Casino games

Casino Games guides

Casino Games Tips

Play free casino games and learn how to play

If you are just starting out playing at online casinos, then we would recommend playing free online casino games first and play for fun first. The reason for hunting out free casino games to play in demo mode is to ensure you do not waste unnecessary funds learning how to play the game.

You can have a few goes on the game for free and then see how it works and all the features you need to understand in order to play. It also gives you the opportunity to know what games you are good at and which ones you like before committing to a real money game.

Most free games are no download, so you just play them directly on your browser and so are quick to use. Even when you play for free, it’s important to play responsibly and limit the amount of time you spend spinning the reels and wheels. UK-licensed casinos offer tools to help you stay in control.

You should also look into playing free casinos games with a no deposit bonus, such as free spins for slots or cash bonuses and free bets for table games. This will allow you to enjoy short periods of free casino gameplay without committing your own funds, while also allowing you to win money as you play.

Play casino games with real money

The key difference to playing for free and playing for real money is that the wins you get in demo games aren’t actually paid out to you, because you’re playing in a fake currency. When you play real money casino games, you can actually win real cash that you can withdraw.

The best games to begin playing with real money are slots, blackjack and roulette, as these have super easy to understand gameplay and thus, are the most suitable for beginners. They generally enable you to make a wide range of bets, so that you can play within your budget. Slots are purely random so you can’t ‘master’ them but table games, such as blackjack, have the best odds when you play with perfect strategy. At the end of the day, with real money betting, you can get lucky and win but it’s all down to luck.

At this stage, you should consider getting a casino games bonus. When you sign up to a new casino and make a real money deposit, you could get a deposit match or some free spins and get a lot more playtime for your money.

The best example is a 100% bonus up to £100, which is a commonly found casino games bonus. This will award you with the double your money to get off to a great start playing casino games with real money. There are also free bets and free spins to claim through this too. Casinos want to get new players and you get cash or spins and more playtime for your coin. It’s a win-win!

Casino games from the best game providers

When searching for casino games, you need to find a top game provider, sometimes referred to as game developers. What these are is essentially the people who have brought the game to life. The best game providers offer a plethora of great games in all shapes and sizes and give you a diverse range of casino gaming options.

The most well-known is NetEnt, a Swedish company with over 20 years of experience in the casino game business. They are very much a one-stop-shop for casino games, as they offer slots, table games, such as blackjack and roulette, and live casino options, i.e. games played with the use of a real-life dealer over a live stream.

While they are one of the only game developers who are a triple threat and offer all the three core groups of casino games, they aren’t the only name you can trust. Microgaming and Play N Go for example, also provide some top-quality slot and tables games, while Evolution Gaming are live casino specialists and thus, are your go-to for real-world-casino-esque experiences.

However, this is just to name a few of the big players in the game providing business and there are a wide selection of names you can trust, with varying expertise and experience. If you head over to our game developer page, you will find all you need to know about the people behind online casino games.

Why should you play casino games?

Casino games have been a popular pastime for over a hundred years now, long before online casinos could even be fathomed.

As a tactial player, you might enjoy the strategic gameplay that goes hand in hand with table games, such as Poker or Blackjack. If you’re someone who’s very sociable, you might prefer to play live games where you can chat with other players as well as the dealer.

On the other hand, slots provide the most diversity when it comes to casino games. Whoever you are, you can find a slot that will tickle your fancy. Interested in archaeology? You might like Egyptian slots. Are you a football fan? Check out the latest sports slots and you’re bound to find a football-themed game. Nostalgic players love fruit slots and holiday-lovers enjoy Christmas slot games. There’s endless choice and the best UK casinos have 1,000 or more slots!

However, while these are great reasons to play casino games, it is also worth bearing in mind, that they are all about fun and having a good time at the end of the day. This is why you shouldn’t let either the excitement or the money go to your head and you should always concentrate on playing for fun. Remember, when the fun stops, you too should stop.

New casino games

The landscape of casinos is always changing with new casino game sites and new casino games dropping all the time. The latter of these two things are always very much enjoyable, as they can breathe a breath of fresh air into your casino experience as you experience new features, new designs or even new gameplay to your tried and trust way of playing.

It is always worth checking out the new games on the market, as they will usually provide unique designs and innovative features that improve your casino gaming for the better. To stay up to date with this, check out our news page for all you need to know about new casino game sites and new casino games hitting the market.

What types of casino games can you play?

At online casinos, you will find all the thrill inciting games that you can find in bricks and mortar casinos. However, they go one better and provide a much wider selection of casino games for you to play, all of which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home or wherever you may be via on your mobile.

Below you find a quick run-down of all the different casino games you will frequently find online.

Online Slots

You have no doubt at some point over your life seen a slot machine somewhere. Whether that is in the real world, in a bar or even, just on TV. They are a super easy jump-off point for even the most low-key gameplay.

Very simply, the format sees you push a button and hope that the symbols on the board line-up in the correct order for you to get a payout. However, online slots offer loads more different features and gameplay dynamics compared to real-world slots, plus loads of different themes. You can learn all about them on our slots page.

Blackjack

Blackjack is the quintessential card game for players looking for a quick turnover on their investment by playing a game with straightforward gameplay. The game is very simple, get as close to a score of 21 with your cards without exceeding that amount.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, it is. The only extra element is that you must always get closer than the dealer, which complicates things a little. There are a whole host of different rules and formats of the game though.

Depending on the Blackjack variation you play, the house edge is usually less than 1%. This means the RTP is above 99%.

Roulette

Considered one of the oldest casino games in the world, with the imagery of roulette has long been associated with casino gameplay. The game consists of a spinning wheel painted black and red, with numbers up to 36 and a croupier drops a ball on the spinning wheel.

The aim of the game is bet on where the ball will land when the wheel finishes spinning. If the ball lands where you bet, you win.

In Roulette, the house edge or RTP depends on which Roulette you are playing – European and American Roulettes have very different house edges. For European roulettewith only single zero, the house edge is 2.70%, which means the RTP is fairly high, 97.3%. For American roulette with both zero and double-zero, the RTP is much lower, at 94.7%.

If you want to improve your chances of winning, then European roulette is the better option.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a fast and easy game which is similar to blackjack. There are two parties involved, the player and the dealer, whose cards must reach as close to 9 as possible. However, all you have to do is bet on whether the player or the dealer will accomplish this, or whether it will be a draw.

Baccarat is the game of choice especially amongst high rollers offering an RTP of around 99%. You can bet on the banker with a house edge of 1.01% or bet on the player, which gives casino an advantage of 1.29%.

Craps

Craps is a game popular in the US, which is often seen in movies based in casinos. It is essentially a game where you bet on the outcome of a dice roll, which sounds pretty simple.

Craps can be an exciting casino game offering different types of bets which all affect the house edges and odds. On average, the house edge is between 1 to 1.5%.

Video Poker

The high-octane game of poker in the real world is all about outwitting your opponent via a battle of the mind. Online the dynamic is quite a bit different as you only play against a computer and the result is based more on automation than it is about skill.

That is not to say that you cannot master this game and win big but moving from real-world games directly will be a bit of a baptism of fire. This owes to the big difference in gameplay, as well as the numerous variations found online. Video Poker has many different variations from Jacks or Better to Deuces Wild. Video pokers usually offer high RTP and some variations go over 99%.

Live casino games

Live casino game encapsulates the playing of any casino game via a live stream with a real dealer, and, depending on the game, against other players from across the globe. The concept allows for more exciting, living breathing gameplay that bridges the gap between the convenience of playing online and the feeling of playing in a real-world casino.

You can enjoy any number of different classic casino games, including most of the games we have mentioned so far, as well as completely unique games too.

Casino games with the best winning chances

When it comes to playing online slots and other casino games, we are naturally also interested in our chances of winning – playing at an online casino should always be fun but winning will take fun to the next level. Which casino games have the best odds of winning? Are the chances of winning better with table games or slots? Is there a strategy that can help you win?

All casino games have a house edge, which means the house will always win and players will lose money in the long run. Obviously, you are better off playing games with a lower house edge. If you are looking for gaming sessions that will maintain your bankroll for a longer period, then RTP, or Return To Player, is the figure you want to look out for. Or maybe you need to wager your bonus money? Then look for the high RTP games where wagering is allowed to have the best chance to withdraw at least some of the winnings in the end.

However, RTP is not the only factor that matters. There’s also volatility (or variance) which describes how often and how much you can expect to win. High volatility slots often feature a large number of big wins in a short period of time, whereas low volatility slots will let you score winnings often, but the payouts are on the smaller side.

It’s important to remember that while these statistics can give you an indication of how much you could theoretically win back or how often a slot could pay out, these are averages that are calculated over millions of spins. All online casino games are built using complex technology that cannot be manipulated to ensure fair chances every time you place a bet or spin the reels. Casino games are based on luck and should be played for entertainment purposes only.

Frequently asked questions about casino games

Below you can read answers to some questions other players have been wondering about.

Where can I play casino games?

You can play them at an online casino, of course. All online casinos are defined as such due to them offering casino games. This means when you log on to an online casino, you will find a selection of these games.

Naturally, some sites may specialise in one casino game over another, but if you are from Europe, there is an abundance of online casino games on offer to you. Check out our casino page to help you find one that will do the business for you.

Where can I play live casino games?

Live casinos area also becoming a quintessential part of online casinos too. While not every casino will offer a live casino, most will, especially the best ones. You can also find this information on our casino page which comes with a rundown of the services they offer, including live casino options.

What is the house edge and where do I find it for each game?

Every game is weighted in some way to benefit the casino, aka the house. As such, the house edge is the level that a game favours the casino, which can be determined by a number of factors.

Classic casino games generally have a one size fits all house edge, wherever you play, but variations on traditional games can differ in their house edge. You can check the games info this detail. If it is not there, however, then alternatively you can read game reviews on our site that detail this, or read our guides, as these will provide you with the standard house edge of a game.

Can I get and use bonuses on casino games?

On most casino bonuses, yes. Some bonuses may be specific for certain games though or have different playthrough redemption rates. As such, always read the T&Cs before you commit any money.

Where can I learn game strategies?

If you want to learn some game strategies, then read our game guides as these come with strategies, as well as helpful tips and tricks to help you get ahead.

Can I play casino games on mobile?

Nearly all casino games made in the modern era can be played on the go, providing your phone has the software to support them. Older games may be more temperamental, particularly on older phones, but if you are playing a brand new to the market casino game, then there should be no issues on the game’s end.

Do I need to download an app to play?

No. Most casinos offer a mobile browser casino counterpart which you can log on to directly and play, so there is no need to download. Many sites do offer apps, which may offer more games or bonuses as well as an interface better suited for phones, but a mobile site will usually suffice.

Are casino games rigged?

Absolutely not. All games are powered by RNGs, which determine the outcomes at random, and this is regulated by specific gaming bodies that ensure that everything is above board and who give the green light for a casino game to be allowed to be offered.