Casino games aren’t created equal. They’re all entertaining and they all give you a chance to win money. However, when it comes to rules, return on investment (ROI), and payouts, there are differences. In fact, in some instances, the differences are stark. Basically, some are easier to understand than others.
Now, the good news is that every casino game is, once you’ve got to grips with the basics, fairly simple. However, there’s no doubt that some are less complex than others. That’s what we’re going to discuss in this guide. We’ve ranked the most popular casino games from easiest to hardest.
That doesn’t mean some are easy to win money from and others aren’t. What we’re saying is that some are less complex with regards to rules and betting dynamics. So, if you want to ease yourself into the mix, here are casino games ranked from the simplest to the most complex:
Slots
Online slots have the best payouts. Indeed, if you’re playing progressive jackpot slots, the top prizes can be worth upwards of $1 million. That’s obviously a reason to play. However, the other reason slots are the most popular casino game is because they only require two moves: setting your bet size and hitting the spin button. There’s nothing else you have to do. Yes, most slots have some fancy features. But all you actually have to focus on is betting an amount you can afford, hitting the spin button, and letting the game do its thing.
Roulette
Roulette looks complex from the outside, but it’s an easy game to understand. All you have to do is choose a number, or a category of numbers, and make a bet. However, you can start to add more complexity to it by trying different betting strategies.
This could be a progressive betting strategy such as Fibonacci. This is whereby you use Fibonacci numbers to set the size of your bet. Each time you hit a losing spin, you move to the next Fibonacci number until you win. At this point, the system resets and, based on your betting pattern, you emerge with a profit.
Baccarat
Baccarat is misunderstood for a variety of reasons. However, the main reason novices tend to shy away from this casino game is the fact it looks complex because of the drawing rules. The good news is that you don’t have to know them because the dealer takes care of the drawing process. What you do have to know, however, is percentages. The odds show that the Banker hand will win 45.8% of the time, while the Player hand wins 44.6%. A tie in this game occurs 9.6% of the time. Therefore, you should make your bets based on the odds.
Blackjack
Blackjack is fairly simple when it comes to rules and payouts. You have to try and make a score as close to 21 as possible without going over. Alternatively, you have to beat the dealer in a showdown or wait for the dealer to go bust. However, the reason we’ve put it towards the more complex end of the spectrum is the fact there are right and wrong moves in this game.
When you have a certain hand and the dealer is showing a certain card, the math says you should do X. That’s what makes blackjack slightly more complex than other games. For example, if the dealer is showing a 4, the best move is to stand on any total lower than 12. Then, if you want to get serious, you can start doubling on soft numbers when the dealer has a 4 because they’re in a weak position. In other words, you’re aiming to keep your risk to a minimum but also get more money onto the table when the dealer is weak.
Video Poker and Casino Poker
Video poker and casino poker games such as Caribbean Stud are similar to blackjack in the sense that their rules aren’t hugely complex. However, you do have decisions to make based on your hand, the potential outcomes, and the payouts.
Basically, it’s all about strategy and making the right moves at the right time. If you’re able to make the best five-card hand, great. If not, you want to put yourself in a position where you can at least beat the dealer. For example, if you call 82% of the time in Casino Hold’em, this includes with hands such as queen-high, you can reduce the house edge to around 2%.
Poker
There’s an old saying in poker that goes like this: it takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. The rules of poker aren’t hard to learn. You’re dealt some hole cards and the aim is to win the pot by any means necessary. That’s pretty much it. However, the reason it’s the most complex casino game out there is because of the “by any means necessary” part. Poker is akin to chess when it comes to strategy.
You’ve got mathematical decisions to make, you’ve got logical decisions to make, and you’ve got psychological decisions to make. All of this makes it hard to become a good player and extremely hard to become world-class like Doyle Brunson.
Let’s say you haven’t made a ranked hand, but you know your opponent’s range is weak based on their betting pattern and the board texture. If you can apply enough pressure and make them fold, you could win the pot. This type of thinking is what makes poker the most complex casino game out there.
To try all of these games and more, check out our recommended Canadian online casinos and start playing today.
