Best Irish Casino Games

What type of online casino games can you play?

Slots

Known in land-based casinos as slot machines or fruit machines, online they are usually referred to as just ‘slots’ with their colourful lights and captivating graphics proving popular with players. Many slots have themes tied to popular TV shows, movies, games or various other popular culture figures. Progressive slots link numerous machines together, with each spin adding to the growing jackpot.

Roulette

Another casino favourite, this game is named after the French word meaning “little wheel”. Roulette players may choose to place a variety of bets on where the ball will land on the spinning wheel, on either a single number, various groupings of numbers, the colours black or red, whether the number is odd or even, or if the numbers are high (19-36) or low (1-18).

Blackjack 

A real casino classic, the objective of blackjack is to get closer to the number 21 with your hand than the dealer, without going over it.

Baccarat

This comparison card game pits the player’s hand against the dealer’s, often played with high stakes. Three popular versions of Baccarat exist: baccarat en banque, chemin de fer and punto banco.

Bingo

Just like the bingo hall classic, this game of probability sees numbers called out and players marking off corresponding digits on their bingo cards. When one or more lines are filled out, depending on the game, the winning player claims victory by shouting “bingo!”

Texas Hold’em Poker

One of the most popular variations of poker, Texas Hold’em sees each player dealt two hole cards face down and then five community cards played face up on the table, revealed in three stages. The stages consist of three cards known as the ‘flop’, another single card called ‘the turn’ or ‘fourth street’ and a final card known as the ‘river’ or ‘fifth street’. Players win by using the best five-card poker hand from any combination of seven cards – five on the table and their two hole cards.

Three-Card Poker

Played as heads-up between the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand. After all ante wagers are placed, three cards are dealt to each player and the dealer. Players can choose whether to fold or continue in the game by placing a ‘play’ wager equal to their ante. Hands are then exposed and wagers resolved.

Caribbean Stud Poker

This casino table game’s rules are derived from five-card stud poker. But unlike standard poker games, Caribbean Stud is played against the house rather than other players, meaning there is no bluffing or other forms of deception.

Craps

A dice game in which players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls of a pair of dice. Street craps sees players wager money against each other, while casino craps or table craps is a player versus the bank.

Keno

Just like the lottery, players select numbers ranging from 1 through to usually 80. Once all wagers are made, 20 numbers (although some variants draw fewer numbers) are drawn at random, with players paid based on how many numbers were chosen, the number of matches out of those chosen and the wager.

Sic-Bo

Also known as ‘tai sai’, ‘dai siu’, ‘big and small’ or ‘hi-lo’, this is an unequal game of chance originating in China and played with three dice. English variants include ‘grand hazard’ and ‘chuck-a-luck’. The literal meaning of sic bo is “precious dice”.

Video Poker 

Players attempt to make the best five-card poker hand possible, with most versions of the game requiring a pair of jacks or better to receive a payout.

Are there free versions of each game available?

More and more of the best casinos offer free versions of games. This means you can play immediately without any need to sign up, so you can try out a game before parting with your hard-earned cash.

What free games are available depends on which site you use. Generally, as a rule of thumb, you’ll find that progressive slots and live dealer games are reserved for real money players.

How to choose a casino game

Choosing a casino game depends on a number of different factors. The most important part is your personal preference. Once you’ve read up on a few games and tried out some free demos, pick out something with gameplay features and rules that suit you.

Of course, it’s not all about enjoying the game – bankroll management plays a part too. Some games like slots may burn through your bankroll quicker than others – never bet more than you are comfortable losing as that is a recipe for disaster.

Games with larger bonuses are attractive, especially for new players while some love the option of live dealers on their games without having to leave the house.
Finding games with a low house edge is always a good idea, as this means your chances of losing go down. Pai Gow Poker, for example offers players the opportunity to win or tie more than losing, so while you may not win as often you likely won’t lose over and over again.

Casino games with the best bonuses

The best online casino games will offer a range of enticing bonuses, for existing players as well as newbies. Finding the right bonus for you is important, as is checking not to be lured in by huge offers that require unmatchable wagering requirements in order to collect.

The bonuses out there include welcome bonuses matched deposits, no deposit free spins, no wagering bonuses and cashback deals. Sometimes the best offers are only available on certain titles, so check before you commit.

As well as wagering requirements, watch out for maximum win limits and time restrictions that can also stop you cashing out your bonus winnings quickly.

Casino games with live dealer variations

Live dealer games bring the online casino experience even closer to the reality of betting at a table as you can interact with highly-trained professional dealers across multiple language options.

The best games with live dealers include roulette, blackjack, baccarat and all forms of poker.