Even the casual gambler knows the most common casino games. These include card games like poker and blackjack. Others include slot machines, roulette, and backgammon. What a lot of gamers don’t know is that there’s a whole lot more variety out there when it comes to games that are played in casinos — both land-based casinos and online casinos in the UK.

8 unconventional casino games

The world of gambling is vast. Some games are considered unconventional because they are only popular in certain parts of the world while others are usually hidden and tucked away in their own little niche.

Here are eight unconventional casino games that you may not know about.

1. Dreidel

A dreidel is a Jewish spinning top that has four sides. They are traditionally played during Hanukkah and used as an educational tool to help people learn the Torah. Its invention dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times when learning the Torah was outlawed, causing Jewish people to improvise with a spinning top as a tool to remember the scriptures. Over the years, it grew in popularity in casinos, and players now use the Hebrew letters on each of the four sides to determine their winnings. This game is fun and easy to play with family and friends.

2. Pachinko

Pachinko is a Japanese gambling game often compared to pinball and slot machines. The game was introduced in 1920 as an arcade game to entertain children. The first pachinko parlour was introduced ten years later. Even though it’s a Japanese game, many pachinko parlours were owned by Koreans during the Korean War as a way for them to make ends meet. It is an easy and exciting game with entertaining Japanese anime graphics. The aim is to get as many balls as possible into the pockets. You’ll need to insert your money to receive small silver balls before you start the game. You then press a button to launch your ball, hoping it’ll land in a winning pocket. Exciting prizes can be won based on how many balls you can land in the pockets. 

3. Dai Di

Dai Di is a simple and fun game that can be played amongst your family and friends using a deck of cards. The game also goes by many other names, including Choi Ti Dee and Big Two. Dai Di is new and originated in China in 1980, growing in popularity in other Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The game requires both luck and strategic thinking as you aim to reduce the number of cards in your hand. The player does this by playing combinations typically used in poker. The higher the combination, the better. The player with the least amount of cards in the end is the winner, and every card you have remaining is counted against you. 

4. Let It Ride

Let It Ride is a strategic card game based on poker. It was created by a company called Shuffle Master to help create more demand for their shuffling machines in the early 1980s. Played more casually than regular poker, the aim is to create the best possible hand using three cards you’ve been dealt and the two community cards in the middle — much like Texas Hold‘em. Players have to make three equal bets at the start of each game. Once they have their hand, players can pull back one of their bets or leave all three bets on the table. This move is more aptly known as letting the bets ride. Let it Ride can be found, among other many card games, online.

5. Sic Bo

Popularised in Asian countries, Sic Bo is a dice game that relies heavily on chance. The game was created in ancient China to help martial artists relax and was only introduced to the United States in the 1900s. Even though it is a chance game, there are different rules and betting options that you have to know. The dealer rolls three dice and players place their bets on what they think the outcome will be. Bets can include big and small, specific triples, any triples, doubles, dice combinations, three dice total, and single dice bets. Sic Bo also has different variations, including Chuck-a-Luck.

6. Chuck-A-Luck

Considered to be a variant of Sic Bo, Chuck-a-luck is also a chance game that uses three dice in its gameplay. This game goes by two different names: The Birdcage and Sweat. It is said to have originated in English pubs before it was introduced to the US in the 19th Century. The game was popularised by people who had little money. Just like Sic Bo, players place their bets on where the three dice will land. To do this, the dealer continuously rotates the birdcage until the three dice fall onto the board. Chuck-a-luck is mostly played at charity fundraisers. 

7. Casino War

Casino War is a simple card game played at a blackjack-style card table. The game is fairly new, as it originated in Nevada thirty years ago in 1993 by Bet Technology. Bets are placed at the beginning of each game and the dealer will deal each player a card, including themselves. The aim of the game is to receive a card that is higher in value than the dealer. Card values are the same as regular poker, with the ace being the highest and two being the lowest. If your card is higher than the dealer’s, you get to keep the money, and if it’s not, the dealer wins. There are two options for a tiebreaker: The player either forfeits or goes to war. If war happens, the player and dealer raise their bets to equal amounts and the dealer deals out one more card each. This time, if the player wins, they get to keep the money raised in the second wager. If the dealer wins, they get to keep both wagers.

8. Keno

Keno is a lottery-style game that is dependent on chance. It originated in China thousands of years ago. The Emperor of the Han dynasty, Cheung Leung, created this game to financially benefit his army and his reign. The game involves a large board and a random number generator. Players choose and bet on numbers and win prizes based on how many numbers they guessed correctly. Keno is simple but the prizes can be huge and many casinos even offer jackpots options, making it even more intriguing.

Explore even more unique games with The Phone Casino

Trying new things is necessary for both our mindsets and our skill sets. These can extend to gaming. Each game is unique in its own way, challenging cognitive function and critical thinking. Playing a game you haven’t tried before will also help boost your confidence and keep you entertained for hours. Make sure to brush up on the rules of the game as this will show you how to win casino games.

Register with The Phone Casino now and explore the many unique and exciting casino games online. From card game variants to slot games, the options are limitless and bound to keep you entertained.