Like most casino games, craps has an incredibly rich history in the US after it modified the English game of Hazard. This possibly dates back to the era of the Crusades. The game made its way from London to the city of New Orleans during the early 19th century by a young gambler. He was a descendant of rich landowners in Louisiana named Bernard Xavier Phillipe de Marigny de Mandeville. De Marigny chose to simplify the game by making the main number seven as it’s the optimal choice when looking at it from a mathematical perspective, as opposed to the original game of hazard which allowed the shooter to select any number from 5 to 9.

More About Craps

Both craps and hazard were rejected by the wealthy and this forced de Marigny to introduce the game to the blue-collar class. This gained a lot of success as the game spread as field workers taught their friends, and deckhands spread the game via their escapades on the Mississippi River and the connected channels. De Marigny chose to name a street in his subdivision, Rue de Craps, after the game, as an act of celebration following its success.

How Craps Got Its Name

The name of the game, craps, comes from the working-class natives of Louisiana who mispronounced the word crabs; however, this is what the game is called in all regions. The original name, crabs, comes from aristocratic London and had been the nickname for the numbers 2 and 3. When playing hazard, the numbers 2 and 3 were losing numbers for the first roll irrespective of what the shooter's main number was. If the chosen number was 7, the number 12 will be added to the crabs as a losing number on the first roll.

Early Days Gameplay

There was a bit of controversy surrounding the game as it was abused in casinos as players were often caught using loaded dice. However, the problem was fixed by John H. Winn, a local dice maker from Philadelphia, as he introduced a new layout which featured bets on Pass and Don’t Pass variations in 1907. To this day, his invention is still used in all casinos, which means that casinos are always using fair dice.

Craps’ popularity was at an all-time high after World War 2, as service members often played the game using a blanket as a means of shooting service. With many of the soldiers being from the US, the game spread upon their return home, and casinos in the Caribbean and Las Vegas found that the game was extremely popular. Craps gained international fame as it spread to many countries in the 1960s and when online casinos rose to prominence in 2004.

Play Craps Online

Craps can be found in plenty of online casinos, and there is a range of Canadian platforms that offer the game. Casinos such as Jackpot City, Spin Casino, Ruby Fortune, Royal Vegas, PlayAmo, and Betway Casino, are great options, but if you’re going to look at other casinos, ensure that they’re licensed by a reputable authority and that their games are regularly audited by third-party organizations such as eCOGRA.

This will ensure that you’ll be subject to the highest standards in the region and that the casino will keep your data secure. Furthermore, there’s also the fact that there are plenty of casinos out there that are keen to take advantage of unsuspecting players. Playing craps online means that you’ll be able to choose from a variety of craps variations and you’ll be able to play in a more comfortable environment.

The absence of the cheering crowds might be a letdown for some players, but for others, this is one of the best things about playing online. When playing online, all the rules are available at the click of a button, which means that you won’t have to ask anyone for help. It’s also very easy to navigate the tables and you’ll be able to test the games for free if you’re not comfortable placing a real bet. Furthermore, there’s also the option of being able to use a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet to play, which means that you’re able to play wherever you are.

How to Get Started

Before getting started with craps, there are a few things that you should know besides the rules and how to play. The truth is that this is one of the most difficult games to play if you have no prior knowledge of playing. Below you’ll find some of the most confusing things about craps and how to overcome them.

Focus on Four Main Bets

The game is filled with a variety of wagers that can be made; this is what makes it so confusing. The best approach you could take when learning how to play is to focus on four of the available bets, namely don’t pass line, pass line, don’t come, and come. These bets will provide you with the lowest house edge as come and pass line bets have a 1.41% house edge and don’t come and don’t pass line has a 1.36% house edge.

Veteran Bettors Get Annoyed with “Don’t” Bettors.

By making “Don’t” bets, you’re choosing the side with the smallest house edge and this means that you’re betting against the shooter. Most players bet with the shooter, these are called right bettors, and this usually results in players cheering in unison when the shooter is on a winning streak. By placing “Don’t” bets, you’re essentially betting on the wrong side as you want the same outcome as the casino does.

There’s a Wager That Has No House Edge

There’s a wager that has no house edge called odds, and it can be placed behind the “pass line” or “don’t pass line” bets. The key is to make the smallest “pass line” or “don’t pass line” bet and then place the highest odds wager possible.

Veteran Craps Players Are Incredibly Superstitious

Below are some of the superstitions attached to the game, and while they’re not vital to know. It can be quite fascinating to know what some players believe.

Don’t touch the shooter – Players often believe that touching the shooter breaks their rhythm.

Avoid saying the word seven – It’s believed that this number causes players to lose.

Cold and Hot Dice – When a shooter is changed, players often sit out the first few rounds as they believe that the dice are cold and that they won’t win.

Don’t touch the dice or let it hit your hands – A roll is deemed invalid when the dice touch the hands of a player; however, some players believe that this means that the next round will be bad luck.

These are just a few of the important aspects that you’ll need to be aware of before playing craps. There’s also the fact that many of these also depend on the region you’re from, especially when it comes to superstitions.

Rules and How to Play

One of the great things about craps is that it’s incredibly exciting to play and there are many different ways to play it. While craps do have a lot of numbers and terminology, there’s no reason to be intimidated by it, as it’s not as complex as you’d think. Below you’ll find all the information needed to be able to play a game of craps, along with the terminology and the betting system.

Names of Rolls

• 1 + 1 = Snake Eyes
• 1 + 2 = Ace Deuce
• 1 + 3 = Easy Four
• 1 + 4 = Fever Five
• 1 + 5 = Easy Six
• 1 + 6 = Natural/Seven Out
• 2 + 2 = Hard Four
• 2 + 3 = Fever Five
• 2 + 4 = Easy Six
• 2 + 5 = Natural/Seven Out
• 2 + 6 = Easy Eight
• 3 + 3 = Hard Six
• 3 + 4 = Natural/Seven Out
• 3 + 5 = Easy Eight
• 3 + 6 = Nina
• 4 + 4 = Hard Eight
• 4 + 5 = Nina
• 4 + 6 = Easy Ten
• 5 + 5 = Hard Ten
• 5 + 6 = Yo (Yoleven)
• 6 + 6 = Boxcars (Midnight)

How it Works

The game works with players taking turns rolling a pair of dice and the person rolling the dice has taken the role of the shooter. Those placing bets are capable of betting on a variety of options by putting chips precisely on the appropriately-marked sectors of the table’s layout, or by asking the base dealer to do so. This depends entirely on the type of wager that’s being made.

While assuming the role of the shooter, the player is required to place a wager on the Pass Line or the Don't Pass Line. These bets are also called Win and Don't Win or Right and Wrong wagers. A game of craps is often played in sets and the Pass and Don't Pass bets are wagering on the result of a set. Multiple dice are given to the shooter, which is usually around five, by a table assistant known as the stickman, thereafter, the shooter is required to select two of them for the set.

With each round of craps, there are two stages called come-out and point. Dice are then handed to the left. When the set begins, the shooter then performs one, sometimes additional, come-out rolls. When rolling the dice, the shooter is required to roll to the back wall of the table and is usually needed to hit the back wall with the set of dice. The general rule is that both dice are required to be rolled in one motion and if only one is rolled, the shot is deemed invalid.

Craps is identified as a come-out roll which has the values of 2, 3, or 12, and Pass Line bettors are the losers of the set. However, any player who has placed a bet on the Don't Pass line on the come-out roll wins with a roll of 2 or 3 and pushes, ties, if a value of 12 is rolled. The shooters are allowed to continue rolling even after crapping out. In the event that the shooter rolls a value of seven, then only are the dice required to be passed.

When the shooter makes a come-out roll of either 7 or 11 this is called a "natural". This means that the players who bet on the Pass line win, and those who bet on the Don't Pass line loses.

Variations of Craps

There are a few variations of craps and some of them pay out more than others. You’ll find a detailed list of them below.

Crapless Craps

This variation is also known as Ruse Craps or Never Ever Craps, and was originally invented by Bob Stupak as he wanted a game where the player could never lose a Pass Line bet by hitting the craps numbers 2, 3, and 12. What makes this game so popular amongst players is that it’s virtually impossible to lose their bet on a Pass Line bet. However, the downside of this game is that casinos don’t offer it very often as it’s not profitable.

High Point Craps

In this variation, the numbers 2 and 3 are completely disregarded on the come-out roll which means that they’re given back to the shooter to have them roll again. If an 11 or 12 are rolled, this results in a direct win and any other total is established as the point value which has to be beaten by the second roll in order to win.

Simplified Craps

This variation has only one roll of the dice and the betting system has been simplified. This means that there is no Pass, Don’t Pass, Craps, or Natural numbers involved. There are two sets of numbers that will determine whether or not you win, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, results in a win and 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 will result in a loss.

Die Rich Craps

Unlike the other variation, this one is played with a single die and is perfect for inexperienced players. The aim of the game is to land on any numbers between 1 and 6, and if they land on 1 on the come-out roll they’ll automatically lose. However, if they land on a 6 on the come-out roll, they’ll automatically win.

New York Craps

This is a variation that mainly played in New York, as well as the Bahamas and the UK. It features a completely different table layout and as there are no Don’t Come, Space, Place, and Come bets. You’ll also be given the opportunity to place a bet on 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10; however, there is a 5% commission on all winnings.

Effective Craps Strategies

Like many casino games, there are plenty of strategies that can be used, and below we’ll be mentioning the most effective of the lot.

Placing 6 & 8

This is a great strategy if you want to choose your numbers, and apart from 7, 6, and 8 are the numbers that are the most commonly rolled. The main advantage of this strategy is that you’re not stuck with numbers that aren’t frequently rolled and you’ll get a low house edge; however, there are no free odds on point numbers and that means that you’ll always have a house edge.

Pass and Come (With Odds)

This strategy presents a low house edge of just 1.41% and to sweeten the deal, there’re free odds which means that the house edge will continue to decrease as long as you keep passing the bet. The advantage of this is that your betting pass and come with odds has the lowest house edge compared to any legitimate strategy.

Hedge Bets

Hedge bets are kind of like a safeguard for another bet, which makes it more of an insurance strategy. This works by placing a covering the weak point of any particular bet with a hedge bet. For example, you place a CA$6 bet on 8 and CA$2 on the hedge, which means that if the shooter rolls an 8, you’ll win CA$7 and lose CA$2, which means that you’ll get CA$5 in winnings.

Our Final Thoughts

Craps is a great game with a rich history which is probably one of the most exciting games to play with a large crowd. However, if you’re not that kind of player, you can also enjoy it online in the peace of your home. There are also plenty of variations available, with lots of strategies that can be used to increase your odds of winning. Overall, this is one of the best casino games to play, and it doesn’t take a long time to get used to it.

If you’re looking to improve your skills at an online casino in a practical manner or are even looking to compare one casino to another, there are plenty of free games available in a variety of popular categories. You can use these to practice your betting, establishing what kind of titles you like, and executing strategies. Free games are perfect for those who aren’t ready to place real money bets. Below you’ll find our detailed guide regarding free casino games and all the things you should do while playing, along with different game types.

Playing Free Casino Games Online

Plenty of players question why free casino games are offered at online casinos. You’d be forgiven to think that there’s an ulterior motive, as these operators are infamous for using these to generate a profit on players that are losing. However, there are plenty of online casino platforms that allow you to play on the house, bearing no cost at all. All you’ll need to do is a quick search on our site for your preferred online casino, and the results will pop up in an instant.

Furthermore, you should know that there’s a good reason why online casinos allow this. Playing for free is a factor that not only helps the player, but it’s also great for the online casino. This simple feature has been responsible for the growth of many online casinos as they’re able to entice potential players to join via free offers or games for that matter. You may be thinking that you already know about welcome bonuses and all of the things that come with it, and we agree. Unless you’ve lived under a rock, you’ll definitely know about it. However; let’s not deviate here; our core focus is on free casino games that you can play without having to register to play or make a deposit.

Using Free Games to Gain Experience

Being a new player at an online casino can be exciting and scary, and this is a place that forces you to learn and quickly. In order to compete with the best, there are a few things that you’ll need to know. Things like executing an effective strategy, knowing how to make a proper bet, etc. If you’re keen to jump into the ocean and swim with the sharks, by all means, go ahead, but keep in mind that the people that are making millions at online casinos didn’t start at the top. Those people took the time to learn everything they could about the game.
This is where this type of gaming comes into play. Instead of putting your hard-earned money on the line to learn how to play a game, you can play at no cost. This is why we recommend to practice and gain experience with the free version of the game that’s offered by the online casino. By doing this, the element of fear is eliminated as there’s no real money on the line. This allows you to explore different ways of betting and winning.

Compare Online Casinos Using Free Casino Games

Before joining an online casino, you’ll need to know exactly what it has to offer and playing for free will allow you to easily discover this. When looking for the best online casino, it’s always a good idea to experience it for yourself. And by having this advantage, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

The last thing you’d want to do is to sign up, make a deposit, and then find out that you don’t like what the casino has to offer. This means you’ve not only wasted your time but your money too. When an online casino has free games on hand, you can navigate the site and familiarise yourself with the user-interface. This is a very convenient means of helping you sample plenty of online casinos and select those that appeal to you the most.

Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses with Free Games

We doubt that there’s someone out there that’s a pro in every casino game on the net. And with that being said, each individual has their share of strengths and weaknesses regarding casino games. Hence, this is why we’re drawn to particular gaming titles, while we avoid others like the plague.

By sampling every type of casino game with free games, you can find out exactly what you’re good at and what you aren’t good at. Imagine how difficult it would be to find a game you like if there weren’t any free games available? You wouldn’t learn anything about the game either as you’d obsessed with winning, because your money would be on the line.

How to Play

To play a free casino game is quite simple. Simply head to an online casino of your choice. This can be done with a mobile device or a desktop computer. When you’ve arrived at the casino lobby, there would usually be a games tab to click on. This would redirect you to the titles that are offered by the casino. Most good online casinos have their options categorised by type, and this makes it easier for you to find what you’re looking for.

When you’ve found a game you like, click on it. It should give you the option to play for free, if it doesn’t, then you can try another one. When you’ve entered the game, there should be a question mark or a cogwheel, click on it and it would provide you with the settings and information about the game. This is the general approach with most online casinos; however, there are some of them that go above and beyond and provide all the information about the game the second you click on it.

And that’s all there is to it, the rules of the games remain the same, the only difference is that you won’t win or lose any real money.

Variations of Free Casino Games

Free casino games come in all forms and below, we’ve listed them along with a brief description and a few strategies for you to practice.

Slots

This is arguably the most popular and the simplest casino game available. All you have to do is set your wager and spin the reels, rinse and repeat. Each slot has symbols that are unique to the theme and one you’ve hit the spin button; they’ll go and stop at random. Based on where the reels have stopped will determine what your winnings will be and the more matching combinations you’ve got, the better. Free slots incorporate the same features that paid slots have, and this will help you to grow accustomed to the mechanics of the game.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Find your betting sweet spot. The size of your bet will determine what the payout will be. And by betting too much, you’ll run out of money, but by betting too little, you won’t make any significant wins.

Poker

Poker is easily one of the most well-known casino games, and while it’s a fan-favourite, many stay away from it due to its complexity. Online casinos generally offer more than one variant of it. The main goal of online poker is to get the strongest hand possible and beat the dealer. The game starts by you placing a bet after it’s been placed, you’ll be dealt your cards. You’ll then have the option of playing the hand you’ve been dealt, by placing a second bet, or you the option of folding/forfeiting.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Keep it simple, don’t try and start off by attempting elaborate strategies, learn the basics of the game, and develop your playing style from there.

Roulette

Roulette has an extensive range of betting options that cater to all kinds of players, this is why it’s so popular. Take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the different betting options while playing for free. Experiment with different betting values, and learn what happens when you make mistakes. Roulette allows you to place bets on particular groups, on the number being even or odd, numbers, groups of numbers, or if the pocket is going to be black or red. Once the bets have been placed, the roulette wheel is spun by the dealer, and you’ll have to wait for the ball to stop to confirm the result of your wager.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Always opt for no zero roulette, as it’s one of the few casino games that feature no house edge.

Blackjack

The main purpose of playing Blackjack is to beat the dealer without exceeding the value of 21. You’ll always be playing against a dealer, with the round starting by you placing a bet. You’ll then receive two cards that are faced up, this is where it can get a bit tricky as you’re given various options to hit (ask for another card) or stand (stick with what you have).All cards operate according to their face value; however, the King, Queen, and Jack are valued at 10. An Ace can either be 11 or 1, this depends on what you feel would be the better option.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Always split aces, as this will increase your odds of winning as there’s a high chance of being dealt a card that has the value of 10.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a game of pure luck that features one of the lowest house edges in an online casino. The game is made up of two sides, the Player and the Banker, and you’ll be allowed to choose which side you’re on before the game gets started by placing a wager. In order to win, you’ll need to get as close to the value of 9 as possible. However, it’s only the second digit that’s taken into account when counting the points. There’s also the option of betting on the tie, which results in a larger payout.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Most of the bets made in favor of the banker win in the long run, so learn to take that approach, and don’t bet on a tie very often.

Craps

This is considered as one of the most popular and fun dice games to play. Craps allows you to place bets on what you believe the result of the roll of dice will be. This is done by putting chips on the table in a specific spot. When playing online, all you need to do is select the value of the bet and click on the relevant boxes to begin. There are a variety of options that are available, along with payouts that can differ from 30:1 to 1:1 for the average games. This means that there’s a huge probability of making large wins when playing for real money.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Always place Pass/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come bets as these have the best odds with the lowest house edge.

Bingo

Online bingo is popular due to its simplicity, and all you need to do to get started is get your cards and start playing. Balls will be randomly selected throughout the round, each one having a different number. If it matches what’s found on your ticket, it’ll automatically mark it on your ticket, but this option can be disabled if you’re looking for a more immersive experience. You’ll win the round if you manage to finish a line or even the entire card before the end of the round. Speed is everything, and the quicker a card is finished, the bigger the prize.

CasinoTop Quick Tip – Don’t try and play too many cards at once, know your limits, and start slow.

Things to do When Playing Free Casino Games

Playing for free isn’t just about having fun. It’s about learning how to adapt to certain games, knowing which bets to make, and learning how to implement effective strategies while playing. Below you’ll find a list of things that you should do while playing free slots.

Take Notes

By taking notes and trying to understand the game that you’re playing, you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the rules, mechanics, and what results in a win. When doing this, pay attention to the key factor that makes the game what it is, such as the bonus round in a slot game, or the various hands in poker.

Actively Work on Improving

The main reason why you’re playing free games is to practice, and while you could sit and hit the autoplay button for most games of chance, there are others such as blackjack, poker, and bingo, that require more practice. By training yourself to improve your skills, and implementing strategies, your odds of winning will automatically be higher by the time you feel ready to bet for real money.

Identify your Favourite Casino Game Titles

The great thing about playing free games is that they’re free, and this means you’ll have access to most of the platform, with the exception of a few titles. Use this opportunity to find the titles you like the most, and it doesn’t have to be one that offers huge jackpots or bonus rounds, it could be a simple game that you just happen to enjoy.

Learn the Betting System

By learning the betting system and understanding the odds that are against you in the form of a house edge, you’ll learn how to be smarter when it comes to managing your bankroll. This is vital if you hope to stand any chance of being successful at an online casino.

Learn from Your Mistakes

This is one of the best ways to learn as you’ll be able to reevaluate the choice that you’ve made in the game. Perhaps you executed a strategy poorly, or you’ve been making the same bet for the last 8 rounds. It’s always a good idea to take a step back and take a look at the mistakes you’ve made.

Our Final Thoughts

Free games have become a staple in online casinos and they benefit both the player and the house. Players are allowed to hone their skills and the online casino is able to promote its selection of games. There are no drawbacks to playing for free, as it’s the perfect tool for learning when it comes down to placing bets, learning the game mechanics, implementing a strategy, and more.

We encourage all new players to find what works for them by playing as many variations of the casino game that interests them. Overall, free casino games are great and by playing them, you’ll find your favorite game.

The concept of sports betting is one as old as time, but don’t let the age of the industry fool you. Many players forego the usual gaming options such as roulette and slots in favour of sports betting.

There are many reasons why, but it’s mostly due to the fact it’s exhilarating and fun. Most people who opt for this sort of gambliong are either long-life sports fans, have just started following specific sports, or perhaps even someone who has no interest in the sporting codes themselves but has noticed what a lucrative form of gaming sportsbetting is.

If you are a beginner or even a betting veteran, we can guarantee that you’ll enjoy this guide. We discuss the history of the sports betting here and teach you how to place a bet on sports, what the popular bets are, which games to bet on and so much more.

Let’s get to it!

The Popularity of Sports Betting

Before we get into the details of how to place a sports bet and what kinds of bets there are, it would be useful to know exactly how popular the industry is.

In recent times, betting on sports has become extremely popular in the United States since it was officially legalized in 2018. These days, more than 50 percent of states in the US have turned to the niche to improve the gaming industry’s revenue. The USA is not the only influential country to embrace the niche though. The UK also offers it to thousands of its residents. As the home of many football leagues, and star football players, UK citizens have bet about £449.44 million on this one sport alone in recent times, closely followed by horse racing and tennis.

Smaller countries have followed suit with the industry reaching small islands in Asia and even Africa. With the advent of e-sports betting, the numbers of players have increased considerably which explains why the niche is so common today.

Sports Betting History Explained

Frankly, not many people know where betting on sports came from and how exactly it has gained popularity over the years. If you’re a bit curious, love doing research, and being in the know before you venture out, then you’re likely to want to know the story behind the industry.

As mentioned, the industry dates back many moons ago. The ancient Greeks, who were lovers of all things competitive, devised a way to bet on the outcomes of the Olympic games, and this was over 2000 years ago! Of course, over time, betting became a bit more complex and regulated, but this is where it all began.

During medieval times, many religious leaders found gambling to be “unholy” and banned the practice altogether. However, that didn’t stop people from wagering as sports were still being played, all that meant was that the industry went underground and thrived in the shadows.

Today you’ll find that European markets are where it has the most success, probably because it was never truly absent in these regions. Furthermore, with the advent of broadcasting and technology, betting options became more varied until most governments in the world realized that since it could not be stopped. They then came to the conclusion that it should be regulated to ensure that the economy benefited from an industry that accrued billions in annual revenue.

Pros of Sports Betting

If you’re already keen to try out sports betting, then there’s no reason to convince you, but if you’re on the fence, here are some of the pros to wagering your money on a sport or two.

Worldwide Access

Initially, when the industry was officially brought to the global market, bettors would have to leave the safety of their homes to venture out in search of retail sportsbook outlets. With the advent of the internet and developments in software, you can now use your laptop or personal computer to access one of the many online casinos that offer sports betting, with minimal effort on your part.

Online casino sites all over the world have taken to the niche, and if you’re located in a country where it’s legal, such as in Canada, it won’t be difficult to find a site that fulfills your every gaming desire.

Great for Beginners

Sports betting is one of the few gambling niches that newbies can truly enjoy. This could be chalked up to the fact that the majority of those who place a wager on a game are either avid watchers of that particular sport or they know someone who is. Or maybe, it is due to the fact that it is very simple at its core.

When it all started, it was as simple as betting on the winner of the game or tournament. These days, there is such a wide variety of sporting codes and events to bet on, but the age-old method is still available to beginners if you just want to try it out.

The Element of Live Streaming

When you join an online casino that has a sportsbooks, you’ll often find that you’ll be given live streaming perks to ensure that you are a part of the action and can see when you’ve won in real time. Not all sites offer this, but there are enough of them that do. Even to the point where many avid sports bettors have even decided to cancel their cable subscriptions since they can stream the games for free on their favourite site or platform.

It's a Great Community to a Part Of

This brings us to the community aspect of this kind of gaming. There is something very special about sports betting that cannot be found at any table game or slot machine and that is a sense of brethren and being part of something bigger. If you play at a blackjack table, it is highly unlikely that any of your fellow players will cheer when you win and cry with you when you lose.
Betting on sports allows multiple players to place the same bet, which means that you’ll be part of a group hoping for a certain result. Many players have even centered social gatherings around watching a game because they’ve all wagered something on the result.

Cons of Sports Betting

Anything in life has two sides to it and sportsbetting is no exception. You’ll find two cons below but keep in mind that they haven’t managed to deter millions.

It’s Highly Competitive

Sports betting is truly competitive. Sports watchers are already quite competitive, and to have a game to play where they are making the calls, is quite notorious. What starts as betting on one game can swiftly turn into betting on all games in a tournament. If fellow players do not deter and rather encourage you to continue placing bets, then you’ll need to have strong will power to resist. Fortunately, there are many tactics to use to make sure you don’t venture into these perilous waters.

Big Losses Can Occur

This is why many people are against many forms of betting because it’s always a gamble. But when it comes to sports betting, you’ll find that the stakes can double quickly. In order to place a bet that you feel strongly about, you might be tempted to wager more than you’d budgeted to. This is a slippery slope, especially because there is no guaranteed way to win.

It’s because of this that many people are against betting, to begin with, it’s a gamble but you should always remember to keep strict rules in place for yourself to make sure you don’t lose more than you can afford to.

Different Kinds of Sports Bets and How They Work

The amazing world of sportsbetting has a few tricks up its sleeves with all the bets that a player can place to take their chances. Below are four of the most popular bets that are placed daily.

Straight Bets

This is the most basic kind of bet, so if you’re a beginner, this is probably the safest option. This is especially true if you’re betting on football or basketball outcomes. A point spread is set, which is basically like a bet line, and you can bet on the favourite team and give-up some points or you can bet on the unlikely team, or “underdog”, to receive points.

If you choose the former, the favourite team has to win by more than the points set out on the spread. If you choose the former, then the team has to win in order for you to win or lose with fewer points than what is depicted on the spread to cover the bet. When a game results in a tie, it is called “push” and no bets win.

Parlay Bets

This is for those who are looking for something a little more exciting. How this type of bet works is that players group games or events together and place a bet on both games. The risk here is very high, but you should keep in mind that it could lead to a big win if you get lucky. The only way to win a parlay bet is for both teams to win otherwise the parlay is void.

Total Line Bets

Total Line bets are a bit more exciting than straight but far less risky than a parlay. It is an appropriate betting territory for beginners and seasoned betters alike. In this scenario, you’d bet on the combined total score resulting from a game by using a set number. You will either bet the score to be under or over the number depicted. When betting on football and basketball, you have until half time to place your bet to ensure that you understand the trajectory of the game, but there are always a few shockers in-store that nobody can account for from time to time.

Head-to-Head Bets

If you’re a fan of professional sports car racing like NASCAR or perhaps golf, then this is how you’d go about placing a bet on your favourite players in a very wild field. Basically, players bet on the outcome of two competitors and put them in a mini-match of sorts. You’d then want to choose who you think would win between the two you’ve selected and placed your wager according to that.

How to Place and Bet and Get Started

Now that we’ve covered most of the basics, let’s get into how you’d go about placing a bet and getting started on your sports betting adventure.

Step One: Choose an Online Casino

To place a bet you’re going to need to do a bit of research. Firstly you’d need to ensure that sports betting is legal where you are, secondly, you’d want to go with reputable and licensed online sportsbook operators, and lastly you’d want to have a second option. Many people prefer using the online option but if you’d prefer to be in the thick of the action then you could also visit a land-based location.

Step Two: Register or Sign up

Once you’ve chosen a reputable sportsbook, you’ll be required to sign up or register for the service you’ll be using. The sports betting site may want to verify your age due to strict regulations within the industry that forbid underage gambling.

Step Three: Fund your account

In the event that you’ve chosen an online casino or sportsbook platform, you’d need to fund your account to place a bet. You can usually keep and eye out for the site or platform that will then allow you to deposit funds via a variety of methods. Choose the one that works best for you and complete your transaction.

Step Four: Choose and Bet

Once you’ve funded your sportsbook account, you will have to choose a sporting event or code that you would like to wager on. Sportsbooks will have predetermined offerings that have been worked out by what is most popular and what is current. You can then place a bet on what is offered to you.

Great Sports to Bet On

If you’re joining the betting community, then you’re probably going to want to place bets on the sports where all the action is. Below are a few of the most popular sports to bet on.

Soccer/ European Football

One of the most popular sports to be on is soccer or European football. Its popularity has mostly been attributed to the fact that sportsbetting originated in Europe and this is the favourite sport of most countries in the region, especially in the UK and Italy. These make up a large percentage of online sports wagers on a global scale. That, coupled with the numerous leagues that are on offer, leave players with a wide variety of offerings.

American Football

American football has fast become one of the betting favourites. This is a little unusual since there is still a portion of states in the US where the industry is illegal. Nevertheless, the operators that have sportsbooks in states where it is legalized have made billions on a single NFL match. We can only imagine how much revenue they accrue for the entire season.

Horse-racing

Horse-racing has been around for a couple of hundred years so it only makes sense that bettors would be able to bet on the outcomes of this sport, which is what thousands do every single year. Horse-racing still holds the old-world charm that it was born into and as such, many players who bet on this will do so at a retail location located on the horse track itself to catch the action live.

Mobile Sports Betting

The evolution of sports betting has slowly but steadily shown some improvements in the way that bettors place their bets. But the best by far has been the invention of the sports betting apps that can be downloaded on smartphones and mobile devices.

As far as ease is concerned, this one takes the cake and those who have made the shift show no regrets. The ease of placing a wager in the middle of your day when you’re waiting in a long line or watching the game when you’re stuck on a long train ride home has made all the difference for sports lovers globally.

Video poker is one of the oldest electronic games available today, this game initially became commercially available after the price of CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors became affordable, and this was then paired with an SSCPU (Solid State Central Processing Unit). The original game models were made available to retail gambling locations around the same time as the first PC did; however, that was during the 1970s, and since then, they’ve become much more technologically advanced.

It was during the late 1970s when the game started to gain traction when a company called SIRCOMA (Si Redd’s Coin Machines) introduced a title called Draw Poker. Through the 1980s, the game gained more fans and was a huge success in casinos as it was viewed as a more user-friendly variation of traditional table poker. Modern casinos are now littered with these machines and they’re extremely popular with regular casino visitors.

This game has also taken off in online casinos, and most people are drawn to it as it’s still viewed as a more recreational form of poker; however, this doesn’t change the fact that it’s just as challenging. In this segment, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at this popular game, along with the rules, effective strategies, variations, and much more.

Playing Video Poker Online

Video Poker is incredibly popular online due to the variety of games available, and casino operators have taken advantage of this by deploying a variety of challenges, tournaments, and general contests for you to enjoy. Most of these have large cash prizes and they’re usually based on a points system. One of the great things about the game is that you’ll be able to enjoy the games on mobile devices too such as a smartphone or a tablet, and most games make a seamless transition to smaller, high-definition screens.

The most important part of playing online is finding a reputable casino that has the relevant licenses, is audited regularly, and can provide you with adequate customer support if needed. There’s also the important task of understanding how the welcome bonus works, and this should be read in the terms and conditions as some online casinos have a habit of being extremely vague when it comes to important information.

How to Get Started

Like any other game, there are a few things you’ll have to be familiar with before getting started with the game.

Terminology

Like traditional poker, video poker has its terminology which is extremely important because if you don’t know it, it can give you a disadvantage when playing. Below you’ll find a full list.

• Auto Hold – A feature of the game that automatically selects the cards to fold.
• Discard – To remove cards from your hand after the first deal.
• Draw – The second cards that are dealt, this only applies to you if you’ve discarded cards.
• Full Pay – The highest paying variation of the game.
• Game Denomination – The value of the coin size or cards in a game.
• Hand – The cards that were dealt to you.
• Hold – When you opt to keep the cards that you’ve been dealt with from the first deal.
• Low Pay – Games with a higher house edge and a low RTP.
• Multi-Play – An in-game feature that’ll allow you to play with more than one hand.
• Not So Ugly Ducks – A game that pays 16 times for 5 of a kind and 10 times for a straight flush.
• Power Poker – This is the most lucrative strategy.

Practice

It’s a good rule of thumb to practice a casino game for free before trying to play for real money. Video poker is a game that you should know like the back of your hand if you’re hoping to have any success. Hence it’s a good idea to play a couple of free practice games.

Rules & How to Play

When searching through the options provided by the online casino you’ve chosen, you’ll find a vast variety of titles. However, nearly all of them will be some kind of variation of a 5-card draw, which is the most popular. This variation starts with you being dealt a 5-card hand, which is completely random, that comes from a regular 52 card deck, sometimes it’ll be 53 if there’s a joker involved. The aim of the game is to try and improve on your current hand by deciding which cards to hold and which ones to keep. The discarded cards will be replaced by new ones, which are random, and this will be your final hand. When discarding, you're allowed to discard 0 to 5 cards from your original hand.

However, there are major differences between video poker and real poker. While there are similarities between the two such as the 52-card decks, the 5-card hands, and the hand rankings, everything else is different. When playing video poker, you should never try to implement strategies from real poker as gameplay between the two is different from one another. By doing this, you could even destroy your chances of finding any success in video poker.

The key difference between the two is that the choices you make in a real poker game depend on the actions of the players around you.

Understanding Paybacks

When playing a video poker game, the payback percentage is an influence of the odds essentially in a deck of cards and the payouts for the various hands. It's important to understand that the denomination you’re playing doesn’t matter. The payback percentage will stay the same when you move from one paytable to the other.

Poker Hands

One of the most confusing aspects of the game for new players, video poker/poker hands can be difficult to grasp if you’ve never played before. Below you’ll find a list and a detailed description of each hand.

• Royal Flush – this features a 10, J, K, Q, and Ace in the same suit.
• Straight Flush – these features five cards that belong in the same suit displayed in a row, e.g. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of Hearts.
• Four of a Kind – this has the same card in each of the suits e.g. 8, 8, 8, 8, of spades + another card.
• Full House – these features three of a kind + a pair in the same hand e.g. J, J, J, Q, and Q.
• Flush – these are five cards in the same suit in no particular order.
• Straight – these are five cards in order of but not of the same suit.
• Three of a Kind – this has two unpaired cards with three of the same cards.
• Two Pair – this has two different pairs or sets of the same card + one other card.
• One Pair – one pair of the same card.
• High Card – none of the cards match.

Variations of Video Poker

Like most casino games, this game has many variations and where each of them differs when it comes to the primary objective, the odds, and a whole range of other factors. Below you’ll find each of them under Full Pay Games and Low Pay Games.

Full Pay Games

These are the games that have a high payout percentage.

Jacks or Better

This is one of the most universal variations of the game, Jacks or Better is played by starting off with two Jacks. Jacks or Better features a full house payout that’s 9 times the original bet, and the payout for a flush is 6 times that. Occasionally, both9/7 and 10/6 variations of Jacks or Better are promoted at online casinos.

Bally's All American

This game was developed by the software provider, Bally Technologies, and All American Video Poker is a title that’s based on the aforementioned Jacks or Better. The main difference between the two of them is that All American features higher payouts for hands such as straights, straight flushes, and flushes, but it has a decreased payout for hands such as two pairs and full houses.

Tens or Better

Another game that stems from Jacks or Better, Tens or Better features the lowest paying hand in the form of two tens instead of two Jacks. The strategy amongst the games is pretty much the same, with the exception of the payouts regarding the flush and full house hands.

Joker's Wild

As the name suggests, Joker's Wild incorporates the use of a joker to the game. The joker acts as a fully wild card and can be used as a substitute for building a stronger hand. With the addition of the wild joker, comes an additional winning hand in the form of 5ofa Kind. There’s another full pay variation of this game called Joker Two Pair or better; however, it’s no longer played due to the extremely complex strategies despite the high returns.

Bonus Poker

Another game built on the concept of Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker features a much greater payout ratio towards four of a kind hands. The variation that falls under the full-pay category of this game has a return of 99.2%. This game has a range of versions that feature various bonus payouts which are based on the position of the four of a kind hand.

Most of the aforementioned games are based on Jacks or Better, and this is a testament to the overall popularity of the game. The key differences between these games are the return percentages on some of the hands.

Low Pay Games

These are games that have a relatively low payout percentage with a higher house edge. All of these games are once again based on Jacks or Better.

There are five variations which are listed below.

• 9/5 Jacks or Better – Full house equals 9x the bet and the flush equals 5x the bet.
• 8/6 Jacks or Better – Full house equals 8x the bet and the flush equals 6x the bet.
• 8/5 Jacks or Better – Full house equals 8x the bet and the flush equals 5x the bet.
• 7/5 Jacks or Better – Full house equals 7x the bet and the flush equals 5x the bet.
• 6/5 Jacks or Better – Full house equals 6x the bet and the flush equals 5x the bet.

Progressive Jackpot Games

This could be any game of video poker; however, the total jackpot gets higher with each bet that’s made.

Effective Video Poker Strategies

Most people often think that slots and video poker are the same, and while you could say that they’re similar, video poker allows the player to make important decisions during the game that they’ve chosen to play. Both games are random; however, once the bet is made, that’s where things start to get very different.

With five random cards dealt, you’ll need to make a choice on which ones to keep and which ones you’ll discard. When playing the game, you have complete authority over the hand that you’ve been dealt. It’s your decision what happens to those cards and this will determine your success.

Every choice that you make is technically a strategy as your goal is to win, you could opt to discard the whole hand and make a Hail Mary draw for a royal flush. Another strategy you could follow is to discard your whole hand except the ace and hope for a royal flush too. Once again, it’s a conscious decision that you’re making because you want to win. However, not all strategies are equal, and that’s a bad strategy, especially when you factor in the odds of getting a royal flush is 1 in 649,737. The point we’re trying to make is that by discarding a potentially good hand for a perfect hand, you’re most likely going to come up short.

Being Aware of What You Have

There’s a lot of responsibility regarding the choice to keep or discard a card. And being aware of what you have will make things much easier for you. Here we have an example, let's say that you’re dealt a hand that consists of four 4s and an ace. What’s the right move to make? Would you keep the Four of a Kind, or would you discard it, keep the ace, and hope for a Royal Flush? A Royal Flush would pay handsomely; however, you already have Four of a Kind, so why take the risk?

Discarding or keeping cards based on your intuition are technically strategies, but developers have implemented the paytables based on the statistics and mathematics of the game. This allows the casinos to generate a profit, therefore to find success in the game, you’ll need to make decisions based on the same statistics and math.

Playing most games based on intuition will bring you some success for a short period; however, it’ll ultimately fail you, as the decisions you’re making are illogical. The more you use this strategy, the more money you’ll be handing over to the casino, and unless your goal is to lose, you won’t be having a good time. Only by using strategies based on math, you can be sure that you’ll find a lot more success in the long run.

It’s important to understand that you won’t receive the same hand every time if you do, then there’s a problem with the game. However, the point we’re trying to make is that each hand is a different situation that needs to be dealt with accordingly. Failure to handle it properly will result in a loss.

By combining luck and logic, and understanding what the odds are of getting the perfect hand, you’ll be able to execute a solid strategy. However, this is a game of chance, and there’s only so much that you’re in control of.

Our Final Thoughts

This classic game has been a casino favorite since the first personal computer was invented and developed into one of the most sophisticated games available at mobile casinos. There are plenty of variations available and with enough practice, and thorough research, not that you’ll need to do any, you’ll be finding success quite easily. Overall, this game relies on both luck and good decision-making skills, so be sure you’re ready before diving in.

As one of the most renowned and played games at casinos around the world, poker has been around for many successful years. Just like with most traditional card-games, the poker table has seen some epic victories and then some heartbreaking losses.

If you have never heard of the game before, then you’re in the right place to learn all about what it is and how it got to be popular. And if you’ve heard of it, but never had the pleasure of playing it, then this guide shows you a few tips. We teach you the basics of how to play and highlight the pros and cons.

What is Poker?

If you’re new to the gambling scene then you’re probably wondering what poker is and why there’s such a hype around it. This casino game has many popular variants but in basic terms, it is a card game where players bet on the best hand according to predetermined “good hands” that’ll lead to a victory. It is played at a table with a standard deck of cards and a dealer, who is a trained professional, that distributes cards to each player and runs the game table by making sure that the game’s rules are followed.

There are a number of variants that are popular today but you’ll learn about a few of the popular ones later in this guide. The winning hands or combinations of cards are different for each game as well as the cards that get dealt out. As well as the number of cards that get dealt up, how many cards get laid out to each player. With all of this variety, it is almost impossible for new and seasoned players, not to find a version that they enjoy.

Brief History of Poker

Poker might be one of the most popular games of our age, but it’s interesting to note that it is not, in fact, from this age. Poker dates back about 1000 years and has traveled around the world. The earliest European descendent is called Poque and was first recorded in French History in the 17th century. It was based on a game that was played in the previous century, called Primero, where players would be dealt three cards and would have to bluff their way through the game. French settlers brought Poque to North America. The game’s name was changed and it began to look a lot like the game we see today.

From this point onwards, the game moved more into America along the Mississippi River when crew members from the riverboats became lovers of the game. It was noted that soldiers in the Civil War also played the game as a means to escape to take their minds off the horror of the battlefield. From that point, it was popularly played in Wild West Saloons. It was introduced in Europe in the 1800s when Queen Victoria heard the Minister of Great Britain, explaining the rules to her court, and later asked for it to be shared with her as well. The game itself has not changed much from this point but it then traveled to big and small countries all over the world.

How to Play Poker

To get started and play your first game, you’re going to need to follow a few simple steps.

Step One:

Before you begin your journey, remember that poker is a group of games and there are multiple variations. You”ll need to decide on what game you want to play. If you are playing at a land-based casino you will need to get chips and join a table. If you’re playing the online version, you’d need to register with the online casino of your choice and fund your account using a deposit method that suits you best

Step Two:

Regardless of the version you’re playing, you’ll need to place a starting bet called “ante up.” In poker, the bets are placed at the beginning of a game in two popular ways. In a game like Texas Hold ‘em the player next to the dealer usually places a small blind bet that is less than the minimum bet for the game. The next player will have to place the minimum bet and the players that follow will have to “ante up” the bet before that.

Step Three:

Look at the two cards that are given to you. This is now your hand. Each player around the table will get dealt two cards and the dealer will burn the first card or take it out of play so that players will not be able to anticipate what is coming next.

Step Four:

You will need to either bet, call, or raise after each round where the dealer gives each player two cards. The first official bet is made based on the initial two cards that players receive. The bets that follow will either be you betting on the cards, calling them or raising your bet if you’re certain. Cash your chips in at the end of your last round.

The Popular Variants Of Poker

Texas Hold’Em Poker

There are two versions of Hold’em that players adore but the choice that you make will depend entirely on what type of game you’re after. Texas Hold’em is one of the community games that get played. The reason that it’s called this is that players are all dealt with two face-down cards with five cards displayed on the table. Players need to use the two cards in their hands in any combination to create the best winning hand. Bets will be placed in stages throughout the game and those who do not fold and have the best hand at the end of the game, win the money pot.

Seven Card Stud Poker

This game was a lot more popular before Texas Hold’em experienced it’s rise to fame in poker rooms and was the choice of professional players. Many are still loyal to the game and play this today which means that you might get a chance to play it at some point. This game creates a very competitive atmosphere as there is no dealer involved and there is no “community” aspect where players can see a designated number of cards etc.

Razz Poker

This is a definite change of pace for seasoned players who have grown accustomed to the community games and those like seven-card stud. This is because the objective is to get the lowest-ranked cards to be the winner. As with seven-card stud, there is no dealer which gives you partial insight into what cards your competitors have. Besides the unusual objective, it can be quite challenging, even for the best players in the world.

Five Card Draw Poker

Often described as one of the simplest variations in the industry, Five Card Draw attracts many new players due to the ease with which it can be learned and played. It’s quite similar to Texas Hold’em with regards to structure and betting rounds. And if you’re familiar with it, you should be able to learn Five Card Draw with ease. In this game, there is a player who is the designated dealer and they receive a white card in front of them to represent this. The player on the left of the dealer is the small blind and the player on the left of the small blind is the big blind.

Playing Poker Online

One of the most attractive ways to play these days is to forego going to a land-based casino and instead, opt for the online version. Many online casinos now offer players many versions of poker which has increased the popularity significantly. The majority of popular variants can be found at most online casinos. To play you’d need to register and sign up for a gaming account with the site of your choice, fund your account through the payment method that suits you best and wait until your credits reflect. This entire process is fast, easy, and convenient so that you can get down to playing as soon as possible.

Some have decided to play online versions in recent times, but long for the atmosphere that is achieved in brick-and-mortar establishments. To combat this growing desire within the industry, software and gaming developers have created some of the most realistic online casino games, complete with 3D graphics and background sounds to make players feel more at ease and at home with the online offerings.

How Live Poker Works

If realistic graphics and sound effects are not enough to eradicate your desire for the land-based atmosphere, then you could always choose to play live poker. This is a relatively new form of online poker that has been a phenomenal success with players globally.

The concept of live poker is very similar to playing at a land-based room, except for a few small changes with the process you’ll have to follow. Firstly, you’ll have to register at an online casino that offers this game, then you’d need to fund your account and go to the options to see which kinds of poker are available. Once you’ve made your choice and the dealer you’d prefer, the game goes on as per normal. Other players join the table with you and the dealer will ask you what your bets are. The real dealer will be situated in front of a camera, dealing with the cards on the table so all players can see. Additionally, cards need to be scanned into the system to allow the game to give you the correct options and read when you’ve lost or won. There will be a chat option available to players if you feel you’d like to be a little social.

Pros of Playing Poker

With something as popular and old as poker, there must be many advantages to playing. We’ve taken the liberty of providing you with three of the top cons here.

It's Sociable

Many players who embark on a poker journey initially do so because they want to try their hand at winning, but this usually changes as conversations around the table. This is especially the case between friends and can be a great way to blow off steam. If the hand is particularly stressful, players might opt not to be as chatty but there will always be time for a joke or anecdote, especially at a table with friends. It’s one of the only games in the industry where players are so in-tune with each other and the actions of one can send ripples across the table.

Your Can Practice Your Cognitive Skills

We’re often told that we need to exercise our brains to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle. People might opt to do math, play memory games, or take tests to hone their mental abilities. Whichever variation you choose to play, you can enhance your critical thinking skills. You need to be aware of other’s thoughts and processes to form a strategy and you need to be good at it in order to beat the other players around the table. Outside of a poker context, having great critical thinking skills can help you function better in other aspects of your life such as at work or in your personal life.

You Could Win Real Money

If you have heard of the game, then you’ve probably heard that there are professional players in the world. It might seem a bit odd that it is based on luck has been turned into a means of earning a living but professionals only play when they want to and when they are in a good emotional space for it. If you’re playing for entertainment purposes, you could also take a break from time to time to get in a better headspace. Those who are in a clear emotional and mental state are more likely to win and strategize correctly which could lead to some pretty decent wins if you play your cards right!

Cons Of Playing Poker

Now that we’ve covered some of the pros of playing, let’s look at what players think are cons when it comes to this game.

It Takes Practice

Becoming a great player takes practice and most people do not have the time required to perfect playing the game in a short space of time, especially when have chosen to play as a hobby and can dedicate two hours a week to this pass-time

It Can Be Confusing

While there are one or two variants that are described as simple, that is in relation to more complex games. Many new players are intimidated by all the rules and prefer not to play at first since they’re wagering their hard-earned cash. If you have the opportunity to play for free or receive a welcome bonus that gives you free coins, it’d be a good idea to try out a few hands while you’re not at risk or practice playing with friends where you’re not playing for real cash quite as yet.

Beginner Poker Tips

Research and Learn

When it comes to poker, new players are encouraged to learn the positions, rules and hand rankings according to the variant they’re playing. It’d lead to fewer mistakes with fewer consequences if you know how to play in a safe manner. A combination of nerves and confusion can be detrimental to you, and your bankroll, at a poker table.

Consider Your Mental State

It’s easier to start a gaming session feeling good only to feel the complete opposite way, a few rounds in. You don’t want to be playing when you’re sad, upset, feeling desperate or drunk as your emotional state can have a huge impact on your decision-making skills. This, in turn, is detrimental to your bankroll as it is a game of strategy after all.

Practice Moderation

It’s easy to get caught up and find that the two games you promised yourself you’d play have turned into four or five. Practice restraint and stick to the time and financial limits that you set yourself to remain in control of your habit

We’ve discussed the French origins of roulette, along with all the other theories behind the invention of this game, from the Romans to the Dominicans, in our in-depth roulette guide. However, there’s no evidence relative to the invention of No Zero Roulette, and that leaves plenty of mystery surrounding this variation of the game. In this guide though, we take an in-depth look at one of the rarest and the most sought-after versions, No Zero Roulette.

This is a game that’s loved by most players and loathed by casinos due to the absence of a house edge, which means that the outcome of most of the bets is identical to that of flipping a coin.

Playing No Zero Roulette Online

Before going online and running a quick Google search to find an online casino, you’ll need to ask yourself what it is that you’re looking for in an operator. While there are thousands of them scattered across multiple jurisdictions, with each one offering something different to entice players such as yourself. The most important part of an online casino is its license, and due to it being based in Canada, there are two of them that you need to look out for, the UK Gambling Commission and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Play at Legitimate Casinos Only

By identifying the licensing authorities for your region, you can rest assured that the casino you’re visiting is legitimate and you’ll be able to gamble in a safe environment without having to worry about whether or not you’re being conned. The next thing you’ll need to look out for is a certificate or a “stamp of approval” that’s been provided by a third-party testing agency such as eCOGRA. This means that the games have been tested for any patterns and whether or not they’re fair. Due to roulette being a game of chance, these testing parties need to run thousands of simulations and run them through advanced software to determine if there’s a pattern or some form of irregularity with the game. If it were available at a land-based casino, the physical structure of the table would need to be tested too, as there have been plenty of past incidents that have resulted in players winning thousands due to exploiting a defective game.

Do a Needs Assessment

Lastly, you’ll need to know what it is you want from a casino; do you seek bonuses, a vast gaming selection, or something exclusive? By identifying what it is you’re looking for, you’ll be able to narrow your search to a handful of options. By doing this, all that’s left to do is head to each casino, and see what they have to offer. Before making a decision, read the Terms and Conditions of the casino, and determine if it’s the right one for you and that you’re willing to agree to how the casino operates.

By choosing to play online, you’re able to get more for less, as most casinos offer great welcome bonuses, usually in the form of a deposit match bonus, and loyalty rewards. The best thing about them is the fact that you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite games in the comfort of your home, and this includes No Zero Roulette. Most online casinos tend to stay away from this variation as it doesn’t benefit them to offer it, and in the next paragraph we’ll explain why.

How to Get Started

Before getting started, you need to understand the significance of this game. It isn’t your ordinary run-of-the-mill roulette table; it’s the one that levels the playing field between you and the casino. This means that by playing this game, you can go against the casino without feeling that you’ve brought a knife to a gunfight. No Zero Roulette, as the name implies, has no zeros, which means that there’s no house edge and the winning bets are paid out to their real odds.

If you happen to find an online casino that offers this variation, know that it’s protected by a gambling idea called the risk of ruin. This means that there will always be a winner and a loser in the event of a 50/50 wager. What makes a difference in this situation is how much money each player has. Hence, with the flip of a coin or the red/black wager on the table, the one in possession of the least amount of funds has a greater likelihood of exhausting their bankroll before they’re able to win. The reason for this is due to their respective banks supporting fewer wagers.

A Practical Example

Let’s say one player has CA$300 to bet with while the other possesses CA$3,000 and both of them decided to make CA$30 bets. The funds of the second gambler will go further, as they have more. This means that the first player runs a larger risk of ruin. In the event that the player with CA$300 makes CA$50 wagers, they enhance their risk even more. From a mathematical perspective, all funds are limited to some measure; casinos stand to make a profit, particularly from those with smaller bankrolls.

What this means is that although the game provides you with a greater likelihood of winning than European or American variations, the stats remain on the casino's side, which is something that you’ll always need to remember. This doesn’t mean that the majority of those who place a single number wagers are coming out on top. On the contrary, many of them will periodically lose those wagers. This is when it becomes clear that even in the absence of a house edge, the casino is safe.

No Zero Roulette games are rare in standard online casinos, and it's mostly only the most well-established casinos and new brands that offer this variation. However, as we've mentioned, it's worth looking for the game on the net for pure entertainment purposes. The rarity of casino games that allow players to break-even due to no house edge is extremely uncommon and that's what makes this game so attractive.

Rules & How to Play

This version of the game has completely flipped roulette on its head. When compared to other variations of the game, you’ll easily find that the odds are significantly greater than that of American, European, and French Roulette.

The Odds

When placing a single number bet on an American roulette table, the odds of winning the spin is 38:1. This is because the wheel has 36 numbers, with two zeros added in the form of a single and double zero. The European version isn't much greater, this is due to it having 36 numbers, alongside a single zero, and this means that your odds of winning a spin are 37:1.

Payouts

It’s important to keep in mind that both American and European variant payouts are based on straight odds. In the event that they did, the American variation would pay 38:1 and the European variation would pay 37:1. Unfortunately, both of them pay 35:1, and this means that both of them possess a house edge. The American version has a house edge of 5.26% and the European version has one of 2.63%.

House Edge

By removing the zeros from the wheel, a 0.00% house edge becomes a reality, and this means that the game provides you with straight odds, which are better known as true odds. This increases your odds of winning, and with the house edge being nonexistent, and straight odds created, the odds of you breaking even are more likely as time passes. However, should you find yourself on a winning streak; this is where you’ll see the true extent of the rewards that this game can bring.

No Zero Roulette is played in the same way as traditional roulette’s played. After the bets have been placed, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and proceeds to spin it in the opposing one which slows the ball down. Players then have to wait for the ball to come to a complete stop before being allowed to verify the outcome of their wager. Furthermore, the same betting systems that are used in American, European, and French versions are used in No Zero Roulette, which makes it easy for seasoned players when they try this version of the game.

Variations of No Zero Roulette

No Zero Roulette is a variation on its own and there are no sub-genres beneath it, and due to the rarity of the game, there aren’t many developers willing to waste their time with a dedicated title. This is due to casinos not making much profit off of them as they present no house edge. The only other possible variations of the game would be the same kind, just with a special theme from a licensed brand or something fun to entice new players into giving it a try.

Effective No Zero Roulette Tips

The game is essentially a rare chance to go against the casino at a level playing field. We’ve compiled a shortlist of tips for taking full advantage of that 0% house edge. These tips are by no means a guaranteed guide to win, but they could increase your odds of success if practiced and executed properly.

Quick Tips

Before we dive into the tactics, there are a few tips that are proven to be helpful, especially when you’re new to the game, regardless of the version. Below you’ll find some of the best tips for playing No Zero Roulette.

No Zero is a No-Brainer

In layman’s terms, No Zero Roulette is the best choice, especially if you’re looking at it from a mathematical perspective. If you’re able to choose between No Zero, European, French, and American Roulette, and want to have the greatest likelihood of succeeding at the game, choose No Zero.

Learn to Take Advantage of Even Money Wagers

If you’re a fan of simple bets, you'd enjoy placing bets on black/red or even/odd with no-zero roulette. These bets are legitimate 50/50 chances that are paid out at odds of 1:1.

Don’t Be Afraid to Push the Limits

Casinos have found a way to protect themselves by implementing low betting limits on the game as they want to lessen bets that are even. With effective bankroll management, you should consider betting as much as possible and take full advantage of the 0% house edge.

Practice the Game

Most casinos have a free-play option that allows you to play the game for free. This is an excellent method of becoming accustomed to the mechanics and betting system of the game, and for judging it to the other variations.

When it comes to strategies, the same ones used in normal roulette can be used in the No Zero version. Below you’ll find a few of them.

No Zero Roulette Strategies

Now that we’ve covered the tips, below you’ll find some strategies that are useful when playing any variation of roulette.

Martingale System

This tactic revolves around slowly increasing the size of your bet after you’ve lost a round, you’ll keep employing this tactic until you win. It’s normally applied on Black or Red bets, however, it can also be applied all over the table, if you have the correct development.

Reverse Martingale

Nothing like the conventional Martingale system, this is a positive progression system, which means that instead of adding to your bet after a loss, you’ll add to it after a win. The reason to implement this tactic is to possibly embark on a winning streak. This also retains losses to a minimum in the event that you take a few losses.

D’Alembert System

This tactic is based entirely on making even chance bets. This system is relatively safe to execute, and if you’re on a run with equal wins and losses, then you’ll still walk away with a respectable profit.

Reverse D’Alembert

This tactic is the opposite of the one mentioned above. The downside of applying it is that you'll need more wins than losses for it to be deemed efficient.

Fibonacci System

This tactic is fascinating as it uses a rank of progression that’s notably slower than what’s used for the Martingale system. This is applied by claiming back losses over many winning rounds instead of a single game. However, it’s probable to have drastically more losing rounds but still come out triumphant.

Reverse Fibonacci

This is essentially the system mentioned above with the rules being reversed. However, we do believe that this tactic isn’t as effective as the original one.

Labouchere System

Better known as the cancellation method due to the construction of a personalized betting line and the removal of figures from it as progress is being made by way of a winning streak.

Cover the Table

The cover the table tactic is applied in an assortment of ways, but basically, you'll enfold huge sections of the betting table by placing bets on17 splits.

Flat Betting

The flat betting tactic is applied by engaging the exact wagering each round and all bets remain the same size.

As you can tell, these tactics are simple and require very little explanation, the Martingale system is the most effective of the lot; however, feel free to try your hand with all of them.

Our Final Thoughts

If all forms of roulette featured no zeros, the casino would be a better place. And while this utopian concept may live through this highly elusive game, there’ll be plenty of satisfaction when playing it. No Zero Roulette is the only game of its kind, and while it’s extinct in land-based casinos, some online platforms continue to offer it. Its existence is conditional, and the low betting limits that come with this game are the only downside to playing it.

The main advantage experienced players will have when playing the game is that there are no changes to the rules and the dynamics of the game, it is regular roulette with significantly better odds. Overall, we think that this game will be the first and the last of its kind, as no other variation provides better odds.

Roulette is a game of French origin, although its exact origin has been disputed for many years, and has been developed over time to become one of the most popular casino games available in the modern era. Roulette can be found at many online and land-based casinos in a wide range of variations.

Playing Roulette Online

Playing roulette online is quite similar to playing at a land-based casino; however, there are some obvious differences between the two. By playing online, you’ll be able to take advantage of nearly all of the variations that are available. Furthermore, if the idea of standing at a table with other players isn’t your idea of fun, then it’s perfect, as you’ll be able to enjoy it in the comfort of your home while playing at your pace.

Before You Get Started

There are a few things that you need to know before jumping at the first casino you come across because there are hundreds, if not thousands, of online casinos out there, and some of them are quite rogue. These are the casinos that’ll sell your data, run off with the money you’ve deposited, or even refuse to allow you to withdraw your winnings. However, there are some excellent online casinos too; most of them provide you with a great welcome bonus to get you started as well as a solid selection of roulette titles.

By taking your time and doing the necessary research on what you think applies to your style of play, you’ll be able to find a great casino that’ll have everything you need. Also, you’ll need to ensure that the casino is licensed and registered with a legitimate authority that’ll enforce strict standards and ensure that you’re always receiving the best service.

How to Get Started

Getting started with the game  means that you’ll have to do some research first, luckily, we’ve taken the liberty of doing that for you. By understanding the betting options, variations, rules, and game mechanics, you’ll be well on your way to playing one of the most popular games available. There are also a few casinos available that provide great welcome bonuses to get you off to a great start, such as Spin Palace, Jackpot City, and Betway Casino, all of which offer at least two variations of roulette.

As soon as you’ve grown accustomed to the rules and the betting system, take the time to select a strategy from our list below, or feel free to formulate your own. There are many ways to win, and that means you’ll be able to single out what would be the most effective tactic available.

Rules & How to Play

Roulette is a casino game which has players placing a wager on a sole number, a variety of groups of numbers, on colors (red or black), whether or not the value is odd or even, or if the values are ranked high (from 19-36) or ranked low (from 1-18). While it may not seem like it, roulette is one of the easiest casino games to learn how to play; however, based on the strategy you choose to take, it can also be one of the most complicated.

The game is played by a dealer that spins the wheel one way and then the opposite, players have to wait for the ball to come to a complete stop in order to validate whether or not they’ve won. Roulette has become incredibly popular due to its randomness; however, there’s more to it than just choosing a colour or number and hope that the ball manages to land on it.

Knowing the Basics

The basics are essentially choosing a selection of numbers to wager on, make a responsible wager, wait for the wheel to stop spinning, and see where the ball lands if your number is called then collect your winnings, and repeat. That’s basically what the game is, the problem starts when you begin to learn that there are a variety of bets available. This often confuses new players and discourages them from continuing to play.

Types of Bets

There are quite a few bets available and below we’ll be covering most of them.

Inside Bets

These are the easiest bets to make when you’re just starting, and they’re very popular. Inside bets also teach you where to place your tokens and you’ll be able to place more than one wager at a time.

Straight

This bet only involves a single number. You’ll be allowed to place your bet on any number that’s on the table, provided the token is in the center of the square and it isn’t coming into contact with the edges.

Split

This bet involves a pair of numbers that are located next to one other on the roulette table. By putting your token on a line, you’ll receive 50% odds, in comparison to a straight bet, which only involves a single number.

Street

This bet involves three numbers that run vertically on the same line. This means that numbers 10, 11, and 12, would qualify as a street bet.

Corner

When placing your tokens on the edge of a square that has a double-number, you’ll receive odds of 25%. This is what’s called a square bet.

Trio

This is a bet that involves the green zero and betting 2 additional numbers.

Outside Bets

When you place a bet that doesn’t involve a number it’s called an Outside Bet. And there are five variations of outside bets. While all of them will provide you with a decent possibility of winning, it’s important to understand what they are and how they’re used.

Black or Red

This involves placing a bet on where the ball is going to land if it’ll land on a black or a red number. There's usually a house edge that comes with this type of bet on the condition that the ball lands on the green zero.

Even or Odd

This involves placing a bet on whether the value will be even or odd. This is also one of the most popular and clear-cut roulette bets to make.

1 to 18 or 19-36

This is one of the more exciting bets as you'll be able to place a bet on where the ball will land. This could either be on numbers that range from 1 to 18 or numbers those from 19-36. This split bet has a high chance of victory. Once again, the green zero is the only number that's able to provide the casino with an edge.

Dozens

This type of bet adopts the same idea as what’s available in the above game types, with the exception of the numbers, that are split into three groups, namely 1-12, 13-24, 25-36.

Columns

This is a simple Outside Bet that involves betting on which of the3 columns the ball will land on.

En Prison Rule

This isn’t a bet, but it’s an important piece of information that you’ll need to know. Depending on the variation of course. If you’ve placed an even bet and the ball manages to land on the zero, you’ll get your money back. However, you’ll need to find out from your casino if this rule is in effect to avoid disappointment.

Betting Odds

Every bet made has odds attached to it, and these odds will change depending on how you choose to play the game. Below you’ll find a list of the odds that are relevant to the betting types listed above.

• The Straight Up bet has odds of 35:1
• The Split bet has odds of 17:11
• The Street bet has odds of 11:1
• The Corners bet has odds of 8:1
• The Basket bet has odds of 6:1
• The Line bet has odds of 5:1
• The Column bet has odds of 2:1
• The Dozen bet has odds of 2:1
• The Low number bet has odds of 1:1
• The High number bet has odds of 1:1
• The Red/Black bet has odds of 1:1

Variations of Roulette

Like most casino games, there are a handful of variations available for roulette, most of which feature different wheel layouts and different odds. Below you’ll find some of the most popular versions for both land-based and online casinos.

Traditional Roulette Variations

European Roulette

This is without a doubt the most familiar adaptation of roulette that’s available on online and land-based casinos in Europe. This game has a single zero, which results in a house edge of just 2.7% which is substantially lower than what’s found in the American version of the game.

American Roulette

The main difference between the American version and other variants is that it has an additional slot on the roulette wheel which is known as the 00. However, the payouts are identical to other variants, but this doesn’t stop the house edge from rising to 5.26%. This usually discourages players from playing this variation as the house edge is one of the highest, you’ll find in any game.

French Roulette

The French variation is the one that you’ll want to play due to its great odds for placing even chance bets. Similar to European roulette, this game has one 0 slot; however, if you lose an even chance bet, you’ll get back half of your initial wager.

Online Roulette Variations

Mini Roulette

This is a miniature form of the game and it only features 13 slots with 6 Black, 6 Red, and one 0. This means that the payouts are downscaled suitably; this makes it an entertaining alternative.

Live Roulette

Live roulette is exactly what the name suggests; it’s a live broadcast of the game that you’re able to join. Everything regarding the game is real, such as the wheel, the table, the ball, and the croupier, all of which are given to you via a high-quality broadcast.

Multi-Wheel Roulette

Multi-wheel roulette is a game that has you place a bet on six wheels simultaneously, so if you bet CA$1 on Red, a total of CA$6 will be placed, which means that each bet is multiplied by 6. Multi-wheel roulette has a major downside as there’s no effective way to manage your bankroll or to implement an effective strategy. However, this game is offered at a variety of casinos for free, which means that you can try it out for yourself and decide if it’s a game you’ll want to play.

Triple Bonus Spin

In this variation, if the ball manages to land in the extra “bonus” slot, then your bet is held and placed free of charge on three spins, this also means that you’re able to keep whatever you manage to win. If you’re playing according to the rules of regular European or French Roulette, this could provide you with a substantial advantage. Unfortunately, casinos have become aware of this and to counter it, they’ve equipped the wheels with extra slots to develop a house edge.

As you can tell, there are quite a few variations of the game, and most online casinos offer basic variations with themes to entice players and make the game seem less threatening. Each variation also has its pros and cons, and you’ll need to decide for yourself which one is best for you.

Effective Roulette Strategies

When it comes to a strategy, you need to understand that no strategy is guaranteed to provide you with the outcome that you desire. Below we’ve listed some effective strategies that are able to increase your chances of winning; however, what would ultimately bring you success is knowing that there will always be days that you won’t win.

Martingale Roulette System

This strategy involves gradually increasing your bet after you’ve taken a loss, you’ll keep doing this until you win. It’s generally used on either Black or Red; however, it can also be employed all over the table, provided that you have the right development.

Reverse Martingale

Unlike the traditional Martingale system, this is a positive progression system, which means that instead of increasing your bet after a loss, you’ll increase it after a win. The purpose of this strategy is to potentially ride a winning streak. This also keeps losses at a minimum in the event that you’re on a losing streak.

D’Alembert Roulette System

This strategy is based entirely on making even chance bets. This system is moderately safe to implement, and if you’re on a run with as many wins as you have losses, then you’ll still walk away with a decent profit.

Reverse D’Alembert

This strategy is the polar opposite of the strategy mentioned above. One of the downsides of using it is that you'll require more wins than losses for it to be effective.

Fibonacci Roulette System

This strategy is quite intriguing as it uses a rate of progression that’s significantly slower than what’s used for the Martingale system. This is implemented by winning back losses over many winning rounds instead of one. However, it’s likely to have significantly more losing rounds but still come out victorious.

Reverse Fibonacci

This is essentially the system mentioned above with the rules being flipped. However, we do think that this system isn’t as good as the regular one.

Labouchere Roulette System

Also known as the cancellation method due to you constructing a custom betting line and canceling figures off it as you progress on a winning streak. It’s somewhat more complex than other systems and it may need some practice to get the hang of it.

Cover the Table

This is done in a variety of ways, but essentially, you’ll cover large segments of the table such as placing bets on 35 numbers, placing bets on 17 splits, etc.

Flat Betting

This strategy is implemented by placing the same bet on every round with no progression or regression.

Our Final Thoughts

Roulette is a game that can be enjoyed by a variety of people irrespective of their gaming experience. While the game can be quite complex, it doesn’t take a long time to understand and if you’re dedicated, you’ll be able to understand it in one session. Roulette has a rich history with vague origins, and it’s fascinating how far this game has come in terms of its modernization, and how widely available it is. Overall, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give this game a chance.

Slots are by far the most popular casino game available, this is due to its simplicity, as there are technically no choices that you’re able to make that will directly affect the outcome of the game. These games take up the majority of a casino gaming floor, and online casinos always have more slots than any other game. This means that you’re more than likely going to find a slot game that suits your style, as developers have been creating slot machines in almost every possible theme.

The History of Slots

Slot games have a rich history, with origins in Brooklyn, New York. The game was invented in 1891, but it wasn’t the slot machine that’s found in casinos today. Instead, it was a prototype that was based on the hands found in poker.

This enticed players, and soon it seemed as if it gained popularity overnight; however, it offered no cash payout, instead, those who won were able to claim something that was offered at the bar, such as beer, cigars, or other drinks, but what they got was based on the outcome.

Around the same period, between the late 1880s to the early 1890s, another machine was invented, and this one incorporated a three-reel setup that featured 5 symbols. However, the main difference between this machine and the one in Brooklyn, was that it featured a cash payout with a jackpot of 50 cents. This may sound like nothing but bear in mind that this was over a century ago. This machine was installed in a variety of barbershops, saloons, bowling alleys, and even brothels.

The First Slot Machine

The first completely electromechanical slot machine was invented in 1963 by Bally, and this was the machine that made the game so popular. It was the first of its kind and was able to pay out 500 coins without having to contact an attendant.

Slots have come a long way, and most of the games that are played online are exceptional, with stunning visuals and great soundtracks.
In this guide, we’ll be discussing online slots, along with the rules, different variations, strategies, and more.

Playing Slots Online

Playing slots online has become easy as there are thousands of online casinos scattered across the internet, with most of them offering hundreds of slot games. Slot games can be selected by developer, theme, the number of paylines, reels, and multipliers.

However, some slots are significantly better than others, so a quick search will provide you with some of the best games. It also helps to know what you’re looking for, instead of heading to a casino and randomly selecting a slot, playing it for free, and deciding that you don’t like it, while this approach does work, the time you find what you’re looking for, you may have gotten five years older.
The great thing about online slots is that they can be played anywhere, this is due to developers making them cross-compatible, which means that you can use a smartphone or a tablet to play while you’re on the move. The convenience that comes along with it makes it more attractive to casual players who are most likely looking for something to do while sitting around. Online slots can also be played for free, which means that you won’t need to register with an online platform, all you’ll need is a good internet connection and browser that supports Flash or HTML5.

Popularity of Online Slots

Playing slots online is currently the most popular way to play, especially since you’re able to do it anywhere. If you’re going to play for real money, ensure that the casino you’ve chosen has the necessary banking methods, and always read the terms and conditions before agreeing to anything.

Another important factor you’ll need to look out for is whether or not the casino is licensed with a legitimate authority such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission or the UK Gambling Commission. There should also be a certificate of approval from a licensed third-party testing agency such as eCOGRA. This will assure you that the games you’re playing are completely fair and that they’re random. By following the aforementioned steps, you can be sure that you’ll have positive gaming experiences.

How to Get Started

If you’re looking to get started, the process is quite simple. There are plenty of online casinos available in Canada that’ll provide you with a vast selection of slot games that can be played instantly. These games use Flash Streaming technology as well as HTML5, that’ll replace the Flash technology by the end of 2021.

Before trying to access a game, ensure that the browser you’re using canopen the game, browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox are great options as you’ll run into no issues with them.

What this means for you is that you’ll be able to access a slot of your choice from any mobile device or desktop computer, regardless of where you are in Canada.If you wish to play slots instantly,find a casino, we’ll recommend a few below, sign in, go to the games section, select the tab labeled as slot and find the game that you’ll want to play, it’s that easy. Slot games generally load without any prompts if you’re using the correct web browser.

We recommend the following casinos due to their great slot selections and bonuses.

• Jackpot City – This casino features a 100% deposit match up to CA$1600
• Spin Palace – This casino features a 100% deposit match up to CA$1000
• Ruby Fortune – This casino features a 100% deposit match up to CA$750
• Royal Vegas – This casino features a 100% deposit match up to CA$1200
• PlayAmo – This casino features a 100% deposit match up to CA$1500
• Betway Casino – This casino features a 100% deposit match up to CA$1500

The casino mentioned is great for beginners as they provide you with enough bonus credits to keep you playing for a long time.

Rules & How to Play

As with any casino games, with slots, there are rules in place along with a variety of mechanics to “spice” things up. Below you’ll find all the information that’s relevant to slot machines.

How to Start Playing

When getting started, you’ll need to choose a slot that appeals to you,you’ll then open the game, which can be on any device, such as a smartphone or a tablet. If you’re using a desktop, the game will have a border with a much larger background, but if you’re using a mobile device, then the screen will be filled with the reels of the slot you’ve selected along with operating buttons that allow you to spin and place the maximum bet. The bankroll is usually located at the bottom left corner of the screen, but this depends on the game you’re playing.

Before placing any bets, it’s important to check out the paytable of the game you’ve chosen. This will give you a clear indication of the value of each symbol, so you can be on the lookout for the high paying ones.

This is when it’s time to select the amount you’d want to bet, along with the number of paylines you’d want to use, it’s usually best to use all of the available paylines. If you want to use all of the paylines simultaneously, all you’d have to do is use the button labeled as ‘max bet’.

To spin the reels, click on the button labeled as ‘spin’, and if you found any success during the round it’ll show up on your screen with the amount you’ve won.Most games will present you with an additional offer to gamble, and this would give you the chance to win even bigger prizes.

That’s all there is to it, playing slots is easy and you’re able to play for as long as you’d like, as long as you keep track of your bankroll.

Wilds

If you’re familiar with any gambling game, you’ve probably heard about wilds before. This can be associated with a wild card, which is a card that can be used as a substitute to complete a hand and win. And when it comes to playing slot games, it means the same thing.

Most games feature wild symbols to allow players to get a win by completing a winning line. This happens when you have everything you need except for the final piece of the puzzle, this is what makes the wilds symbol so useful, as it can stand in for any missing symbol. If a game features wild symbols, it will be a huge advantage for you, so be sure to look out for them while you’re playing.

There are two kinds of wilds symbols in slots, dynamic or static. If it’s dynamic, this means that it triggers a chain of other events such as a bonus round. And if it’s static, it just acts as a substitute for another symbol.

Scatters

The scatter symbol is a unique feature that behaves differently compared to other symbols asit doesn’t have to emerge on the winning line for you to win. As a matter of fact, no matter where it shows up on the screen if it’s there, it likely means that you’ve won.

With the scatter symbol, you won’t just be winning coins. The purpose of scatter symbols isto transport you to a bonus round which means that you could capitalize on a huge multiplier, free spins, or even a progressive jackpot. The amount of free spins obtained depends on how many scatter symbols you’ve hit in the previous game.

Multipliers

Multipliers have been a popular feature in the majority of online slots. This feature presents you with the opportunity to multiply the total of your prize by two, three, four, and sometimes it can even go up to fifty.Multipliers are an exciting feature that pops up on the odd occasion, and the best thing about them is that they’re able to transform a small bet into a huge win.

Multipliers are usually found on bonus levels where they’re accompanied by free spins; however, in some titles, they’re present during the regular round. There are times where wild and scatter symbols behave as multipliers,this means that they’ll increase the total of your winnings by an even larger amount. Furthermore, it’s not just the pay line that’s affected by the multiplier, but it also has the potential to increase your entire bet for that round.

Bonus Rounds

Bonus rounds are offered in most high-end slot titles and they’re generally unlocked when you land on two or more scatter symbols. These rounds provide you with the chance to boost your winnings and it usually provides a change of scenery too.

These special rounds come in a variety of forms, they’re usually available as mini-games, free spins, and additional gambling options. The only downside to them is that they’re quite uncommon, and you could play up to 30 rounds without seeing it.

Variations of Slots

Like most casino games, slot games come in a variety of forms, and below we’ve listed the most common variations along with a short description.

3 Reel Slots

3 reel slots are an assortment of slots, also known as the traditional or classic slot, that features 3 reels and a single pay line. These slot games have fallen out of favor to the more popular 5 Reel Slot. Most online casinos don’t offer 3 reel slots, and most have been removed from land-based establishments.

5 Reel Slots

5 reel slots have become the industry standard and are often found in land-based casinos, these slot games feature 5 reels with 1 to many paylines that move in a variety of directions. To win, you don’t need to have identical symbols on all the reels, and this is what has made them so popular. These slot games also feature wild and scatter symbols, which adds to the overall excitement of the game.

Multiplier Slots

This online slot operates according to how many coins you’ve wagered. It features more than one pay line and the amount you manage to win depends on how much you’ve bet.

Bonus Multipliers

This type of slot game encourages players to place maximum bets at all times due to the potential amounts that can be won. When a winning combo is hit, this game will give you more than what you’ve initially expected.

Multiple Payline Slots

These slots feature a variety of paylines and the larger the bet, the more paylines are activated. This means that your chances of winning are higher.

Progressive Slots

Arguably the most popular slot available in the modern era, progressive slots or jackpots feature huge jackpots that could often exceed CA$1 million. All progressive jackpots are linked, and the jackpot grows with each bet that’s made.

Bonus Slots

Bonus slots provide players with more than what they’ve expected, with benefits ranging from mini-games, potential jackpots, extra money, or free spins. This slot is gaining more popularity as time goes on, and they’re perfect for those looking for something special.

Effective Slots Strategies

Most games have a variety of strategies that can be used to gain an advantage over the house. Unfortunately, with slot games, there’s very little that can be done; however, we’ve provided you with a list of tips that could easily be implemented to assure your safety and potentially increase your winnings.

Try to Bet on the Most Paylines

By increasing the number of paylines you’re wagering on, you’ll be increasing your odds of winning. It’s also best to keep the paylines at the maximum number and decrease the size of your bet if you’re on a tight budget.

Check Out the Rules Before You Get Started

Some slot games require a minimum betting amount to qualify for a jackpot or a bonus. Read the rules to avoid disappointment.

Use the Available Special Features

The majority of slot machines are equipped with additional features such as quick play and autoplay, make use of these to get the most out of the time you spend on the casino.

Our Final Thoughts

Slot games have become the cornerstone of online casinos and most feature a variety of bonuses, multipliers, and special rounds. The key to success with any slot is identifying its volatility and the RTP rate, by doing this, you’ll have some kind of idea as to how successful you could be. Overall, there are good and bad varieties, and you’ll need to decide for yourself which one you’d prefer.

Baccarat isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when the conversation of casino card games comes up; however, it’s gained a lot of popularity over the years, especially in online casinos. Baccarat has origins which can be traced back to 19th century France and have allegedly been popular amongst French noblemen. Baccarat was usually played in private gaming rooms, and this is where the most common variation, Baccarat Banque, a three-person casino game, was played. This is as mentioned in a brilliant book called Album des Jeux by Charles Van-Tenac.

The Progression of Baccarat

Further changes were made, as Chemin de Fer, a two-person variant that featured zero-sum was modified from the original Baccarat Banque variant. Another variation was born in the form of Baccarat Punto Banco. Bear in mind that this is different from the previous two that were mentioned as it has the bettor placing bets on whether the Bankers or the Players hand wins. This proved to be one of the most significant modifications made to the game and has played a pivotal role in the overall development of the game.

During the 1940s in Havana; Cuba, baccarat developed over time into a house-banked casino game, and to this day it remains the most popular variation of baccarat. Baccarat continues to rise in popularity amongst casino fans and each year it continues to grow. Most online casinos offer at least one variation of it and players are beginning to realize its value as a simple card game that presents a huge opportunity to win. Another reason why it’s great is that it requires no skill and it has a small house edge of just 1.24%.

In this guide, we take a look at all aspects of baccarat and how this simple card game has grown to become one of the most loved titles at online casinos. We’ll also look at some effective baccarat strategies along with some of the best online casino versions and land-based versions.

Playing Baccarat Online

The small house edge still applies in online baccarat and while it’s not convenient to head to a casino after work, there are plenty of online Canadian online casinos that offer the casino game and a few of its variants. Before starting, you’ll need to find a variation that appeals to you and your style of play and while there are plenty of different versions out there, there are only three main ones available – which we’ll cover a bit later.

There are a few online casinos that have a great selection of baccarat games and they offer some lucrative welcome bonuses too. They can be found below:

• Spin Palace – This casino offers a welcome bonus in the form of a deposit match of 100% up to a total of CA$1000. It also has a variety of baccarat games which can be enjoyed on both desktop and mobile platforms.
• Ruby Fortune – This casino offers a welcome bonus in the form of a deposit match, just like Spin Palace, and it goes up to a total of CA$750.
• Jackpot City – Arguably one of the best online casinos for Canadian players, this casino offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to CA$1600.

The main reason why we chose these three online casinos is that they don’t only offer more than one baccarat game, but they’re also licensed and regularly audited by eCOGRA. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy them without having to worry about issues regarding being paid out or with your privacy. There are also free casino games and this is incredibly important when it comes to learning the rules and understanding the mechanics of how things work.

How to Get Started

Most players avoid a particular casino game simply because they don’t understand it, and that’s often been the case with baccarat. With this game, there are a few things aside from the rules and the variations that you’ll need to understand.

To get started, you must understand that this casino game is based on pure luck. A new player or a veteran plays with the same odds of winning, granted they make the same decisions. However, it’s been proven that having a strategy in place will make it easier for you to play and win.

Depending on the variation that you’ve chosen, the odds will be different. For starters, the house edge changes depending on the bet you’ve made and how many decks are being used.

In an 8-deck variant, betting on the Banker means that there’ll be a 1.06% house edge, betting on the Player means that there’ll be a 1.24% house edge, and betting on a Tie will mean that there’ll be a 14.36% house edge.

In a 1-deck variant, betting on the Banker means that there’ll be a 1.01% house edge, betting on the Player means that there’ll be a 1.29% house edge, and betting on a Tie will mean that there’ll be a 15.75% house edge.

Below we’ll be analyzing bets and odds according to 8-decks being used and a variety of bets being made. This should give you a general idea of the odds being used.

8-Decks – Banker Bet

• Banker Wins pay 0.95 with 2,292,252,566,437,888 combos with a probability of 0.458597 and a 0.435668 return.
• Player Wins pay -1 with 2,230,518,282,592,256 combinations with a probability of 0.446247 and a -0.446247 return.
• A Tie pays 0 with 475,627,426,473,216 combos with a probability of 0.095156 and 0 returns.
• The total of an 8-deck game with a banker bet means that there’ll be 4,998,398,275,503,360 combinations with a probability of 1 and a return of -0.010579.

8-Decks – Player Bet

• Banker Wins pay -1 with 2,292,252,566,437,888 combos with a probability of 0.458597 and a -0.458597 return.
• Player Wins pay 1 with 2,230,518,282,592,256 combinations with a probability of 0.446247 and a 0.446247 return.
• A Tie pays 0 with 475,627,426,473,216 combos with a probability of 0.095156 and 0 returns.
• The total of an 8-deck game with a player bet means that there’ll be 4,998,398,275,503,360 combinations with a probability of 1 and a return of -0.012351.

8-Decks – Tie Bet

• Banker Wins pay -1 with 2,292,252,566,437,888 combos with a probability of 0.458597 and a -0.458597 return.
• Player Wins pay -1 with 2,230,518,282,592,256 combinations with a probability of 0.446247 and a -0.446247 return.
• A Tie pays 8 with 475,627,426,473,216 combos with a probability of 0.095156 and a return of 0.761248.
• The total of an 8-deck game with a tie bet means that there’ll be 4,998,398,275,503,360 combinations with a probability of 1 and a return of -0.143596.

8-Decks – Pair Bets

• A Pair pays11 with 6448 combos with a probability of 0.074699 and a 0.821687 return.
• No pairs pay -1 with 79872 combinations with a probability of 0.925301 and a -0.925301 return.
• The total of an 8-deck game with pair bets means that there’ll be 86320 combos with a probability of 1 and a return of -0.103614.

As you can see from the information provided above, there are a few slight changes to the type of bet being made, and there are a few drastic ones. This is fundamental to your success when playing, along with the rules and a few strategies.

Rules & How to Play

Rules are a vital component of any casino game, and while baccarat isn't one that you can “wing”, we assure you that you won't be confused all the time. Unlike games such as poker, baccarat's rules are pretty straightforward which makes it a great game for a new player looking to play a casino card game instead of slots.

Three Types of Bets

There are three bets that you’ll be able to place, one on the Player’s hand, the Banker’s hand, or if you’re unsure of who to bet on, you could bet that it’ll be a tie. By placing a bet on the correct hand, you’ll win, and the correct hand is the one that has the highest total value. The beginning of a round sees the Player and Dealer dealt with two cards, the value of these cards will determine which hand wins, and there are plenty of occasions where they’re equal in value. However, there will be a time when a third card is dealt.

The Third Card

The third card is only dealt when the Player’s hand is equivalent or less than the value of 5 or if the Banker’s hand totals the value of 3 on the condition that the Player’s third card isn’t an 8, or if the Banker’s total is 4 on the condition that the Player’s third card is neither a 1, 8, or 9, or if the Banker’s total is 5 on the condition that the Player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6 or 7, or if the Banker’s total is 6 on the condition that the Player’s third card is a 6 or 7. The third card rule is very strict and must be adhered to at all times.

Knowing the Cards

The face cards, K, Q, J and 10 counts as zero with aces being worth one, every other card is worth its face value. When tallying up your total, you’ll only need to pay attention to the last number of the total, i.e. 15 counts as 5 and 18 counts as 8. To win the round, you’ll need to get as close to the number 9 as possible by also beating the opposing hand.

Betting on Player or Banker

When placing a bet on either the Banker or the Player, you’ll need to know the pros and cons that come with both bets. By betting on the Banker, you’ll have the statistical advantage of knowing that there’s a slight chance of the Banker’s hand beating the Player’s, this mainly due to the rules of the third card.

By betting on the Player you’re subject to receive more in terms of winnings if the hand wins. Even though there’s a 5% commission on winning, which goes to the casino, it’s still a win. So, while you’re more likely to win while betting on the Banker, you’ll get more back by betting on the Player.

Betting on a Tie

There are also pros and cons to betting on a Tie, with the biggest pro being that the payout is quite large. Most variants do pay back 8 to 1 when you bet a Tie, this means that if you placed a bet of CA$20 you’ll get your CA$20 back with an additional CA$160. However, the main con of betting on a Tie is that the odds are significantly less of betting on a Player’s or Banker’s hand.

Variations of Baccarat

As with most casino games, there are a few variations of baccarat that come with a handful of sub-genres. Below you’ll find all of them and you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which variant seems to be the best for you.

Punto Banco

The most popular version of Baccarat in Canada and the surrounding Americas, Punto Banco has been played for many years. Punto Banco is somewhat similar to Blackjack as the players bet against the dealer. The main objective is to beat the dealer and to get as close to the total value of 9 as possible, without exceeding it. Punto Banco follows the traditional card values with 10, K, Q, and J, being worth 0, aces being worth 1, and the rest of the cards being worth their face values.

There are rules for the Player’s hand and the Dealer’s hand, with the former, values from 0 to 5 will result in a third card being drawn. If the total of the Player’s hand is 6 or 7, no third card will be drawn, and if the hand is either a small natural, an 8, or a big natural, a 9, then the Player’s hand wins. If the Banker’s hand totals to a value of 0 to 3 then a third card will be drawn, if the hand has a total of 4 and the Player’s hand has a total of 2 to 7, then a third card will be drawn. The rest of the third card rules are in effect as mentioned in the rules above.

Chemin de Fer

One of the oldest variations of baccarat still played today; Chemin de Fer is a variation that’s played with players betting against one another without a banker. Due to there being no banker, players will take turns playing the role and it’s traditionally started by the player on the right of the dealer. This baccarat version has the player who had placed the largest bet represent the other players at the table, which there can be up to 12 of, and if the largest bets are equal, the player in the first order will represent the others.
The drawing of cards is identical to that of Punto Banco, and the rest of the rules are in effect.

Baccarat en Banque

This variation is quite similar to Chemin de Fer, with a few small differences. The players don’t play against one another and the player who’s the banker for the current round doesn’t cover the bets of the other players. The drawing rules are the same as what they are for Chemin de Fer; however, as the Banker, it’s advised that you focus on the player that had placed the largest wager.

Other Variations

Mini Baccarat

In this high-speed variation, the dealer is always the banker and is accompanied by ‘callers’ at the table. This is usually played online.

Super Pan 9

This variation features 26 cards and is similar to Mini-Baccarat; however, cards 7, 8, 9, and 10 aren’t featured in this casino game and all face cards are valued at 0.

Three Card Baccarat

This variation features the same rules found in Punto Banco, but it’s played with three cards.

The Most Effective Baccarat Strategies

As previously mentioned, baccarat has players rely on luck, there’s no way to determine the cards you’re getting but there are a few things you can do to slightly improve your chances of winning. If you’re the type of player that analyzes a casino game and expects the same pattern to appear in the next one, then you’re going to have to break that habit. Baccarat should never be played this way and it could lead to plenty of rounds being lost.

Betting on the Banker is usually a good idea as the stats show that the Banker is more likely to win than the player. Avoid making bets on the Tie, as there’s only a 9% chance of that bet winning; however, if you’re feeling lucky, by all means, make that bet.

Our Final Thoughts on Playing Baccarat

Baccarat is an excellent online casino game for new players who are looking to dabble in card games as it’s significantly less complicated than poker and blackjack. The game requires no skill, and once you’ve wrapped your head around the rules, there’s no reason why you couldn’t win. The fact that there’s no concrete strategy for this game makes it an even playing field for most bettors.

Chat Live to the Customer Support Team

One of the top-most fundamental aspects of an online casino is its customer support services. Whilst gambling online if you ever have any questions or queries, doubts or problems, your natural instinct is to seek help from the support team. Depending on which online casino you are playing at the customer support options may vary however, the most popular way to contact the support team is through Live Chat. This does not mean every casino online offers Live Chat though although the majority of this service.

Live Chat has become the most efficient and convenient form of communication between players and the customer support team. So let me explain exactly what we mean by Live Chat. Live Chat is a facility that allows you to talk directly to a real-life customer support agent. The online casinos' customer support agents are trained to help players who are having any issues or difficulties with the casino or simply just to provide answers to players casino-related questions.

A huge advantage to using Live Chat means that you can communicate with the support team in real-time, meaning there are no long and frustrating wait periods. By speaking to an agent in real-time allows you to get answers or problems resolved much quicker and easier than using other forms of communication.

With online casinos continually striving to be supreme and provide players with a top casino experience, means that one of the best perks that come with Live Chat is the hours they function. A larger chunk of online casinos, provide Live Chat to their players 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! This means that no matter what time you of night or day you decide to play if, in doubt, you are sure to find a customer support agent waiting to assist you. Although do not take for granted this is the case at every online Casino. Some casinos may offer Live Chat which only operates between certain hours of the day. In situations like this, the casino will usually state the support contact hours on the "Contact Us" page.

If you are unable to find the hours the Live support team operate between, you can also check by clicking directly on the Live Chat button. If you are not directed to an agent and instead you see a notice displaying "offline", this means the chat room is closed. Despite the Live Chat room being offline, this does not mean you can not contact the support team. Many casinos will allow you to send an offline message to the team, who will respond to you directly through email. In some cases, you may be informed on a response timeframe, in which you can expect to receive a response.

Live Chat, as I mentioned at the beginning is a very quick and simple form of communication. Either in the bottom or top corners of the online casino, you will see an icon that looks like two speech-bubbles overlapping (or something similar). This is the Live Chat icon which you are required to click when looking for assistance. A separate pop-up box will appear allowing you to speak with instantly with the support team. It is very similar to the live chat option we are familiar with using on Facebook, allowing us to communicate quickly with our friends or family.

At the start of a Live Chat conversation, you may be prompted to enter some personal details such as your name or username, email address, account number as well as a short description in regards to your reasons for contacting them. On the other hand, you may be taken directly to the chat without having to enter any details. Depending on the casino you are playing at, you may also be asked some security questions before you can proceed. This helps the support agents clarify that the account you are using belongs to yourself.

Using Live Chat has many advantages for you. Aside from the reasons already mentioned, it also permits you to send any requested documents directly to them. As a result, you can be certain that the casino has received your documents safely, without any long waiting times. When you come to the end of your chat, many online casinos will allow you to save a copy of the transcript. The transcript is a copy of the conversation you have just had with the customer support agent. If you decide to save a copy of the transcript, this will be sent directly to your email that you provided the chat team with at the beginning, before starting your conversation. It is recommended that you always save a copy of the conversation, so you have it for a reference in the future if you need to check back on it. Plus it only takes a second to save, so why not cover your back? When you have finished chatting with the customer support team, you will most likely be asked to rate and share your experience with the Live Support team. This is not essential for you to complete, however without feedback the casino can not know where they are failing to satisfy you or see what they are doing right.

When chatting to a member of the support team via Live Chat it is utmost important that you speak to them with respect as well as in a polite and friendly manner. It is understandable you may be angry or frustrated due to whatever reason you are contacting them, however, this will not help resolve the problem. The Live Chat team are there to help you and are granted permission to end the conversation at any point if you continue to speak to them in an abusive, threatening or foul manner. It is always advised that when you are contacting customer support to ensure you have any supportive documents or screenshots to help explain or show the support team what the issue is.

For example: If a game gets stuck and freezes during a bonus round, take a screenshot. This way when you speak to the customer support team, you can send them the screenshot over live chat for them to have a clear understanding of exactly what has happened.

If the Live Chat team is too busy for them to take your chat, you will be notified with a message at the beginning of the chat, either stating a waiting time or which number you are in the queue. Although we have found this does not happen frequently and the Live Chat team are very responsive and speedy. Alternatively, during your chat, if you feel like the conversation is going nowhere, and the agent is unable to understand or help you with your enquiry, you can request to speak to another colleague or the manager. In this case, they will be able to transfer you directly over.

When you are looking for an online casino to play at, here at CasinoTop we highly recommend you check which customer support options are available to you. It may seem irrelevant at the time of signing up, but who knows what can happen a few weeks or months down the line. You will also find that many casinos off Live Chat in multiple languages, which makes handling a problem a lot more easier when it can be done in your native language.

Contact Customer Support via Email

If the casino you are playing at does not offer Live Chat then Email support is your next best option. Every online casino will have the option for you to contact them via email, and you can usually find the email address by clicking "contact us". Larger more established online casinos may also provide you with several different emails for various departments within the casino, such as payments and fraud department, Security, or complaints department. Although the majority of casinos online will just have the one email address.

It is fair to say that the email support team are not as quick and efficient as the Live Chat agents to resolve your issues. However, they are doing their best to keep delays to the minimal and resolve your problem within a matter of a day or two.

The email support team can help you with any query, whether it is just general questions or advice regarding payment options, gameplay, bonuses and offers and much more. One advantage of using Email is that you contact the support team no matter what time of day or night it is. Although this does not mean you will receive a response instantly. By contacting the support team via email, can sometimes take a day or two for them to look into your query and get back in touch with you. If the casino does provide several email options depending on the department you are contacting then they may have set opening hours.

To try and keep your waiting period as limited as possible when contacting customer support through email, is to ensure you have all the information and documents ready. By attaching everything relevant whether it is a screenshot or document to the email, will avoid unnecessary emails being sent to and throw dragging out the time to resolve your problem. It is always advised that you enter a subject in your email and ideally include either your account number or username in the subject field. If you do not add it to the subject, then it is vitally important that this information is included somewhere in the email, so that the casino can locate your account to answer your question. Another factor to consider when writing your email to the support team is that you have explained clearly and thoroughly that the issue is and the outcome you expect. Remember, despite being angry or frustrated, remain polite and friendly in the email. It is not the customer support agents fault if your winnings got confiscated or whatever your problem may be, they are just simply there to help, guide and advise you the best they can.

One benefit of using Email to contact the support team is that you can keep a record of everything discussed between you and the agent. We always advise that it is a good idea to keep these emails in a separate folder, as you never know when you may need them for future reference.

When submitting any documents the casino requests from you, is usually done via email, although it can be done Live Chat. Some casinos will send you updates in relation to them receiving the documents, or your documents being approved. If you receive one of these emails then you do not need to worry about replying.

Lastly, some online casinos will allow you to submit a support ticket. This works similarly to sending an email, the only difference is you do not need to use an external email address. Support tickets are all done internally through your players account at the casino. So, the casino will allow you to send a message via your account and any reply will be sent to your inbox in your casino account.

Speak directly to the support team, via telephone

With Live Chat and Email options available to players to contact the casinos' customer support team, the telephone support has become less and less popular. Although speaking directly to a real live member of the support team can seem like a simpler option as you can speak more freely and easily about your problem or any questions you may have, it can also be a disadvantage.

Firstly, international calls can come with a hefty charge, which could be avoided by using an alternative method. Although depending on the country you reside in, the casino may provide you with a local number you can contact them on. However, the chances of this are slim.

Some telephone providers may offer special bundles which allow you to make cheap calls internationally. In the same way, some online casinos' may provide you with a toll-free number for you to contact them on, which is always a bonus. If this is the case, they will usually inform you beside the contact number, but we recommend you check these factors out before making the call. A toll-free number is a number that is billed for all arriving calls, as opposed to the originating telephone subscriber, which in this case you.

Another point to consider is that telephone support will most likely only operate between certain hours and days. Again, this information should be stated on the "contact us" page where you will find the number. It is always a wise idea to check the operating hours to prevent disappointment. It is also recommended that you check the time zone the casino operates by. The majority of online casinos, operate by GMT, so depending on where you are calling from you may need to do some calculations. For example for players in Canada trying to contact an English run casino, then you might find yourself waiting until the early hours of the morning to get through to a customer support agent.

Depending on your nationality and the casino you are trying to contact you may also find you have problems overcoming language barriers. Telephone support often offers a limited range of languages spoken, which means the chances of speaking to someone in your native language are slim. This means it may not always be easy to communicate the reason you are calling with the agent, but remember to take your time to make sure both you and the agent have a clear understanding of what is being discussed.

Being rude, offensive or swearing down the telephone to a support agent is also not tolerated, so despite being irritated remember they support team are there to help you resolve your problem.
Online Casino FaQs

Basically, every online casino will have a Facts and Questions (FaQ) help page. Here you will find all the most popular or frequently asked questions, along with the answer. It is advised that if you have any questions to ask that you check here first on the FaQ page. No question is a stupid question, and if you have thought about it, then the chances are many others have too. It is advised that before you contact customer support, that you check here first as it can mean you could easily resolve the issue you have all by yourself, without it being a lengthy process.

The FaQ page is often based on the most frequently asked questions, the customer support team handle on day to day basis however, the information can alter from casino to casino. Some of the larger casinos may offer a more extensive list of questions for you to search through whereas, many other casinos will only list a handful. If by any chance your question is not listed on the Facts and Questions page, then you will need to contact customer support.

On the other hand, a FaQ page is also a great place for newly registering players to visit. When entering the world of online gambling, you might be overwhelmed by the amount of information you are expected to take on board all at once. But do not worry, if you have any doubts or queries, then you can simply refer to the FaQ section where hopefully you will find the answer to your questions.

The Facts and Questions page covers a variety of topics involving around the casino, games, software and basic information. For casinos who offer a large selection of FaQ, means that the casino might be put them into categories to make searching easier for you. The most common FaQ you can find are related to; how you can register an account with the casino, how to make a deposit or withdrawal or any concerns relating to payments, information relating to the safety and security of the casino, and much more!

For the larger established online casinos who offer an extensive volume of FaQs, there is more chance you will find FaQ to suit your needs. In these lists, you are more likely to find the answer to questions referring to bonuses and promotions, wagering requirements, if the casino requires you to download an app or software, if the casino offers any loyalty programs and how to become a VIP player and the list goes on. If you are looking for answers to more technical questions then you will most likely need to take these up with the customer support team.

You may also find the Terms and Conditions (T&C) page is helpful and knowledgeable to read. Many answers to your questions relating to the casino, will be answered in the T&C’s.

CasinoTop would advise you to take a few moments to go through the Facts and Questions before registering or playing to resolve any doubts you may have or may occur in the future. The F&Q page is usually updated over a period of time depending on the casino you are playing at, so you never know what you can learn or discover. Of course at any time if you do not feel satisfied with the result you found on the FaQ page, feel free to contact the support team who will be happy to assist you.

How can I speak to the Casino Manager?

Each and every online casino will have a designated manager on board, also known as a ‘Casino Pit Boss’. If you are looking to speak to a manager then it is simple, all you have to do is make the request. The easiest way to communicate with a casino manager is by going to the casinos Live Chat facility. If the casino you are playing at does not offer a Live Chat system then speaking to a manager may prove slightly harder. When you request in Live Chat to speak to the casino manager, the customer support agent will simply pass our conversation over to the appointed manager.

If the online casino you have chosen to play at does not offer a Live Chat facility, then speaking to a manager is more difficult, however, it is not impossible. It will require a more lengthy process as you will be required to contact the support team via email, where you will have to wait for a response. This could take several emails and days before you are finally put in contact with a casino manager.

playing at does not have a live chat option, then getting to speak to a casino manager can be a little more difficult, although not impossible. It will be a lot slower in order to speak to a casino manager as this would need to be done via email, but is just a matter of persistence. Email the casino requesting to speak to a manager and then take it from there.

You are entitled as a player to speak to a casino manager at any point. Although bear in mind that some casinos may only have a manager on-site during certain hours, which means if you are playing at night and request to speak to a manager this may not be possible until the following day. In this case, you can request to speak to a Team leader who is trained to handle these situations in a professional managerial manner.

You may request to speak to a manager for many reasons, whether you are unhappy with something relating to the casino such as your winnings being voided, lack of game choice, disputes over bonuses and promotions or you were satisfied with the service you were provided by the support team. By speaking directly to a manager could help resolve your problem quickly and easily or provide you with more professional help and advice.

Never be afraid to request to speak to an online casino manager. As a casino manager, they are generally more informative and able to resolve questions and queries quickly and simply. As a manager also hold more authority over a customer support agent, for example, they are more inclined to offer other solutions or complimentary gifts such as some free spins on a game, to keep you sweet and satisfied.

How can casinos customer support determine whether the casino is good or bad?

The customer support department can determine a lot about a casino. Although in most cases you will most likely not need to use the customer support, there are times you will and this contributes to your player experience. By knowing what customer support you have available to you is important and how this can determine whether a casino is good or bad.

Here at CasinoTop, we have laid out all the options available to you and what they can offer you. If you have not had a chance to check our guidelines then let me quickly go over the customer support options that are available including Live Chat, Phone support and Email. If your looking to contact customer support and Live Chat is available then this would be the most effective and quickest form of communication between you and the casino. Not all online casinos’ offer Live Chat currently which does not mean they are a bad casino, although the vast majority of them do.

When looking for the ideal casino to play at and are looking for quick and easy help when you require it then it is recommended that you look for a casino with Live Chat. Email can be a lengthy process and telephone support may not always be able to help you directly over the phone resulting in having to also communicate with via email if you are required to send documents or proof of evidence.

One factor that makes an online casino good is that it offers you multiple ways to contact the support team rather than just one.Always check this out before you play at a casino online, or sign up for an account. By a casino offering multiple ways for you to communicate with the customer support department, which means they cater for each players needs. Some players may prefer to stick to the old traditional ways of phoning and emailing, whereas many players prefer to chat directly over Live Chat.

By a casino offering Live Chat, this essentially makes an online casino good. Not only does Live Chat enable you to speak quickly and freely to a customer support agent, but it is usually offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means it does not matter what time of day you are playing, you will be able to get support and help simply by opening up a Live Chat. Depending on the country you reside in may mean that there is a time difference between you and the casino you are playing at. With Live Chat offered 24/7 you can avoid having to wait until certain hours in order to catch the customer support team who is based elsewhere in the world.

A bad online casino might only offer one customer support option, in this case it will most likely be email. Emails can be a slow and lengthy process, leaving you wondering if the casino has received your email or if your case is being looked into. Afterall, there is nothing worse than trying to resolve an issue you are already irritated about and then waiting a long time for it to be resolved.

Just because an online casino offers Live Chat does not necessarily mean it is a good casino though. When entering a new casino site, why not test the Live Chat support before you begin to play or register an account.Here you can check if the customer support team are friendly and helpful, at the same time willing to go the extra mile to help you out. You can also check what languages are available for you to chat to the support team in. If your native language is not available, it is important to check to see if you can overcome any language barriers. Afterall, there is nothing more frustrating than having a problem and not being able to communicate it across.

If the casino only offers you phone support as an option then there are several things you need to take into consideration. Firstly, do they offer a toll-free phone or are international charges applied. If charges are applied then this means you can run up a shocking bill which essentially does not give you a good experience when dealing with the support team. You also need to consider if phone support team speak in your native language. Not being able to communicate freely and easily can make a situation more frustrating and possibly delay the time in your problem being resolved. Lastly you need to consider the phone line support opening hours, as in most cases they will not offer a 24/7 service.

As mentioned earlier on, it is important that the casino is able to offer numerous support options. When looking at playing at a new online casino it is important to check to see if there are any timeframes in place in which you can expect a response. A couple days is understandable but up to a week can be very annoying. Remember, there is no harm in testing the customer support before hand, by asking them some questions and seeing what standard of support they provide you.

Overall, if you want to avoid disappointment in the future, check out the customer support before hand. You never know when you may need to contact them, whether it is in regards to your payments or finances, queries about your game play etc. It is also important that you feel comfortable and secure using the customer support options available to you, so you can have a better experience at the casino without any worries.

You may never need to contact customer support, but hey! There is no harm is testing it out just in case!

A popular form of casino games both online and at land-based casinos is video poker. This is in many ways a form of a slot machine, just without the spinning wheels and pay lines. Here it’s a simplified form of poker that is played, and some are more like real poker than others. In fact, Nowadays there are so many different types of these games that some don’t resemble poker at all anymore, as it’s more or less just a card game played on a machine. In this casino guide, we’ll be going through some of the most common games, and of course also the basic rules for playing video poker at a casino.

Simplified versions of poker

The real card game poker is something most of us have tried, or at least heard about and know the basic rules of – which is getting the best hand possible. In addition to actually beating the other players in terms of the best poker hand, of course, bluffing is a big part of it, not to mention being able to read the other players to steal a pot or a blind even with a bad hand. This part of poker is however not used in video poker, as you don’t play against other players or even a dealer, due to the machine being your only opponent. And, unfortunately, bluffing your way to a win isn’t possible when playing against a machine.

Since there are now so many different versions of card games playable on machines we can more or less divide the games into two – the games that use “real” poker rules, and those that don’t. The only thing that is always the same is that the “symbols” in these games as real cards and aces and face cards are the best.

“Real” Video Poker Games

In some versions of video poker, the goal is to get a “real” poker hand, and that means the biggest payout will be a Royal Flush. When using the “real” poker hands as payout tables this is for the most part based on the rules for Five Card Poker, and the standard rules that apply. In addition to a Royal Flush, the other good hands are Straight Flush and 4 of a kind (preferably with a high-value card). In short, it’s the general rules for poker hands that determine if you win or lose.

When playing “real” video poker the biggest difference between this and actual poker is that you play solely with the machine. It’s just the two of you, so bluffing is not possible. This also means that you just have to beat the machine, and the cards the machine gets delt. In some instances you don’t even play against the machine, but only against the paytable. This means you are not trying to beat anything at all, you are just looking to get a hand that will give you a win. How much you win will then be determined by the value of your hand, and low-value hands will not payout at all.

Whether you can actually swap out cards or not depends on the machine, and if you can, this turns into more of a real poker game. In these games, skill and knowledge will play a big part in your chances of winning, in contrast to games where you just get dealt cards which will be your hand no matter if you want them or not.

Machines with simple “poker”

Even though these games are still called video poker, they don’t have many aspects of poker left in them. Some games are as simple as you just betting on if you get a higher card than the machine drawn, or sometimes just getting the higher pair or combination of a two-card hand. These truly simple versions are only about luck, and the winning chances will be about the same as if you bet on all read fields on a roulette wheel. However, as with all of these types of games of chance, you can still improve your overall winning chances by using a progressive strategy.

Different kinds of video poker

As we’ve explained briefly already there are many kinds of video poker games available, and when playing at online casinos you will almost always find one of the following games. Sometimes the casino will have a separate category where all these games are collected, or you might find them under table games, if there is such a category other than the live casino games. If not, you’ll find them amongst the slots. Now, let’s have a closer look at some of the most popular versions:

Aces and Faces

One of the most popular online video poker games is called Aces and Faces. This game is played with one deck of cards and is a game which uses a lot of the real poker rules. You’ll get dealt five cards, and you can then choose which to keep and which to discard. The goal is, of course, to get as good of a hand as possible, but that’s not all. You will get a bonus for having Aces and Faces cards, so it could be beneficial to hold on to them when choosing which hand you want to go for.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is a hugely popular video poker game, as this is a game with a wild, and that seems to be something players love regardless of whether it is a video slot or poker game. The rules of this game are quite simple. You’ll get 5 cards dealt at the beginning of the game, and the goal is to build the best hand possible. However, it’s not the standard rules for poker hands that goes here, as three of a kind is the lowest payable combination you can have. On the other hand, even though this game is played with just one deck of 52 cards you can get five of a kind, thanks to the 2’s.

The 2’s, or deuces, are the wild cards, as the name of the game suggests. That means you can use them to build any kind of a winning hand, so these are the cards you’ll always want to hang on to and never discard.

Jacks or Better

The rules in Jacks or Better are pretty much the same standard rules you’d find in a “real” video poker slot. You’ll get five cards in your hand, and you’ll have to choose which ones to keep and which ones to discard to build the better hand. You don’t have to beat the dealer or anything like that, as it’s a simple paytable used to decide if you win, and how much you win for each poker hand.

There is however another rule, which makes the game a bit more exciting. Whenever you do get a win you’ll get the possibility to gamble for your winnings. The dealer, or the machine, will draw one card face up, and you will get dealt four cards face down. The goal is for you to pick a card that is higher than the dealer's card. If you can do that you’ll double your winnings. If you don’t you lose your winnings, and if it’s a tie you get your original winnings from the gamble feature back.

This feature is quite common in a lot of video poker games, but there’s also a twist in Jacks or Better that you won’t find in many other versions of video poker, and that’s the Half Double. This allows you to only bet half of your winnings in the gamble feature, and in that way ensure you get at least some winnings paid out. Just keep in mind; the gamble feature is optional and you can choose to play the game without using it at all.. Just click on payout or cash out, and your winnings from each game round are added to your balance.

Winning chances in video poker

Your long term winning chances when playing video poker varies from machine to machine. Even though all games have a certain aspect of luck, your skills in poker and strategy will play a big role in whether you win or lose, as it would in a real poker game played on a form of slot. In general, the RTP (Return To Player) will be in the high 90s, but you can get close to 100% with a “perfect” game. However, for really skilled poker players, playing video poker will never pay off in the long run, as their chances will be better against other players. This is because the house will always take their cut no matter who wins at real poker, while on a machine, the house always needs to win in the long run, therefore offering less than 100% RTP.

For simpler video poker it works a little differently, as no matter what poker skills you have, you can only use them when drawing a card or two before the result is given. This means you are entirely in the hands of the RTP during the game. However, if you are playing only to get the highest card, your winning chances will be almost 50% (as there’s always extra rules or a paytable giving the house a slight edge), and that means you could use a progressive strategy, for instance, the Martingale theory.

Play with fixed bets

When playing video poker there is one major strategic difference from normal poker, and that is the way you place bets. Even though you can find games where this is allowed, most video poker games will not allow you to increase your bet as you go, meaning you can’t raise the bet when you see your winning chances are good. This makes it quite similar to a normal slot, as playing with the same bet for every round will be is the normal thing to do.

However, the amount you want to bet is completely up to you. Most of the video slots online start quite low, and it’s even possible to play for only a couple of cents. But, video poker is also a game for high rollers, and the bets can be as high as several hundred per hand. For a casino, there’s no risk offering high bets in these games, as you can’t increase the bet as you go in the same round.

Play with a progressive strategy

By adjusting your bet according to the result of the previous round you might just end up beating the machine, unless you run out of funds or hit the bet limit. These two factors are the only way of losing with the Martingale theory, as many players have experienced, especially in roulette where this strategy is widely used. Many players only use this strategy for roulette, but it works the same way for all games where the winning chances are just below 50% per game round, and that’s why it also works for other types of video poker.

In the Martingale theory the whole strategy is to have a base bet, which can be any amount, but keeping it low is preferable unless you have a huge bankroll. If you win you use the same bet again, but if you lose you double the bet. If you lose again you double, and you keep going like that until you win, when you lower your bet to the base bet. This way you’ll always win back the bets you lost, and also get a win for the amount of the base bet. Just keep in mind; the max bet limit in a table game is set to protect the casino against the use of these kinds of strategies, so if you don’t run out of funds you might just hit the bet ceiling, and then all can be lost quicker than you think.

There are other progressive strategies some of which have a higher risk while others keep the risk at a minimum. The only thing that remains is that there’s no such thing as a perfect strategy.

No matter which casino you choose, land based or online, you’ll always find a wide variety of table games. Table games are traditionally played with a dealer or croupier, and many consider these the “real” casino games. Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Casino Poker and Craps are the most popular versions, and when you’re playing online, most of them can be found both as a form of slot machine and as live games, which you can find in the Live Casino.

Play Table Games live or on a slot

Even though table games are, of course, traditionally played live, you also have the option of playing them on a form of online slot machine. Since you’re never playing against other players in classic table games, there really isn’t much of a difference in how the games work online. The biggest difference is that the game goes faster when you’re playing on a machine because you don’t have to wait for the other players around the table to make up their minds about their bets and moves. As soon as you’ve decided (and there’s no time limit to how long you can take), the game will start and the game round will be played out immediately, whether you’re playing a card game or roulette. Other benefits to playing on a machine are that you can choose more freely which bet to play, you can choose from a huge variety of different game types, and last but not least – you’ll never find a game that’s full, so you won’t have to wait to get a free seat to play.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons you could, and maybe even should, choose to play on a machine when playing table games. But if entertainment is what you’re really after, no doubt playing live is a better option. Now, in 2019, almost all Canadian online casinos offer something called a Live Casino, and this is where you can play table games with a live dealer. They’re set up just the same way as they are in land based casinos, except that there are cameras instead of chairs in front of the table, so players can follow the game and participate through a live stream. Some game providers even send their live streams directly from a real land based casino so that players online can feel the excitement and get a sense of the real casino experience, even when they’re playing from home.

Roulette – the most popular casino game in the world

There is no casino game in the world as popular as Roulette — and that’s a fact — whether you’re playing online or in a “real” casino. If you’re looking for a really big selection of these games you should definitely choose to play online, since some of the biggest online casinos can have more than a hundred of roulette games! That might seem a bit over the top because there is no limit to how many players that can participate at a table in roulette, but it’s actually not since there are loads of different versions of the game, and every table needs to have a bet limit, both for the minimum and maximum bet per game round. This way both low rollers and high rollers can find a table perfectly suited to their bets and they can get the most out of their roulette strategies.

Versions of Roulette online

For us Canadian players, American Roulette is considered the “normal” roulette game, and this version can be found at every casino. In fact, the casinos love it when players choose American Roulette because this is where the house edge is the highest, meaning it’s the roulette game where the casino makes the most money. This makes it a good example of when choosing the “normal” thing isn’t really a good idea since other versions of roulette will give you a better chance of winning.

In addition to American Roulette, European Roulette is also considered quite normal, and in many parts of the words, including most of Europe, this is the standard version of roulette. Here, the house edge is only half of what it is in the American version, meaning a player’s chances of winning are higher. If you want to take away even more of the casino’s edge, you should also check out French Roulette since the house edge in this game is cut in half compared to European Roulette. American, European and French are considered the three main versions of roulette.

If you want to try other types of roulette online, you should try Double Ball Roulette, Golden Ball Roulette, Lightnin Roulette or even Multi Wheel Roulette.

Short introduction to Roulette

Before starting to play roulette, you should check which version the table offers. If you can find a table with an European Roulette wheel, this is almost always a good option. You can easily see if the wheel is European or American by checking how many green slots the wheel has. If it has one green slot marked with a 0, then it’s the good kind. If the wheel has two green slots marked with 0 and 00, then it’s an American wheel, and your chances of winning in the long run are drastically decreased. The reason is that the green slots are the house edge in roulette, so the fewer of these on the wheel the better.

The whole point of the casino game roulette is to guess where the little white ball is going to land on the wheel. To make sure this is completely random, the ball is set up to spin around the wheel counter-clockwise, while the wheel itself is also spinning, but in a clockwise direction. When the ball loses speed it will eventually land in a slot, and the slot it lands in is the result of the game. The wheel itself it has either 37 or 38 slots. There are always 18 red and 18 black slots, which are marked with numbers from 1 to 36. In addition, there are the green slots, and there will be one or two of these depending on whether it’s an American or a European wheel.

When you bet, you bet on the table next to the wheel, or on a pop-up virtual table if you’re playing online. You can then choose if you want to play “inside” or “outside” bets. Outside bets are always recommended if you want to play with a roulette strategy that increases your chances of winning, like a Martingale strategy. And, if you want to win in roulette long term, this is one of the best strategies, as long as the table limits are high and you don’t run out of money…

Blackjack

The most popular card game in the world is blackjack. Many people think blackjack is a game where getting to 21 is the main goal, but this is not actually the case. The goal is to get more points than the dealer, without exceeding 21. In general the rules for this game are quite simple to learn, making it way more popular than, for instance, baccarat or casino poker, but knowing the rules and mastering the game are two different things entirely. In fact, since blackjack is a game of skill as much as a game of chance, there are a lot of professional blackjack players in the world who actually make a living (and then some) from just playing blackjack.

Blackjack against dealer – not other players

When you play blackjack the goal is not to beat other players, but to beat the house, which is represented by the dealer. This makes blackjack a perfect game to play on a slot machine because other players will not affect your chances of winning. However, if you choose to play live blackjack, this does provide you with a more “real” casino experience when you’re playing at an online casino. The issue you might encounter is that, since this is a game where you’ll have to make multiple choices, each player needs to have their own hand, meaning cards. And with only 7 spots per table, you may have to wait for a spot to open up. Most often, you won’t have any problem finding an available spot anyway, since blackjack is the casino game with the most tables in most Live Casinos online.

There is even a version of blackjack online that you’ll never find at a land based casino, and it’s called Blackjack Multiplayer Common Draw. At this table, you’ll always find a spot because there’s no limit to the number of players the dealer can play against at once. The dealer only plays against one hand and will deal the cards to fit every possible choice. The players simply bet on what they want, and their choice is the only one that matters, even though they will also see all of the other possible outcomes. This game was first invented by the game provider NetEnt, as a part of their live game selection.

Short introduction to Blackjack

As with most other table games, blackjack can be found and played in a lot of different versions, but like roulette, the most common one is the American version. In American Blackjack, the dealer starts by dealing 2 cards to each player and 2 cards for the house. Both of the player’s cards are dealt face up, while the dealer will show only the house’s first card, and keep the second house card face down until all players have played their hands. In some versions of blackjack, the dealer will not even draw the second house card until all of the players have made their decisions. This is the case in European Blackjack.

When the dealer has deal each player their two cards, the game begins. The first thing you should check is if the dealer has an ace facing up. If that’s the case, insurance can be purchased to prevent losses in the event the dealer’s second card has a value of 10, giving the dealer “blackjack,” which means 21 points with only 2 cards. Before we move on, let’s go through the card values in blackjack:

• Cards 2 - 10 have their stated value
• Jack, Queen and King are valued at 10
• Ace is valued at either 1 or 11, depending on which value fits the best with the hand. An ace used at 1 gives you a “hard” hand, while an ace used as 11 makes the hand “soft.” This means an ace and a 7 can be used as either a soft 18 or a hard 8.

After you’ve made a decision about whether you want to buy insurance or not, if you have the option, it’s time to start looking at your own cards. You can now split any pairs, stand with the cards you have, fold if you don’t want to play your hand, draw more cards, or double down to just get one more card. At this point, you can also double your bet. These rules are the standard ones (American Blackjack), but some versions of blackjack might not offer all of these options, or may have limitations on when the options can be used or not. Knowing the rules for the version you play is a must, if you want to succeed in beating the dealer.

Baccarat

The game baccarat is not as popular amongst players as roulette and blackjack, especially not amongst recreational players or low rollers. However, baccarat is quite popular among high rollers in land based casinos because the bet limit is high. In fact, a $2000 minimum bet is not uncommon at a baccarat table in land based casinos. In contrast, online casinos does offer this game, even for low rollers.

What’s a bit different in baccarat games when compared, for instance, to roulette and blackjack is that baccarat can be both a game of skill and a game of chance. When playing at a Live Casino online, Punto Banco, simply called Baccarat, is the game that is most often offered, and this is a game of chance. The cards are drawn and what you bet on is basically whether the player wins or the bank wins, which means getting the highest number.

Another special aspect of baccarat is that there are several cards used, but the maximum number of points you can have is 9. This is because only the rightmost digit in the number is counted, making, for example, 7 and 5 (total 12) the result of 2 points. In other words, this is a very bad baccarat game since 8 and 9 are the best number of points to have.

Baccarat can be played both live and on a slot machine at online casinos.

Casino Poker

Poker is a very popular casino game, but “real” poker isn’t really considered a casino game at online casinos. What you’ll find there are poker games that are played against a dealer, but this can be done using a lot of different rules in the different versions. “Real” poker, which is played against other players, can have a wide variety of rules. So can casino poker. Casino poker games are, however, usually based on either Texas Hold’em, Five Card Poker or Omaha Poker.

When you want to play casino poker with a live dealer, there are three version that almost all casinos offer. These are Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, and some sort of Casino Hold’em. If you want to play Casino Hold’em, we recommend that you chose this game from the game provider Evolution Gaming, since they also give you the opportunity to place a side bet that enters you in the progressive jackpot, which is often one of the biggest jackpots you’ll find at a casino online. You’ll also always find a jackpot in Caribbean Stud Poker since this is a part of the game itself and not something the game provider has added on to give players more options.

In addition to casino poker, which you can play live at a Live Casino online or on a slot, there are also the games called video poker. These are simpler slots where the concept of poker is used, but the game is much, much simpler. Drawing cards to try to get a pair or simply the highest card is usually the goal. These games can be found either in a separate category in the game browser or among the table game slots or normal slots.

Craps

Craps is perhaps the most iconic casino game of all time. What makes it special is that it can be just as entertaining to watch other people playing as it is to actually throw the dice yourself. The need to actually throw the dice is, however, also the reason this game doesn’t really exist at online casinos because it requires physical participation from the player. But, online casinos have also done their best to try to offer the game anyway.

If you want to play craps according to the real rules online, you only have two options: you can either play a digital version on a slot, or you can play through live stream from a land based casino. Your turn to actually throw the dice will, of course, never come around, but you can still bet on the outcome of the live shooter’s throw.

Even though craps itself is not commonly found online, you can find other versions of dice games. One of the newest games that we can recommend is Lightning Dice from Evolution Gaming, where you bet on the outcome of the dice falling through some kind of machine. Not only can you win in the “normal” way in this live casino game, you can even get multipliers that make the max win 1000 times your bet!

Of all the casino games you can play online there is one category which is way more popular than any other – and what we’re talking about is slots. Classic slots, video slots, 3D slots, multiplayer slots, not to mention progressive slots. Most Canadian online casinos have all of these different types, as slots of all shapes and sizes can easily account for more than 90% of the total game selection at an average casino, and some even focus entirely on these games, not offering any other casino games.

If you are a new casino player and don’t have much experience with spinning the wheels on these games we at Casino Top have you covered, as we’re giving you the complete guide of everything you need to know about online slots, and then some!

Classic slots

Some might think that the old classic games with spinning BAR, 7, bells and fruit is some kind of outdated slot machine which casinos keep around just for the nostalgic players, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, even though they might be very simple, without many bonus features, and over all quite slow, they are more popular than ever. Both young and old players simply love them, and they are also perfect for beginners. They’re easy to understand, and adjusting your bets and pay lines is also as simple as can be.

A “real” classic slot has 3 wheels, and all of these will display 3 symbols each. This means they will have 5 pay lines, and most often you can choose how many of them you want to bet on. There will be 3 horizontal lines, and two diagonal lines. To be able to get a win you will need to get three of the same symbols on any of the lines you chose to bet on, but in some games just one or two of a special symbol can trigger a win. The pay lines goes from left to right.

That being said, there are of course always some games who wants to be special somehow. So some might have scatter symbols (usually a joker) that trigger extra wins. A scatter is a symbol that is not bound to any pay line, and will trigger a win as soon as you have many enough of them, no matter their placement on the wheels. You might also come across classic slots that has some bonus features, and the most common ones are the Gamble Feature or the Super Meter.

Multiply your winnings with the Gambling Feature

If the slot you’re playing on has a gambling feature you should proceed with caution. Even though all forms of slots where you play with real money is considered gambling, the Gambling Feature adds on some extra risk, and if you use it unwisely you might end up losing more than you think. However, you might just get lucky and multiply your winnings. This is how it works:

You play the slot and get a win, and this will trigger the Gambling Feature, but it’s optional if you want to use it or not. Every win will let you choose if you want to gamble, or if you want to cash out and add the win you got to your balance in the game. If you choose to gamble you will have to choose between heads or tails on a coin, or black and red from a deck of cards, or something else that gives you a 50% chance to win. The result is chosen randomly, and if you win you double your money. If you guess correctly you just doubled your winnings. Some slots even let you choose from all suits of a deck of cards, giving you the chance to get a 4x multiplier on your original winnings for the spin of the slot wheels..

Gamble responsible – when you gamble

The Gambling Feature can make you a big winner, but also a big loser. Many players end up losing all of their winnings all the time, as they choose to gamble time and time again, for the chance to multiply their winnings. This is done as you can chose to gamble over and over again from the same winnings, and with a 50%, or sometimes just 25%, chance to win you will eventually lose if you keep it up for long enough, as you every time bet all of the accumulated winnings also from previous gambles in the same game round. Knowing when to stop and cash out your winnings before it’s all lost is the key to succeed with this feature.

Not many, but some, classic slots also offer the chance to bet just part of your winnings when gambling several times in a row. If you win on your first gamble you can for the next one choose if you want to gamble for the whole win again, or just for the amount you got from your last gamble. If this is an option it is recommended to take advantage of this, as you at least can insure that you’ll get the money from the original spin of the wheels that took you to the Gamble Feature in the first place. Setting that win aside is the only way to use a strategy to win more when using this extra bonus game in a slot.

Super meter – double your bet for the biggest wins

In addition to the Gambling Feature there is another bonus game often found in a classic slot. The Super Meter in many ways work just as the previous feature, as it is a win from a spin on the slot that triggers the possibility to activate it. Here you also have to use your winnings to gamble, but this is done by spinning the wheels with a bigger bet. Most often you will have to play for double the bet of a “normal” spin, but some also lets you bet way more than that. But why should you use the Super Meter instead of just playing normal with a higher bet, you might ask. Well, that’s because you’ll get the chance to trigger the biggest wins available in the game.

If you double your bet in Super Meter the winnings you can get will usually be at least doubled, but there’s often also some other feature involved. A common one is where an otherwise normal symbol gets a scatter feature, triggering higher wins, or even what is called “mystery wins”. A Mystery Win is a randomly chosen win, where you can win as little as your bet, as much as 100’s of times your bet, or anything in between. You might also get offered a “nudge” or two, where you can move the wheels after they stop for an extra chance to trigger a prize.

The Super Meter is great fun, and the most exciting part of most classic slots, but be careful, with a bigger bet you might spin away your winnings faster than you think…

Video slots

The slots you’ll find the biggest selection of at online casinos are the video slots. These are modern slot machines that are fast and fun, and full of bonus features. Free spins, click and pick games, multipliers, scatters, and more, all in a slot with great graphics. These are games where entertainment is key, and with some casinos offering thousenads of these games they all want to stand out, and that’s where the graphics and features come in to play.

As these are games that have never existed as mechanical machines, unlike classic slots, the imagination of the game provider is the limit of what a video slot can offer. This makes it a bit hard to generalize, as they all have something different. However, as a more or less standard they will have 5 wheels and between 10 and 40 pay lines. 3 symbols per wheel is the standard, and the pay lines goes from left to right, criss-crossing the wheels. But, more or less wheels can also be found, paylines can be as little as 5 and go into the hundreds, and some don’t even have wheels and paylines, as clusters of symbols can be enough to win, and falling blocks of symbols can replace the standard wheels. In short; you can never be sure what you’ll find when playing a new video slot.

Bonus features in video slots

“Normal” wins from pay lines of some sort is of course the back bone in any slot, even the modern video slots. However, what makes them stand out from a classic slot is the bonus features, which comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. The most common one is what is called Free Spins. This is not to be confused by the casino bonus free spins given by the casino, as this is a bonus from the slot itself.

Free Spins is usually triggered by getting 3 scatter symbols, which sometimes is just called “Free Spins symbols”. You then get to play for free for a set amount of spins, and you’ll almost always also get either a bigger chance to win, or bigger wins. This is done by multipliers added to all wins, re-spins, more wild symbols, sticky symbols, or some other kind of bonus that will help you trigger a combination that pays out. If everything lines up perfectly you might win many, many times your bet from this bonus game.

The other common bonus game besides Free Spins is the Pick and Click game. Here you will get to choose among several different symbols, and the random prizes they hide are the winnings you’ll get. Often you can keep on picking prizes until you hit an empty symbol, or one marked with “Collect”. In some slots, like for instant Secret of the Stones from NetEnt, Free Spins are combined with Pick and Click, as you get to pick boosters with a Pick and Click game for your free spins before spinning for free.

In addition to these bonus games there can also be a wide variety of other ones, and what they all have in common is that you get the chance to hit that big win you’ve been waiting for.

Symbols in video slots

The only more or less standard symbols you’ll find in video slots are the card symbols 9, 10, J, Q, K and A. If these symbols are in the slot, they are usually the ones with the lowest value, as the high value symbols are specific for each game and the theme of the slot. However, the very best symbols you can get is either a bonus symbol, often a scatter, that will trigger a bonus game, or a wild. A normal wild symbol will be able to replace all other symbols in the slot, sometimes with the exception of a scatter or a bonus symbol.

The wild is often the very best symbol, as it helps you get a winning combination of other symbols. And, it can get even better. In some slots the wild is extra special, as it can also give you respins, multipliers or other features, depending on the abilities given to the wild in the specific slot.

A “moving” wild is often the best one, and this can be a falling or walking wild. When the wild lands on the wheels you will get an extra spin (respin), and for that spin the wild will move to another position, either to the wheel on the left or to the position under it on the wheel. You will then get respins, giving you more chances to win, until the wild has moved completely out of the wheels. However, sometimes it’s better when the wild doesn’t move at all, but rather sticks. A sticky wild will stay where it is for more respins, and often it will stick for as long as you keep on adding more sticky symbols or wilds to the wheels for your extra spins. When no more symbols are added, the bonus round is completed. But that’s not all; also look out for expanding wilds, which may be found in both bonus rounds and in the standard games, where the wild stretches to cover the whole wheel.

Progressive jackpots

Even though a progressive jackpot isn’t really a game type in itself, we still wanted to mention them. These jackpots can be found in both classic slots and in video slots, so you can play your favourite slot and still have a chance to win big. And make no mistake about it, these are the biggest wins you’ll ever get the chance to lay your hands on at an online casino, as the biggest jackpots can give you millions of dollars, and that from a bet of only a couple of cents. In fact, the biggest progressive jackpot paid out to date on an online slot was on the slot Mega Moolah from the game provider Microgaming, when one lucky player got €18.9 million, which is more than 27,7 million Canadian Dollars!

How a progressive jackpot works

When you’re playing on a slot with a progressive jackpot a tiny bit of your bet gets added to the jackpot, and this is how the jackpot grows, and what makes it progressive. Some jackpots are local, which means they are only for the casino you play on, or for the country you are playing from, while others are global, and these are of course the biggest ones. With a tiny bit form every bet placed on the slot from players all over the world the jackpots grows not only fast, but also big. The bets keeps on adding into the jackpot until one lucky player hits the spin of his life, and takes it all!

When that happens the jackpot starts all over again, but never form 0. All jackpot games have a minimum jackpot, so that even if you trigger the jackpot straight after another player you are guaranteed a big win. Some even start as high as 1 million euro, but getting only that almost never happens. This is both because the chances of triggering a jackpot two times close together is highly unlikely, and because the second jackpot also have had contribution. Not only does a tiny bit of every bet get added to the current jackpot, but an even tinier bit gets added to the next jackpot. That means the really big jackpots can be in the millions (yes, plural) as soon as it starts again.

For the biggest jackpots on the market for Canada you should check out these games:

• Mega Moolah & Mega Moolah Isis from Microgaming
• Mega Fortune & Mega Fortune Dreams from NetEnt
• Hall of Gods from NetEnt
• Arabian Nights from NetEnt
• Empire Fortune & Joker Millions form Yggdrasil

While the online element is relatively new, the history of gambling is as old as civilization itself. With 6-sided dice going back to ancient Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago and playing cards dating back to 9th Century China, there’s clearly a lot to suggest that people have been fond of playing and gambling with one another throughout the world, for a vast amount of time.

While gambling predates written history, the first land based casino, named Ridotto, started operations in Venice during the 17th Century and offered variations of card and lottery styled games for those who could afford the high stakes. Gambling began to evolve more and more and the lucrative nature of running a casino began to appeal to many around Europe. However, due to religious and societal pressures, heavy regulations were applied in order to stem the adverse effects many believed gambling had on communities. Fast forward to 1895 and a mechanical engineer by the name of Charles Fey, who brought to life the world’s first slot machine, named Liberty Bell.

By 1902 slots were mostly banned in the US, which Fey circumnavigated by altering his slots to offer non-monetary awards. This is why so many slots today still feature lemons, cherries and the like. These were actual prizes that could be won by hitting all 3 reels. It wasn’t until the roaring 1920s of America, where Nevada truly put itself on the map thanks to the state’s legalization of gambling. This would quickly lead to the rise of Las Vegas as we know it today. Las Vegas truly paved the way for other countries to begin to adopt legalization and operation of casinos.

The next major step in the evolution of gambling came in 1994 at the dawn of the Internet and with the now well-known Microgaming being the first developer to produce the first fully online gambling software. The catalyst came from the Free Trade and Processing Act from Antigua and Barbuda, making it possible for foreign potential casinos to apply for gambling licenses.

Soon after the first online wager took place in 1996 at InterCasino, which is still operational to this date. The contention actually lies in which online casino was the first to open its doors. Both Intertops Casino and The Gaming Club Casino can claim to be the first, but unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any concrete proof either way. By the end of 1996, there were already 15 different online casinos with their doors open.

In 1997 the number of operational online casinos skyrocketed to over 200.

InterCasino opened its doors with a library of 18 games, along with providing for the National Indian Lottery. Along with claiming the first online wager, InterCasino also set up the first online sportsbook, which was an innovative step from their previous main area of business of offering phone betting since the early 1980s. Things have come a long way for InterCasino, who are now accepting thousands of wagers on a daily basis from all over the world. Having been around since the very beginning and still standing as an industry leader is certainly a badge of honour, as they helped to create an industry that has seen massive growth and stiff competition year on year.

All credit can’t go to InterCasino alone though, as in the background several companies were developing software and platforms to build, support and maintain the casinos and games. Microgaming was at the forefront of developing software platforms and game innovations, such as Cash Splash, the first progressive slot game.

Cryptologic was also a key player in the startup of online gambling, as they provided a secure payment method, which they had developed with the intention of making transactions online easy. It is very much doubtful that online casinos could have existed before this achievement in software design, as one can think of how relied upon online transactional services are today. Another critical aspect was the gambling licensing and regulations that needed to be created in order for online casinos to act as legal entities. As mentioned, Antigua and Barbuda were the first to develop their own license, however, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission from the Mohawk territories soon followed, along with a whole host of other licensing bodies.

Monumental growth was seen in the IGaming industry during the 1990s, as a report in 1998 saw revenues reach an excess of $830 million (Approx. C$1.1 Billion) in that year alone. This massive amount of growth began to feed the industry further, as more development studios and entrepreneurs began seeing the appeal of entering the market for themselves.

This momentum continuously brought in new ideas and innovations, such as Planet Poker setting up the very first online Poker room in 1998, allowing for online multiplayer action with real money. Unfortunately, Planet Poker no longer offers this option, as it discontinued operations in 2007.

Planet Poker opened the doors up for plenty of other Poker providers to try their luck on the market. Most notably of these was Party Poker, which saw great success after being initiated by their parent company Party Gaming. Party Poker was on top of the game for a very long time, even to the point of going public on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. Other competitors, such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, have since taken the crown with larger player bases than Party Poker.

The 1990s saw the birth and imaginable growth of IGaming, but it wasn’t always going to be smooth sailing. In 1999 the US declared the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which outlawed any online casino from offering the gambling products to US residents and the country still remains a largely untapped market to this day. The following year of 2000 saw Australia set up the Interactive Gambling Act, which required online casinos operating in the region to attain licensing in order to protect players.

Over the next decade, more and more regions began developing their own legislation for licensing and operation of online casinos. The UK was a big vindicator of establishing this foundation by building up new legislation based upon the creation of the UK Gambling Commission, established in 2007. The UKGC would be in charge of managing licensing, fairness of play, upholding the responsibilities of licensed online casinos, as well as the support of those adversely affected by gambling or suspect business practices. At the time, the UK gambling laws were seen as a shining example of liberal and protective legislation

Already by 2005, there were an estimated 30 million online gamblers worldwide.

In 2007 A survey conducted in Canada showed that 2.3% of Canadians had participated in online gambling in one way or another. Canada already had some big-name casinos around, such as PlayNow.com, which was initiated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation back in 2004. While Canada has had legislation that prohibits non-governmental bodies from offering gambling services to Canadians, there are still an estimated 1,200 - 1,400 offshore online gaming sites that offer services to Canadians. While Canada did prosecute Starnet Communications International, who received a fine as a result, this is the only instance of such legal actions taking place within Canada.

In 2006 gambling sites were opening thick and fast with over 2,500 in operation. This was amidst Antigua and Barbuda’s legislative battle with the US over the US government’s alleged attempts to impede online gambling. The complaint was filed with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), who ruled in Antigua and Barbuda’s favour. The US did little to action this decision and as such the WTO received a complaint from Angitua and Barbuda, which saw the authorization of Antigua and Barbuda’s monetization of US intellectual property, as compensation.

It was estimated in 2008 that the industry was grossing $21 billion (Approx C$28 billion) in revenues across the globe and it just kept rising. Already established industry pillars such as Netent, Microgaming, as well as newcomers like 888 (Cassava Enterprises) and Playtech, were all experiencing great successes, but also an ever-growing mountain of competition. This competition also lead to innovations in development, as each game provider and casino was continuously expanding upon distinct features and priorities, in order to separate them from the rest or to simply keep up with the trends. For instance, downloadable client versions of games saw a decline as browser-based technologies for instant play became an industry standard.

Graphics, animations, sounds and mechanics have also come a long way for slot games. Many game providers have started to focus more on bringing in talented artists, along with injecting higher production values in order to stand apart from the thousands of casino games available. Advances in computing and software have opened up a lot of opportunities for developers.

Many countries have been steadily moving towards loosening their gambling regulations, providing affirmation for online gambling being a legal and legitimate form of entertainment for adults. Italy and South Africa made the move in 2008 and even the European Union, as a whole, ruled that EU based gambling companies remain permitted to provide their services to all member states. The main hotspots in the EU remain the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Malta and Gibraltar. However, it’s important to keep in mind that legislation changes a lot between each region, meaning casinos often have to adapt to changing climates.

The same can not be said for the United States though, as legislation has become tighter for non-governmental gambling agencies. 2011 saw the US government close down Cereus, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, citing violations of the UIGEA. This has therefore left the US a largely untapped market for foreign gambling companies.

Despite legislative and regional restrictions, the IGaming industry has been booming year on year and has continuously been setting records, such as an astonishing record-breaking €18.9 million (Approx C$27.8 million) progressive jackpot win in 2018. Innovations are also coming in thick and fast with the integration of cryptocurrencies, social media gaming and even virtual reality. While gambling has been around since civilization itself and from the looks of things it only seems to be growing into a more diverse and vibrant form of adult entertainment.

HOW TO PLAY IN AN CASINO

History of online gambling

History of Online Gambling

Gambling Industry

Forms of Online Gambling

Land-based casinos vs. online casinos

Land-based casinos vs. online casinos

As soon as a deposit has been approved and credited to your casino account you usually get an email, confirming the deposit. This is your receipt for the payment, and many players just delete them immediately, while others save them forever. You may be wondering what the correct way of handling them might be? In truth, there are no real rules, but we recommend that you hang on to them for at least a few minutes before deleting them.

Emails confirming you deposit

At most casinos, you can choose if you want a deposit confirmation sent by email or not, after every successful deposit. We would recommend that you accept these emails, as they can be good to have to refer back to. At the very least you should keep them until you can see that the balance in your casino account has been updated to reflect the new deposit. As this is your proof of deposit, having them can be beneficial in case the deposit should be delayed, as you can then send it back to the casino when inquiring about the transaction time for your deposit.

The only other reason to hang on to it for a longer is if it states which deposit method was used, in addition to confirming that the deposit has been processed. This would be in case you are using multiple payment methods for your deposits, to easily refer back to when you want to make sure which method was used, so you can request your withdrawal back to the correct method.

See your transactions in your casino account

A couple of years ago it was quite common to see a simple layout of your casino account, where there wasn’t much information available. This has now changed, and most casinos have a very neat and handy overview of almost everything you do on your account. This includes a list of all your deposits and withdrawals, completed with timestamps and which payment method was used. Since this is now more or less standard it has in many ways replaced the need for an email confirmation, and this is also why a lot of casinos let you choose for yourself if you want this email or not.

In addition to successful deposits, you can often also choose to see declined deposits and withdrawals, giving you a complete overview of all your transactions. For those of you who keep track of your spending and budgets, you’ll also be happy to know that most casinos offer the possibility to download these transaction overviews. If not you can always contact the casino through their live chat or by email, and have them send you the transaction list as an attachment.

It happens once in a while, although not very often, that a deposit is delayed. When this happens we often say that a deposit is stuck, as it has been held up somewhere on the way from your account to the casino account. When this happens you need to take action, as it can take quite a while for the casino to realize that there was an issue with a deposit, so if you don’t do anything you might end up waiting for weeks for your deposit to arrive.

Delayed deposit? Check your account and contact support

If you’ve made a deposit into your casino account but it didn’t arrive on time the first thing you should check is your bank statement. You need to see if the money has been deducted, and if so, when. If it hasn’t been deducted something obviously didn’t work as it should, and you can simply retry the deposit. Should it fail again you should check if you have reached a deposit limit of some sort, or contact your bank for further assistance. If it has been deducted check the time, and if possible take a screenshot of the transaction, and find the transaction ID.

The next step is to contact customer support at the casino. If you’re lucky they might be able to push the deposit through for you, so it gets credited to your account immediately. If that’s not possible for them to do you need to give them the transaction ID, and you can also send them the screenshot of the transaction. They will then escalate the case to the payments team, which in turn can contact the payment provider. However, they will most likely only do this if the deposit is delayed for more than 30 minutes or so.

Getting information about your payment

To be able to solve a problem with a missing, delayed or stuck deposit the casino will ask you to provide some information. Most often this is information you can find on your bank statement, but at some banks, you might have to contact their support to get to the details you need. This includes transaction ID’s, a timestamp for the payment, and other routing information. All you need to do is contact the bank, inform them that you made a payment that never reached its destination and that you need the information they have connected to it to track the payment down.

This is something banks deal with all the time, so they will know what it is you’ll be needing. This information you then just forward to the casino, and after that, all you have to do is wait for them to get back to you. If you don’t hear anything in a day or two, contact them again to check the status of their investigation.

When a deposit is delayed for days

If your deposit is delayed for a long time it’s likely it got stuck somewhere. This means it left your account, but never made it to the casino. If this is the case, the issue is most likely with the payment provider, and unfortunately, there is nothing the casino can do, other than informing the provider of the transaction and wait for a solution from them. This does not happen very often, and if it does it’s usually a problem with the routing of the payment.

When this does occur it’s most often because of some missing information when performing a bank transfer. If there is missing information about the bank account the deposit should go into, or if your player ID has gone missing from the transaction, this can cause quite a delay. By providing the information you have about the transaction, which you get from your bank, the payment processor should be able to track the payment down, so you can get it funded to your player account at the casino. If they are not successful in releasing the payment it will get sent back to where it came from, meaning your bank account. You never have to worry that the payment is lost, as you will get the money somehow, either to your casino account or back to your bank account, but unfortunately, this can take quite some time, sometimes as long as several weeks.

With so many different deposit methods to choose from it can be hard to find the one that fits your needs perfectly. To help you find the best available deposit method for your casino deposits we at CasinoTop have in this deposit guide collected all the information that you need to consider before making a deposit and choosing your preferred payment method to do so.

Before you choose a payment method – choose a casino

The first step before contemplating how to deposit money is to find out where to deposit the money. As there are hundreds of casinos to choose from, there are plenty of options, but that doesn’t mean that you should consider all of them. First off, you should eliminate all casinos that do not support your local currency, meaning casinos where you are unable to play with Canadian Dollars. This way you can avoid unnecessary exchange rate fees, both for deposits and withdrawals. In addition to this, you should also keep in mind that a casino that does not allow you to play with CAD most likely does not support all the normal Canadian payment methods either.

After you’ve found a casino where you can use your home currency you should check exactly which payment methods are supported. You would, of course, like to have the option to deposit with all the normal payment methods, like different kinds of debit and credit cards, some e-wallets and perhaps some prepaid options. If you already have a favourite payment method in mind make sure this is listed on the website, and if not just see to it that all the most common ones are present, so you can change deposit method whenever you like, without having to find a new casino.

Pick a casino without extra fees

If you haven’t read our guide about deposit fees yet, we recommend that you do so now. As this can range from 0% to 5%, you can potentially save quite a lot in the long run by choosing a casino that covers all fees for you, so the only money that gets deducted from your bank account is actually the money that you can play with at the casino. There are plenty of casinos that don’t add on any extra fees to your deposits, and these are the ones you should aim for. At the very least there have to be some deposit methods available where you can add money to your account without deposit fees, and preferably this should, of course, be a payment method you have access to.

As we are now on the topic of fees you should also check if there are any fees for withdrawals, as this can also add up to a substantial amount in the long run.

The quickest deposit methods

Now that you’ve hopefully found a casino you would like to play at, one that supports CAD currency and has no fees, it’s time to pick a deposit method. As we assume you want to be able to play as soon as your deposit has been made, an instant payment method is what you’re looking for. This includes most deposit methods, and the only one you should try to avoid is a wire transfer, as this can take days, and in the worst case a whole week.

If you want the money to be deducted straight from your bank account you can try the bank wallets Interac, Instadebit or iDebit, as these methods are instant, but also directly connected to your bank account. These options you can only find at Canadian casinos, as these are payment methods only available to us. Other instant deposit methods include credit and debit cards, e-wallets and prepaid options.

Make sure your welcome offer is triggered

Credit cards are usually a preferred method of choice for the first deposit. The reason why a card payment is often the best option to start off with is that this method always triggers your welcome offer. Not all payment methods do, as many casinos exclude e-wallets and prepaid options from activating a welcome bonus. For future deposits, these can be used, but in a lot of cases, it’s best to avoid them for your initial deposit.

At some casinos, you may also get a boost on your deposits if you opt for some specific deposit methods, and casino bonuses like these can always be smart to take advantage of. It’s not uncommon that you can get between 10% and 25% extra just by picking one deposit method over another, and if you have access to these methods, why not use them if that gives you extra money? Just make sure you also take into account any fees related to the deposit methods, if there are any. This should also be counted towards the bonus, to see how much extra you really are getting by using an offer like this.

Set yourself up for quick withdrawals

As you might know, all casinos are required to ask you to withdraw your winnings to the same payment method as you used for depositing the winning funds, and this means that your deposit method directly affects how quickly you can get a payout from the casino. Not only do most payment methods for withdrawals need to be added to the casino account by first depositing with it, but the winning deposit method must also be used when cashing out. That means it’s not enough to add the payment method, but you must also use it for deposits whenever you would like a withdrawal to go back to it.

If you want truly fast withdrawals it’s e-wallets that’s your best bet. For these payment methods, there is no such thing as a transaction delay, as the withdrawal will appear instantly in your wallet as soon as the casino approves your withdrawal request. This is not to say that you’ll get paid as soon as you ask for your withdrawal, as the casino processing time will be whatever it is, but this is the only waiting period. This is in contrast to payouts going to a card or a bank account, which will take between 1 and 5 banking days.

Also be aware that not all payment methods can be used for withdrawals, and this is the case for some credit cards and prepaid options. If you choose to use a deposit method like that you’ll have to settle for the slow withdrawals back to your bank account through a wire transfer.

Only deposit with methods you can verify

On a final note we would like to inform you that whichever deposit method you choose to use, it has to be a method that legally belongs to you. You might be asked to verify your deposit and withdrawal methods, and your name has to be shown as the cardholder, or the registered owner of the e-wallet or bank account. You are never allowed to use a third party payment method, even when you have their consent to do so, and the same goes for any cards or other means of payment belonging to a company, as business accounts are never allowed to use at an online casino.

As a Canadian player currency exchange rates are something you’ll need to consider when choosing a casino to play at. Not all online casinos who accept Canadian players support CAD as a currency, and so you might have to play with EUR, or another currency the casino supports. This can mean that you and up paying quite a lot more for your deposit than what you had planned, as you might also have to pay for the exchange of your money. Not only does the rate itself for the exchange play a role, but there might also be fees on top of that, both for deposits and withdrawals.

Play with Canadian Dollars

The best option is to choose a casino that is localized for the Canadian market, by supporting the usage of CAD. Not only will this allow you to skip a lot of the exchange fees, but it will most often also give you access to use typical Canadian deposit methods, such as Interac, Instadebit and iDebit. The biggest advantage is in the exchange, as it can be a costly affair to pay for the exchange of your currency both when you add money, and when you cash-out.

However, just because you play with Canadian Dollars it doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be no exchange. Most casinos use Euros as their home currency, simply because most online casinos we play at are based in Malta or Cyprus, where they use Euros. When you deposit money into the casino account the money doesn’t end up in your playing account, as what is shown there is just the value you have. The actual money ends up in a bank account, used solely to hold players funds, and often this account is on Euros only. This means your funds are being exchanged. In some cases the casino holds several different bank accounts, to be able to hold money in different currencies, and if they have a separate account for CAD you are off the hook when it comes to exchange rates. If not you will have to consider the current exchange rates. But, even if the casinos are informing you that there might be extra fees connected to the transfer to take into account the exchange rate, it often doesn’t always apply, as the casino will cover these costs for you.

Keep an eye on your bets

Perhaps the most dangerous part of playing with a different currency than the one you are used to is that it can get hard to keep track of how much you are actually playing for. Most casinos keep it simple and use an exchange rate that equals 1 CAD to 1 EUR. This makes it easy to make out welcome offers and deposit limits, as they only have to change the CAD to EUR, but keep the amounts as they are.

If you play with EUR as a currency you will have to check the currency exchange rate yourself, to make sure you are not betting more than what you intended. If you use the same exchange rate as the casinos tend to calculate after you’ll end up spending 50% more than what you had planned, as 1 EUR actually is almost 1.50 CAD. This means that if you are spinning on a slot with 1 EUR bets, you fact betting much more. Just over 50 such spins, you’ll have spent C$25 more than if you had played for your own currency, so the money adds up quickly. When you make your deposits it works the same way. Make sure to check what the EUR is worth, before entering in the amount you wanted to deposit in CAD.

Don’t get fooled by the free exchange for deposits

As mentioned a lot of casinos will cover the exchange fees for you, which might lead to you thinking that there is no harm in playing with EUR instead of CAD. When it comes to deposits this is true, as long as you keep track of your bets. When it comes to withdrawals, on the other hand, things are a bit different. If you cash-out in EUR to a bank account in CAD, you will get some fees to pay, and this isn’t necessarily cheap.

Even though the casino you play at will cover all extra costs on their end, they will never cover the costs your bank adds on. If you receive a EUR payment into a CAD account, your bank will perform an exchange, and this is usually not something they do for free. Some banks have a fixed rate for an exchange, while others take a percentage, and some even take both. This means you might end up getting far less than what you thought you would from your casino withdrawal. If you intend to play at a casino that doesn’t support Canadian Dollars it might be beneficial to open up a separate account with another currency so you don’t have to pay all of these extra fees, or better yet an e-wallet that can hold several currencies, such as a Revolut account.

Whenever you are transferring money somewhere, or make a payment of any sort, someone is making money out of it, and this is done through fees. There are always fees attached to online payments, but the question is who is paying them? The answer is that it’s either the one sending the money or the one receiving it. According to new rules, it should always be the receiver who pays the fees, but is this the case, or are the fees pushed over to you?

Payment providers and processors

As soon as you send money somewhere, or receive money for that matter, someone has to process your transaction, and this is done by a payment provider. This is a company that simply has the tools to transfer money, and they aren’t exactly helping you out with this due to the kindness of their hearts, they are, like everyone else, in it for the money. This means that they get paid for every transaction they perform, and this is done by collecting what we know as payment fees.

This is also true for casino deposits. It’s never free to add money into your casino account, and someone has to pay for it. In many cases, you will notice that the amount that gets deducted from your bank account or e-wallet is an exact match to what you get in your casino account, and when that is the case it means that the casino is covering the deposit fees for you. In other words, the casino is paying to receive your deposit.

Fees from 0% - 5%

The best option for us players is of course if we don’t have to pay any fees so that the casino takes care of that for us. That is however not a service all casinos want to offer their players, at least not for all payment options. Most often all casinos offer at least one deposit method which you can use without paying any fees, and that would be the cheapest one for them to use, which is almost always a bank transfer. As this deposit method is not instant it is not a means of deposit many players choose to use.

The most common way of depositing into your casino account is by using a payment card, such as VISA or MasterCard. The fees for a credit or debit card transaction is always 2.5%, which is neither a lot or little. In terms of fees it is quite standard, as many other forms or payment charges stay the same. That being said, to pay 2.5% in fees for every deposit can quite quickly become a substantial amount, if you play a lot. It can also get even worse if you choose to use other deposit methods such as PaysafeCard or en e-wallet, as some casinos charge as much as 5% in fees for these deposits. This is however not standard, as you can also pay less. Everything from 1% to 3% is considered normal for these methods.

Fees depending on deposit

When a casino chooses to cover the fees for their players this is a service they most often offer for all their players, but in some cases, they only do this for their VIP-players, or for players who make bigger deposits. There are some casinos who have set a limit of C$50 minimum for free deposits. This means that if you deposit C$50 or more per deposit you make there will be no fees to pay, but if you deposit less than this amount you’ll have to cover the fees yourself.

If you see offers like this it can be tempting to deposit C$50, just to get away with no fees, but keep in mind, that this is done to encourage you to make bigger deposits, and if you plan to only deposit C$20 it is quite a lot to more than double this just to not have to pay 50 cents in fees. So if you are determined not to pay any fees, then find a casino that never charges fees for any deposits, no matter the size.

At most online casinos you can see the expected time frame for a deposit to reach your account on the deposit page. This is information that is added to make you aware of how long it will take from when you complete the transaction to when it will arrive in your casino account. Most deposit methods will be instant, meaning there is no waiting period before you can start to play with the money you deposit. However, there are some exceptions, that you should be aware of.

Instant deposit methods

Luckily all the most common methods of depositing into your casino account will be immediate. These methods include all debit or credit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrency and most prepaid options. Also, the Canada specific methods, such as Interac, Instadebit and iDebit will clear immediately, as these are kind of like e-wallets when it comes to deposits.

When we say that a deposit is instant we mean that it usually is. There is always a chance that there will be a delay, but this is very rare. If there is a delay this is usually never more than 10 to 20 minutes. If for any reason it should take longer than that it would mean the deposit is “stuck” somewhere, and that can take longer to clear. If you have deposited using any of the payment methods mentioned above, and your casino account still isn’t credited after 20 minutes you should contact the casino customer support, so they can see what the issue is.

Deposits that are not instant

The deposit methods you should stay clear of if you don’t want to wait for your deposit to be added to your account is bank transfers and the very uncommon deposit method, cheque. For normal bank transfers, it can take as much as 5 banking days before your funds will be available to play with, which for most players is way too long. Unfortunately, there is no way to hurry up this process, as it will simply take as long as it takes.

Some bank transfers go through faster, as they are credited straight into your account, automatically when the casino gets the funds. In these cases, 2-3 banking days is what you should expect as processing time. Other wire transfers might take longer, simply because someone at the casino has to manually add the money into your account. They will simply receive the bank transfer together with your Player ID, and then they have to credit this into your account. As you can imagine this is not a very popular payment option to use, so there is no one sitting and just waiting for your deposit to arrive, so you simply have to wait until they have checked if any such deposits have come in, which happens maybe once or twice a day.

Instant at casinos, pending in your bank

When a deposit is instant, this is a lie. Even for card transactions, it takes time for money to move anywhere, and the actual processing time can be as long as for a bank transfer. The difference is that when you make a payment by card, e-wallet or any of the other instant methods for deposits, the payment processor can check if there are sufficient funds on your account, and if it is they will reserve the amount on your account. When this is done there is no way for you or your bank to stop the transaction, and hence the payment processor can be sure that they will get the money. This message is then sent to the casino, and they will credit your account.

In other words, the money you play for hasn’t actually reached the casino yet, but as they are sure that they will receive the money, they let you start playing straight away. In other words, they front you the money.

In the case of a bank transfer, no such message of approval is sent to the casino or the payment processor, and this means they can’t be sure they will receive your deposit before the money is actually in their account. In fact, they can’t even see that a deposit has been initiated at all, as this is something you only do in your online banking, and not from the casino site. They simply can’t see what you are doing in your online banking, which is a good thing. Because of this, they will not allow you to start playing before the money has been transferred, which is why you have to wait for your deposit to be credited to your account.