Gambling has existed for centuries, but the games that people have loved to play have changed with the times, particularly as technology has evolved. Join us as we take a look at four of the most popular casino games that people enjoy playing today.

Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular card game that’s stood the test of time, having been played in some shape or form since the 17th century in many parts of the world. While many people acknowledge that there is an element of skill to this game, most gamblers who enjoy blackjack tend to do so because it’s simple to play. All players really need to know are three things: the value of each card; that you need to build a hand that has a value of 21 or less, and that your hand must be worth more than the dealer’s. While there are other rules and side bets that spice the experience up a little, these three things are all that you need to know to get you started in the game.

However, one cannot ignore how one key piece of technology has helped the popularity of blackjack and all the other games on our list. The internet, which first became publicly accessible in 1994, presented the possibility of an incredible new platform for casino games, including blackjack. The first online casinos offered this iconic game to players, and it wasn’t long before they realized that this platform would allow them to evolve the game even further. Today, players can enjoy many versions of the game online and at real-world casinos, including Vegas Strip Blackjack, Multihand Blackjack, and Face Up Blackjack.

Poker

Just like blackjack, poker – and the games that directly influenced it, like poque – has been around for centuries. One of the main reasons many people have enjoyed this famous game and all its variants, including Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and Five Card Draw, is that it’s not purely a game of luck. Players can learn skills such as bluffing, reading people’s “tells”, and probabilities of certain hands cropping up to increase their chances of winning – something that does not apply to many other gambling games. Since its peak in the early 2000s, poker has been part of mainstream culture. This classic gambling game is enjoyed in all its forms, from tournament felts in high-end casinos and on cruise ships, to online poker rooms, and even “friendly games”, played around someone’s coffee table every now and then.

Like blackjack, the internet played a significant part in the growth of poker. The development of online poker in the late 1990s and its acceptance as a legitimate way to play by the early 2000s helped catapult this game into the mainstream. At the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) event, the 33rd year the WSOP had been running, a win by Chris Moneymaker also massively increased the popularity of this game. What made his win so special was that he secured his spot at the event by playing in an online tournament, and was the first person to ever do so. Thousands of people, all hoping to become the next Chris Moneymaker, joined online poker games as a result – a phenomenon that’s today known as the “Moneymaker effect”.

Slots

Slots may be some of the newer games on our list, having only been around for a little more than a century, but they are undoubtedly the most popular type of gambling game. Their appeal comes down to one reason: this genre of gambling games is so easy to play. Whether it’s traditional “fruit games” with a single fixed payline, slots with multiple paylines, or games that have changing reels, the basic premise of slots has always been the same. You make a wager, spin the reels, and see how your luck turns out. There’s no skill involved, and it’s something anyone can learn to pick up and play within seconds. 

The ease of playing slots caught the imagination of game developers, who saw the potential for online play and began adapting them to run in cyberspace. Add in the fact that their design makes them particularly well suited for mobile devices like tablets and smartphones, and it’ll surprise no one that these games have exploded in popularity on the internet. Today, millions of people play online slots at virtual casinos on their laptop or desktop computers or even try their luck going for the jackpot on their mobile devices. With the sheer number of games available, you’ll undoubtedly be able to find the best online slots that you love to play!

Live dealer games

The last entry on our list isn’t a specific type of game, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most popular emerging genres that encapsulate many different gambling games and is changing the way many people play: live dealer games. For those who enjoy the atmosphere of a real casino, live dealer games offer the closest online alternative to visiting an actual brick-and-mortar gambling venue. 

Live dealer games are played online, but they differ from their digital counterparts in that the games are hosted by a real dealer via live stream, like live blackjack, with players interacting with the dealer and game via a digital interface. For example, if you like to play roulette online, you can now enjoy a digital version of the game where a real croupier spins the roulette wheel, and drops the ball into the action, with bets being placed via the internet before the game begins.

The types of games available in the live dealer genre keep on growing, with players today enjoying live blackjack, live online roulette, and even live dealer slot games. As faster and more stable internet connections become available, we may see these new types of casino games take over from their purely digital counterparts… although they may not be everyone’s cup of tea!

Enjoy some of these incredible gambling games at The Phone Casino

If you enjoy online casino games and want to enjoy some of the most popular games of this generation, be sure to see what we have on offer at The Phone Casino. We have great titles such as online blackjack, poker, and slots, as well as scratch card games. But that’s not all. You can also enjoy great bonuses including free daily spins, no-deposit games, and much more. Sign up and join in the fun on offer at our mobile casino!