Casino Games

Have you ever walked into a brick-and-mortar casino and played casino games without spending a dollar? No, neither have we! At an online casino, however, you can play both real money and free games.

Sure, if you want to win real cash prizes, you need to put some money down. But if you’re just looking for a bit of fun or want to practice playing casino games without risking your own funds, you can try them in free-play mode first.

You’ll get the same experience as regular online casino games, but you’ll play with virtual chips that you can’t bank. It’s a great way to test out games you are unsure of or learn the rules of a new game before you start betting real money.

Of course, you won’t get that euphoric rush when you win or the element of risk that comes with real money play. But if you just want to have some fun and learn how a game works, free games are always available at Canadian online casinos.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting one of the many land-based casinos in Canada, you’ll know that they can get pretty busy and only have a finite number of tables and games.

The blackjack tables might have been crowded, or all the slot machines were taken, so you had to wait your turn.

Online, the possibilities are virtually endless, and you’ll never find yourself waiting in line to play. Not only that, but the range of games is much more extensive too. You’ll find multiple variations of popular table games, such as roulette and blackjack, that take these classic games and add their own twist to them.

Many online casinos also feature unique options such as Dream Catcher money wheel, Monopoly Live, and Deal or No Deal Live game shows. And let’s not forget about the vast selection of slot games to choose from, with different themes and features that will keep you entertained for hours on end.

So let us introduce you to the casino games you can play online. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it will give you some idea of the variety you’ll find when you browse an online casino’s games lobby.

Online Slots

The first port of call for many casino game enthusiasts is the slots. Why are slots so popular?

They’ve got to be one of the simplest casino games to learn, with no strategy or skill required to play them. All you need to do is press a button and hope for the best.

They are also fast-paced, so much so that you can even set online slots to auto-play so you can sit back and watch the reels spin. Personally, we like a bit of interaction during our slots sessions, but it’s a helpful feature for those that don’t want to keep pressing the spin button.

There are also thousands of slots with different themes and extra features, including bonus rounds, multipliers, and bonus rounds. Whether you are a fan of ancient Egypt, the wild west, classic fruit machines, or sci-fi adventures, you are guaranteed to find slots that match your interests.

The most likely reason why they are so popular, though, is the progressive jackpots, as these can reach life-changing amounts. Anyone can win hundreds of thousands or even millions with just one spin. If lady luck favours you one day, it could be you who scoops the big prize.

Online Blackjack

After the slot games, the next most popular game has to be blackjack. This classic card game has been around for centuries and is still the go-to game for many casino players today.

It’s one of those games that is simple to play; I mean, all you need to do is beat the dealer’s card total while not busting (going over 21). But enough strategy is involved that you can’t simply rely on luck to win.

You will need to consider your decisions carefully, such as when to hit, stand and double down. You’ll also need to know the basic blackjack strategy if you want to give yourself an edge. But even for beginners, it is still great fun and a way of testing your skill against the house.

You can pick up how to play the game after a few trial sessions using the free-play mode and then try your luck at real money blackjack once you feel confident.

Once you learn basic blackjack strategy, you’ll play with some of the best odds in the house. This can lead to some lucrative wins if you know what you are doing.

A few of our favourites include:

• Blackjack Switch – As the name suggests, in Blackjack Switch, you get to switch your cards between hands. The basic rules of Blackjack Switch are the same as Blackjack, with a few exceptions. For example, there are two decks of cards instead of one, and you’re dealt two hands. You can choose to switch the top two cards between hands, which can create some interesting opportunities.
• Spanish 21 – Spanish 21 is a variant of blackjack played with multiple decks, but the main difference is that all 10s have been removed from each deck. This means there are more picture cards and fewer blackjacks in Spanish 21 than in traditional blackjack. This changes the game’s dynamics, and many players prefer Spanish 21 because it allows for more strategizing.
• Perfect Pairs – This variant plays out the same as the classic game, but you have the option to place a side bet that your first two cards will form a pair. This adds an extra element of excitement without deviating too much from the basic game.

Online Roulette

Roulette is another hugely popular casino game worldwide, and online casinos offer plenty of different variants for your gaming pleasure. The main aim here is to guess which pocket the ball will land in on the spinning wheel. There may be less strategy involved than there is in blackjack, but there is still plenty of excitement to be had.

Roulette also offers players a wide variety of betting options, with varying degrees of risk and reward, suiting both higher and lower rollers. You can choose to bet on single numbers, multiple numbers, colours or even sections of the wheel – there’s something for everyone.

Our top tip for playing Roulette is to play European Roulette rather than the American game; the house edge is much lower than in the former. This is because the American version includes two zeroes on the wheel, while European Roulette only has one.

Variants of the standard roulette game include:

• Double Ball Roulette – This variant is self-explanatory– the game is played using two balls rather than one. Players will make regular bets, but they can also bet on which ball lands in what pocket, making it twice the fun!
• Multi-wheel Roulette – OK, two balls not enough? How about playing with multiple wheels? In Multi-wheel Roulette, you can bet on up to 8 wheels at once.
• Mini Roulette – If you’re looking for a faster game, why not try Mini Roulette? It’s the same as standard roulette but with a smaller wheel and fewer numbers. This means less risk but also lower payouts when you win.

Online Baccarat

The game of choice for James Bond and extremely popular with Asian gamblers, baccarat is a fun and easy card game. It has similarities to blackjack in that it’s just you against the dealer, but there’s no strategy involved. The aim is to get as close as possible to the score of 9 without going over.

There aren’t as many variants of Baccarat, but you might see it turning up as Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque.

Online Bingo

We can joke about bingo as much as we like; OK, it’s got a rep for being one of your Nan’s favourite pastimes, but it’s still huge in the world of online gaming.

Online casinos have sexed it up for the 21st Century, and it’s more fun and more lucrative than ever. You can choose from various games and even join exciting chat rooms for additional social interaction.

The aim is still the same: get your cards marked off as quickly as possible. It’s up to you if you want to shout ‘Bingo’ or whatever else you like, but as it’s virtual, your fellow players just won’t hear you!

As with regular bingo, to win the game, you’ll need to complete a predetermined pattern on your card; the more numbers you cover, the bigger the win.

Online Keno

Online Keno is a lottery draw-style game of chance, it’s related to bingo in many ways, but unlike bingo, you’ll pick numbers before seeing any results.

The game is played with a set of numbers, typically between 1 and 80. You then place a bet on which numbers will be drawn. Once you’ve placed your bet, 20 numbers from those 80 are drawn at random. If any of the numbers match the ones that you’ve selected, you win a prize.

Online Poker

If Poker is your game of choice, then you’re in luck. From instant-play video poker to full-on Texas Hold ‘Em tables, there’s something for everyone.

Poker isn’t for the uninitiated, but if you’re new to the game, plenty of tutorials are available that break down the rules and different betting options in simple language. Alternatively, if you know how to play Poker, you can get stuck into the action right.

Video poker straddles the line between slot machines and table poker. Five cards will appear on the reels, and you can then choose which ones to keep or discard by pressing the corresponding buttons on the screen – don’t worry; your discarded cards will be replaced with new ones randomly drawn from the deck. Depending on the strength of your hand, you can win different amounts.

Online Craps

If you’ve headed to the tables at a real-life casino, you might be familiar with craps, and if you have played and experienced the thrill of the roll, then you’ll know what an exciting game it is.

If you are unfamiliar with it, craps is a game of dice, and the aim is to make one or more bets on the outcome of consecutive rolls. It’s fast-paced, exciting and full of betting options.

However, the interactive social element of online craps makes it different from playing at a land-based casino, as players cannot interact directly with other players or talk strategy among one another during the game resulting in it being one of the less popular table games and not so easy to find as others.

Online Sic Bo

Sic Bo is like Craps but with three dice instead of two. It’s actually becoming more popular than craps, and we are seeing it more and more in casino lobbies.

For instance, you can bet on the total of all three dice or on any single number that appears. You can also bet on whether you think the total will be odd or even and whether a particular combination of numbers will appear.

This fun ancient Chinese game has been given a new lease of life thanks to online casinos; if you fancy trying something a little different, we’d recommend it as a change from the usual slots and tables.

If there’s one innovation that changed the online casino landscape in recent years, it’s Live Dealer games. As the name suggests, these are games that you can play with real-life dealers in real time over a video link.

The games are beamed to your device in crystal clear HD, and you can bet, chat and interact with them just like in a real casino. To ensure the experience is as realistic as possible, each game comes complete with all of the bells, whistles, sights and sounds you’d expect from a brick-and-mortar casino.

It’s easy to see why these games have become so popular; for many people, there’s nothing quite like it. You get all the excitement of playing in a real casino without having to leave your house – or even put on shoes!

And rather than having to rely on random number generators (RNGs) for fair results, they are determined by real cards being shuffled or an actual wheel spinning.

So there we have it, a comprehensive guide to online casino games. All that’s left for you is to put your money where your mouse is and start playing. If you are still determining what casino is worth your time, read our expert-rated reviews to discover the best sites out there.