Gambling in Online Casinos

Types of Gambling in Online Casinos

Many popular entertainments have a long history. Their rules and format may have changed over time. This page presents a list of gambling games offered in online casinos, along with a brief description of their rules. This information will be useful for beginners who are just starting to explore the gaming industry.

Types of Gambling in Casinos

Large casinos offer a wide range of gaming software, which can reach several thousand titles. For example, MGM Grand Casino features 2,500 slot machines, 139 card tables, and sports betting areas. Online casinos offer an even more diverse selection, as their space is not limited by physical dimensions. Below is a list of gambling games and their rules.

Slot Machines in Online Casinos

Slots are among the most popular games in both land-based and online casinos. Initially, slot machines were mechanical: the player pulled a lever or pressed a button, which set the connected reels in motion. Over time, electronic processors began to be used, allowing the spinning of reels to be simulated on the screen, with results determined by a random number generator. This principle remains in modern online slots.

Slot machines do not require special skills and are suitable for players with any budget level. They can offer the chance to multiply a bet by 10,000 to 20,000 times or more.

Slots are divided into classic and modern categories. Classic machines retain the style of old land-based devices, using simple graphics and functionality. Modern slots are not limited by themes and genres, offering a multitude of options. More detailed information can be found below:

Game Field Size

Most classic slots use a 3x3 grid. Video slots often feature 5 reels, but there are no strict boundaries. Developers can add extra reels, change the configuration of the game field during play, and choose unconventional shapes.

Winning Calculation Principle

In old machines, wins were awarded for combinations of identical symbols. This fixed line mechanic is still preserved today. Combinations can be formed according to 1, 5, 25, 100, and even 100,000 specified patterns.

Cluster payouts have also gained wide popularity.

Players receive winnings when groups of identical symbols connect with each other horizontally or vertically. In slots with the Pay Anywhere mechanic, symbols are paid out regardless of their position, as long as there are enough of them.

Casino Bonuses

Providers implement special symbols that can substitute and transform other symbols, increase winning multipliers, trigger bonus rounds, and much more. Almost all slot machines feature free spins—a series of free rotations, often with unique modifiers. There are also doubling rounds, where players are offered to choose a card or spin the Wheel of Fortune to multiply their winnings. Guessing games, HoldWin mechanics levels, and other variations are also available. Information about bonuses is usually displayed on the machine's start screen and in the rules section.

Jackpot Draw

There are two types of jackpots: fixed and progressive. A fixed jackpot is indicated in coins or bets and is not much different from a regular multiplier. A progressive jackpot is formed in real-time and has no upper limit on the amount. The jackpot draw occurs randomly.

Online Poker

Land-based casinos have special rooms with poker tables. There are also online poker rooms—specialized websites where players can participate in various disciplines and tournaments. Additionally, poker is available in regular online casinos, where users can play against a computer or live dealer, as well as try their luck in video poker.

Players are offered different types of poker, such as Omaha, Texas Hold'em, Oasis, and others. These disciplines differ in the number of cards dealt, exchange features, and combination rules. If a user masters the rules of one type of poker, they will find it easy to understand others.

Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular card game with simple rules and a fast pace. The exact origin of blackjack is unknown; however, in the mid-15th century, a game called "Thirty-One" was popular in Italy, which had similar rules. In the 17th-18th centuries, a version closer to modern blackjack called "Twenty-One" existed in France. Blackjack gained mass popularity in the early 20th century in the United States, thanks to immigrants, where it first appeared in casinos.

The goal of the game is to achieve a total of 21.

At the table, there can be several players, but the value of their cards does not matter—the main goal is to beat the dealer. Blackjack uses between one and eight decks of cards. The dealing rules vary depending on the variant of the game. For example, in the American version, the dealer receives two cards, one of which is face up, while in the European version, the dealer draws a second card only after the players have acted.

In all variants of blackjack, cards are valued as follows:

• Ace — 11 or 1 point.

• Jack, Queen, King — 10 points each.

• Cards from two to ten — worth their face value.

To increase the chances of winning, it is recommended to apply a basic strategy developed by mathematicians and refined by experienced players. This includes practical advice on how to act based on the specific hand.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game where the objective is to achieve the maximum number of points using 2-3 cards. It is available in both land-based casinos and online casinos. The most popular online variants are mini-baccarat and punto banco.

Players are offered three types of bets:

• Punto — a bet on the player's win, with a payout of 1 to 1.

• Banco — a bet on the banker's win, where the stake is returned minus the casino's commission.

• Tie — a bet on a tie in points between the player and the banker, with a payout of 8 to 1 or 9 to 1.

Craps

Craps is a popular dice game that occurs in two phases and offers over 30 different types of bets. The game proceeds as follows: the first roll of two dice determines the "point." If a 7 or 11 is rolled, the player wins. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, the bet goes to the casino's bank. If another number is rolled, it becomes the point and affects the next phase of the game.

Players can make additional bets, after which new rolls begin and continue until the point or a 7 is rolled.

Bingo

Bingo is a type of lottery where players receive a card with random numbers. The drawing machine selects balls with numbers, and if they match the numbers on the card, the cells are marked. The more matches, the higher the winnings. This format is used for television shows, drawings in bingo halls, and games in online casinos.

In the British version, 90 balls are used, and the card contains 15 numbers. The player wins if they close at least one row, and the largest prize is awarded to the one who fills the entire card. In American bingo, the lottery selects 75 balls marked with the letters B, I, N, G, O. The cards are square and contain 24 numbers. To win, a specific figure must be filled. Online bingo may have its own rules. Often, instead of traditional tickets, a unique playing field is used, and the number of matching numbers is determined individually. Each combination is assigned a coefficient that is multiplied by the bet.

Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular gambling games. Its rules began to take shape in the late 18th century. The playing field consists of two parts: the roulette wheel, divided into sectors, and the betting area for players. A player can choose the color of the pocket, bet on even or odd numbers, as well as on ranges of values. The riskiest bets are straight bets on a specific number, which occur very rarely but yield large winnings.

Various versions of roulette are available in land-based and online casinos:

• European — the wheel includes 37 sectors, among which is a single zero. The game follows classic rules.

• French — the field is similar to the European version but offers a higher return level due to additional bets. A player can recover half of their stake if they lose while betting on even chances.

• American — this version features a double zero, which increases the house edge.

Online providers also offer unique game variants. For example, there are zero-less versions (where the draw is based on a specified RTP) or versions with additional multipliers that allow for winnings several times greater than the initial bet.

Lotteries

Keno

Keno is a popular numerical lottery, in its classic version using 80 balls. Players can mark up to 20 numbers on their ticket. Large prizes are awarded for matching 15 or more numbers. Various themed versions of keno can be found in online casinos. For instance, in Xmas KenoCat, the playing field is set against a Christmas tree backdrop, and players can choose up to 30 cells. In The Candy Keno, the game is designed in a "sweet" style: only 20 balls are drawn here, and additional ones can be purchased.

Casino's Own Lotteries

To participate in the draws, tickets can be purchased or obtained through activity on the site. The results are determined by a random number generator.

Winners can expect cash prizes, free spins, loyalty points, gadgets, and other rewards.

Wheel of Fortune

This gambling game is based on spinning a vertical wheel and is often conducted in a show format. The game board is divided into sectors: the British version has 52, while the American version has 54. Online game developers offer their own variations of the layout. The player tries to guess which sector the wheel will stop on and places a bet on it. If the chosen sector comes up at the end of the spin, the player receives a payout.

Sports Betting

Bookmaking offices often operate within casinos, accepting bets on sports—from football and hockey matches to basketball games. Bets can also be placed on esports.

There is a seamless registration process between the casino and sports betting sections, allowing users to avoid creating a new account or opening an additional account.

The visitor selects a sporting event, marks the odds, specifies the bet amount, and the type of bet. In the event of a win, the money is automatically credited to the player's balance.

Interesting Facts About Gambling in Casinos

The first slot machines appeared in the late 19th century and were installed not only in gambling establishments but also in bars and shops. Initially, card symbols were used on the reels; however, they had to be abandoned due to the prohibition of gambling in the U.S. This is how the famous fruit machines emerged, where images of lemons, plums, and cherries served as symbols, and winnings were dispensed in the form of candies and chewing gum.

The characters on playing cards have real historical prototypes. For example, the King of Diamonds is based on Julius Caesar, the King of Clubs on Alexander the Great, the King of Hearts on Charlemagne, and the King of Spades on King David. Blackjack is considered one of the fairest and most profitable games; with the right strategy, a player can reduce the casino's edge to a minimal 0.17%.

Legal casinos cannot alter the return settings of slot machines. Slot machines are supplied by providers who set the return rate and volatility. Sometimes, operators are offered several RTP options, but no more than that. In online casinos, games are launched from the providers' servers, and the website administration does not have access to internal settings.

Operators generate income based on the volume of bets, which is built into the mathematical model. For example, if the RTP is 95%, the casino earns 5% of the total amount of money spent by players. A significant portion of these funds is returned to players in the form of regular payouts and jackpots.

The dealer always demonstrates "clean" hands: before the game begins, the dealer opens their palms, showing that they are empty. A similar practice is observed in online casinos in live format.