Online Casino Guides And Tips

Table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker are hugely popular at both online and land-based casinos. A dealer or croupier oversees live table games, while video table games employ Random Number Generators (RNGs) to ensure fair outcomes. On this page, we’ll take a look at the main types of casino table games and the most popular variants available at UK online casinos today.

Blackjack

The most popular casino table game at most land-based and online casinos is blackjack. There are several reasons for this. First, it has a low house edge, making it an advantageous game for players. Secondly, the rules are straightforward enough to make it accessible. And, finally, unlike many casino games, it requires a degree of skill, enabling more experienced players to employ various strategies.

Classic Blackjack

A favourite in both land-based and online casinos worldwide, Classic Blackjack uses one to eight standard decks of cards. The goal for players is to beat the dealer by having a hand closer to 21 without busting. Here’s an overview of the key features:

House can be as low as 0.61%
In most cases, the dealer must hit on a soft 17
Players can double down on any two cards
Splitting pairs is allowed (normally once per round)
Blackjack pays 3:2

European Blackjack

Particularly popular at online casinos, European Blackjack uses 2 to 6 decks of cards. While the Blackjack payout remains the same at 3:2, the house advantage is increased, making the game more challenging and better suited to experienced players. Some key differences of European Blackjack include:

The dealer doesn’t receive a hole card until players have completed their hands
Players can only double down on hands with a total of 9, 10, or 11
Splitting is often limited to a single split

Atlantic City Blackjack

Given its name, you won’t be surprised to learn Atlantic City Blackjack is especially popular with American players. This version is usually played with 8 decks of cards and has rules that make it a favourite with strategy-focused players.

The dealer has to stand on all 17s (soft and hard)
Players can double down on any 2 cards
Players have the option of a late surrender, forfeiting their hand and reclaiming half their bet (after the dealer checks for blackjack)
Splitting is allowed up to 3 times for a total of 4 hands

Spanish 21

Played with 6 to 8 decks, Spanish 21 Blackjack is played with the 10-value cards removed. This makes it more difficult to achieve blackjack and means this version is best suited to experienced players. Although the house edge is higher than other versions of Blackjack, the game has more options and bonus payouts.

Players are allowed to surrender at any time, even after doubling down
A doubled-down bet can be forfeited, with the original wager returned, thanks to a double-down rescue
Certain card combos, like 21 with 5, 6, or 7 cards payout bonuses
Blackjack always beats the dealer’s 21

Blackjack Switch

Also played with 6 to 8 decks, Blackjack Switch lets players manage 2 hands at the same time, and even switch the top cards between them, adding extra strategic depth. Other features include:

House edge is typically around 0.58%
Players have to place equal bets on both hands
When cards are dealt, players can switch between the top cards of their 2 hands
Dealer hits on soft 17 and pushes with 22, so all non-blackjack player hands tie
Blackjack pays 1:1, rather than the normal 3:2

Roulette

Perhaps the most iconic of all casino table games, the roulette wheel is synonymous with the elegant side of gambling. The game is very straightforward, with players betting on where they think the ball will land on a spinning wheel. Unlike blackjack, roulette is purely a game of chance – not even the world’s best gaming mathematicians can calculate a pattern or winning strategy.

European Roulette

The most popular version of the game, the wheel features 37 pockets, numbered 1-36, with a single zero. Characteristics of this version include:

A relatively low house edge of 2.7%
Several betting options, including inside bets (e.g. straight-up numbers), and outside bets (e.g. red/black or odd/even)
En Prison or La Partage rules can sometimes be used, allowing players to recover part of their bets if the ball lands on zero during even money bets

American Roulette

In this variant of roulette, the wheel has an extra zero (00), making a total of 38 pockets. This significantly increases the house edge to 5.26%, but American Roulette remains very popular due to the extra excitement and fast gameplay.

An extra pocket in the form of double zero (0)
Similar betting options to European Roulette, but with higher risk

French Roulette

Though French Roulette closely resembles European Roulette, this classic version of the game has unique betting rules that can be advantageous for experienced players.

Single zero (0) wheel with 37 pockets
Uses the La Partage rule, meaning players lose only half their even-money bets if the ball lands on zero
The En Prison rule allows players to “imprison” their even-money bet if the ball lands on zero, and reclaim it if the subsequent spin wins

Mini Roulette

Stripped down and simplified, Mini Roulette uses a wheel with fewer pockets and has fewer betting options. This makes it a great choice for new players. Specific features of Mini Roulette include:

A wheel with 13 pockets, numbered 1-12 and a single zero (0)
More limited betting options
When the ball lands on zero, half the bet is returned, further reducing the house edge

Multi-Wheel Roulette

This is where things get a bit crazy because Multi-Wheel Roulette allows players to bet on several wheels at once. Needless to say, this makes for a more exciting and faster game. Key features of Multi-Wheel Roulette include:

Up to 8 roulette wheels spinning at the same time
A single betting layout applied to all active wheels
Payouts are divided among winning wheels
Players can strategically adjust the number of active wheels

Baccarat

A fast-paced casino table game with a low house edge (typically around 1.5%), baccarat is popular with both high-rollers and casual players. Gameplay is centred around betting on the Player, Banker, or a Tie, to achieve a hand value closest to 9. Live baccarat games are typically managed by a dealer or croupier, while video versions use RNGs to determine outcomes.

Punto Banco

The most widely played variant of the game, Punto Banco is also known as “North American Baccarat.” It is a pure game of chance with no complicated strategies, making it great for new and experienced players alike. Key features of Punto Banco include:

Played between two hands; “Punto” (Player) and “Banco” (Banker)
Players simply bet on which hand will win, or if there will be a tie
The dealer handles all actions per fixed rules with no player decisions required
Uses 6 or 8 decks
Banker Bet offers the lowest house edge at approx. 1.06%

Mini-Baccarat

Mini-Baccarat is even simpler and played on a smaller table with lower stakes. This offers faster gameplay and makes the game even more accessible. Key features of Mini-Baccarat include:

Same betting options as Punto Banco (Player, Banker, or Tie)
One dealer only, instead of the traditional three
Lower table limits
Faster gameplay

Chemin de Fer

A classic French version of the game, this is the baccarat variant often featured in movies and is best suited to more experienced strategic players. Compared to Punto Banco, players have a more engaged role in Chemin de Fer. Key features of the variant include:

Players take turns acting as the banker, being responsible for dealing and funding the Banker’s bet
Players have the option to bet against the Banker
Players can make decisions like whether or not to draw a third card
Usually played with 6 decks

Baccarat Banque

Similar to Chemin de Fer, this European version of baccarat has a few differences, including:

Instead of the role of Banker rotating through the players, a single player retains it for the entire session (typically, the player with the highest stake)
The banker has more options available, like deciding to draw or stand on certain hands
Usually played with 3 decks
Allows for larger wagers than other baccarat variants

Poker

While most casino games are essentially random number games, poker stands out due to the high degree of skill required to play successfully. The best UK online casinos offer both video poker – which relies on RNGs to generate outcomes – and live poker games. Here’s a quick run-through of the most common varieties of poker:

Texas Hold’em Poker

The world’s most widely played poker variant, it’s especially popular in live tournaments, for example, the World Series of Poker. When playing Texas Hold’em, you are aiming to form the best possible five-card hand. Specific features include:

Every player receives two private hole cards and shares five community cars which are dealt in stages (flop, turn, and river)
Over multiple betting rounds, players can bet, check, raise, or fold
Key skills include hand selection, bluffing, and correctly reading your opponents

Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker

This variant of Texas Hold’em poker is specifically designed for casino play, with players competing against the house instead of other players. It is known for providing plenty of strategic betting options and the potential for exceptionally large payouts. Features of Ultimate Texas Hold’em include:

Both the players and dealer receive 2 hole cards, but initially, the dealer’s remain face-down
Like traditional Texas Hold’em, 5 community cards are dealt in stages (flop, turn, and river)
Initially, players make ante and blind bets and can make additional or “play bets” at various points in the game – notably, earlier bets offer higher multipliers
The aim is to form the best 5-card hand using the player’s hole cards and community cards
For the player’s bets to pay out fully, the dealer must qualify with at least a pair
Strong hands can receive bonus payouts, even when the player loses to the dealer

Casino Hold’em Poker

This variant is similar to Texas Hold’em, but instead of competing against players, the aim is to beat the dealer. Features of Casino Hold’em poker include:

Players are dealt 2 hole cards and share 5 community cards with the dealer
Players must decide to fold or call a second bet after the flop
Dealer must qualify with at least a pair of 4s to compete
Bonus side bets and jackpots offer extra winning potential

Omaha Poker

Although similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker allows more hand-building possibilities and hence tends to provide more action. The game can be played in pot-limit (Pot-Limit Omaha or “PLO”) or fixed-limit formats. Notable features of Omaha Poker include:

Players are dealt four hole cards, and to build their hands they must use 2 of them combined with 3 of the 5 community cards
Betting rounds and community card stages are the same as in Texas Hold’em
The extra hold cards allow for stronger hands which typically results in higher-stakes play

Three Card Poker

This fast-paced poker variant is played against the dealer rather than other players and has simplified rules, making it great for new players. Specific features of 3-Card Poker include:

Players and the dealer are each dealt 3 cards, with the goal of the players being to beat the dealer’s hand
Players can choose to fold or continue by making another wager
Strong hands, like a straight flush or three of a kind, receive bonus payouts regardless of whether the player beats the dealer or not

Four Card Poker

As the name implies, this variant is very similar to Three Card Poker, except players aim to make the best possible 4-card hand. Specific features include:

In addition to the initial ante bet, players can also place an optional Aces Up bonus bet
Players and the dealer are each dealt 5 cards, but only use 4 to create the best possible hand
The dealer doesn’t need to qualify, meaning each hand is compared directly, giving players more chances to win

Caribbean Stud Poker

Another simple variant in which players compete against the dealer, Caribbean Stud is a firm favourite with new and casual online poker players. Notable features include:

Players and the dealer are each dealt 5 cards, but only one of the dealer’s is visible
Players can fold or raise based on their hand
For the player to win, the dealer must qualify with at least an Ace-King high-hand
Games can feature progressive jackpot side bets for specific hands, e.g. a royal flush

Mississippi Stud Poker

Instead of competing against either other players or a dealer, In this unique poker variant, players bet on the strength of their own hand against a fixed paytable. This makes for a fast-paced game with more of an emphasis on luck rather than skill. Features of Mississippi Stud Poker include:

Players start by placing ante bets and are dealt 2 hole cards, while 3 community cards are dealt face-down
As each community card is revealed, players can choose to fold, or make bets of between 1x and 3x their ante to remain in the game
The aim is to make the best 5-card poker hand using the 2 hole cards and 3 community cards
Payouts are determined by the paytable, and start from a pair of 6s or better, with strong hands like three-of-a-kind, straights and flushes giving higher payouts

Pai Gow Poker

Combining elements of poker with the traditional Chinese domino game Pai Gow, this exotic poker variant is available at many online casinos. Features of Pai Gow Poker include:

Players are dealt 7 cards and need to create 2 hands; a 5-card or “high hand”, and a 2-card or “low hand”
Both of a player’s hands must beat the dealer’s hands to win
Uses a standard 52-card deck plus a joker, which can be used as an Ace or to complete straights and flushes

Let It Ride Poker

In this poker variant, players aim to create a strong hand rather than compete against others. This creates a low-pressure, laid-back feel to the game. Specific features of Let It Ride poker include:

At the start of the game, players make 3 equal bets and receive 3 hole cards, with 2 community cards revealed later
After each round, players can pull back one of their bets or “let it ride”, hence the game’s name
The payouts correspond to the strength of a player’s hand, with winning hands starting from a pair of 10s or better

Teen Patti

Also known as “Indian Poker”, this game is similar to Three Card Poker and is played with a standard 52-card deck. It’s a fun, simple game that can nonetheless involve serious strategy and bluffing. Teen Pattii is becoming increasingly popular at online casinos, with most gambling sites offering at least one table.

Players aim to have a better 3-card hand than either the dealer or other players
Initially, players place ante bets and then choose to continue betting or fold after viewing their cards
Winning hands are similar to poker, with hands like a straight flush, three of a kind, or straights landing higher payouts
Some versions also allow for side bets

Other Casino Card Games

Red Dog

Usually found alongside poker at online casinos, Red Dog is a simple and fast-paced card game. Instead of traditional poker hands, Red Dog centres around betting the spread between two cards. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and players place their initial bets prior to any cards being dealt.

Initially, 2 cards are dealt face up, with the aim being to predict if the value of the third card dealt will fall between the first two (i.e., the spread)
If the first 2 cards are consecutive, the result is a push, and the bet is returned
If the first 2 cards are of the same rank, then a third card is dealt to try for a three-of-a-kind, which pays out at 11:1
If players feel particularly confident after the first 2 cards have been dealt, they can raise their bets
The size of the spread determines the payout, with smaller spreads paying more

Casino War

Developed by Shuffle Master, a division of Scientific Games, Casino War is based on the traditional card game “War.” The game is normally played with 6 standard 52-card decks and pits the players directly against the dealer. Features of Casino War include:

The player and the dealer are each dealt a card, with the higher one winning
If the player’s card is highest, they win even more, and if the dealer’s card is higher, they lose their bet
If there’s a tie, the player can either “surrender”, forfeiting half their bet, or “go to war” by doubling their wager
In the case of going to war, the player and the dealer are each dealt another card. If this second card is equal to or higher than the dealer’s, the player wins even money on their additional wager, and the original bet is returned
Side bets are available giving the possibility for bigger payouts

Three Card Rummy

A version of the classic rummy game designed specifically for casino play, Three Card Rummy is available at many UK online casinos. The aim of the game is to score fewer points than the dealer, by creating combos that reduce the total value of your hand. Features of 3-Card Rummy include:

Players initially receive 3 cards each, with the aim being to achieve the lowest points total possible
Number cards (2-10) have their face value points, face cards (King, Queen, Jack) are worth 10 points each, Aces are worth 1 point, and pairs, three-of-a-kinds, and suited runs score 0
To start the game, players make ante bets with the option of placing bonus side bets for extra payouts on low-scoring hands
When the player’s total points score is lower than the dealer’s qualifying hand (20 or less), the player wins even money on the ante bet. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the ante bet is paid even, but no play bet payouts are paid
Bonus bet payouts for low hands are dictated by the casino’s paytable

High Card Flush

In this simple and fast casino table card game, the objective is to assemble the highest number of cards of the same suit (a “flush”). Features of High Card Flush poker include:

In addition to ante bets, players can place side bets for bonus payouts
Each player is dealt 7 cards and must create the strongest flush using the most cards of the same suit
The dealer is required to qualify with a three-card flush of at least 9-high
To win, players need to beat the dealer’s flush
Larger flushes (4 or more cards) earn bigger payouts

Andar Bahar

Another hugely popular Indian card game, Andar Baha means “Inside Outside”. It is purely a game of chance with easy-to-understand rules and fast gameplay, making it fun for new and experienced players alike. Features of Andar Bahar include:

Initially, a single card, called the “Joker” or “House Card”, is dealt face up in the centre of the table
Players then bet on whether a matching card of the same rank will appear on the Andar or Bahar side
Alternating between both sides, the dealer deals cards until one matching the rank of the “Joker” or “House Card” is drawn
Payouts are determined based on the chosen side and the casino’s paytable, with Andar and Bahar bets providing near-even odds

Dice Table Games

Traditional Craps

Available in both live and RNG-based video formats at most good online casinos, craps is an exciting dice game that’s easy to learn but hard to master. It uses 2 standard 6-sided dice.

House edge typically as low as 1%
Betting options include Pass/Don’t Pass, and Come/Don’t Come bets
Players can wager on specific roll outcomes or sequences, allowing for complicated bets

Simplified Craps

To make craps more accessible for new and casual casino players, simplified versions are available.

Players simply bet on whether the dice total will be 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, or 12 (win) or 5 through 9 (lose)

Crapless Craps

In this version of the popular dice game, certain losing outcomes (“craps” numbers) on the come-out roll are eliminated. This makes the game well-suited to beginners and casual casino players.

The shooter cannot lose on the come-out roll by rolling a 2, 3, or 12
Gameplay is more forgiving than in traditional craps

Classic Sic Bo

This Chinese game involves players betting on the outcomes of 3 rolled dice and is increasingly popular at both land-based and online casino sites.

Players can bet on outcomes including total dice value, specific combinations, single numbers, or triples
The game is played on a detailed betting table
Payouts depend on the odds of each bet

Super Sic Bo and Lightning Sic Bo

Live casino game providers like Evolution Gaming have released several variants of the original Sic Bo game. These are broadcast from well-equipped studios and feature live hosts.

Super Sic Bo adds multipliers that can hit on any round, giving the potential for huge payouts
Lightning Sic Bo sees “lightning” strike 4 or more bet spots on each round, adding multipliers ranging from 5x to 2000x

Money Wheel Games

Big Six Wheel (Money Wheel)

This “Wheel of Fortune” style game is popular in real-world and online casinos. It features a wheel which is divided into multiple sections, and players bet on which one they think the “clacker” will point to when the wheel stops spinning. The payouts are dictated by the odds of the section it lands on. In recent years, live casino game providers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play have released many TV-style game shows inspired by the Money Wheel.

Gamble Responsible

Whatever casino table games you play, remember to gamble responsibly. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, don’t chase losses, and never consider gambling as a way to earn money. Remember, it should be entertaining – the moment it stops being fun, walk away.