Online Casino Games 101: The Basics If you are a new casino player, you need to get to know the rules of all of the most popular games, this article is here to help.

Since the rise of the internet, online casinos have skyrocketed in popularity the world over. Today, you can find all sorts of different casino games online, from classics like blackjack and poker to quirky, unique titles like game shows, Slingo and even Minesweeper. You can play all of these games for real money or just for fun.

However you’re choosing to play, it’s always important to understand the game you’re playing before you start, especially if you’re opting to put money down.

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So that you can feel confident and have fun as you play, let’s go through the rules of some of the most popular online casino games:

Slots

You’ll notice pretty quickly that the vast majority of online casino games are slots. They’re super accessible, with straightforward gameplay and attractive interfaces, and they’re easy to develop with a lot of room for creativity. It doesn’t hurt that they offer some of the biggest payouts, too.

Playing slots is often as easy as choosing how much to bet and pressing go. Put down your wager, click to start and watch the reels spin! If the symbols fall into a winning combination, also known as a pay line, you win!

You can find winning combinations listed in the game’s paytable, usually displayed beside the reels. This paytable explains what different symbols are worth and how you trigger additional features like multipliers and free spins.

These are the basics for slots, but this can change depending on the slot you’re playing. For example, grid slots function differently than reel slots, and other games have extra gameplay features to make the experience more engaging. As such, it’s always worth reading through the rules of the game you’re playing.

Blackjack

Blackjack, sometimes known as 21, vingt-et-en or Pontoon, is the most commonly played casino game in the world. The goal is simple: get your hand as close to 21 as possible without going over, which is called going bust. In blackjack, players don’t play against each other but against the dealer.

To play, the dealer first deals two cards to each participant. As a player, you then have four choices. The basic two are ‘hit’ or ‘stand,’ where you either take another card or keep your hand. You can also ‘double down,’ take another card and double your bet, or ‘split,’ where if you’re dealt two of the same card, you can split them and play two separate hands.

The dealer will draw cards until they reach 17 or higher. If the dealer goes bust or your hand is higher than the dealer’s, you win. If you draw, it’s called a push, and your bet is returned to you.

Roulette

The roulette wheel is one of the most iconic images we associate with casinos. It’s a simple game where players place bets on where they think a ball will land on a wheel. If you’re correct, your bet pays out.

Roulette wheels come in different varieties depending on which type of roulette you’re playing. The most common roulette types are American, European and French. The differences lie in wheel size, betting options and house edge.

To play, you place your bet on the table of betting options, also known as the ‘layout.’ You can bet on one or a range of numbers, a colour, or evens vs odds. The host, called the croupier, will then spin the wheel to roll the ball. If the ball lands according to your bet, you win.

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Video Poker

Don’t get this mixed up with the classic game of poker. Video poker is a single-player experience more akin to a video slot in how it plays. The goal of the game isn’t to outwit your opponent but rather to build the best hand possible.

You’re dealt five cards at the top of each round. You then choose which cards to hold and which to discard to improve your hand. Those cards are then replaced, and your hand is matched against the paytable (the list of winning hands) to see how much you potentially win.

The paytable lists various poker hands, such as flush, four-of-a-kind and full house. The rarer your hand, the bigger the payout. Video poker comes in a handful of varieties, all with slightly different rules and paytables. Because of this, be sure to take a look at the rules for the video poker game you’ve selected before placing your first bet.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a curious card game in that the participants aren’t playing at all. Instead, participants bet on whether the dealer or player will win a given hand.

The player and banker are both dealt two cards, at which point they hit (take another card) or stand (keep their hand). The hands are then compared, and whoever's total is closer to 9 is the winner. Determining the total of a hand is simple: cards are totalled, and if the total goes above 9, the first digit is dropped. For example, you count 16 as a 6.

Participants can bet on whether the banker or player will win or if there will be a tie. When the player wins, the payout is double the bet, but when the banker wins, the bet is matched by less than 100% to account for the house edge, usually around 95%. Finally, a tie pays out 8 to 1, with the most significant risk versus reward.

Other popular online casino games

Of course, there are many, many more games to find at online casinos, like craps, keno, bingo, scratch cards and even game shows.

All of these games will have instruction windows when you start them, so read through them before you play. Many online casinos also provide additional information about these games and their specific selections.

Tips for playing online casino games

Now you know how to play some of the most popular online casino games out there. But that’s only half the battle! So here are some general tips for playing at online casinos to keep the experience fun and safe:

• Set a budget ahead of time and stick to it

• Don’t chase your losses

• Take frequent breaks — don’t let yourself get swept up

• Don’t make a bet until you understand the rules of a game

• Take full advantage of any promotions on offer — this could include free play

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