Best Casino Games to Play in Australia
Australia is the biggest gambling country per capita, with the average adult spending over $1,100 on the activity. Not surprisingly, Australians enjoy playing a variety of casino games. But what are the absolute best casino games to play in Australia? You can find out below as we cover the top Australia casino games. These games are available in both land-based and online casinos.
1. Pokies
Pokies (a.k.a. slots) are definitely the most popular casino games in Australia. They give you an opportunity to spin the reels and play for huge prizes. The term "pokie" comes from players constantly poking the spin button on land-based slot machines. Land-based and online pokies are popular for multiple reasons. First, they offer basic gameplay that accommodates casino players of all backgrounds. Anybody can hop on a pokie and start playing with little learning curve. Another reason for the popularity is that pokies offer exciting sounds, animations, and features. The latter include everything from free spins to hold-and-spin style rounds. Finally, pokies can pay up to five, six, or even seven figures through jackpots and/or bonus rounds.
2. Blackjack
Blackjack is a skill game that gives players a solid opportunity to win. If you find the right blackjack rules, you can lower the house edge to 0.5% with strong strategy. Many players embrace this challenge and how they could be nearly even with the casino. Blackjack comes in multiple variations, which only adds to its appeal. The most common is the classic 21 version, which has basic rules and a simple goal of beating the dealer. Perfect Pairs, for example, adds the same-named side bet that wins when you get a pair. 21+3 is another side bet variation that pays if your first two cards and the dealer's upcard form a three-card poker hand.
3. Baccarat
Baccarat is like the pokies of the table games area. It combines the simplicity of a pokie with the odds of blackjack. Regarding the latter, you can reduce the house edge to 1.06% by wagering on the banker hand. The player hand bet also offers reasonable odds with a 1.24% house advantage. Baccarat may not have the strategy of some Australia casino games because it only requires betting on winning hands. However, it's a nice game for anybody who wants to slowly acclimate themselves to the tables.
4. Roulette
First introduced in Paris in 1796, roulette is one of the most-classic Australian casino games. It involves wagering on single numbers, groups of numbers, or colored squares. Roulette might look intimidating at first glance, but it's actually quite easy once you play some rounds. We suggest trying real-money or free online roulette to learn the bets and how to place them before visiting a brick-and-mortar casino. This game comes in two main formats, including American roulette and European roulette. The latter is better because it only has a 2.70% house edge (versus 5.26% for American).
5. Craps
Craps gives you and other players an opportunity to roll the dice (a.k.a. the shooter). The goal is to bet on the winning dice roll. If you wager on pass line, for example, you win with a 7 or 11 on the come out roll (shooter's first roll). Meanwhile, a 2, 3, or 12 will cause you to lose immediately. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) establishes a "point," which you need to come up before a 7 to win. Pass line is just one of the dozens of craps bets. You may feel intimidated when first looking at the board, but you can quickly learn in no time. Like roulette, you might want to start with free online craps to learn the ropes. Also, note that pass line and don't pass line bets only have 1.41% and 1.36% house edges, respectively.
6. Casino Poker
You've likely heard of player-vs-player poker variations like Texas hold'em, Omaha, and seven-card stud. Casino poker offers similar gameplay to hold'em, but it sees you play against the house/dealer rather than other players. Plenty of casino poker games are available across the Australian gambling landscape. Some games include casino hold'em, three-card poker, and Texas Hold'em Bonus. Three-card poker is quite popular among these variations. It involves trying to beat the dealer's hand while also winning side payouts based on your hand strength.
7. Australian Live Dealer Games
Live dealer casino games stream out of land-based casino studios. They feature human dealers, real tables, and the same classic table games covered throughout this guide. Most Australia online casinos have at least a few live dealer games. Common live casino options include baccarat, blackjack, casino hold'em, and roulette. Bigger online casinos may offer other live games such as craps, Super 6, three-card poker, and wheel-based games. The obvious perk to live gaming is that you get the brick-and-mortar casino experience withing having to go anywhere.
8. Video Poker
Video poker is commonly found alongside pokies in Australian land-based casinos. It's also available in one or more variations at most online casinos. Speaking of variations, video poker encompasses well over a dozen games. Notable video poker variants include All American, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Joker's Wild, and Tens or Better. The key with any of these video poker games is to form a qualifying hand and win money. You stand to win more through better hands, with a royal flush paying 4,000 coins.
9. Scratchies
Scratchies (a.k.a. scratch cards) are most commonly associated with the lottery. However, they are also available in plenty of Australian online casinos. Online scratchies work much like the real-life lottery version. The only difference is that you use virtual coins to scratch off the opaque and reveal potential prizes. These games can pay thousands of dollars with the right bet size, which enhances the excitement.
Tips for Enjoying the Best Australia Casino Games
You will likely have a good time with any of the casino games mentioned above. But you can enhance your fun even more by following the tips below.
- Practice good bankroll management - Gaming is the most fun when you gamble responsibly. That said, we highly encourage you to set aside a casino bankroll and stick with it.
- Learn strategy for Australia casino games - Strategy helps you make the best bets and decisions. In turn, you'll stand a better chance of beating the house.
- Pick up Australian casino bonuses - AU online casinos offer plenty of bonuses, ranging from match deposit deals to free spins. You can build your bankroll further by taking advantage of these offers.
- Try different games - The world of Australian online gaming is wide open. You can use this variety to try many games and find out what you like.
In summary, Australia provides many great casino games at brick-and-mortar and online casinos. Pokies are the big favorite, but blackjack, live games, roulette, and others are worth checking out too.