A Beginner’s Introduction to the Different Types of Online Casino Games

Slot Machines – The Backbone of Casinos

The most popular online casino games are slots. Slot machines feature spinning reels and players need to land matching symbols to win prizes. Every slot has a number of paylines, which is  path that can be traced through the reels. To form a winning combination, players must try and match symbols along a payline.

Slot machines have many different themes including adventure, history, mythology, horror, nature, sport and many more. These games tend to offer bonus rounds, free spins and multipliers.

There are three main categories of slot machines. The categories include:

• Classic slots – these games are the simplest of all slot machines and typically have an uncomplicated layout such as 3-reels, 3-rows and 5 paylines. They also usually have only one bonus feature (if any).
• Video slots – these slots are the most popular in the industry and typically are laid out on a 5-reel, 3-row grid. They can offer paylines ranging from 10 to over 100. Typically, video slots have at least one bonus feature but often offer more.
• Arcade slots – these games have similar layouts to slots but instead of paylines, the way to form winning combinations differs. For instance, cluster slots are games that require players to form clusters (groups) of matching symbols to win. They also tend to have a square shape, such as a 7x7 layout.

To play slot machines, all you have to do is set your stake and click on the spin button. The reels then go into motion and if you land a certain combination, you win.

Table Games – The Casino Classics

When people think of casinos, they often picture table games. There are several different table games and most them have a number of variants. The most popular ones include:

• Roulette – an casino game that is played with a betting table and wheel that consists of red and black numbers from 0-36. There are many different types of variants, including European Roulette, American Roulette and French Roulette.
• Blackjack – a card game that requires players to beat the dealer by forming a hand that is as close to 21 as possible without exceeding.
• Baccarat – a card game in which players bet on one of two positions that typically pays even money.
• Craps – a dice game that requires players to roll certain combinations onto a table to potentially win cash prizes.

For each of the games above, players will find many different variants. The variants may differ in terms of rules, features, presentation, payouts and side bets.

All of these games are played on a virtual table and follow the same rules as in retail casinos. The difference in most of these games is that players play against the house and not against other players.

Every round is determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG). The RNG determines the outcome to ensure player’s that every round is completely random. If you are playing RNG table games at Galera, our games have gone through rigorous testing to ensure that they are completely fair.

Video Poker – Single Player Poker

One of the most popular online casino games is video poker. To play video poker, all you have to do is bet on your hand and try to build the best possible poker hand. Video poker requires you to understand the basic combinations in poker, ranging from high cards to the ultimate royal flush.

Live Casino Games – An Immersive Experience

The online gambling industry took a turn for the best when live casino games were released into the industry. At Galera, you will find many live dealer games that give players the chance to enjoy a true casino-like experience while playing from their computers or mobile devices.

Live dealer games use a real-life presenter who is located in a gaming-studio with an HD camera in front of them. The HD cameras stream the action of the game from the studio. That way, you can enjoy playing your favourite casino games from the comfort of your home.

The most popular live casino games are the ones that are based on the table games above. They include:

• Live Blackjack
• Live Roulette
• Live Baccarat
• Live Poker
• Live Game Shows

For each of these live casino games, players will find a number of different variants. The variants of these games may have different rules, features, visuals and payouts. Players that join live dealer games can interact with other players and the presenter using chat functionality.

Specialty Games – Completing the Collection

The final category of our various casino games is specialty games. Essentially, specialty games are games that do not fit into any of the categories above. However, they have their own rules, features, themes and payouts. Here are some examples of online specialty games:

• Keno
• Scratch Cards
• Bingo
• Virtual Sports

One of the most popular specialty games is scratch cards. These games are also referred to as ‘instant cash games’. The reason behind the naming of the product is that they give players the chance to win within a matter of seconds. To play scratch cards, all you have to do is purchase the card itself and then click on the icons. This reveals the hidden symbols that can pay out if they form certain combinations or patterns. There is also a ‘Reveal All’ button that allows you to instantly know if you have won or lost by the click of a button.

Plenty of Choice for Every Player

If you want to try your luck with slots, table games or any of the others above, you are in the right place! At Galera, we have a huge variety of casino games so that no matter what type of game you enjoy, there is plenty to choose from.