Timeless Classics: The Most Popular Online Casino Table Games
Elen StelmakhOnline casinos are not only about slot games. They also offer diverse, time-tested table games patrons have enjoyed on brick-and-mortar casino floors for decades. That these table games continue to captivate online players worldwide is testimony to their blend of strategy and the ability to generate sustained excitement through their potential to provide big wins for online gamblers.
From staples like digital blackjack and poker to more exclusive games like baccarat and Sic Bo, we'll look at the most popular online casino table games that are available to play with live dealers. We'll detail their rules and strategies while noting why they are universally enjoyed in digital arenas and appeal to players of all skill levels.
Baccarat
According to gambling expert Vlad Grindu, Baccarat is a hugely popular game in land-based casinos, but not quite so popular online. The game is available at most of the best real money casinos online in a virtual format. But it’s the live casinos where you’ll find the real action (source: https://www.techopedia.com/gambling/online-casinos).
It’s a simple yet elegant table game that many gamblers have regarded as somewhat elite in the past. As such, it was enjoyed primarily by gambling's high rollers. It has gained more diverse popularity since appearing in online casinos, and is nowadays enjoyed by digital high rollers and casual players alike.
The game of baccarat involves comparing the hands of a "player" and a "banker," with players betting on which hand will end with a higher total or whether the two will tie. Its rules are straightforward, with its fast-paced gameplay making baccarat an ideal choice if you're looking for a relaxing but engaging online experience.
So, if you’re just learning how to play live casino games online, baccarat is a great choice since there are only three outcomes to bet on, and the RTP on certain bets is higher than that of many other games. However, for more advanced or experienced players, online live baccarat offers several betting options, and players can also make side bets, with this varied manner of betting catering to players of different preferences and budgets, unlike the land-based variety which can be more targetted towards high-stakes players.
Blackjack
Blackjack, or 21, is historically likely the most widely played table game in traditional and online casinos. Blackjack's aim is to beat the dealer's hand without exceeding a card total of 21, with players dealt two cards with various subsequent choices.
Players have the option of hitting (receiving another card), standing (holding their dealt hand), doubling down (doubling their original bet and receiving another card), or splitting (dividing their dealt hand in two). Players with an original card total of over eleven run the risk of busting should they draw a face card, which holds a ten total.
The object is to reach a total as close to 21 as possible, ideally being dealt a 'blackjack' (a face card combined with an ace). Blackjack's straightforward rules and low-house edge means appeal to both novice and experienced players.
Poker
Poker comes in many variants, with popular online choices being Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud. Widely acknowledged as a game of skill requiring an element of luck, poker combines strategy and psychology to create a winning hand or bluff your opponents into believing you have one.
Players at a digital table compete, using hole cards (cards dealt face down) and community cards (cards dealt face up) to form the best possible hand in each betting round. The skill of poker comes from knowing when to raise a bet, see or call an existing bet, or fold if you have a poor hand.
With experienced players mastering the psychology of poker in their strategies, outcomes are seldom clear-cut. Your ability to read habits and actions (tells) of other players helps to identify when an opponent is bluffing or whether you should trust they have legitimately good hands. Live poker tables in online casinos are more traditionally authentic than the popular online video versions.
Roulette
Roulette is another casino staple that has been around for centuries. This classic table game is popular in online casinos and involves placing bets on which slot a ball spinning on a numbered wheel will settle when the wheel stops.
Roulette players can place bets on individual numbers, sectioned groups of numbers, odd or even numbers, colored slots, and several other outcomes. Each type of bet has different allocated odds and payouts, with the thrill of watching the wheel spin as it slows and stops popularizing roulette among online and traditional casino table players.
Online roulette variants, like European, American, and French roulette, are available at certain online casinos, offering players extra betting options and gameplay features.
Craps
Craps is a dice game that is commonly found in US land-based casinos and is now finding its way onto digital tables around the world. The game involves betting on the outcome of the roll of a pair of dice, with players betting on various results, including the total value of the dice, whether they land on specific numbers or different number combinations.
On casino floors, craps are associated with an energetic atmosphere and is likely the most social of casino table games. Although the atmosphere doesn't transfer as readily to online craps, the game's numerous available betting options make it a favorite among online casino-goers.
The rules of the traditional game allow digital players to easily take in the action from the comfort of their homes or on the go using mobile devices.
Sic Bo
The traditional Chinese dice game of Sic Bo has gained worldwide popularity in casinos and is now becoming a standard offering among gambling platforms online. Similar in some ways to craps, the game involves betting on the outcome of the roll of three dice.
Casino players bet on various outcomes, whether specific numbers, number combinations, or dice totals. Sic Bo is an easy game to learn, making it an ideal online option if you're looking for a quick and entertaining table game to try.
With its wide-ranging betting options and payouts, online Sic Bo provides participating players ample opportunities to win big.
Final Thoughts
With such a wide range of available online casino table games, digital players are spoilt for choice before they settle on the games most suited to their gambling skill sets and preferences.
Whether you settle on blackjack's simplicity, the complex tactics of poker, the thrill of roulette, baccarat's elegance, the energy of craps, or the fast-paced excitement of Sic Bo, there'll always be an online table game for you to enjoy.
Thanks to the technological advancements in online gameplay, the timeless appeal of these traditional table games has transferred seamlessly to their popular status within the digital world of online casinos.
Elen Stelmakh is a creative individual dedicated to advancing gaming culture through articles and visual design. As a full-time EGamersWorld author and designer for a gaming website, Elen not only creates content but also infuses it with energy and creativity.