Casino games explained
Before picking a platform, it helps to know what the games there look like. Here's a quick tour of the classics, and the "crypto" games specific to casinos like Stake, Rainbet or Howl.
The classics
🎰 Slots
The most widespread game on online casinos. You bet, spin the reels, and combinations of symbols trigger wins. Each machine has its own theme, bonuses (free spins, multipliers...) and its own payout rate (RTP).
🃏 Blackjack
A card game where the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, while beating the dealer's hand. It's one of the games with the best payout rate for the player, provided you know basic strategy.
Basic strategy chart
This chart shows the optimal move to play based on your hand and the dealer's visible card.
| Player | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17+ | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 16 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 15 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 14 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 13 | R | R | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 12 | T | T | R | R | R | T | T | T | T | T |
| 11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | T | T |
| 10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | T | T |
| 9 | T | D | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| 8 | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T |
| 5-7 | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T | T |
| Player | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-A | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 10-10 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 9-9 | P | P | P | P | P | R | P | P | R | R |
| 8-8 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 7-7 | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | T | T |
| 6-6 | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | T | T | T |
| 5-5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | T | T |
| 4-4 | T | T | T | P | P | T | T | T | T | T |
| 3-3 | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | T | T |
| 2-2 | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | T | T |
| Player | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| A-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| A-7 | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | T | T | T |
| A-6 | T | D | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-5 | T | T | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-4 | T | T | D | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-3 | T | T | T | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
| A-2 | T | T | T | D | D | T | T | T | T | T |
🎡 Roulette
A ball is spun on a numbered wheel, and you bet on where it will land (a specific number, a color, odd/even...). Easy to understand, with different bet types depending on the risk you want to take.
"Crypto" games
Popularized by crypto casinos, these games rely on simple, fast mechanics, often with a "provably fair" system that lets you verify the fairness of each round.
🚀 Crash
A multiplier curve keeps climbing, and you must cash out your bet before it "crashes". The longer you wait, the higher the potential payout, but the higher the risk of losing it all too.
💣 Mines
A hidden grid contains mines. You reveal tiles one by one: each safe tile increases your winnings, but hitting a mine loses everything. You choose whether to continue or cash out at each step.
🔺 Plinko
Inspired by pin-and-ball games: you drop a ball from the top of a board, it bounces around, and lands in a slot corresponding to a multiplier. Simple, fast, and very visual.
💡 Whatever game you choose, keep in mind that chance remains the main factor. Set yourself a budget before playing and never exceed what you're willing to lose.