Online casinos are one of the most popular forms of gambling entertainment today.
One of the main reasons that they can compete with traditional land-based casinos is because of all of the high-quality games they offer.
In a crowded market, online casinos try to stand out in a variety of ways. They offer special casino bonus promotions, have wilder or classier themes than their competitors, or expand into sports betting as well. But the most important thing that online casinos can do to attract new customers and keep players coming back over and over again is to offer a fantastic selection of games.
One of the hardest parts about playing at an online casino is choosing which game to play. Some online casinos have games libraries with thousands of slot games. Even several hundred is a lot to sift through. Choice can be overwhelming — just like the endless scrolling that we get trapped in with streaming giants like Netflix when we are trying to figure out something to watch.
To help players choose which casinos to sign up with and which games to play, an entire industry of review sites has sprung up. Each of these guides has their own standards and ranking systems. In general, however, they all look at the same factors to make their reviews.
Here we’ll go over what factors are considered when online casino games are ranked and reviewed. For the most part, these apply to all online casino games. The only exception is the dealers, which is limited to live dealer games.
Developer
Game developers are an important element of the online casino world. The demand for new games is constant. New and established studios are constantly working to create new games that fit the needs of players and casinos while also being innovative and unique. With thousands of games on the market and limited options in terms of gameplay, this is a difficult task.
Reviewers take the game studio into consideration when ranking games. Some studios have much better reputations than others and some are known for a particular style of game or genre. While these distinctions are less dramatic than they are with traditional video game studios, they are noticeable.
Some of the most trusted game developers include Microgaming, Yggdrasil, Red Tiger Gaming, Play’n Go, NetEnt, Playtech, Evolution Gaming Group, and International Game Technology. Games from any of these studios tend to be ranked very highly.
Return to Player rate
The Return to Player rate (RTP) is the average amount that a player can expect to win back over time. For most slot games, the RTP ranges from 93%-96%. As an example, let’s consider NetEnt’s classic game Gonzo’s Quest. This game has an RTP of 96%. This means that on average for every $100 wagered, you will win back $96.
The RTP is set by the developer when they’re building the game, so it is the same across every online casino that has that game. A high RTP is always a strong positive in an online casino game review.
Volatility
The volatility of a game describes how it pays out. A low volatility game will frequently pay out small amounts. A high volatility game will rarely pay out but when it does, the wins are bigger. A medium volatility game falls somewhere between the two.
When it comes to volatility, it’s a matter of personal preference so reviewers always need to mention it. Some players find high volatility games too stressful, while others consider low volatility games boring. Knowing the volatility of a game gives players an idea of what they’re getting into when they start playing.
Randomness
All online casino games should use some form of Random Number Generator (RNG) software. This keeps the games fair. The RNG software should determine everything that happens during a casino game — which cards are dealt, how the dice land, where the roulette wheel stops, and how each reel of the slot machine spins.
Some online casinos and developers are very transparent about the RNG software they use and that all their games are fully randomised. Others are less forthcoming with this information. This may simply be an oversight, but it isn’t reassuring. When casino games are being reviewed, the RNG software and proof of randomness are important factors.
Bonus rounds
Bonus rounds help to break through how repetitive slot machine games can be. These rounds are triggered during regular play and are usually played through with a set number of free spins that have also been triggered in regular play. Some bonus rounds are simply reconfigurations of the reels while others are separate mini games.
Bonus rounds add a lot to the enjoyment and overall experience of slot games. Reviewers consider the quality of the bonus round, how difficult it is to trigger, and the kind of payouts it gives when they’re ranking slots.
Dealers
Live dealer games are some of the most innovative casino games. They have a live dealer that players can watch and interact with through a combination of streaming and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology.
The basic dealer skills for a single game aren’t difficult to master but being a great dealer is a talent. Dealers for online casinos have the added challenge of having to interact with cameras, instead of players sat at the table in front of them.
Since a great dealer can have a major impact on the player experience, reviewers take this into consideration when evaluating live dealer games.
Replayability
Replayability is usually used when reviewing regular video games. It’s the special quality that some games have where pure enjoyment outweighs familiarity or repetition. Most online casino games are simple and repetitive, so replayability is essential. It’s the quality that keeps players coming back.
Lots of elements can go into determining how likely players are to keep playing the same game. The quality of the graphics, animations, and music are the most important. Boring graphics and grating sound effects are likely to alienate players. The right level of volatility (for the player’s personal preference), bonus rounds to keep the gameplay interesting, and overall game quality are the main determiners of a slot games replayability.
Written by James Carlisle
