Online Casino Games Guide – Rules, Strategies & House Edge

I think we can all remember our first time looking at an online casino. I was sitting alone in my living room and felt a bit lost, to be honest. After all, you see all these different games like slots, roulette, blackjack, and you wonder where to even start. to be honest, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This is exactly why we put together this online casino games guide. We’ll look at the most popular games, talk about how they work, and, most importantly, discuss how the casino makes its money. Of course, knowing the rules is one thing. But understanding the odds is what really helps you to become a smarter player. 

Slots: The Engine of the Online Casino 

Without a doubt, the slots are the flashiest things you’ll find at an online casino. In fact, they make up the biggest part of any casino, whether you are playing at Bet365 Casino or a smaller site. Thanks to the simple rules they’re very easy to play. You spin the reels and hope the symbols line up. With slots, the key thing to grasp is the Return to Player (RTP). This is a percentage that tells you how much of the money put into the machine vs how much it pays back over time. For example, if a slot has a 96% RTP, the casino keeps 4%. That’s their house edge. Keep in mind that you can’t really strategize a slot spin as it’s all down to chance. But you can strategize your bankroll. As such, always choose slots with an RTP of 96% or higher. At the same time, be sure to manage your bankroll carefully and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.

Roulette: Understanding The Wheel of Fortune 

Of all the games in this online casino games guide, roulette looks complicated. However, it’s nothing more than a guessing game. A tiny ivory ball spins around a wheel, and you simply bet on where it’ll land. You can bet on a single number, a colour (red or black), or whether the number will be odd or even. Probably the biggest difference you need to know is between European and American roulette. The European wheel has one green zero, whereas the American wheel has a zero and a double zero. That extra double zero is a killer for your odds, with the house edge on European roulette being 2.7%, and the American version, 5.26%. So the strategy is simple. Namely, stick to the European wheel. On another note, although betting systems like the Martingale or Fibonacci sound clever, they can’t change the odds. 

Blackjack: The Quest for 21 in this Online Casino Games Guide

Blackjack is one of the few casino games where skills matter. The goal is to get a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer, but without going over. You get two cards, and the dealer gets one face-up.

Then you decide to ‘Hit’ (take another card) or ‘Stand’ (keep your current hand). This is called Basic Strategy. You can find a helpful chart that tells you the mathematically correct move for every possible hand you can have against every possible dealer up-card. When playing online, having this chart at hand is essential. After all, if you play perfectly, you can reduce the house edge to less than 1%, making Blackjack one of the best bets in the casino. 

Baccarat: The Table Game of Simplicity and Elegance 

It’s important to understand that Baccarat is a game of nothing but chance. However, it has a very low house edge, which is the reason high rollers love it. In this game, you don’t play the hand, you just bet on the outcome. As such, you can bet on the ‘Player’ hand winning, the ‘Banker’ hand winning, or a ‘Tie’. The scoring is a bit odd, with the hand closest to nine wins. Strategy is easy in that you should always bet on the Banker. Even though the casino takes a small commission on Banker wins, the Banker bet still offers the lowest house edge at about 1.06%. The Player bet is 1.24%. Whatever you do, avoid the Tie bet at all costs as its house edge is massive, sometimes over 14%. It’s worth noting that there are plenty of different versions of Baccarat. To that end, you’ll have a great time after understanding Baccarat Squeeze, which is our favourite

Craps: The Thrill of the Dice in this Online Casino Games Guide

When you first encounter a craps table, it looks like a riot of numbers and people shouting. In reality, it’s actually quite simple at its core as it’s a dice game where you’re betting on the outcome of the roll. The main bets are the ‘Pass Line’ and the ‘Don’t Pass Line’. The best craps strategy is to stick to these two bets as they both have a low house edge of 1.41% and 1.36%, respectively. The real secret weapon in Craps is the Odds bet. Once a point is established, you can make an Odds bet behind your Pass or Don’t Pass bet. The casino pays these bets at their true odds, with the Odds bet having a 0% house edge, meaning you won’t find a better bet in the whole casino.

Sic Bo: The Ancient Chinese Dice Game 

Yet another dice game, Sic Bo uses three dice instead of two. Here you bet on the total of the three dice or on specific combinations. It’s very popular in Asia, and you will find it at sites like HellSpin Casino. Our Sic Bo betting guide shows the betting table is covered in options, from betting on ‘Big’ (total 11 to 17) or ‘Small’ (total 4 to 10) to betting on a specific triple. Sic Bo strategy is about avoiding high-risk bets, though the house edge varies wildly. The Big/Small bets are the best, sitting around 2.78%. However, bets on a specific triple, like three ones, can come with a house edge of over 30%.

Bingo: The Social Game Online in this Online Casino Games Guide

Bingo is the classic old game, and it translates well to the online world. To play, you buy a card, and the numbers are called out automatically, with the computer marking them off. You win when you complete a line or a full house, depending on the game. Bingo strategy is pretty limited as so much depends on chance. However, buying more cards to increase your odds is common sense. Some players look at number patterns. But this is foolish as the numbers are random. The house edge is determined by the prize money versus the cost of the tickets. If the prize is low compared to the tickets sold, then the house edge is high. We suggest that you look for games with fewer players to increase your winning chances.

Caribbean Stud Poker: A Casino Poker Variant

Unlike most of the games in this online casino games guide, this poker game is played against the house, not against other players. Both you and the dealer get five cards, with one of the dealer’s cards face-up. You make an ‘Ante’ bet, look at your hand, and then decide to ‘Fold’ or ‘Raise’. If you fold, you lose your Ante.

If you raise, you put in double your Ante. In order to “qualify” the dealer must have at least an Ace and a King. Strategy is key here and you should always raise if you have a pair or better. Likewise, the basics of Caribbean Stud Poker strategy mean you should always fold if you have less than an Ace/King combination. The house edge is around 5.22% if you play with the correct strategy, though the odds aren’t as good as in blackjack. 

The Importance of Understanding House Edge

The casino’s built-in advantage is known as the “house edge.” It’s the percentage of every bet the casino expects to keep over the long run. For example, if a game has a 5% house edge, then the casino expects to keep five cents of every dollar you bet. It’s the single most important number in any casino game. It explains why you can win in the short term, but the casino always wins over time. Also knowing the house edge lets you compare games fairly.

Bankroll Management: The Foundation of Strategy

Probably the most important online casino games guide tip we can give you is about bankroll management. This is not about winning but about surviving long enough to win. First off, you need to decide how much money you can afford to lose. This is your bankroll. Then you need to set a unit size for your bets. We think your unit size should be 1% of your total bankroll. So, if you have £1,000, your standard bet is £10. This protects you from losing everything in a bad run, whilst keeping the game fun and preventing you from chasing losses. Whether you play Pai Gow poker online, or prefer blackjack at a brick-and-mortar casino, always give preference to responsible gambling practices, including bankroll management.

Understanding Return to Player (RTP)

RTP applies to all games and is simply the opposite of the house edge. If the house edge is 4%, the RTP is 96%. In truth, it’s the expected percentage of money returned to players. For games like slots, the RTP is fixed and audited. However, for games like Blackjack, the RTP is based on you playing with perfect strategy. So if you make mistakes, your personal RTP goes down, and the house edge goes up. As a rule, always look for high RTP games at sites like 1xbet Casino.

Game Volatility and Variance

Volatility and variance are just fancy words for risk. A high-volatility game pays out big wins, but they happen very rarely. For example, those slots at Bet365 Casino with huge jackpots are usually high volatility. A low-volatility game pays out small wins very often. In this online casino games guide, a good example of low volatility can be found in Baccarat. It’s best to pick a game that matches your bankroll and your personality. If you have a small bankroll, then high volatility can wipe you out fast, but for a longer, steadier session, a low-volatility game is best.

Progressive Jackpots and Their True Cost

Slots players will know that progressive jackpots keep growing until someone wins millions. But there’s a catch. A small part of every bet goes into that jackpot pool.

This means the base game’s RTP is actually lower than it looks. So, you’re actually paying for the chance to win the big prize. Unless the jackpot is massive, the odds are definitely not in your favour. It’s best to think of progressive jackpots as a fun bonus, not a reason to play.

The Role of Skill vs. Luck in this Online Casino Games Guide

Some games, like Roulette and Slots rely on nothing but luck and you can’t influence the outcome. Other games, like Blackjack and Caribbean Stud Poker, involve a fair bit of skill. However, it’s your decisions that change the house edge. If you play poorly, the house edge shoots up, yet if you play perfectly, you minimize it. If you want to feel like you have some control, we recommend you stick to the skill games. On the other hand, if you just want to relax and let the wheel spin, stick to the luck games. 

Live Dealer Games vs. RNG

You have two main choices when you play at an online casino. Either you can play a game run by a Random Number Generator (RNG), which is a computer program that ensures randomness. Or you can play a Live Dealer game, where a real person deals the cards or spins the wheel, over a real-time video stream. Keep in mind the rules and the house edge are exactly the same for both. Live Dealer games just feel more authentic and social. You can chat with the dealer and other players at online casinos like HellSpin Casino.

Responsible Gaming Practices

When it comes to gambling, it’s important to be responsible. Do this by setting limits before you start playing. For example, set a time limit and a money limit. If you lose your bankroll, walk away and don’t think about chasing losses. Most reputable sites have tools that let you set these limits automatically. We suggest you make a habit of using them. If you feel like you are losing control, stop immediately and seek help. 

Use this Online Casino Games Guide to Become a Smarter Online Player

If you read through this online casino games guide, you’ll now know the basic rules for all the major games. You should understand that the house edge is the casino’s best friend, and know which bets offer the best odds. You also know that bankroll management is of utmost importance. Playing online at a top casino like bet365 Casino should be an enjoyable pastime. Go into it with your eyes open, armed with knowledge. Play smart and play responsibly.

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