That Winning Feeling – But Which Games Really Deliver?

Posted by Harry Kane on Thursday, August 16, 2018

Whenever you enter an online casino for the very first time, the entire experience can be somewhat overwhelming. After all, there’s a plethora of game iterations to play online, across popular disciplines such as blackjack, roulette and slots.

Make no mistake; many of these iterations are inherently fun and capable of delivering of delivering hefty wins. There’s no doubt that some boast more favourable odds than others, however, and identifying these games can help you to stretch your bankroll further and get most of the virtual gambling experience.

In this post, we’ll consider the most popular online casino games and their unique house edge, while asking which options are the most likely to deliver a return to players. So, let’s get started!

Online Slots and Progressive Jackpots

It’s only right that we start with virtual slot games, as these continue to evolve and dominate the online gambling market.

In fact, it’s estimated that slot games accounted for 64.5% of the online casino gross gambling yield (GGY) last year, while table games lagged far behind in second place with a relatively meagre 15.8% share of the spoils.

So, why exactly are slot games so popular and generative? Firstly, there remains a diversity of titles available in the current marketplace, both in terms of the underlying narratives and variance of gameplay. More specifically, players can access a host of low, mid and high-variance slots online, helping them to tailor their experience depending on their individual risk profile and bankroll.

Secondly, slots are inherently games of chance, and their opportunistic nature makes it impossible for players to manipulate results or stack the odds of success in their favour. This translates into a lucrative yield for operators, which creates a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

From a player perspective, however, it’s the concept of diversity that is most important. After all, casual players can target low-variance games with RTP (return-to-player) rates of between 96% and 98%, which are essentially certified slots that immediately help to minimise losses over an extended session of play.

If you play a slot with an RTP rate of 97% and wager £100 in a single session, for example, you’ll expect to recoup around £97 through a series of regular wins. This is ideal for casual or inexperienced players, who can enjoy their favourite titles in a relaxed and largely risk-free environment while making the most of their bankroll.

At the other end of the spectrum sit high-variance slots, which typically boast RTP rates of between 88% and 95%. This less favourable house edge is usually compensated for by the potential of bigger wins, with the lowest RTP rates often associated with vast and progressive jackpots that increase incrementally with every spin.

So, while you’ll win less frequently with these slots, the value of each successful spin will be considerably higher. This is why such slots are so popular among experienced or risk-hungry gamblers, as their structure and potential rewards are ideal for their outlook.

As if this was not enough, there are even mid-variance games that carry a typical RTP rate of around 94%. These titles are far harder to quantify, but they offer an additional option for players who may be in the process of defining their risk profile and the type of experience that they want to enjoy.

Online Roulette

Like many virtual casino games, online roulette borrows heavily from the traditional, offline iteration.

This is certainly the case when it comes to the basic house edge, with a clear distinction between European and American versions of this popular game. While the former carries a reasonable house edge of 2.7%, for example, the latter includes an addition, double zero groove on the wheel and therefore has a far more prohibitive house edge of 5.26%.

So, while there’s far less diversity present in the range of online roulette games available, players at least know that they can increase their chances of winning significantly by choosing a European-inspired iteration.

When we break down the game further, it’s also possible to influence and improve your odds of winning through the precise strategy that you choose to deploy. This is because the full range of roulette wagers carry variable odds and pay-outs, so you’ll have the chance to develop a betting system that suits your risk profile and core objectives.

These wagers can be split broadly into inside and outside bets, which the former relatively prohibitive but known to deliver the game’s biggest pay-outs. The best example is a ‘straight-up’ wager, which requires you to bet in a particular number and carries true odds of 37/1.

If successful, this will pay-out at around 35/1 while genuinely maximising your original stake.

In contrast, outside wagers pay out at variable odds of between 1/1 and 2/1, but they also optimise your betting coverage and increase your chances of incurring regular wins. The most common outside bets require you to wager on red, black, even or odd, enabling you to immediately cover half of the wheel and pursue a pay-out of 1/1.

There are also so-called ‘dozen’ bets, which enable you to cover a predetermined group of 12 numbers (either one to 12, 13 through 24 or 25 through 36). These are particularly popular among measured gamblers, as it arguably strikes the ideal-risk reward balance and pays out at relatively appealing odds of 2/1.

Herein lies the appeal of online roulette, as while it may lack the diversity of slots it offers players far greater control over the game and their individual chances of winning.

More specifically, selecting a European iteration of the game and creating a betting strategy that covers as much of the wheel as possible incrementally increases your probability of success, without necessary impacting on your enjoyment of the game and the overall experience.

Online Blackjack

Like roulette, online blackjack is also a skill and strategy-based game in which players are allowed to assume more control over their own destiny.

In fact, the concept of probability is even more fundamental to blackjack strategy, as players must constantly adapt to variable outcomes and strive to manipulate the odds in their favour.

While there are a number of variables to consider with this game, the average house edge associated with online blackjack is relatively low at 0.5%. This is offset by the presence of restricted pay-outs, however, with the maximum pay-off per betting unit fixed at 1.5 to 1.

If we also work with the idea of playing a single deck game, you’ll know that there’s a 4/52 chance of any single number being drawn at any given time. This can be simplified to 1/13, and this offers a basic insight into the type of calculations that go into the typical blackjack strategies.

However, we must also consider the array of optional blackjack rules and iterations that exist online. These variables all have an impact on the prevailing house edge and each individual player’s chances of winning, so making the right choices can yield genuine results for savvy and knowledgeable gamblers.

We’ve already touched on single deck games, of course, and while these are increasingly had to find online they offer the best house edge and make it far easier for players to calculate their odds in real-time. This is the type of consideration that can make a big difference, particularly if you’re new to the game and looking to earn as you learn!

Some games may also feature a rule known as ‘late surrender’, which allows you to surrender your hand after the dealer has checked his down card. This cannot be applied of the dealer has a blackjack, but when used effectively it can rescue several lost hands and decrease the operator’s house edge by around 0.8%.

You should pay attention to some of the standard blackjack rules, as these may be subject to change in certain iterations. In some instances, the dealer may be required to hit on a soft 17, for example, which incrementally increases his risk and enhances your own chances of winning.

Attention to detail is key here, as identifying the most favourable rules and games will ultimately minimise the available house edge over time.

Online Poker

We now come to what is arguably the most complicated online casino game, and one that requires a tremendous amount of study and strategic knowledge if you’re to be successful over time.

This main issue here is that odds are different for each individual hand, with variable pay-outs available and alternative probabilities for losing depending on the cards that you are drawn.

It is possible to calculate your odds of being dealt a specific hand, however, although this also requires considerable research and understanding of the game. These odds are also unlikely to deliver much comfort or value to players either, as there’s only a 0.0032% of being dealt a coveted Royal Flush.

In more general terms, however, video poker works in a similar way to virtual slots, and in this respect it’s a little easier to calculate a generic RTP rate. This is because video poker games use the same random number generator (RNG) software as online slots, creating a similar experience in which all outcomes are determined in an entirely opportunistic manner.

With most listed video poker games, the RTP rate is between 96% and 99%, with a dealing possibility of 8*1067. This knowledge at least makes it possible to select the most generative video poker experiences, while enabling you to minimise risk and loss within a relatively narrow window.

The complexity of online poker makes it slightly less appealing for casual players, which is probably why this game has declined in popularity while slots have seen a 300% increase in activity since 2007.

Still, video poker offers the best opportunity for players to minimise their exposure to risk and optimise returns, and this is an important consideration when choosing the right gaming experience for you.

Online Baccarat and Craps

We finish with two games that are typically exclusive to high-rollers, namely baccarat and craps. They’re also among a group of largely unheralded casino games, but this does not mean that they cannot deliver returns or enjoyable experiences.

In general terms, baccarat has a relatively low house edge of between 1.06% and 1.24%, depending on the precise betting option that you select. There are two to choose from in basic gameplay, as you can either bet on the banker to prevail (1.06%) or back the player (1.24%).

This combination of a favourable house edge and simplified betting should apply to both casual and serious gamblers alike, as it has the potential to increase both the value and frequency of wins over time.

A similar principle can be applied to Craps, which offers an extremely even and favourable set of odds alongside simplistic gameplay.

You’ll need to pay attention to the rules and the course of each individual game, however, as the loss of focus could cause your odds to worsen significantly in an instant.

The key is to avoid placing bets in the middle of the table when playing, and instead opt for the pass line. This simplifies your strategy and delivers a relatively minimal house edge of 1.41%. Placing a ‘don’t pass’ wager carries a house edge of 1.40%, creating a narrow betting range that will appeal to players with a decidedly risk-averse outlook.

Both of these games make for viable options online, with favourable house edges and simple patterns of play. We’d recommend taking the time to learn these games and their nuances before playing, however, as they’re not particularly well-known and can trip up inexperienced players.

The Last Word

So there we have it; a breakdown of the most popular online casino games and their prevailing house edge.

Ultimately, the choice of game that you play is a deeply personal one, with variable factors including your outlook, bankroll and level and experience coming into play.

The important thing to remember is that many online casino games offer you an opportunity to minimise risk and increase the frequency or size of your wins, usually through a number of relatively simple choices.

Prioritising these games and making strategic decisions can yield significant rewards, even if you can’t determine outcomes or the result of specific, in-play actions.