can also be responsible for players getting carried away during play. Roulette is a truly random game, and contrary to popular belief, there is no mathematical strategy that can be played on the Roulette table that will guarantee a big win. This is a fun game, but players shouldn’t expect to get the big bucks without some serious luck. Placing all your chips on a single number might work in the movies, but in the real world you’re almost guaranteed to walk away with nothing.
Poker
In contrast to the entirely random game of Roulette, Poker is a game of skill and one that can take years to become proficient in. For this reason, the stakes and potential wins can be very high, with some professionals earning tens of millions of dollars. Poker is clearly not a game to be taken lightly, and since its recent rise in popularity there are many excellent players out there to compete with.
Offline and online, the most widely played version is Texas Hold’em, which is typically played in groups of up to ten people. Online, it’s more likely that you’ll find either Three Card Poker, Hi Lo or an adapted version known as Casino Hold’em, which can all be played directly against the dealer. Online casinos have given many more people the opportunity to get to know the game of poker, but a downside to the virtual version is that it doesn’t allow for the interaction with fellow players that can be seen as such a vital part of the game.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game in which bets are placed on the outcome between two hands, which can be a win for the ‘banker’ or the ‘player’, or a tie, although in this case the banker does not represent the house. Cards are drawn in a set way, up to three cards per hand, with the highest value being nine. The majority of online casinos offering Baccarat use the punto banco variant, giving the player no choice over the way the cards are drawn.
The advantages of playing Baccarat online are that it is very simple, with no difficult decisions to be made, unlike Blackjack. It also has a low house edge, which is always considered a pro. However, this low house edge means that payouts are also quite low, and the lack of opportunity to make decisions other than the bet placed makes it quite a boring game in many people’s eyes. These potential disadvantages don’t detract from its appeal, and Baccarat is especially popular in the gaming houses of Macau.
Craps
Anyone who has ever watched a movie featuring a casino will know what a Craps game looks like. Players take turns to shoot two dice along the table, with a variety of possible outcomes. This makes for a very atmospheric game, as other players watch the shooter with bated breath to see how the dice will fall. Playing the game online inevitably removes much of the spectacle of the game, and for this reason some prefer to avoid Craps unless they are playing in a land casino.
There are some advantages to playing online, not least that it gives novices a chance to learn the game in a less intimidating environment. The loss of the casino atmosphere is compensated by the fact that there is nobody there to frown at you should you make a mistake when betting.
Sic Bo
Sic Bo is a dice game originating in China, which is just starting to gain a following in online casinos outside of the Asian market. Not only is this dice game fast-paced and fun like Craps, but it is a simple game of chance with multiple betting options like Roulette, so any fans of dice games are advised to check it out. The board may look complicated, but it takes very little time to decipher and start playing. In the online version, players press a button to roll the three dice, having placed one or more wagers on how they will fall, with payout rates being directly connected to probability. Live dealer Sic Bo is also very popular, especially as the dice roll is performed by a real person and doesn’t rely on a computer algorithm.
Keno
Keno is a traditional lottery-type game that has undergone a revival in popularity since the rise of the online casino market. In this fast game, players choose up to 15 numbers from a possible 80, and winnings are paid out depending on how many winning numbers were wagered on. Casino games don’t come simpler or faster than Keno.
Online Keno has a few advantages over the old paper-based version, the primary ones being the convenience of playing electronically. All online Keno games have an option for the numbers to be picked by the computer, which is perfect for those who prefer not to choose their own numbers. Additionally, if you make a mistake or change your mind, it’s not necessary to fill in an entirely new sheet of paper, simply delete the number from the field on the screen. Players can also have multiple games taking place at the same time. Online Keno also has a much lower house edge than the offline type.
Players who would like to try Keno should be warned that this is one of the games with the worst odds on winning. In order to win 10,000 coins, for example, a player would need to match every single one of the 15 numbers they selected, and only a remarkable stroke of luck can beat those odds.
Scratch Cards
Online scratch cards are simply a virtual version of the cards that are sold in shops around the world. Playing scratch cards online offers multiple advantages, such as the enormous choice in price point, theme and potential prizes. With such a large range, players can find the cards that suit their budget and need never get bored. With online scratch cards, there is also the convenience factor; even when time or circumstances mean that you are unable to go to the corner store to buy your ticket, you can still play online without needing to leave the house. One disadvantage could be the temptation to play more than you may ordinarily do, but with a little self-discipline the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages.
Bingo
Bingo is still played by many as a social game in bingo halls and community centres across the globe. As it is seen as a game to play with others, some expected online Bingo to be a failure, but nothing could be further from the truth. Both versions follow the same gameplay, with players marking off numbers from their allocated cards as they are called.
Once the preserve of the elderly, the existence of the online game has increased the game’s appeal to a younger demographic. The social aspect is retained via a live chat messenger board, but unlike in a bingo hall, this is optional if you don’t feel like interacting. The game goes very fast, but there are auto-play options available so that you don’t miss any numbers. Another advantage of the online game is that there are plenty of special non-cash prizes and welcome offers.
Games With The Best Odds
Good news for those who enjoy playing casino games online; some of the most popular games are those that also have the best odds of winning. Blackjack, European Roulette, Craps and Baccarat are all games in which, with a bit of experience and know-how, a player can be fairly confident in making some modest winnings. In the case of Blackjack, if you hone your skills you may be able to reverse the house’s advantage. This does involve some so-called card counting, which is really nothing more than keeping track of the cards that have been dealt already.
Roulette, Craps, Sic Bo and Baccarat are all games that rely on chance, and there are certain bets that can be placed which are much more likely to result in a win. In these games, odds are calculated based on mathematical probability, and the less likely the outcome, the higher the payout will be. This group of table games offer far better odds than the popular online slots.
House Edge
The house edge, also known as the casino advantage, is the way that casinos are guaranteed to make a profit. In reality, the casino will pay out a little under the true odds for a win, and the house edge is the difference between the true odds and what is paid out. If you are trying to decide on a low odds game to play, the best way to know is to look for the house edge on the games you are interested in. Many games have a house edge lower than three per cent.
House edge on some games can never change, because of how they are played. Roulette is a good example, as the number of slots is always the same and the only thing that can change is where the ball falls. Calculating house edge for such games is relatively simple, and there will be no significant difference between casinos. In Blackjack, the reason that the house edge changes and can even be reversed in the player’s favour is that the cards are shuffled and dealt differently every time.
Free Casino Games
It’s frequently possible to find and play online casino games completely free. In some cases, this will be via a demo version available either at an online casino or direct from the game developer’s website. Playing these games for free gives players a chance to practice and get to know the game before trying with real money. Some online casinos will offer a large number of credits to try out their table games, although of course it is not possible to win any money from these free versions.
Real Money Casino Games
Playing free casino games online is a fun and risk-free way to learn the ropes, but there’s no beating the thrill of wagering real money at the table. Canadian players are in a great position for playing real money casino games, both at land casinos and through the many online sites that can be accessed in Canada. Players should take their time and be aware of the wagering requirements of the casino before depositing any cash. Many of the best and most trustworthy online casino sites serve the needs of the Canadian market, and allow deposits and withdrawals in Canadian dollars.
Play Online Casino Games
Canada’s love affair with playing at online casinos shows no sign of waning, with the market in Canada showing a similar growth pattern to the rest of the world. The recent rise of live casino and mobile gambling brings an ever increasing choice to patrons, and the estimated 10% of citizens who enjoy playing games of chance and skill online is set to continue its upward trajectory. Recent financial statements prove that the profits of land casinos have not suffered due to the competition from their online brethren, and so it seems likely that legislators will continue their current tolerant stance towards the online casino market in Canada.
