You are spoilt for choice if you want to play top online casino games. However, with such a myriad of titles to choose from, it is understandable if you need a helping hand getting started. What types of games can you play at casinos, who provides, develops, and distributes them, and what are the tell-tale signs of an excellent, value-for-money online casino game? Allow us to take you on a journey as we explore them in closer detail.
What Types of Games Will You Play?
Before playing any casino games at all, you need to ask yourself – what is it that you want to play? Online casinos have all manner of titles for you to choose from, and some games will be better suited to your needs than others. If you have decided that slots are your forte, you will need to sign up for a casino that offers a wealth of them. Alternatively, if table games fit the bill, make sure that you join a site that excels at providing them.
Leading Software Providers
Who develops online casino games? There are over a hundred top providers out there. Some are the cream of the crop, sitting right at the top of the totem pole of casino software developers. Others are lesser known. If you want to play the biggest and best games, we advise that you check out the following software providers:
- Microgaming: The very first provider to dish out games to online casinos, Microgaming produces slots, table games, but also video poker and instant win titles and has over 500 quality titles for you to play.
- NetEnt: This Scandinavian software provider has an equally impressive array of games. They, too, develop plenty of slots and table games. They are also known for producing mobile-friendly games and live dealer casino games.
- Evolution Gaming: The leading, top dog when it comes to live dealer games, Evolution Gaming provides a wealth of realistic, video streamed casino titles, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, table poker and money-wheel games, amongst others.
- Playtech: Playtech is right up there with the best providers. This developer is notable for providing an array of progressive jackpot (uncapped) slots but has also experimented with table and live dealer titles.
Mid-Ranking Developers
While all the above software providers have earned their reputations as the best in the business, there is nothing wrong with opting to play titles from a software provider that is lower in the pecking order. Each of these offers quality casino games, too, spanning slots, live dealer titles and/or table games. They appear at a host of top casinos, sometimes in coordination with the biggest names in the business. Here is a list of these mid-ranking but still top-quality software providers:
- Play ‘n Go
- Yggdrasil Gaming
- Pragmatic Play
- IGT
- BetSoft Gaming
- Red Tiger Gaming
- Barcrest
- Big Time Gaming
- Blueprint Gaming
- Playson
- Quickspin
- Ezugi
Just because a software provider does not appear on our list does not mean that its games are not worth playing. It is always worth checking out the games from other developers. You may even like some of them more than those from the so-called top providers.
Popular Types of Casino Games
Pop into any reputable casino, and you will likely find a flurry of top titles spanning all sorts of genres. These casino games should be RNG-certified, fair and have reasonable wagering ranges, as well as decent RTP rates and prizes that are fair in comparison to your bets. Some of the popular types of internet casino games include:
- Online Slots and Fruit Machines
- Jackpot Slots
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Table Poker
- Live Dealer Casino Games
You will generally be able to find all the above games at most top casinos. Moreover, some of them, such as blackjack, roulette, and slots, will likely appear in far greater numbers than the others.
Less Conventional Gambling Games
Any casino worth its salt will also carry a less conventional array of games. These are ideal if you fancy playing something different. Games such as fixed-odds titles generally require extraordinarily little experience and are pure games of chance. However, some others, such as bingo (while also games of chance), require a bit of knowledge in terms of how they work. Ultimately, while not every casino will carry these titles, the best of them will be able to deliver the following:
- Arcade Games
- Video Poker
- Instant Win Games
- Scratch Cards
- Lottery Games, such as Keno
- Online Bingo
- and possibly even sports betting options
RNG Certified Titles
Before playing any game, it is worth ensuring that the title you are about to play is RNG certified. This means that independent auditors have checked the game to ensure that the casino has not rigged it. A top casino will likely showcase its RNG certifications on its lobby (homepage), and you can usually get further details about the website of the software providers behind those games.
Free to Play and Mobile-Friendly
One of the things you should look for in top casinos is the ability to play free games. By being able to play free slots, you can test-drive such games without charge. This will allow you to make an informed decision about whether a game is worth your time long before you decide to wager your own money on it.
At the same time, mobile gaming is a big business in 2021. It is essential that any slot or table games that you might choose to play are mobile-friendly. Even if you are not intending on playing games on the go right now, it may help to have this option open to you later.
Ideal Things to Look for In Top Casino Games
As mentioned, you should always look to ensure that the casino games you play are mobile-friendly, RNG certified and available to play for free. You should also aim to play games from trusted providers, games that offer you a wagering range that you are comfortable with, and those which have a slight learning curve if one is required, such as beginner’s tables if you are interested in casino table games.
