There is some level of skill required with almost all casino games. Some require you to learn more strategy – like poker, blackjack, and craps, while others, like slots and bingo, are more a game of chances. Casino games are not as easy as the movies portray them to be.
But if you like a challenge, as well as the chance to win some cash, here are some ideas of real money casino games you should get into.
Poker
One of the first challenges that will come up in poker is a personal one – you’ll need to decide which poker games you want to play. Here are a couple of the different types of poker:
- High Low Chicago
- Five-card draw
- Seven-card stud
- Omaha
- Texas Hold’ Em
There are other variations too, but most of the time, people will start by playing Texas Hold Em. The rules for each one will vary, but the outcome is the same – you will need to beat the other people at the table with skill, strategy, and understanding ‘tells.’ Tells are little movements that other players do that might give you some indication of if they have good cards, bad cards, or are bluffing.
When playing online poker, you’ll find watching for tells impossible – but with live poker and virtual reality casinos becoming more common, there is a chance this will be possible in the future.
No matter if you are playing against other players or the house, you’ll need to understand the rules. It is a good idea for new players to spend some time at the tables that are designed for new players to practice.
Keep in mind that while it is good to have a strategy, other players will be looking for that, and the better you get, the more competitive the table you are at, and the more keen people will be to find and exploit your strategy.
Blackjack
Blackjacks popularity continues to increase.
Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games, and often people find it less taxing than poker. It requires more skill than slots and Roulette but offers up just as much, if not more, excitement.
Learning blackjack rules ahead of playing is a must, but the best way to see how it works is to start playing once you have a basic grasp.
You will make decisions based on the cards that you have and the ones that the dealer is showing. The dealer has two cards, one you can see and one you can’t. Based on statistics, you will need to figure out how close they are to having 21 – and if you could get closer.
Each player at the table is competing with the dealer rather than the other, like in poker.
Just like with poker – it is a good idea to spend some time playing at the new player’s table and placing smaller wagers until you get the hang of it.
Craps
Craps is a lot of fun, and while it has a lot of similarities to games like Roulette, there are a couple of different variations of craps bets, and you’ll need to be familiar with all of them. Here are some terms you see when you first start playing craps:
- Come & Don’t Come bets
- Place Loss
- Buy
- Place Win
- Odds Bests
- Pass Line & Don’t Pass
- Big 6 & Big 8
- Hardways
- Proposition
- Field
- Lay
Once you have an understanding of these bets and the role they play, you’ll be able to confidently start making your first craps bets. The basics of craps are that two dice will be rolled, and you wager on the outcome.
Sounds simple enough, right? It is going to take a few games while you get used to it. Just like the other games mentioned here, the best experience and understanding are going to come from being hands-on.
Baccarat
There are only three outcomes of baccarat – win, banker win, or tie. The player and the banker both receive two hands; the highest hand wins. On either hand, bets are accepted by players.
A third card may be dealt to either hand after the initial two cards are given to each hand according to a complex set of rules.
In general, betting on the banker, who has a house edge of 1.06 percent, compared to the player, who has a house edge of 1.24 percent, is the wisest move.
The house edge for a tie is 14.4 percent, and a tie is open to having bets placed on it.
Baccarat has a lot of chances but there are a couple of tricks that are recommended:
- The banker draws more cards, and that means the banker is more likely to win
- The game has different odds based on how many decks are in use
- Watch the results from previous games before you bet
Roulette
Roulette is loved both online and at land-based casinos. At face value, you just have to pick a number and wait for the wheel to spin. While there is no real science behind Roulette, there are ways that you can minimize your risk and maximize your wins.
So how can you master a game of chance that is as challenging as Roulette? It’s all about the mathematics – you’ll need to understand house edge and outside bets to make the most of this one.
Top games for those who want an easier time
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of learning how to play a game – or play with other people too often, then the games that you can try are:
- Slots
- Bingo
- Scratch cards
And remember, always make use of guides, blogs, new players’ rooms, bonuses, and promotions!