In-Depth Guides to Casino Games
Today, online casinos are able to bring their players a huge selection of games. Many casinos will have a library of more than 1000 titles, ensuring that all players can find plenty that appeals, no matter their tastes or budgets. Whether you enjoy slots, card and table games, live dealer gaming, or anything else, never before has there been so much choice.
Here at Casino Radar, you can find in-depth guides to all the most popular casino games. Whether you are looking for basic information about how to play, details of common variants, strategy tips, or anything else, we have it covered.
Online Slots - Keep the Reels Spinning
Slot machines form the backbone of the vast majority of online casinos. Most casinos will have hundreds, if not thousands of them on offer. Modern slot machines have progressed a long way from the times of one-armed bandits, and the full range of styles of games can be found online.
This means that players who enjoy simpler, classic style slots will still find plenty that appeal. There are many 3-reel slots with traditional symbols on the reels, such as cherries, bells, and 7s. However, those looking for games that are more modern are truly spoilt for choice. There are new video slots released on an almost weekly basis. Most games have 5 reels, but some will have 6 or even multiple sets or reels. The range of themes today is astounding, with games based upon everything you can think of from nature and animals to space adventures, fantasy, and sports. Furthermore, there are masses of branded slots, based upon popular films, television shows, bands, and celebrities.
The same range can be found in the bonus features on offer. Today, nearly all slots offer some form of bonus. Some of these may be very basic, such as wild symbols or scatter symbols, but more often than not, they go far beyond this. You will find games offering free spins, picking games, payout multipliers, cascading reels, expanding symbols, and far more. The bonus features not only help to bring the themes to life, but they also give you the chance to win some massive payouts.
Those wanting to play for the biggest prizes should be sure to look at casinos’ progressive jackpot slots. When you play these games, a small portion of each bet is contributed to the jackpot pool, and this way they can grow to be absolutely enormous. At present, the record for the world’s biggest progressive jackpot is €18,915,872.81, which was won by a player who placed a bet of just €0.75 on Microgaming’s famous Mega Moolah slot.
When you look at a casino’s slot collection, it is easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice. The best thing to do is to start looking for themes that appeal to you. You can then start to look at the individual games in greater detail. For instance, you may want to look at what kind of bonus features it offers and what the game’s volatility and RTP is. You can find more information about all of these things on our main slots page, to ensure that you have all the knowledge you need to find the best games for you.
Online Blackjack - Put Your Skills to the Test
Over the last few decades, Blackjack has steadily grown in popularity to the point where it is now the most popular casino card game in the world. The main reason for Blackjack’s popularity is that if you use proper strategy, then you can significantly reduce the house edge, sometimes to the point that it is only 0.2%. In addition, it is a very easy to learn the game, and as such it can provide hours of fun and the chance of big payouts.
At most online casinos, you will find a huge range of Blackjack variants available to play. However, they are all based upon the same principle. A round of Blackjack is won by building a hand of cards that has a value closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand (but not exceeding 21).
From this basic concept, many variants have arisen, and the difference between them is often quite subtle. For example, some games are played with a single deck of cards, but others may use 2, 4, 6 or even 8 decks. Other rule changes may include when a player can Double Down, when a player can Split hands, and the payouts on offer for forming Blackjack. If you want to truly understand all the differences, then head straight to our Blackjack page where they are explored in great depth.
As mentioned, using proper Blackjack strategy will help you greatly reduce the house edge. Today it is easy to find strategy charts for all versions of Blackjack, and they take almost no time to learn how to use. Whether you are a curious newcomer to Blackjack or an experienced player looking to gain a bit more of an edge, we are confident that you will find a treasure trove of helpful information here at Casino Radar.
Online Roulette- Betting on the Spinning Wheel
To many people, the Roulette table is a true symbol of what casinos are all about. In top land casinos, you will often see crowds gathering around the game and waiting with bated breath for the result of each round. Roulette has a history going back over 200 years and today it is by far the most popular casino table game.
Even if you have never played Roulette before, you are most likely aware that it is centred upon a spinning wheel. This wheel has been divided into numbered segments and the croupier releases a ball into the wheel. All players have to do is bet on which wheel segment they think the ball will eventually come to rest on.
Of course, the game is a bit more complicated than this. However, the rules are not. The complexity comes in the different types of bets that players can place. The game and wheel have been designed in such a way so that players have a huge range of betting options. For example, in addition to betting on individual numbers, you can also bet on groups of number, such as all the even numbers. Head over to our main Roulette page for a complete explanation of all the different types of Roulette bets.
In a land casino, a Roulette table takes up a fair amount of space. One of the biggest advantages of online casinos is that they are no space limitations, and this is why they are able to offer players all major versions of Roulette. There are three basic forms of the game, European, French and American.
The differences between the games are subtle, but very important. In European and French Roulette, the wheel is split into 37 numbered segments (0 to 36 inclusive), while American Roulette has an additional 00 segment. Two things separate European and French Roulette. Firstly, in French Roulette all of the betting terms are in French, and secondly, French Roulette has a special rule, the La Partage Rule. This rule states that if the ball lands on 0 then half of all even money bets are returned. Again, these differences are explored in greater detail on the main Roulette page.
Some casinos offer players even more variants, games that offer progressive jackpots, use two wheels, or have some kind of bonus feature. As such, never before have Roulette players had so much to choose from.
Live Casinos- Bringing the Action Home
In recent year, live dealer gaming has become hugely popular. Essentially, casino games are broadcast to players from studios where real dealers and gaming tables are set up. The action is streamed in high definition, for a truly realistic and immersive experience.
All of the standard card and table games can be found in live dealer casinos. You can enjoy Live Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Casino Poker, Craps, Sic Bo and more. Most live dealer casinos offer multiple tables of each game, and there is always a range of betting limits in order to accommodate as many different players as possible.
Today there is an additional category of live dealer games, Game Shows. These games are designed for casual players who do not want to worry about complicated rules or betting strategies. For instance, there are lottery style games, bingo style games, games that use fortune wheels, and more. Game shows are deliberately simple, but they are run by enthusiastic and friendly hosts, who ensure that there is a fantastic atmosphere at all times. Of course, they also give players the chance to win a huge amount of 
money.
Today, live dealer casinos offer players a feature rich experience. For example, Roulette players will normally find statistical analysis of previous rounds integrated into the game, as well as the ability to save favourite bets. Baccarat players will find a selection of roadmap scorecards to view, Blackjack players will find side bets, and so on. As such, the games truly are able to offer an experience to rival visiting a top land casino, and no matter what games players choose, they are sure to have a thrilling time.
Video Poker- Play Your Cards Right
Since the first Video Poker machines appeared towards the end of the 1970s, the game has steadily grown in popularity. Today, video poker machines are found in casinos across the world and are hugely popular with players. Like Blackjack, one of the reasons for Video Poker popularity, is that by using a mathematical strategy, it is possible to significantly reduce the house edge and increase the chance of winning.
The original video poker game was Jacks or Better and it is simply based upon five-card draw. The aim of the game is to build the best possible five-card poker hand. Players are dealt five cards, decide which to hold and which to discard, replace the discarded cards, and are then paid out based upon the strength of their card.
Today, there are many different Video Poker variants, but all of the games work on the same premise. Some games will offer boosted payouts for certain hands while others may introduce elements such as wild cards. Head over to our main Video Poker page and you will find all the details you could possible need about the different versions of Video Poker and discover which are the best to play.
Online Casino Software and Game Developers
There are an ever-increasing number of companies dedicated to producing online casino software and games. Furthermore, many of the companies do both, they will provide a casino operator with the platform for operating the casino and will also develop the games for players to enjoy.
Since the first online casino launched in 1994, casino platforms have evolved and today, are far more advanced. There was a time when players would have to download software to their computers and install it before being able to play the games. However, today, nearly every casino is available through a web interface. This means that regardless of what type of computer a player has, Windows, Mac, or anything else, all they need to do is visit the casino website, login, and they can start enjoying the games straightaway.
Another huge advantage of this is that the majority of casino websites are also mobile friendly. It means that players can have exactly the same experience and enjoy all the same games when playing on a smartphone or tablet device. Whether a person has an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, most of the time, all they need to do is visit the casino from a web browser to start playing. Some casinos will also offer dedicated apps, but more often than not, there is no real need to download and install one.
When it comes to games, some developers do a bit of everything while others may specialise in one particular area. Microgaming is an excellent example. It was the company to launch the first online casino and it has been leading the industry ever since. Microgaming develop a huge number of tools for operators, but they also have a catalogue of over 800 games, including slots, card and table games and more.
A similar company is Playtech, which is only slightly younger than Microgaming and also widely considered a true industry leader. Playtech’s collection of games is actually slightly broader than Microgaming’s is and they release extremely high quality titles on a very regular basis. In contrast to Microgaming and Playtech is Evolution Gaming, which specialises in Live Dealer gaming. They operate numerous studios around the world and they have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible ever since they were founded.
You can find more details about all of these developers and full reviews elsewhere on this site. We go into great depth about all the different games being produced by the major developers, you can learn about the unique characteristics of each and why they stand out from the crowd.
Online Casino Payment Methods
It is impossible to play for real money at an online casino without making payments, and understandably, many players have concerns about their privacy and the safety of their money. Today, casinos are able to offer players a huge number of payment methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Not just at casinos, but everywhere online, credit and debit cards are a very popular payment method. Nearly everybody has a credit or debit card, and those who don’t can apply for them very easily. Furthermore, today they are extremely secure, with many card providers making use of two-factor authentication to confirm all transactions. However, there are some disadvantages of using them at casinos. Firstly, the processing times can be quite slow, particularly for withdrawals. Secondly, not all banks will be willing to process gambling transactions, and finally, not everyone will be willing to share their card details with a casino. On top of that, local regulations may make it impossible. For instance, in the UK it is no longer legal to use credit cards at online casinos. For that reason, there are many more payment methods available.
E-wallets are becoming an increasingly popular way of depositing and withdrawing at online casinos. There are a number of well known e-wallets, such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill, all of which have excellent reputations for security. There are a few distinct advantages to using e-wallets at online casinos. The transactions are always very fast with both deposits and withdrawals carried out in minutes, if not instantly. Furthermore, they remove the need for players to share any financial details with the casino. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages. Players will need to create an e-wallet and fund it, which adds an extra stage to the process. Furthermore, some e-wallets charge fees, although these are usually offset by loyalty reward schemes.
Those who are truly concerned with privacy will often opt for prepaid cards or vouchers. These can be bought for cash in shops such as newsagents. The cards come with a PIN on them, and all players have to do is enter the PIN in the casino to transfer funds to their accounts. Thanks to this, at no point does a player have to expose his or her financial information or risk anything being stolen online. Deposits via prepaid cards are also instant, so players will not be stuck waiting for funds to arrive. On the other hand, not many casinos allow withdrawals to prepaid cards, so players will need to find an alternative payment method to access their winnings.
Many people believe that the safest way to deposit and withdraw funds is with traditional bank wires. However, these involve extensive identity checks, so they can be very slow. It can take 7 days or more for funds to arrive in an account. Furthermore, there are often high banking fees involved. That is why today there are third party services, such as Trustly, able to facilitate immediate bank transfers. Players provide their information to the service and the money is instantly deposited into accounts. However, once again, this method is not usually available for withdrawals.
More and more casinos are beginning to accept cryptocurrency deposits. These are very secure but some players may not feel comfortable using technology that they don’t fully understand. Furthermore, there can be high fees involved. You can find much more information about all of these types of payment systems and reviews of individual methods here at Casino Radar so that you can make a fully informed choice before depositing at a casino.
Online Casino Reviews
It is easy to be overwhelmed when looking for a new online casino, there are a huge amount of them available. That is why, we have gone to a great deal of effort to trawl the web for the best online casinos and bring you all the information you could possibly need. Here at Casino Radar, you will find honest and unbiased reviews of the internet’s top gambling destinations.
How We Review Online Casinos
Just like you, we are also faced with a huge number of online casinos, and we only want to bring you recommendations of those that are truly up to standard. That is why the first thing we look into is a casino’s license. If it is not a properly regulated casino with a license from a well-respected gambling authority, then we will not waste our time or yours by reviewing it.
Once we have established that it is a trustworthy and reliable casino, we begin to delve into what the casino has to offer its members. We start by looking at the collection of games. We examine which developers it offers games from and if it has a broad enough collection to appeal to the majority of players. Of course, some casinos specialise in a particular type of game, and you will find details of it in the review.
Today almost every casino will reward its players with bonuses and loyalty clubs. However, not all casino bonuses are as good as they first appear to be. That is why we carefully examine all the terms and conditions that come attached to bonuses to ensure that they are fair and will not trap players with unrealistic wagering requirements. We also look at the loyalty club and any VIP rewards that are on offer to check that they represent good value and give players real incentive to return to the casino.
Banking is a hugely important aspect of playing at a casino. There is no point recommending a casino to players if the player will then struggle to deposit and withdraw funds. We make sure that a casino has a good variety of payment methods available so that players will be able to find one that is convenient. We also check the processing times and make sure that the casino does not charge any unreasonable fees.
The other hugely important thing we examine is the overall playing experience. We check that the casino is well designed with a clear and user-friendly interface. We look at the options available for mobile players, and make sure that the games are just as enjoyable when played on smartphones and devices with smaller screens. We also ensure that customer support is available and check that it is responsive and reliable.
All of the above are hugely important and explored in great detail in our reviews. This means that after reading a Casino Radar review, you will be fully informed and know exactly what a casino does and doesn’t offer before signing up to play. Hopefully, this will ensure that you do not waste any time at casinos that are not suited to your needs, and overall, you will have a much better online gambling experience.
