Casinos weren’t invented in India. The first land-based casino wouldn’t open its doors in the country until the 20th century. This fact is meaningless, though: about 40% of Indian adults gamble at least once a year. This market crossed the INR 70 billion mark last year. There are no boundaries for casino fun, and there are plenty of games where you can try your luck and your skills. Read about some of them in this article.
A Game for Every Taste
It doesn’t matter whether you prefer games of skill or chance; online casinos have them all. From national games to international classics, you’re sure to find something that’ll suit your taste. 10CRIC offers wide range of Indian Games, not to mention awesome promotions.
Roulette
Roulette is a game of French origin, although it was also influenced by the Italian “Biribi” and the English “Roly Poly”. Its principles are said to be invented by the mathematician Blaise Pascal at some point in the 17th century. Its invention coincides with the creation of the first casino in history, the Casinò di Veneza, in 1638. So, it’s arguably one of the oldest casino games ever.
There are more variations of online roulette than one can play, but most of them derive from three classic formats: French, European, and American roulette. The difference between these formats is how many zeros each uses and how they play with them. In some cases, it’s possible to bet on 0; in other cases, the player loses it all if the ball lands there.
Slots
The first slot machines were built in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The man behind the invention is the mechanic Charles Fey. Early versions of the game had only three reels and a single payline. Nevertheless, it was a huge success since its inception, and soon enough, it was everywhere in Las Vegas and other gambling houses around the country.
Video slots would only appear in the 70s, freeing the game from the constraints of mechanical reels. So, different grids and more paylines appeared. Online slots are even more flexible in themes and gameplay and can be found in any online casino. When we hear about millionaire prizes in casinos, they come from a slot machine.
Blackjack
Blackjack is also a game of French origin, where it’s called “vingt-un” or 21. It’s possibly the most popular card game in the world, a position challenged by poker. Like poker, it also has quite a few variations. However, the original one was blown up by Edward Thorp, the mind behind the book “Beat the Dealer”.
In this book, Thorp teaches his method to count cards in singled-deck games with incredible precision. Not by chance, this variation is hardly available these days, and most blackjack versions involve four decks or more. The most popular variations are European and American blackjack, often called “classic blackjack.
Poker
For ages, this legendary card game has inspired novels, movies, and academic treatises. Some historical references defend it as coming from the Persian game of “As Nas” However, the fact is that the card combinations in poker are so intuitive that it’s almost impossible to trace it back to a specific game.
The most popular variation nowadays is Texas Hold ’em, played with two cards in hand. This kind of poker is often under the spotlight in tournaments organised and broadcast by PokerStars and the likes. There are many other variations, like Omaha, which is played with five cards in hand. Caribbean Stud Poker is also a very common option.
Teen Patti
Teen Patti is an Indian card game that uses a single deck of cards with no jokers. It can be played with three to six participants, and its gameplay is similar to poker. The game begins with a round of bets, and all players receive three cards facing down. The minimum bets in the game are called “boot”. All bets go to the pot at the centre of the table.
Indian Rummy
Rummy isn’t originally an Indian game. Most historical sources regard it as a Spanish game, where it was also called “conquian”. It bears some similarities with poker; a variation called “whiskey poker”, for instance. Rummy is officially considered a skill-based game in the country.
The Indian version of the game requires players to form combinations with 13 cards distributed at the beginning of the game. Indian rummy became popular in the country around the middle of the 20th century. It blends two American versions: rummy 500 and gin rummy.
Andar Bahar
Andar Bahar is one of the most popular card games in India. It’s also one of the oldest games in Indian culture, and it’s easily found in casinos that cater to the Indian audience. The game was originally played with pieces of cloth, and their decorative drawings originated the card suits we know today.
The game can be played with two or more participants and a regular pack of 52 cards. It’s a game of chance, and there’s no real strategy. The first card on the deck is turned up; a player must guess where its twin card will land. The Turkish version is also very popular in the country.
Baccarat
It’s possible to speculate that some roulette was already played in the first casino in history. The presence of the card game of baccarat, though, was almost certain. Unlike slots, baccarat doesn’t have a birth certificate, but it was already played in 15th century Italy.
The name derives from “baccara”, which means “zero” in an Italian dialect.
Baccarat became a wild success in France, earning the final “t” in the name. This game has four popular variations: Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, European Baccarat, and Mini Baccarat. In any variation, the main point is, to sum up, nine points.
Off the Table
Regardless of your game choice, if you’re playing for real money, learn the rules carefully. Otherwise, you risk wasting your money and having a very frustrating experience. You can find free versions of all the games mentioned here so that you can sharpen your tools before heading to the real deal.