Casino translation: What are the most popular online games?

Recently, we’ve been looking at the most popular sports for online betting to illustrate which games and events to prioritise. Now we’re turning our attention to the casino translation and online casinos and the most popular games for those looking to bring the casino experience to their own homes (or often smartphones).

So today we’ve got eight of the most popular online casino games and, as always, you’ll see some variation in their popularity as you target different audiences around the world.

Blackjack

Blackjack (or twenty-one) is a globally popular casino game – both for its fast-paced action and relative simplicity. More importantly, this game gives less than a 1% advantage to the house with even a basic understanding of blackjack strategy, making it incredibly tempting for players all around the world.

Unlike slots and roulette, which are almost entirely based on luck, blackjack players largely hold their fate in their own hands. We’re talking about a truly global game here and one of the first that belongs on your casino translation checklist.

Roulette

Despite the heavy emphasis on luck, this French casino classic is a massive favourite among gamblers – both online and offline. Forget the strategy and key decision-making you need to win at blackjack, roulette is all about lady luck and the pure thrill of putting it all on the line.

This in itself makes roulette the king of risk-taking casino games. Or, at least, this is the reputation it still has – despite some scientists claiming to have come up with a formula that can beat the roulette table.

Slots

Slots drew their popularity from the casino floors of Vegas and other major casino destinations in the US, Australia and Europe. Their popularity expanded into games halls, pubs and local chippies across the UK, although gaming regulations stunted their growth at various stages over the years.

Then came the smartphone. Now mobile slots games are a global force and one of the most competitive categories of online casino games.

Craps

Craps brings us to our first complex casino game and a just as complex casino translation job. The concept itself is relatively straightforward: bet on the outcome of a two-dice roll. However, it’s the range of wagers you can place that takes some learning – not that this seems to dent the game’s popularity among online players.

Poker

Online poker is the premier casino game for skilled, professional gamblers. In fact, the popularity of online poker (which peaked around the year 2006) could be starting to hold it back, according to some research papers. As the best online poker players hone their skills, it becomes more difficult for games to retain their more casual players who tend to lose out quickly.

Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games around and its long-standing reputation combined with a straightforward nature maintains its popularity. The game is generally associated with high rollers – at least inside land-based casinos – but this doesn’t always apply to online versions of the game. Casino translation services for Baccarat has always been popular with our clients.

Sic Bo

Sic bo is a complex traditional Chinese game that’s incredibly popular in Asian markets – especially the gaming powerhouses of China, Hong Kong and Macau. Sic bo is widely played in land-based casinos in Asia and its online popularity can’t be ignored if you’re looking to target players in the East.

Mahjong

Another popular game in Asia – particularly China, South Korea and Japan – is Mahjong. A complex game of skill and luck with multiple variations upon the original game, many argue mah-jong is the single most popular casino game in Asia but confirmation is difficult with the widespread casual gaming you’ll find across the continent.

So there you have eight of the most popular online casino games that deserve a place in your casino translation plans. Don’t neglect those Asian markets where the casino scene is booming and Chinese-speaking audiences alone make for one of the largest markets you could hope for.