Top 5 Casino Table Games

When playing casino games online or in person, it's critical to learn about popular table games available to you. 

The more you play, the more comfortable you’ll be making the right decision. Eventually, strategy and by-the-book plays will be ingrained in your brain.

The only way to reach that point is with lots of reps, and there's no better practice than with online casino table games. 

Playing at online casinos gives you the chance to hone your skills and learn these games inside and out with a lot of repetition. Many online casinos also offer low-limit games, welcome bonuses, and even free-to-play versions.

We explain the top five most popular casino table games for players in legal states.

How to Play

A player is dealt two cards (and a third if the total is less than 5)—same for the dealer. Nine is the magic number. 

Whichever hand equals or comes closest to nine wins, with face cards counting as zero and aces counting as one.

If a hand exceeds 9, the total is subtracted by 10. For example, a pair of eights has a value of six: 8 + 8 = 16; 16-10 = 6

We’re talking elementary-level math here. The twist is that players don’t have to bet on their own hand. Before the cards are dealt, they can bet on their hand, the dealer’s hand, or a tie, with varying odds for each bet.

Why Play Online

Try a few hands online—you can even play a live dealer version—and you’ll quickly realize baccarat is actually less complicated than it seems. 

• Speed: The hands go fast and, unlike blackjack, players don’t make any decisions once the cards have been dealt. 
• Test odds: The only decision is made before the hand, when players choose which outcome to bet on. Playing online is a great way to get comfortable with the various odds.
• Variety of wagers: Despite its high-stakes reputation at the casino and in movies, online games offer a variety of stakes and minimum wagers. 

How It Works

Players take turns throwing dice onto a large, numbered board. 

The most common bet is the “pass line.” If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the pass bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, the pass bet loses. If the shooter rolls any other number, that number becomes the “point.” The shooter will continue to roll the dice until he rolls the same number again, in which case the pass bet wins, or rolls a 7, in which case the pass bet loses. 

There are tons of additional bets and opportunities to increase wagers throughout the shooter’s turn.

Getting hot on the dice is easily one of the most thrilling gambling experiences and can lead to big payouts for everyone at the table. But craps is a bit more intricate than other casino table games. 

It requires more time to understand all the different bet types and when players are allowed to increase their wagers during a shooter’s turn.

Related: Check out our beginner’s guide to the craps table

Why Play Online

Playing online craps, even a free version, is the perfect way to get acclimated with the action-packed table game. Playing online will give beginners a chance to understand the game and bet their money with confidence.

• Test Wagers: You can try different options, such as the don’t pass bet, playing the field, etc. 
• Good Value: Playing craps delivers a ton of bang for your buck on hot streaks, and the inherent entertainment value is second to none. 

How It Works

This game is all about choosing whether to play the hand or fold. 

The player places an ante before every hand and is dealt (you guessed it) three cards. They can then choose whether to play the hand with an additional wager or fold and lose the ante. 

Standard poker hand values apply. Three-card poker also includes bonus payouts for a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, or straight flush. 

Why Play Online

It's simple to pick up three-card poker by playing online. It will come naturally to anyone with prior poker experience, and novices will grasp the values quickly. 

• Great for beginners: Players who start online will quickly learn which hands should be bet due to great value and which hands should be folded to avoid risky wagers.
• Pacing: Playing online will help players get acclimated to the different payouts at their own pace and learn how to manage their bankroll with a fun, relatively straightforward table game.

How It Works

Roulette is a basic casino table game with a wheel and numbered board. A dealer drops a ball and spins the wheel, and players can bet on whether it will land on a red or black wheel slot or, in American roulette, the green 00 spot. (In European roulette, there is no 00, which improves the odds.)

You can also bet on odd or even numbers, individual numbers, or different combinations. 

Related: Compare American vs. European roulette

Why Play Online

Learning when you’re allowed to place bets, how many different bets you can place, and which chips you should be betting with just takes a little time. 

• Speed: It can take a while for casino dealers to reset after each spin. There can be thousands of individual chips on the table at a given time, and there's a break after every spin as the house collects losing bets and dishes out winnings.
• Odds: Winnings can be lucrative, with odds of 35-1 when betting individual numbers to hit. Playing online roulette offers the same opportunity for big wins, but more quickly.
• Fewer distractions: Playing online means you don’t have to elbow through a crowd. You might find it's easier to play online with fewer people gathered around a physical table.

How it Works

Blackjack is a card table game in which players compete against the dealer to get a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going over. 

Blackjack strategy guides aren’t hard to find, including about when to double down . 

Single-deck blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any game you can play. Blackjack is different from roulette in that the player can drastically reduce their odds of winning by playing incorrectly. There’s no wrong way to bet on red or black, but there is a statistically incorrect way to play a 13 with the dealer showing 5.

Why Play Online

The best way to learn and improve is to play a lot of hands, and online blackjack is the best way to get started.

• Lower minimums: Sometimes it’s hard to find an open seat at a table with your preferred stakes. Players can find a variety of low- or high-stakes options online. 
• Speed: A round of blackjack goes way faster online than it does in person.
• Test strategies: Players can more easily practice different scenarios online, like when to split sevens or how to play a soft 18.
• Play with live dealers: There are plenty of top live dealer options for blackjack that can prepare you for playing in person at a casino.

Where to Play Online Casino Table Games