Learning Online Casino Games

This section explores the most popular casino games that are found at many of the world’s leading online casinos. For each genre of games that there is, there are usually several different varieties of each game, with online slots having the widest selection.

The main six different types of games are explained in further detail here, as well as the basic rules to these games and other important information that we feel you should know about them prior to playing them online. All of the ones listed below can be found at every Canadian online casino.

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Learn About Popular Online Casino Games

Below is a listing of popular online casino games available at online casinos where we've put together breif overviews for each.

Slots

Online casinos usually have single line slots with just three reels and these are known as classic slots or fruit machines. Learning to play on these games isn’t difficult. All you have to do is click on the Spin button. If the reels align, you will win a prize and depending on what type of symbols arrived will determine the size of the prize.

The more advanced slots are called video slots. These generally have a minimum of five reels and could have from 10 winning paylines, up to 100 winning paylines. The difference with these slots is that they have bonus symbols such as scatter symbols and wild symbols that help to generate additional prizes.

Some of these symbols trigger bonus rounds that are generally played out on a second screen, or they could trigger free spins. The bonus games are quite often simple picking rounds and don’t require too much skill. They can also be very rewarding.

The most complex slots are the 3D i-Slots. These have recently started appearing at more online casinos and offer amazing graphics and innovative bonus rounds. The rules again are fairly simple. Just hit spin and hope for a win. We always recommend that you bet the maximum amount of lines that each slot has.

Blackjack

Blackjack is a card game played between the player and the dealer (otherwise known as the house). The idea of this game is to end up with 21 or as close to this number as possible or you cards must be closer to 21 than the dealer’s cards. If you go over 21, you will lose and this is called going Bust.
There are several different versions of this popular game, but most have the same principles. Players will initially be dealt two cards and so will the dealer, but one of his cards will be face down and the other will be face up (so that you can see partly what he has).  Your next moved is determined by what you have (taking into account what the dealer is showing).

Jack’s, Queens and Kings are all worth 10 points and an Ace is worth 1 or 11. Therefore if you are dealt (for example) a Jack and an Ace, you will have achieved a Natural blackjack (10 + 11 = 21), which is the best hand. If the dealer happens to receive the same, the game ends in a tie (called a Push). Your stake will then be returned to you. 

Video Poker

Video Poker was another popular land based game that made it to the virtual world. This is an online card game which is based on five card draw poker. The rules are quite straightforward, but it helps to know a little about the different poker hands there are. However, it’s not absolutely essential if you don’t already know them.

The main reason that you shouldn’t worry about not knowing the wins is that almost every video poker has a table of the winnings clearly displayed on the screen. The higher the hand you receive, the larger the prize will be. Most prizes are paid from a pair and higher. High cards do not normally count as a win.

You will first receive five cards and then you can decide to hold one or more of them. Once you have decided, the remaining (un-held) cards will be re-dealt.

If your hand brings in one of the following wins, you will be paid accordingly: a pair, two pair, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four of a kind, a straight flush or a royal flush. You can now find single hand video pokers games and multi-hand (up to 100 play) versions at most online casinos.  

Roulette

Roulette is a traditional casino game that has been cleverly adapted for the virtual world. The idea it to guess the outcome of where the roulette ball will stop after it has spun around the roulette wheel. There are two main types of roulette, including European Roulette and American Roulette and most casinos have both versions, although the rules are basically the same.

The betting table will allow you to place your bets on where you think the ball will land. Depending on where you place your chips will determine the prize. The odds start from as low as 1:1 and generally climb to as high as 35:1.

Areas that you can place a bet on include the 1st, 2nd or 3rd column of numbers (dozen bets), single numbers, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36, street bets, corners, odd, even, red or black and split bets. Most online casinos will require a minimum bet in roulette of CA$1.00. The great thing is that you can also get used to the different bets by playing in the demo mode, which is highly recommended where available.

When you feel confident with what to bet on, only then should you start playing in the real cash mode.

Craps

Craps is often referred to as the most exciting dice game available in the world. The confusing betting table can often scare people away from this fantastic game, so read the rules first before entering this game, or play in the fun play demo mode before you spend your real cash.

Before you start betting serious money on this game and before you are confident enough with the layout of the bet table and what each area means, maybe you should concentrate on betting on the pass line bet. Figure out the other bets as you progress.

If you start by betting on the pass line and the dice thrower (the shooter) rolls either a 7 or an 11, you will win a prize. However, if the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or a 12, you won’t win a dime. Whatever the other number may be, this will then become the Point Number for the thrower.

The point number will have to be thrown before a 7 is rolled for this person to win even money (1:1) but you will lose if the 7 is rolled before the point number. The best advice is to launch this game in the free play mode to get the hang of it before spending real cash.

Baccarat

Baccarat is another simple, but sophisticated card game that is played against the dealer. Both you and the dealer will be dealt a hand (two cards) and the idea is to end up with a total of 9, or as close to 9 as possible. The Kings, Queens, Jacks and 10’s have no value in this game and an Ace is worth one. All other cards are worth their face value.

If the two cards that you have been dealt are low, then you can always take another card and try to reach closer to 9. To have a natural winning hand, being dealt a 9 and a 10 would automatically give you an awesome hand.  If for example you were dealt a 5 and a 5 or a 6 and a 4, you total would add up to zero (10) and the hand would be worthless.

You will be able to set the table limit before entering this game, which is one of the easiest casino games to learn. Most casinos should have this available in the free play mode, but it shouldn’t take long for you to learn, even it if it’s your first time playing.

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