Online casinos can look overwhelming the first time you visit one. There are hundreds of games, a lot of unfamiliar terms and a menu that seems to go on forever. The good news is that most games fall into a handful of simple categories and once you know what each one involves, it’s easy to find something you enjoy.
Most licensed UK sites such as BetWright.com, group their games in an easy-to-understand way, with slots, table games, live dealer tables and newer instant-win formats. This guide walks through each of them.
Slots
Slots are the most popular online casino games and the easiest to start with. You choose a stake, spin the reels and win when matching symbols line up. There are no skills to learn, which is a large part of the appeal.
Modern slots come in many styles. Classic slots keep to the traditional fruit machine look with fewer reels and simple rules. Video slots add themes, animations, bonus rounds and free spins. Megaways games change the number of ways to win on every spin, and progressive-style games build towards larger prizes.
Roulette
Roulette is one of the oldest and most recognisable casino games. A ball is spun around a wheel, and players bet on where it will land: a single number, a group of numbers, a colour or odd versus even.
The version most UK players will see is European roulette, which has 37 pockets (1 to 36 plus a single zero). American roulette adds a double zero, which slightly lowers the return to the player, so it’s worth checking which version you’re playing. Online, you can find standard wheels, faster “speed” versions and variants with random multipliers.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game in which the aim is to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over. Number cards are worth their face value, picture cards are worth 10 and an ace can count as 1 or 11.
Players decide whether to take another card (hit), stay with their hand (stand) and, in some situations, double down or split pairs. Because it involves decisions, many people find it more engaging than games that rely entirely on chance, though the cards still decide the result of each hand. Rules vary slightly between tables, so it’s worth reading the information panel first.
Baccarat
Baccarat has a reputation for being glamorous, but the rules are among the simplest in the casino. Two hands are dealt, called Player and Banker and you bet on which will finish closer to nine, or on a tie. The cards are dealt according to fixed rules, so there are no decisions to make once the bet is placed.
Faster versions are popular online. Speed Baccarat, for example comes with short rounds and a brief betting window.
Live Casino
Live casino is the part of an online casino that feels most like a physical venue. Real dealers host roulette, blackjack and baccarat from professional studios, and the action is streamed to your phone or computer in real time. You place bets using on-screen buttons, and many tables include a chat function.
For people who miss the atmosphere of a casino floor, it’s a good halfway point.
Game Shows
A newer category borrows ideas from television. Game show titles are hosted by a presenter, built around a large wheel or board and include bonus rounds with multipliers. Crazy Time, Mega Wheel and Dice City are examples of the style.
They’re simple to understand, quick to play and fun to watch, which is why they’ve become so popular. The results are random, so they work best as light entertainment.
Instant-Win and Crash Games
Instant-win games are the fastest in the casino. Scratchcard-style games reveal a result immediately, while crash games show a multiplier that rises until it stops at a random point, with the player deciding when to cash out. They have very short rounds and few rules, which suits players who want something quick.
Tips for Getting Started
A few habits make a first visit easier:
- Check the licence. In Great Britain, operators must hold a Gambling Commission licence, and the details should appear in the footer of the site.
- Try a demo first. Many slots offer a free demo mode, which is a good way to learn how a game works before using real money.
- Read the information panel. It shows the rules, the RTP (return to player), the volatility and the maximum win.
- Set a budget. Decide in advance how much you’d like to spend on entertainment, as you would for a night out.
- Use the tools. Licensed sites offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and you can set them up whenever you like.
Finding What You Enjoy
The best advice for a first-time player is to explore. Some people prefer the simplicity of slots, others enjoy the decisions in blackjack or the atmosphere of live dealer tables. With so many formats available, it’s easy to find something that suits your style, and the information panels on each game make it simple to understand exactly what you’re playing.
Gambling should be fun, not a way to make money. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly and visit BeGambleAware.org for free support and advice.
