Last Updated on October 20, 2017 by Trevor Hallsey
Top 10 most popular online casino games ranked by real players.
The online gambling industry has expanded into a global behemoth over the last two decades. In the beginning, going all the way back to 1997, there wasn’t much to choose from. A few dozen slot machines and a couple of table games filled the menu. And of course there was online bingo – that was a big hit back then.
Today, with an exponentially growing market, there are literally hundreds of ways to place a wager over the internet. I’ve seen a lot of articles lately relating to which games are the best, and which are played most. They all read like popularity contests. So I’ve decided to do my own research, and let real players decided. What really are the…
Top 10 Most Popular Online Casino Games?
Before I go any further, let me state for the record that any form of online gambling should only be undertaken for entertainment purposes. The games below are not recommended as a source of supplementary income. The casinos always have an edge. They would no longer be in business if they didn’t. So please, enjoy responsibly.
#1 Sports Betting
It’s true—the most popular form of online gambling has nothing to do with casino games at all. It’s sports betting. According to research statistics, online sports wagers accounted for a whopping 49.4% of all internet gambling in 2016.
#2 Slot Machines
No surprise here. Just like their land-based cousins, online casinos get the most action at the slot machines. There are hundreds upon hundreds of titles to choose from, with myriad themes and innovative features. Unlike their land-based cousins, however, online slots have way better payout ratios averaging 95-97% compared to 88-90% on land.
#3 Blackjack
Slots players may be in the majority, but for those who don’t mind putting a little extra mental effort into their gaming, blackjack is as good as it gets. With proper strategy and the right rules, players can achieve an expected ROI of 99.73%.
#4 Lotteries
I was a bit surprised by this one, but it’s true. Online lottery games are soaring in popularity these days. Most players can buy tickets for all of their local and national lotteries on the world wide web, as well as purchasing tickets for international lotteries they don’t normally have access to. You can even play scratch-off lottery tickets at online casinos all over the world.
#5 Poker
I remember a time when online poker games—Texas Holdem, Omaha Holdem, H.O.R.S.E., etc.—were the second most popular online gambling option in the world (behind sports betting, of course). In recent years, they’ve fallen behind, now enjoyed by a sizable niche group of professional and amateur players.
#6 Bingo
Bingo has enjoyed fandom for nearly a century now. The online variety is especially big in the UK, where companies like Gala thrive on the participation of hundreds of thousands of online customers. It’s less popular in the rest of the world, though, pushing it down to the #6 spot overall.
#7 Roulette
Who doesn’t enjoy a good spin of the wheel now again? Roulette is a 100% game of chance. Place your bets, cross your fingers, and hope for the best.
#8 Craps
Most players find craps so intimidating that it’s generally ranked on the low end of the popularity list in land-based casinos. Online casinos allow players to practice for free to learn the ropes. They also don’t have angry mobs of fellow players baring down on you for betting against the shooter. So at online casinos, craps is easily worthy of a top 10 ranking.
#9 Video Poker
I’m rather shocked how low video poker comes in on the list. With the right game (Jacks or Better 9-6 Full Pay), and the right strategy, the ROI is as high as blackjack.
#10 Skill / Arcade Games
Often found under the ‘Other‘, ‘Specialty‘ or ‘Casual‘ games sub-menu, skill-based arcade games have always enjoyed a special place in the heart of entertainment-seeking online gamblers. Feel like a kid again, hammering away at moles in Microgaming’s Whack-A-Jackpot, or shoot’em up in games like Space Evader. Instead of dropping quarters at the arcade, adult players are dropping bets with a chance of winning cash.
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