Casino Games

Online casino games are incredibly popular, and can yield surprising profits. However, before you can hear the virtual ca-ching, it would be beneficial to learn about the different kinds of online casino games. Here is a short overview of the kind of games that could end up putting money in your pocket.

Slot Machines

Slot machines are one of the easiest types of online gambling. Although there are many different types of slots, the concept is quite similar. Your winnings in slots are dependent upon the alignment of different symbols in many combinations. "Reels" are the vertical columns and "paylines" are the horizontal rows. The most important consideration in choosing a slot game is whether it is classified as a straight slot or a progressive slot. Straight slots pay out a determined amount, while progressive slots pay from a growing jackpot.

In Britain the slot machine is commonly referred to as a Fruit Machine, but don’t let the name deceive you they are exactly the same as the US equivalent.

Roulette

Roulette is another simple game, although slightly more difficult than slots. Before a wheel is spun, bets are placed on a table. Winnings are given depending upon where a red ball lands when the wheel stops. There are many ways to place a bet in roulette. There are several types of bets referred to as "inside" bets. The first type is a straight up bet, in which a bet is placed on one of the thirty-five numbered spots on the table. A street bet is a bet made by placing chips on the line between one of the twelve columns and the outside bets. If one of the numbers in the column is chosen, you win. In a corner bet, the player places a bet at the intersection of four numeric boxes, hoping that one of the numbers is chosen. A split bet is similar, but placed on the line between any two numbers instead. A five-number bet covers the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. A line bet covers six separate numbers. Outside bets are slightly more complicated, and should be studied carefully. Red and black, odd and even, low and high, columns, dozens, en prison, and la partage are all outside bets.

Blackjack

Blackjack can be played as a strategy game, but can also be a great game for beginners. In this game between you and the dealer, the person whose cards reach closest to the number twenty-one without going over, wins. Numbered cards are worth their numerical value, face cards are worth ten, and aces are worth eleven. The game begins when the player is dealt two face-up cards and the dealer is dealt one face-up card and one face down card (aka the hole card). By saying "hit me" a player consents to receive another card. By "standing", the player refuses more cards, feeling that their number is close enough to twenty-one. After the first bet, an additional bet can be made. This is known as "doubling down." Going over twenty-one is known as "busting". Players can also split their hand in two if the first two cards are of equal value, playing against the dealer with the following cards. Taking insurance is a bit more complicated of a process, but basically means that when the dealer’s face-up card is an ace, that the dealer has a twenty-one.

Video Poker

Video poker actually bears a lot of similarities to slot machines. A stake is placed, which starts the machine. The player chooses which cards are to be discarded, and takes another spin at the machine. The discarded cards are replaced, and the winning hand is whichever is highest on the poker scale. This scale is as follows: one-pair, two-pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush and royal flush.

Craps

Craps is a game that is based on the roll of the dice. Players place bets on a table, betting on the number that the two dice amount to. Different values of the dice are worth different amounts. There are two rolls in craps: the come out roll and the point number. There are a number of different wagers that can be placed, including the pass line wager, the don’t pass line wager, the come and don’t come wagers, the place bet, the free odds wagers, the field bet, the buy bet, the lay bet, and preposition bets. The game of craps is one of the most difficult online casino games to understand.

Baccarat

In baccarat, dealer and player hands compete against one another. Players can bet on the hand that they think will win. They may place three bets at the beginning of the game: one on the player’s hand winning, one on the banker, and one on a tie. Two cards are dealt to both the dealer and the player. The cards are flipped and tabulated. Players can then chose to hit or stand. The object is to get closest to nine, with cards 2-9 worth their value, and ten and above worth zero. There are many rules for draw determination. Baccarat is one of the more complicated online games.

Keno

Online keno works as follows: players pick from two to ten numbers out of a board of eighty. The more numbers, or "spots" that are picked, the lower the payout if only one number is picked, and the higher the payout if all numbers are picked. After twenty balls are randomly drawn, winnings and losses are displayed.

Scratch Cards

Online scratch cards work in much the same way as scratch cards in real life. Players "scratch" off instant win tickets with a low investment and easy level of difficulty.

Pai Gow

Pai Gow is an alternative version of poker. Players are dealt a five card high hand and a two card low hand. The ultimate goal of the game is to do better with both of your hands than the dealer. Hands have different values than in traditional poker.