1. The OG: Online Slots
When people first play casino games in a casino, they often start out with slots. That’s a good choice because online slots don’t require any particular knowledge or gaming skills. Pick a theme and game title, place a bet, press the spin button and watch the reels revolve in the hope that the symbols will form winning combinations when they land. That’s how simple it is to play slots online.
That said, online slots have come a long way since the original clunky one-armed bandits and fruit machines of yesteryear began gracing casino floors up and down the country — which they still do, of course. The slots you can play online today are more like video games with rich, immersive content and the chance to win real money. What’s more, they never get boring — there simply are too many themes to choose from. Fantasy, steampunk, wild west, superheroes, sports and fruit — the list is almost endless.
Many slots are gaming and movie franchise tie-ins that put a fresh spin on fan favorites. Monopoly Utility Trails is a great example — simply collect houses and hotels on 8×8 reels of cascading symbols while enjoying a catchy tune. The high-paying symbols are the famous Monopoly tokens of the car, the dog, the hat and the ship. The railway station and train car symbols are wild — land them and you trigger the Wild Rail, Electricity Company and Waterworks features. These entertaining bonus rounds are packed with fun and offer the possibility of higher payouts.
Top Slots of 2023
Starburst
NetEnt’s 5-reel, 10-payline game, Starburst, holds the title of the most popular slot of all time. It features on top slot sites and is often used for bonus spin promotions. With a low volatility and a 96.09% RTP rate, players can win up to 500x their bet.
Bonanza Megaways
Big Time Gaming’s Bonanza Megaways is among the best online slots featuring the innovative Megaways mechanic. With 6 reels and 117,649 ways to win, it offers the possibility of winning up to 26,000x your stake through multipliers.
Gonzo’s Quest
Another enduringly popular video slot from NetEnt, Gonzo’s Quest, is often found alongside Starburst. With 5 reels, 20 paylines and a maximum win of 35,000x your bet, it offers a straightforward gameplay experience. Some casinos even offer live dealer Megaways and Gonzo’s Quest Megaways variations.
2. The All-Time Classic: Roulette
Roulette is probably the most famous of all the online casino table games. Ever since the 17th century, the “little wheel” (French for roulette) has kept players in total suspense as they wait for the ball to drop into one of the red and black slots on the wheel. This is called the moment of truth.
Of course, watching a ball drop into a pocket isn’t much fun on its own. The satisfaction is in the betting. Players place their bets on the table, which is set up to show all the pockets the ball can possibly land in. In European roulette, the pockets are numbered 0–36, while the American roulette wheel has an extra pocket: the 00.
There are many different betting options. You don’t have to get the pocket exactly right. In fact, you can bet on something simple such as whether the ball will land in a red or a black pocket. Another simple bet is whether the number will be odd or even.
As you get more advanced, you’ll enjoy learning about the different inside bets, with all their different odds. For instance, a “straight up” bet on one number pays 35–1; but of course, that’s very hard to predict. Split betting on two numbers pays out 17–1, while a “street” bet on three numbers pays 11–1. American roulette has two special inside bets: a five-number bet covers the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3; it pays out at 6–1. A row 00 bet covers 0 and 00 for a pay-out of 17–1.
3. The People’s Favorite: Blackjack
If you can count to 21, you’ve got everything you need to play blackjack. Commonly seen as the most popular of all casino table games and generally considered one of the most calming games to play, blackjack is a contest between the player and the dealer. The aim is to build a hand as close to 21 as possible. The player can choose to “hit” (request new cards) or “stand” (stop taking cards.) If you get an ace and a 10 on the first deal, that’s a “natural,” or blackjack — and you win the hand right away. Go over 21 and you’re bust — and the dealer wins. It helps to know that in online blackjack, the dealer always stands on 17.
Winning at blackjack requires both luck and strategy. To get beyond that, you need to find out how to make insurance bets and understand what splitting, doubling down and surrendering is all about. Developing your own unique style is a hugely rewarding part of the online blackjack journey.
4. For the Sophisticated: Baccarat
Baccarat is another classic table game that earns a place on the best casino games list. This game of chance is often associated with the glamorous gambling halls of Macau. The card game itself is pretty simple. The banker draws eight cards from a “shoe” containing eight decks. The player then has to bet on which hand, player or banker, will have a value closest to 9. The player can also bet on a tie.
The banker then deals out two cards each. If either the player or the banker has a hand with a value lower than five, they get a third card. Then they both reveal their hands and total the scores.
Face cards and 10s count for zero, while the final score is the last digit of the total. So, say, you’ve got a queen, a 4 and a 7. The queen is worth zero, so this hand would add up to 11. The last digit is a 1, so the value of the hand is 1.
If you have, say, a king and a queen, your score is “baccarat” — et voila.
Baccarat comes with a long history which adds to the satisfaction of playing the game. Baccarat road maps, for instance, are different scoreboards that show the results from up to 60 hands previously dealt from the shoe. These stats are supposed to help players work out the odds. The roads have colorful names like “Big Eye Boy” and “Cockroach Pig.” Whether they work or not, they’re fun to play with.
5. Enter the Dragon Tiger
One of the best online casino games for beginners is Dragon Tiger. It’s a two-card version of baccarat that’s probably the simplest card game you can find. The table is divided into two main areas called the Dragon and the Tiger. The dealer deals one card face-up to the Dragon hand and one card face-up to the Tiger hand.
The main bet is which of the two cards will be higher. A winning bet on either Dragon or Tiger pays out even money. Players can also bet on a tie, which pays out 8–1 or what suit the Dragon or Tiger card will be. A successful bet on spades, hearts, diamonds or clubs pays out at 3–1 unless the card is a 7, which is an automatic fail. Then there’s Big or Small — betting on whether the Dragon or Tiger card has a “big” value (from 8 to king) or “small” (from ace to 6.)
All in all, Dragon Tiger offers an easy-to-play alternative to baccarat that’s super fast and super fun.
6. Live the Experience: Dream Catcher
One experience that every player should try to have at least once is first-person gaming. It’s a live casino online experience like no other which takes place in a totally convincing 3D animated environment.
Imagine playing roulette, baccarat or poker in such a sophisticated way. But there’s more. Each first-person game has a “Go Live” button that transports you to a table with a real-life dealer using real cards or spinning a real wheel. This has to be the ultimate in online casino gaming.
With first-person gaming, new gaming experiences are possible. Take First Person Dream Catcher. It’s a game with a big spinning wheel where players bet on what number the wheel will stop on. It’s extremely easy to play, so it’s perfect for beginners or anyone who just wants to relax and enjoy the game.
That doesn’t mean Dream Catcher isn’t filled with suspense — the 2x and 7x prize multiplier segments on the wheel can boost the winning opportunities big time. And when you “go live,” the game transforms into an online live casino setting with a live wheel and a real-life game presenter.
Start Your Casino Journey With BetMGM
This list consists of games that beginners should definitely try and that advanced players should think about rediscovering. Whatever genre interests you the most, BetMGM has everything you need for the most enjoyable online gaming experience. Simply register to explore what the online casino has in store for you.
