Pop into any conventional online casino, and you’ll find a smorgasbord of casino games for you to choose from. There are typically thousands of slots for you to get started with, alongside titles which may or may not tick your boxes. Aside from playing one of the UK’s favourite pastimes at top bingo sites not on GamStop, you’re also typically able to choose from the following options at online casinos:
- Video Poker
- Crash Games
- Dice Games
- Online Scratch Cards
- Instant Win Games
- Lottery-Based Games
- Online Poker
What if you want to play realistic, authentic casino games, though? We’re talking about the types of games where there’s always a crowd in a real-to-life, brick-and-mortar casino.
If that’s the case, then table games are your forte.
I could talk all day about craps, Sic Bo, Andar Bahar, and a few of the other less-popular options. They can certainly give you something different to have a crack at. However, most new casino players tend to stick to the tried and tested genres – games that they are likely to be familiar with already. Not all of these are worth your time, though.
Allow me to introduce you to seven of the very best table games suitable for every UK casino player.
Blackjack Games
Blackjack is the ideal way to start playing casino classics. The game is basic and simplistic, and, for the most part, you probably already have a very good idea of how it is played. While there are all sorts of variants out there, the following two games are well-suited to newbies and seasoned blackjack veterans alike:
#1 European Blackjack
Almost every major software provider has a variant of European Blackjack for you to play, so it doesn’t necessarily matter which game you play here. European Blackjack offers all the trimmings (Insurance, Doubling Down and Splitting options), but it will often support side bets to boot. It makes for the perfect introduction to blackjack online.
#2 Single Deck Blackjack
If you want to begin counting cards (as much as you can when playing online) and don’t want to play with a massive shoe, then Single-Deck Blackjack is ideal. In fact, NetEnt’s Single Deck Blackjack is particularly recommended as it allows you to ease your way into the game with an affordable wagering range, a fair house edge, and no nasty and surprising rules.
Baccarat Casino Games
You may be put off baccarat because you’ve heard it is complicated or because you lose a bit of each successful “banker bet” to the house. Well, neither has to be true. In online baccarat games, the dealer handles the tricky Third Card Rule for you, and you don’t always have to pay a commission. Here’s a game suitable for all players:
#3 No Commission Baccarat
Like most online baccarat games, No Commission Baccarat handles the Third Card Rule for you and lets you do away with the 5% commission on winning banker hands. However, it comes at a cost – winning banker hands on “sixes” only pay 1:2 (50%). However, if you’re new to the game and don’t want to see your winnings eaten by commission, this may be the ideal hunting ground to get things moving.
Online Roulette
There’s no shortage of games once you find somewhere to play roulette not on GamStop. After doing so, which game do you go for? European Roulette is suitable because it has a low house edge. However, if you’re after a lower house edge, there is a better option. Also, if you want to make the jump to live roulette, I’d recommend something with additional rewards, such as multipliers. These are the two roulette games you should consider playing:
#4 Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette is suitable for any roulette player who knows their way around the wheel, especially when it comes to probability and payouts. On the face of it, the Evolution-developed live casino game is played much like European Roulette. However, it offers lightning multipliers of up to 500x on selected numbers. This only occurs on straight-up bets, and the game offsets this good fortune by lowering the prizes on straight-up bets not hit by multipliers. Even so, the game isn’t challenging but can be very rewarding, making it suitable for most.
#5 French Roulette
As touched on, the house edge in European Roulette is low, at 2.70%. However, in French Roulette, it’s even lower, at 1.36%. This is because French Roulette has the En Prison/La Partage Rules, which means you don’t lose your bet outright if you land on zero. You get a second chance to redeem part or all of your bet. Throw in the racetrack bets, which allow more experienced players to “cover the wheel”, and French Roulette is a must for any roulette fan.
Live Dealer Casino Games
If you want the ultimate in realism, then live dealer non-GamStop casinos are the way to go. Yes, you can play conventional casino classics such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette and even poker. However, there are simpler options out there for first-time live casino players. These are ideal if you’re not entirely sure how the live casino format works, and you won’t have to learn any complicated rules. They include:
#6 Live Dragon Tiger
Two cards are dealt, one to the Dragon hand and one to the Tiger hand. You bet on which hand will receive the higher value playing card or if it will be a tie. Yes, that’s all there is to Dragon Tiger. It’s true that you won’t win immense sums playing this game, but it makes for the perfect introduction to live casino action and even those bad with probability can wrap their head around their chances of success here.
#7 Dream Catcher
Dream Catcher is one of the many game show releases from Evolution. Other developers have their own takes on these money-wheel games. In short, you’re betting on a wheel of fortune. If it lands on a number you’ve bet on, you’ll see your winnings multiplied. If it lands on a bonus round (and you’ve bet on that outcome), you’ll get a bonus. There’s nothing complicated here, but with a bit of luck, newbies and pros alike can win up to 500x their bet.
Final Thoughts on Table Games
Hopefully, you’ll be able to use my experience to get your table games experience kickstarted today. Don’t forget, there are many variants of each type of casino table game for you to play, ranging from high roller to live dealer versions. Explore them for free via demo games before tackling them for free money when you head over to trusted and approved online casino sites in 2024.
Check out our updated list for the best sites not blocked in 2024 by Gamstop here