The Best Online Gambling Games You Can Play Right Now
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with games when you arrive at an online casino – all those flashing letters, alluring graphics, and ways to earn free spins or progressive jackpots. It can be challenging to pick a single game, let alone find the best online gambling games among hundreds, sometimes thousands of options.
You’re not the only one who has this problem. The casino industry never sleeps, and new games are being developed as we speak. It’s not unusual for a casino to refresh its game offering on a weekly basis. As such, keeping up with the latest releases can be a nauseating experience, especially if you really like a particular game from a certain provider and want more choices. That’s why our guide identifies the best titles that you can enjoy in today’s online casinos. We’ll cover slots, table games, and the most prolific game providers.
The Slots
There are currently thousands of slot games on the market. And with an almost never-ending stream of new releases, it can be very difficult to narrow down the selection to just a few of the best ones. But throughout the years, certain slots have garnered significant popularity among gamers and are considered a must at any online casino.
Starburst
This is the industry’s big kahuna, the top dog. A casino without Starburst in its game library is like a swimming pool without water. It might look nice, but nobody’s going to jump in. Among the most popular online slot games, this one takes the cake. It’s easy to learn, has great visuals, and the payouts can be huge – a true classic.
Wheel of Fortune Megaways
Speaking of classics, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better-known game show than Wheel of Fortune. So, it comes as no surprise that the slot version of this game enjoys the same level of popularity. This one is a high scorer and pays out up to 80,000x your stake, with a whopping one million possible megaways.
Gonzo’s Quest
Another megaways game stars a popular NetEnt conquistador Gonzo. This is one of the best slots online due to its high volatility and captivating theme. Adventurous players can score in more than 100,000 ways and, with a bit of luck, trigger a mighty earthquake that knocks down low-paying symbols from the board.
Book of Ra
The ancient civilizations and tomb raiding are popular themes among online slot fans. The same goes for Novomatic’s big hitter Book of Ra, a 5-reel slot with a maximum payout of 5,000x your stake. The game is highly popular thanks to its dual wild/scatter symbol mechanic with the titular book, as well as the expanding symbol that activates bonus scoring outside of paylines. This game can get wild!
Playing With Cards
Poker
This game is the staple of every online casino. Online poker is, without a doubt, the most popular among all the card games. Players love it because they can play from anywhere, and they don’t have to worry about putting on their poker face. The rules of poker don’t change when you switch to the online version, so you can apply all your skills immediately without having to re-learn the game.
That said, there are many different types of poker. The most popular and best online poker games are undoubtedly Texas hold ‘em and its many variants, which is why many casinos host multiple games at any given time. It’s also the fastest way to play poker, as you’re only waiting for the river instead as opposed to waiting for the dealer to hand out extra cards to everyone. Live poker is another fan favorite. With live casino hosts and an authentic ambiance, you’ll really feel like you’re sitting at a poker table in a fancy casino.
Blackjack
Right next to poker, blackjack is another card game no serious casino can afford to exclude. It’s a very simple but incredibly tense and exciting game of trying to score 21. Some of the best online blackjack games you can play right now include European, Vegas, and of course, live blackjack. Vegas blackjack is the most common game at online casinos, and you’ll always find a multitude of variants, like immersive, live, or a single deck.
More recently, Hi-Lo blackjack has been gaining popularity. It offers players the opportunity to place side bets on whether their second card will be higher than their first. Of course, live blackjack is still the biggest attraction for the same reasons live poker is.
The Roulette
While we’re on the topic of classic casino games, we must mention roulette. This is a game that’s nearly 300 years old and a centerpiece of every gambling venue. We’d go as far as to say that if you come across an online casino without roulette, you shouldn’t bother spending any time there. That’s how essential this game is to the overall casino experience.
Roulette has evolved throughout the centuries, and in some respects, the game has become quite complicated. This is especially true when we compare it to some of the best online gambling games that we’ve touched on so far.
The tricky parts are the ways you can bet on the game and the payouts. Yes, you can bet on a single number, which does result in a huge payout if you win, but the straight-up bet odds on any single number are 37 to 1. Those odds can improve if you bet on colors, even or odd numbers, rows, columns, or a combination of different bets. If you have enough chips, you can cover a lot of spaces on the table, significantly boosting your chances of winning.
There are also variants of these top online casino games. European roulette is the classic we all know, play, or at least have seen in movies. The pockets of the wheel are numbered from 0 to 36, and all the standard rules apply.
If you stumble upon French roulette, keep an eye out for the La Partage rule, which gets you half your bet back if you made an even money bet and the ball lands on zero. American roulette has 38 pockets on the wheel and includes a 00, so the house has a better edge. The Atlantic City variant combines the American and French versions into one and is the most common game in the United States.
Top Providers
Online casinos are an exciting place. But it’s the game manufacturers that play an important role in delivering the thrilling experience. These are software developers that create all the games from scratch. They’re tirelessly coding, animating, and tweaking until they have the perfect casino games.
A provider usually specializes in one or two types of games, which helps the casino owners pick and choose who to sign the contract with. If a casino lacks blackjack, for example, the owners will try to find a provider that offers blackjack in its portfolio.
Today, there is no shortage of online casino providers. Obviously, we can’t list them all here, so we’ll put the spotlight on some of the market’s leading names. These are the providers behind the best games at online casinos, and if you spot them at a casino site, you can rest assured that you’ve come to the right place.
NetEnt
NetEnt is a leading provider of premium slots, table games, and live games. Founded in 1996 as Net Entertainment, this Swedish developer is famous for its quality products. Some of the most popular online slots you can play right now come from NetEnt.
Microgaming
Considered the first provider to ever own an online casino, Microgaming has basically built the world of casinos as we know it. Over the course of nearly 20 years, the company released more than 400 games. Many of those are favorites among casino players around the world.
Evolution
Live casinos wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for Evolution. From poker to baccarat and, of course, roulette, all of the casino staples can be played in real-time thanks to this provider’s world-class products.
BetSoft
This Malta-based provider is the proud creator of some of the best casino games online. BetSoft’s specialty is 3D slots. These visually stunning and unique games enhance the gaming experience.
Thunderkick
Another Swedish developer, Thunderkick was founded by former NetEnt developers. That’s why it’s not exactly surprising that their games have the same production quality. Even though this provider doesn’t have a big portfolio, its games can be played at more than 50 online casinos.
Yggdrasil
Its name might be strange, but the games aren’t. Yggdrasil is another young company on this list that enjoys global recognition for the quality of its casino games. Aside from slots, this provider creates lottery games, earning high praise from industry veterans.
FAQ
Which ones are considered the good ones?
Both slots and table games can be widely considered good games. Slots are definitely more exciting to play, with modern versions incorporating lively themes and promotions that reward players with free spins. In short, they’re anything but boring. Of course, classic table games like poker and blackjack are equally thrilling, so our choice can be narrowed down to poker, blackjack, and slots.
Which one is the best to win money in?
Blackjack is considered one of the most popular online casino games not just because it’s a classic but also for its winning potential. Some say it’s a 50-50 chance game, meaning that if you play it right, you can expect to win every other game.
Can you win money?
Yes, you can win a lot of money on slots. That is, if you’re lucky and can play enough times to set a streak. The top online slots are designed to be an experience these days, meaning that you’re supposed to play for a while before moving on. Some of the more advanced slots house a few extra modes that change the rules a bit, like adding extra wheels, unusual scoring, or bonuses that carry over multiple spins. Just be sure to read up on the rules of each game, and you’ll be on your way to winning some jackpots.
Do any casino apps pay real money?
Yes, if a casino accepts real money payments for playing the best online gambling games, it certainly pays out in real money. But just in case, it’s worth reading the terms and conditions of the app, as well as user reviews.