What are Casino Table Games?
Table games are a collective term that is used to describe a certain group of casino games. These games are grouped together under the term mainly because of the fact that they all use some sort of table as a platform. This term table game is also used to distinguish these games from other types of casino games such as slots and video poker. While the terms loosely describe a group of casino table games that use a table, not all of these games are played in the same way.
Some of the casino table games that fall under the term ‘table games’ are in fact card games while others use dice as their main vehicle to determine winners and losers. When it comes to online casinos, where everything is presented in a small space on your computer screen, the term ‘table games’ or ‘casino table games’, becomes more important. In land-based casinos, it is very easy to spot the different games without the need for a separate term. On an online casinos homepage, however, the term ‘table games’ or ‘casino table games’ is often used as a navigational tool. This makes it much easier for new players to find the games that they are interested in quickly and easily.
The different kinds of Table Games
When you next visit an online casino, you may notice that the games are divided very neatly into several categories. These can include classic table games such as roulette and blackjack or can be quite a lot broader than that. It all depends on the online casino itself, some online casinos prefer to offer as many games as they can. It is therefore not uncommon to see online casinos offering more unusual table games such as Paigow, Sic bo, Casino war, Faro, Four card poker, Three card poker, Two-up, Spanish 21, Teen Patti, Chuck-a-luck or Big Six wheel table games.
Newer online casinos also tend to balance their online slots with more table games. You may also notice a section for live casino, at many of today’s top online casinos. Live casino games give online players the chance to experience a real casino atmosphere while still enjoying them at home. Clicking on casino table games tab or live casino tab will reveal the online casino’s collection of these so-called table games. This will most likely include roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps. These are the four main games that fall under the umbrella term of ‘table games’. Let’s take a look at these four classic games in more detail.
Roulette
Roulette is an old casino game and is often thought of as one of the first real casino table games in the world. The game originated quite by chance which is rather fitting for a game based purely on chance. Roulette was originally invented in France during the 1700s by a French inventor. A man named Blaise Pascal was a well-respected scholar, mathematician, and inventor. He was attempting to invent a device for perpetual motion. Although this quest failed, he did end up creating a brand new device for gambling. The device used his wheel and was divided into a series of numbers. The idea was for gamblers to predict which number the wheel would stop on.
The new game was a hit and became very popular in France and other parts of Europe. This simple version of the roulette game that we know today was played this way unchanged for a long time. At some point, two brothers decided to make the game more interesting by adding a zero number to the wheel. This made the game slightly more advantageous for the house. The game was taken to America where another zero was added, the ‘double zero’. This dramatically increased the house edge to over five per cent.
Roulette Wheels
There are three basic versions of roulette: American roulette, French roulette, and European roulette. The American version is the only table game with a double zero and a single zero. The French version is the original and the European an updated version of French roulette. All roulette games can be quite easy to play, depending on the type of bets you are looking to make. Outside bets are the easiest and include picking a colour to win and betting on odds or evens. Inside bets are a bit more complex and take place on the numbered grid on the roulette table. These bets can be tricky but also pay a lot more if they win.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the card-based casino table games and is also the most popular of all casino table games. The game is very easy to learn to play and offer a fast pace with plenty of strategies. Like all casino table games, roulette was invented in Europe and brought over to America. The object of the game is to get to 21 with the cards that are dealt by the dealer. You also need to beat the dealer to win. If you go over a total of 21 you lose and this is called a bust.
To begin a game of blackjack, the dealer will deal two cards to each player around the blackjack table. These cards are dealt face up. The dealer will also deal two cards to their own position but one will be face up and one face down. Each player has to make the best hand that they can with their two cards. Each player must also try to guess, based on the dealers up card if he has a good hand.
There are a few options that each player has in the next round. Based on their two-card hand players can choose to ‘hit’ which means ask for another card. This is a good idea if the player’s two-card hand is quite weak. The player can also indicate that they do not want any other cards, this is called a ‘stand’. Players can also split a two-card hand if both cards are the same value. This is a good move if the two-card hand is two eights or two aces.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another of the table game that uses cards to determine a winner and a loser. The game also originates from Europe and has a few similarities to blackjack. Both games use cards in a combination, both games deal a two-card minimum and both games give different cards different values. Baccarat is very popular in Asia and is becoming more popular in the west, especially at online casinos.
In baccarat, there are only three different bet options that players can make. Each round of baccarat occurs between two positions. On the one side is the Player position. On the other side is the Banker position. In the middle is the Tie position. The idea of baccarat is to decide who will win and bet on that position before the cards are dealt. The way in which a winner is determined in baccarat is for either position to reach a two-card total of either 8 or 9. It is also possible to bet on a tie between the two. However, this bet is often not recommended due to the very high house edge that this bet has.
Craps
Craps is one of the most popular casino table games played in land-based and online casinos. the game uses dice to determine winners and losers. This is one of the most interesting of all casino table games. The game of craps originates in England and is based on an old game called Hazard. In craps, the idea is to bet on the outcome of a roll of the dice. One of the players will throw the dice. Throwing the dice is known as a roll and the person throwing the dice is known as a shooter.
There are two versions of craps that are popular. The one version is known as street craps and is played in an informal setting, usually on the street. The other version is known as table craps or casino craps and this is the version found in land casinos and online casinos.
Other types of casino table games
Of course, the casino table games mentioned in this article are some of the most popular casino games that you will find in the majority of online casinos. There are many other casino table games that you can explore and enjoy. Not every online casino will have the same list of casino table games which makes playing at more than one online casino sensible. If you are interested in exploring casino table games, here is a list of many of the most popular games found in most casinos. Some of these games are fairly new while others are as old as the iconic table games described in this article.
- Paigow
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Casino Hold’em
- Sic bo
- Casino war
- Faro
- Four card poker
- Spanish 21
- Teen Patti
- Texas Hold’em
- Two-up
- Chuck-a-luck
- Big Six wheel
