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Guide to online casino games UK

What are casino games?

Casino games are games of chance where you can risk some money for a chance to win more money. As the name suggests, you can play them in casinos, both online and offline.

Casino games are based on luck, which makes the result of each round unpredictable.

• Some games are 100% down to luck.
• In others, skill also plays a role.

Practically all casino games can be played just for fun or with real money. We recommend learning the ropes with play money before risking your own dough.

Main elements of casino games

Every casino game is different, and there are many ways to categorise them. Here are some of the most important features to consider:

Luck

Some games are pure luck. There's no way to predict or influence the result of the round, so you're just placing the bets and hoping for the best.

In pure luck games, the results are based on completely random events. The past rounds don't have any bearing on the next one. The randomness is achieved by using two things:

• Equipment that has no memory and creates random results (dice, roulette wheel, random number generator)
• Simple rules that break the game into short rounds with no decision-making mid-play

Skill

In skill-based games, it's important to know the odds and make smart decisions. Although there's also a large element of luck too, your skill will affect your bottom line in the long term.

What do these games have in common? In all of these, you're required to make one or more decisions after your initial bet. You see where the round is going and adjust your play. Even though the results are completely or partially based on luck, you know the odds and play accordingly.

The amount of skill needed varies between games and also between different variants of the same main game.

The obvious example of this variance is poker. If you play against other players, you need to know the odds and be able read your opponents' play. If you play casino hold'em against the dealer, knowing the odds and payouts is enough.

House edge and RTP

The rules of every casino game are created in a way that gives casinos a slight edge over the player, and this enables the house to make consistent profit.

All casino games have some sort of house edge. Although you may get lucky within a single gaming session, the odds aren't in your favour.

The longer you play, the more you're subjected to the house edge, and the more likely you will end up losing. That's just math.

The house edge varies a lot. In the most generous rule variations of blackjack, the house edge can be as small as 0.5%. In keno and some of the worst slots, the house edge can be more than 15%.

How does the house edge work?

The house edge is given as a percentage of your bet you're likely to lose each round.

EXAMPLE: You play a game with a house edge of 4%. After playing 100 rounds for £1 each, on average you'll have £96 left and the casino has £4 that used to belong to you.

Your mileage may vary. You may win big or lose every round within a single session. Over time, though, the game results will follow the probabilities very closely and the house takes its share.

Also, the higher the house edge, the more you will likely lose.

How does the house edge differ from RTP?

The house edge is closely related to a percentage called Return to player or RTP.

Return to player is the portion of bets that the player wins back on average.

RTP = 100% - house edge.

How is the house edge calculated?

The house edge is calculated from the payouts and probabilities of each game.

EXAMPLE: In European roulette, the payout for a single number is 35:1. This means your original bet is returned and you get 35 times your bet in winnings. However, there are 37 numbers in total and the house edge is 1/37 = 2,7%. Without the house edge, the payout would be 36:1 instead of 35:1.

Variance and volatility

Variance tells you how much the results in a game vary in the short term. It is also tied to the risk and corresponding payouts of the game.

Volatility is another word used for variance.

In low volatility games, the payouts are low relative to your bet. Compared to high volatility games, you have a higher probability to win something on a given round. As a result, you'll win more often, but the individual winnings aren't very high.

Conversely, the payouts in high volatility games are big compared to your bet. However, the likelihood of winning that bet is lower.

Over time, the results of both low variance and high variance games even out and approach the game's calculated RTP. However, in high variance games this takes longer.

Most casino table games are low variance, although there are low variance and high variance bets within those games.

EXAMPLE: Betting on red or black in roulette is a low variance bet. With a 1:1 payout, you're likely to win roughly half of the rounds played. Betting on a single number is a high variance bet. The payout is 35:1 and on average your number will come up only once every 37 rounds.

Online slots are categorised as low, medium and high volatility. Compared to table games, though, every slot is somewhat high variance.

Simple vs complicated

Some games are extremely straightforward whereas others have a lot of things going on. The main considerations for simplicity are:

• Simple rules
• No decision making mid-game
• Logical payouts

Simple rules

Most casino games have fairly simple rules so they don't put off players new to the game. In many simple games, the rules are intuitive and easy to learn. The game layout often supports this by reminding the player of the key elements, such as payouts.

Naturally, there are games that take a bit more effort to understand completely. For example, poker and craps are games that require the player to spend some time learning the ropes. However, this effort is not wasted: if you take the time to learn the game, the more fun it's to play.

Decision making

Many games require some kind of decision making before the round starts. You need to select what you're betting on and how much.

In some games, the different decisions or bets have a different house edge.

EXAMPLE: In baccarat, the banker hand is statistically likelier to win, even after accounting for the 5% commission.

However, only a handful of games feature decisions after you have placed your initial bet. These decisions combine skill, intuition and pure luck. They make for a more interesting game. At the same time, the game becomes a bit more complicated.

Logical payouts

Most casino table games were originally created to be played with chips. That's why the payouts are also logical so you don't get back a fraction of your chip.

In most games, the basic payout is 1:1. This means you double your money: you get back your original bet and the same amount in winnings too.

The similar logic continues with payouts like 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1. From these payouts, you get your money back three, four and five-fold, respectively.

Some games also feature more complicated payouts. The most famous example is the 3:2 payout in blackjack.

EXAMPLE: You bet £10 in blackjack and you're dealt 21 as your opening hand. The win ratio is 3:2. You get back your original bet £10, plus £15 in winnings, a total of £25. In practice, 3:2 payout returns your original bet multiplied by 2.5.

So, most table games feature neat, logical payouts with even numbers. But then we have slots. The winnings from a single spin often include many minor wins from different paylines. As a result, you may win a weird sum like £1.36 even though you did bet a pound.

Bet sizes and table limits

Especially in the brick-and-mortar casinos, different games have different table limits. They set the minimum and maximum bet within the game.

From the casino's perspective, these limits serve three purposes:

1. The minimum bet ensures the operating costs of the table are covered by the bets.
2. The maximum bet protects the casino from ridiculously lucky high-rollers.
3. The narrow range between minimum and maximum bet reduces the effectiveness of progressive betting strategies.

Things are a bit different in online casinos, though. Every game has the minimum and maximum limits, but the range is wider. In addition, there are different tables to suit every budget. You can spin roulette for a penny, stake £20,000 on a hand of blackjack, or anything in between.

How to find the best casino games

Find casinos with the best casino games

How to discover casino games?

Some games are more popular than others, and casinos usually focus on the games that attract the biggest number of players. As a result, some games can be played everywhere and others are harder to find.

Slots, roulette and blackjack form the backbone of every casino's game offering. Baccarat and Wheel of Fortune aren't usually too hard to find either. Everything else is extra.

Find your favourite game suppliers

Online casino games aren't made by the casinos themselves. Instead, they feature games made by online casino game providers. These specialised companies focus on releasing new games (mostly slots) at a merciless pace and making sure that the old ones are technically and legally up to scratch.

The biggest online game providers are NetEnt and Microgaming. In addition to a vast selection of slots, both feature a solid repertoire of table game classics too. Evolution Gaming is the market leader in live dealer games, which are exclusively casino table games.

NetEnt has created different budget versions of staples such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat punto banco.

Microgaming has released online versions of table game variants that other suppliers haven't seen important enough to touch. So when you get tired of the base game, Microgaming has got you covered.

Other suppliers make solid table games too. However, they often stay on the beaten track and focus on basic versions of roulette, blackjack and baccarat. Here are some other casino table game providers:

• Red Tiger
• Play'n GO
• Tom Horn Gaming
• Iron Dog Studio
• BGaming
• Habanero

How to play casino games

There are hundreds of individual games and game variations available online and offline. We have short introductions of the most important games later on in this article. Meanwhile, let's focus on the big picture:

• How to choose a game?
• How to learn the games and improve your skills?
• How to manage your money and make the games last longer?
• How to avoid the rookie mistakes?
• How to get bonuses in casino games?

If you're going to play in a brick-and-mortar casino, you should also be aware of the basics of casino etiquette.

Choosing a game

With so many games to choose from, picking one to try may seem intimidating. That's why we've compiled lists of games for different types of players.

No skill required:

• Slots
• Roulette
• Baccarat
• Wheel of Fortune
• Sic Bo
• Scratch cards

Tactics and strategy:

• Blackjack
• Poker

Easily available:

• Slots
• Roulette
• Blackjack

Social:

• Wheel of Fortune
• Bingo
• Craps
• Blackjack

Lowest house edge:

• Blackjack
• Poker
• Baccarat
• French roulette

Learning to play

Most casino games can be tried for free in any online casino. This way you can get comfortable before putting any real money down. We recommend doing this until you have a good understanding of how the game works.

There are different ways to learn the rules. Here's a couple of alternatives, pick one or more that suit your style of learning new skills:

• Learn by doing and play the free version
• Watch tutorial videos
• Read the rules, usually found behind a "i" or "?" icon in the game

Improving your skills

As previously discussed, some games are purely games of luck. In those games, you can't really learn to play them any better.

However, by learning the rules you'll understand what is happening in the game. You'll enjoy the game more and learn to appreciate everything that comes with it: close calls, incredible strokes of luck and also horrendously bad runs.

By understanding the logic of the game, you'll also learn to adjust your risk. You can put your money on likelier outcomes or hope for a bigger payout. These two are usually mutually exclusive.

For actual games of skill, you need to practice, read and practice some more. Unless you've got a very special mind, you won't become a poker star or Rainman overnight.

Money management

Money management is an important skill in gambling, and it's a transferable skill that can be applied to many games.

Gambling is a risky hobby. Even though there's a possibility of going on a winnings streak, hitting the jackpot and winning an amount of money that can change your life, you shouldn't count on it. Quite the opposite: every game is built so that the casino has an advantage over you, and the more you play, the likelier it is you lose.

You must only play with money you can afford to lose.

Gamblers should set aside a gambling budget and stick to it. This is the amount of money you can comfortably lose without feeling bad or having to worry about making ends meet.

In addition, you shouldn't take that entire amount with you when you play. You may get caught up in the heat of the moment and make bets you later regret.

You should also carefully select the size of your individual bets. We recommend picking a flat bet and sticking with it. You can't change the odds of the game by using betting strategies (although we have covered them extensively in our roulette strategy guide).

On our responsible gaming page, we explain how you can set yourself limits in an online casino.

Gambling rookie mistakes

Here are some of the common mistakes you can make when gambling. Avoiding these will go a long way towards keeping your game experience fun and safe.

• Chasing your losses
• Gambling when drunk, tired or otherwise impaired
• Not taking breaks from gambling
• Playing with money you can't afford to lose
• Believing you're "due to win"
• Believing you're on a streak and cannot lose
• Playing the wrong games or wrong variations
• Placing stupid bets in certain games
• Not knowing the rules

Casino game bonuses

Most online casinos offer bonuses which allow you to sample the games and make your play last longer. Alas, not all games are equal when it comes to casino bonuses and not all slot bonuses are created equal either.

Some bonuses are there to give you free reign over what games you'd like to try out, while others are directed at specific games. Free spin bonuses often let you play one game for a certain amount of spins.

Most bonuses, especially deposit bonuses, feature wagering or playthrough requirements. They make sure that people actually play the games with bonus money, not just grab the free cash and run. This is very apparent when some casinos give you no deposit bonuses for just signing up.

Different games have different contribution percentages. They determine the pace with which you get closer to completing the wagering.

EXAMPLE: Slots usually contribute 100%, whereas roulette and blackjack may contribute only 10%. To match £10 wagered in slots, you need to play £100 worth of blackjack.

Some games are excluded from wagering altogether, meaning playing them contributes 0% towards wagering.

Others still may be completely banned while playing with bonus money. Trying them on casino's cash may result in confiscating all bonuses.

Wagering is a complicated topic. You can read more about it on our casino bonus page.

Different ways to access the casino games

Online casinos, big brick-and-mortar casinos and smaller betting shops all have their own way to offer games. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Human dealers in a casino
• Mechanical slot machines
• Games powered by a random number generator (RNG)
• Online live dealers

Human dealers in a casino

You've seen them in movies: smartly dressed blackjack dealers and roulette croupiers chatting with players while running the game with ease and confidence.

Playing against a human dealer in a dedicated gaming table is the classic way to gamble. Until the late 19th century and the introduction of the first slot machines, this was the only way to play.

Gaming tables with human dealers like this can usually be found only in proper brick-and-mortar casinos. In some corners of the world, nightclubs, restaurants, holiday resorts and cruise ships also feature casino gaming tables.

However, the online casinos have introduced a modern, scalable version of human dealers in brick-and-mortar casinos: online live dealers.

Mechanical slot machines

These games are the classic one-armed bandits from the days gone by. With a push of a button or a pull of the lever, the player makes the reels spin and hopes for the win.

Most of these machines have made way for more modern versions, but some casinos still offer them for nostalgia-hungry patrons.

Games powered by a random number generator

A random number generator or an RNG is a piece of software that produces a sequence of random values.

Modern video slot machines and online casino games are powered by random number generators. The game software converts the sequence of random numbers into game results that can't be predicted and thus taken advantage of.

Casino game suppliers operating in the UK and other regulated markets need to have their RNGs tested and certified by independent testing agencies.

Online live dealers

Live dealer casinos bring the classic table games to you, wherever you are. You can play against a real human dealer in any online casino with a live dealer section.

Live casinos offer the best of both worlds: you enjoy the flexibility and accessibility of an online casino game, but share in the social experience of playing against another person.

Check out our live casino page, where we explain how live dealer casinos work.

Casino game experiences

On Bojoko, you can read about other players' experiences. It is much easier to find a good game when you don't have to rely solely on what the developer says. Every Bojoko user can write about their experiences and we also have reviews from our casino experts. These experts systematically go through casinos and games, and then review them.

Casino expert reviews

 

BOjoko user reviews

 

Top 12 most important casino games

• Slots
• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Poker
• Wheel of Fortune
• Craps
• Sic bo
• Scratch cards
• Bingo
• Lottery
• Keno

Slots

• Rules can be either very simple or extremely complex
• No skill
• House edge varies
• Variance varies
• Widely available

Slots come in all shapes and sizes. However, the basic concept remains the same from the physical one-armed bandit of a brick-and-mortar casino to the modern mobile video slot.

Slot machines are the easiest game to play. You just pick your bet, make the reels spin and hope for a win. No skill involved, slots are 100% luck.

There are different winning mechanisms, themes, features and payouts.

On Bojoko, you can find information about how slots work and use our handy selection tool to choose from over 1000 online slots.

Roulette

• Simple rules
• No skill
• Low house edge
• Low and high variance betting options
• Widely available

Roulette is one of the easiest games available in every casino. It doesn't require any skill, the rules are easy to learn and the payouts easy to remember.

Roulette features a wheel with 37 numbered pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. Next to the wheel, there's a betting area with the corresponding numbers.

Players can bet on single numbers or different groups of numbers. For example, a number can be either red or black, odd or even and big or small.

After the bets are made, the dealer spins the roulette wheel and launches a small white ball inside the wheel to spin in the opposite direction. As the ball slows down, it will bounce off the reflectors for random results, and eventually land in one of the pockets. This number is the winner.

The payout for each bet depends on how many numbers your bet covers. For single numbers, the payout is 35:1. If you guessed the colour correctly, the payout is only 1:1.

We have compiled a massive illustrated guide for roulette, including:

• Rules
• Payouts
• Strategies

Blackjack

• Quite simple rules
• Requires skill
• Extremely slim house edge
• 1:1 and 3:2 payouts in the main game, more variance available in sidebets
• Widely available

Together with roulette and slots, blackjack is one of the cornerstones of any casino's table game selection. It's a must-have.

In other respectives, blackjack is the opposite of roulette. Although the rules are fairly simple, there is a learning curve in blackjack strategy.

Blackjack is played against the dealer with a standard 52-card deck. The object of the game is to get a higher value hand than the dealer by taking more cards. The trick is to not go over 21: if you do, you lose instantly.

Blackjack is an interesting, brainy game, where the odds for every possible situation have been carefully calculated. You don't need to know the odds by heart: there's a basic strategy chart that tells what to do with any given hand.

Although some of these moves may initially feel counter-intuitive, they can shave the house edge all the way to 0.5%.

In our complete blackjack guide, we will introduce you to the basics of the game and also cover advanced topics such as:

• Basic strategy
• Blackjack variations
• Side bets
• Card counting

In addition, we have our very own blackjack trainer app you can download for both Android and iOS:

• Blackjack trainer for Android
• Blackjack trainer for iOS

Baccarat

• Simple rules
• No decision-making mid-play
• Low house edge
• 0.95 or 1:1 payouts in the main game + sidebets
• Often available

Baccarat is a casino table game shrouded in ritual. It has the image of an exclusive game for players with deep pockets and/or a licence to kill. However, most casinos have it, and especially online, it can be played for small bets too.

The most widely available version of baccarat is punto banco. There are two main betting options: Player and Banker. These are just names of the two different hands that play against each other. They have nothing to do with you playing against the dealer. You can bet on either one, and your objective is to guess which hand is going to win. Apart from this, you don't make any decisions.

Baccarat card values and hand values

Baccarat is played with a standard 52-card deck, and there are usually 8 decks in a shoe. The card values are as follows:

• A = 1
• 2 to 9 = pip value
• 10 and faces = 0

The maximum value of a hand is 9. If the total goes to 10 or over, the 10 is deducted.

EXAMPLE: 8+8 is counted as 6 instead of 16.

Gameplay

After the bets are placed, the dealer deals out two cards face up for both hands.

If the hand's total is 8 or 9, this is known as a "natural". A natural automatically wins against other hands and the round ends.

If there are no naturals, the player and the banker hands may either stand or receive a third card. This is based on preset rules. More on these below.

After this, the value of hands are compared. The hand closer to 9 wins.

Payouts

The default payouts in baccarat are as follows:

• Player bet pays 1:1
• Banker bet pays 0.95:1
• In case of a tie, your original bet is returned

You can also bet on a tie, but this is a sucker bet for two reasons:

1. The house edge for the tie bet is a whopping 14.36%, and
2. If there is a tie and you had bet on either player or banker, you get your money back anyway.

House edge and RTP

In baccarat, the house edge differs between different bets:

• Banker bet: house edge 1.06%, RTP 98.94%
• Player bet: house edge 1.24%, RTP 98.76%
• Tie bet: house edge 14.36%, RTP 85.64%

Instead of paying a flat 1:1 on both banker and player hands, casinos deducts 5% of all banker hand winnings. This is known as the "commission". Casinos us commission because the banker hand has slightly better odds of winning than the player hand.

The banker bet commission and the underdog setting of the player form the house edge in baccarat.

In the light of math, betting on banker is a smart move in baccarat.

Casino poker

• Complex rules
• Skill required
• Low house edge
• Low and high variance betting options
• Usually available in some form

Poker is a card game that combines strategy, skill, psychology and a bit of luck. It's traditionally played against several opponents. In a casino version, you usually play against the dealer.

There are many different variants of poker available in casinos, but most of the versions have some shared characteristics:

• A common hand for all the players and one hand for the dealer
• An ante bet before the first cards are dealt
• Extra betting rounds before more cards are dealt
• Community cards that can be used by the dealer and the player
• Payouts based on your hand value

Here are some of the poker versions available in casinos online and offline:

• Casino Hold'em
• Texas Hold'em
• Caribbean Stud
• Three Card Poker
• Bet on Poker

Wheel of Fortune (Dream Catcher and Monopoly Live)

• Simple rules
• No skill
• Medium house edge
• Low and high variance betting options
• Available in most live dealer casinos

Money wheel or wheel of fortune is one of the simplest casino games available.

The most widely available money wheel version is Dream Catcher by Evolution Gaming. The company has also released MONOPOLY Live, a very similar game. Both can be found in most live dealer casinos.

Playing a live money wheel game is a social experience, even online. The chatty host creates a gameshow atmosphere, and people can post comments and questions in real time chat.

Dream Catcher features a big wheel with varying amounts of numbered sectors. Here's how you play it:

• Place your bet on one or more numbers
• The dealer spins the wheel
• The wheel stops on a winning number
• You win your bet multiplied by that number

In Dream Catcher, you can bet on 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40. The number determines:

• Who wins
• How much they win
• What are the implied odds of winning

The amount of sectors for each number differs, and there are a total of 54 sectors. For example, number 1 appears 23 times, whereas number 40 appears only once.

EXAMPLE: The payout for number 5 is 5:1, and the chance for the wheel to stop on 5 is roughly 1 out of 5, minus the house edge.

Multipliers

The wheel also features two bonus sectors: 2x Multiplier and 7x Multiplier. If the wheel stops on a multiplier, it's spun again and the wins from the next number are then multiplied.

The rules allow for the wheel to stop on the multipliers several times in a row. Those multipliers are then multiplied again, creating potential for massive wins. However, the odds for this happening are slim.

Dream Catcher RTP

The RTP of Dream Catcher varies from 90.57% to 96.58% , depending on which number you play. When it comes to odds, 10 is your best bet; 40 the worst.

Some really unlikely events (e.g. hitting the 7x multiplier twice in a row before landing on 40) have also been factored into the maximum RTP. Subsequently, the RTP in a single session may vary a lot.

MONOPOLY Live

Monopoly Live is an updated version of the Dream Catcher. It has the following betting options:

• 1
• 2
• 5
• 10
• 2 ROLLS
• 4 ROLLS

The numbered slots work just like they do in Dream Catcher: you win your bet multiplied by the number.

The 2 ROLLS and 4 ROLLS sectors start a 3D bonus game, featuring the classic Monopoly board game. You'll only get your share of the bonus game winnings, if you have placed a bet on the 2 ROLLS or 4 ROLLS sector.

The dice are rolled and the animated Monopoly guy in a top hat starts walking on the board. He starts from the GO square and gathers multipliers wherever he stops.

The multipliers grow towards the end of the lap, but there's also the jail and an income tax to worry about. You can also get random rewards from Chance and Community Chest.

The actual wheel also features two Chance sectors, with multiplier rewards.

Craps

• Complex rules
• Decision making possible after every roll
• Low house edge
• Low and high variance betting options
• Rarely available outside US land based casinos

Craps is a dice game that's especially popular in America. It's notoriously confusing to explain, but by playing it, you'll get the hang of it in no time.

Craps is a social game played with two dice. You usually go with the crowd and bet for the shooters to hit the total number they need in order to win.

Here are the main phases of a round of craps.

Comeout roll

The comeout roll is the first roll on the betting round, and it's used to resolve the Pass line bet. This roll has three possible outcomes:

• 7 or 11 - Pass: the shooter wins 1:1.
• 2, 3 or 12 - Don't pass: the shooter loses.
• 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 - number just rolled becomes the Point and the game proceeds to the next phase.

Pass line bet

If the shooter didn't roll an instantly winning or losing number in the previous phase, the pass line bet is resolved this way:

• The number from the Comeout roll is the point.
• The shooter tries to roll that number again before rolling a 7.
• If they get the point number, the pass line bet wins 1:1.
• If they roll a seven before that, they lose.

In case the shooter wins, they still continue to roll until they roll a 7. This is done to resolve other bets, explained below.

When the shooter rolls a 7 and loses, it's time to pass the dice to the next player.

Come

Come is like a pass line bet placed mid-round, i.e. after the comeout roll. Here's how come bet is resolved:

• 7 or 11 - come bet wins 1:1.
• 2, 3 or 12 - come bet loses.
• 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 - this number needs to come up again before the shooter rolls a 7.

Field

Unlike pass line bet and come bet that may take several rolls to resolve, field bet only applies to the next roll. Here's how the field bet works:

• 2 pays 2:1
• 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 pay 1:1
• 12 pays 3:1
• 5, 6, 7 and 8 loses

Sic Bo

• Simple rules
• No skill
• Medium house edge
• High variance options available
• Limited availability

Sic Bo is an ancient dice game originating from China. Sic bo features 3 dice, and your objective is to guess what combination the next roll will result in.

The sic bo board with tens different betting options may look confusing, but it's actually fairly simple. You can bet on:

• Total sums
• Even or odd total sum
• Doubles or triples
• Featured individual numbers
• Exact combinations of two or three numbers

The payouts vary between versions and brick-and-mortar casinos.

Online, sic bo is just starting to find its global audience. Currently, there's only one widely available live casino version, Evolution Gaming's Super Sic Bo.

The payouts closely resemble the actual odds and the house edge is relatively modest. With the optimal RTP of 97.22% for the Big/Small bet, it's on par with European roulette.

Scratch cards

• Simple rules
• No skill
• Medium house edge
• High variance
• Limited availability

Scratch cards, scratchers or scratchies - this form of gambling has many names. In addition to the physical version sold in shops, you can play scratchcards online.

The winning mechanisms in scratch cards vary. You usually need to reveal a specific amount of the same symbol to get a win. Different symbols usually feature different winning amounts.

Scratch cards feature different themes, game types, payouts and purchase prices. The physical versions in the UK range from £1 to £5. In the online versions, you can usually pick the bet per card yourself.

Although the appearance and winning mechanism of an online scratch card is similar to the physical version, the gameplay mostly resembles a single spin of an online slot. Sure, you can get in the mood by scratching your screen and revealing the symbols one by one, but no amount of hocus pocus is going to make a difference. The results of a round are determined by a random number generator.

Bingo

• Simple rules
• Online bingo is automated and doesn't require any skill
• In live bingo, you need some reaction speed
• Medium house edge
• High variance
• Limited availability

Bingo is a social gambling pastime, usually associated with senior citizens. In addition to the brick-and-mortar bingo parlors, the game can also be enjoyed online.

The idea of bingo is simple:

1. Buy a bingo ticket
2. The ticket features one or more grids with numbers.
3. The announcer calls out numbers and you highlight those numbers on your ticket.
4. When you fill out a row, you yell "Bingo!" and get a win.
5. The game continues and the next player needs to get 2 rows for a bingo.
6. The round ends when the player with 5 rows (full grid) yells "Bingo!"
7. Alternatively, the round ends when a specific amount of numbers is called.

Bingo rules vary somewhat between games:

• Ticket price
• Payouts
• Different amount of possible numbers
• Horizontal rows only vs horizontal + vertical

The most popular bingo variant in the UK is the 90 ball bingo. The ticket features one or more 3-by-9 grids. They have both numbers that are already filled-in and some blank spaces. You only win from the horizontal rows of numbers. 

Online casinos specialising in bingo offer many different versions of live bingo. In addition, many sites feature RNG-based bingo games you can enjoy at your own pace.

Lottery

• Simple rules
• No skill
• Big house edge
• Extremely high variance
• Limited availability

Lottery games are a very slow paced form of gambling with potential to win millions on one go. Here's how lottery works:

1. Buy a lottery ticket.
2. You wait for the draw. Depending on the lottery, there may be 1 to 3 draws every week.
3. You win if the numbers on your ticket match the numbers drawn.
4. If you match all the numbers, you hit a jackpot. This can be millions of pounds.

The rules and winning mechanisms vary between lottery games. Here are some of the key elements:

• How much is the ticket?
• What's the main prize?
• Can you choose your own numbers?
• How many possible numbers are there?
• How many numbers are chosen?
• How many numbers are drawn?
• How often is the draw?
• Are the winnings paid out all at once or in instalments?

There are different kinds of lotteries available online and in betting shops. In online casinos specialising on lottery, you can take part in fascinating lottery draws around the globe, including:

• Euro Jackpot
• Powerball
• El Gordo (the Spanish Christmas lottery)

Keno

• Simple rules
• No skill
• Massive house edge
• High variance
• Limited availability

Keno closely resembles the lottery, but there are some key differences:

• Keno has more frequent draws, but the jackpots are smaller.
• You can choose how many numbers you play.
• Payouts are in relation to how many numbers you played, not just how many you hit.
• You can choose your bet.

Keno is a fun, simple game that offers far more betting options than lottery. However, it has a high house edge compared to most other forms of gambling. Depending on what version you play and where, the house edge in Keno can be over 10%, sometimes even more than 20%.

Online casino games and responsible gaming

Online games are a great form of entertainment, but sometimes it can get out of hand. You should always make sure you play with money that you can afford to lose and take a break when playing isn't fun anymore.

Casino games, whether they are online or not, are designed to favour the casino. In the long run, the player will always lose. No matter what the game is, the casino always has the edge.

Gambling is never a solution to any kind of a financial problem. Play responsibly, take breaks and only play for fun.

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