Games available in most casinos are commonly called casino games. In a casino game, the players gamble casino chips on various possible random outcomes or combinations of outcomes. Casino games are available in online casinos, where permitted by law. Casino games can also be played outside of casinos for entertainment purposes, some on machines that simulate gambling.

Categories of casino games

There are three general categories of casino games: table games, electronic gaming machines, and random number ticket games such as Keno and simulated racing. Gaming machines, such as slot machines and pachinko, are usually played by one player at a time and do not require the involvement of casino employees to play. Random number games are based upon the selection of random numbers, either from a computerized random number generator or from other gaming equipment. Random number games may be played at a table, such as Roulette, or through the purchase of paper tickets or cards, such as Keno or Bingo.

Cards

• Asian stud
• Australian Pontoon
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Blackjack switch
• Casino Hold'em
• Casino war
• Caribbean Stud Poker
• Chinese poker
• Faro
• Four card poker
• Let It Ride
• Mambo stud
• Pai gow poker
• Poker
• Red Dog
• Spanish 21
• Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker
• Three card poker
• Two-up
• Penny-up

Dice / Tiles

• Craps
• Pai Gow
• Sic bo
• Chuck-a-luck

Random numbers

• Big Six wheel
• Roulette

Gaming machines

• Pachinko
• Slot machine
• Video Lottery Terminal
• Video poker

Random numbers

• Bingo
• Keno

House advantage

Casino games generally provide a predictable long-term advantage to the casino, or "house", while offering the player the possibility of a large short-term payout. Some casino games have a skill element, where the player makes decisions; such games are called "random with a tactical element." While it is possible through skillful play to minimize the house advantage, it is extremely rare that a player has sufficient skill to completely eliminate his inherent long-term disadvantage (the house edge or house vigorish) in a casino game. Such a skill set would involve years of training, an extraordinary memory and numeracy, and/or acute visual or even aural observation, as in the case of wheel clocking in Roulette.

The player's disadvantage is a result of the casino not paying winning wagers according to the game's "true odds", which are the payouts that would be expected considering the odds of a wager either winning or losing. For example, if a game is played by wagering on the number that would result from the roll of one die, true odds would be 5 times the amount wagered since there is a 5 to 1 probability of any single number appearing. However, the casino may only pay 4 times the amount wagered for a winning wager.