The Best Desktop Online Casino

Choosing the Best Desktop Online Casino Sites

So, what do we look for when recommending the best online casino site for desktop? Well, here are some important factors…

Variety of Online Casino Games

When you start playing at an online gambling site, you want to know that you have access to the best casino games. The best online gaming experience allows for variety. You should have access to not only online pokies and slot games but also the largest collection of table games. You should also be able to play the games in a variety of ways:

Free Play

The best casino sites will allow you to play online for free without any need to download casino software or casino apps. There are a whole host of reasons to play free online casino games – mainly because you get to have fun when you play the best free online casino games. When you play free casino games it also gives you the chance to practice your skills before playing real money casino games. This means you can get used to online gambling and how it works before risking your own money. Playing free casino games are good for practising strategies on table games such as blackjack.

Free casino games are also good for practising and getting used to the rules. Certain games, such as blackjack, may require an element of strategy in order to win. Playing for free will allow you to refine this strategy, before risking any of your real cash. Also, you get instant access to free games with no need to sign up, meaning you can get to know the playing experience at a casino site before sharing your personal information or downloading a casino app.

Real Money Casino Games

Once you have tried the best free casino games then you can start enjoying real money gaming. Simply open a free account at the site, make a deposit and claim your match bonus or welcome bonus. You should then be able to play all of the game selection for real money – and start with big real money wins.

Casino Bonuses

Many casinos offer players opening a new casino account a welcome bonus, which is normally a match bonus. You can then use this online casino bonus to start playing the casino games. The best deposit bonus offers will have low wagering requirements and fair terms and conditions.

Fair and Safe Online Casino

The online casinos for desktop that we recommend will all be licensed and regulated by regulatory bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. The best online casinos will also encourage responsible gambling.

Mobile Casinos

The best online casino sites for desktop will also give you the option to download casino games on a casino app to play on your mobile device. If you download casinos onto your phone, then you can play games with no internet connection. However, you will need a lot of storage and you may have issues with Flash games.

Playing Free Games v Playing Real Money Casino Games

So, what is better, playing on free games or playing real money online casino games? Well, if you have chosen your preferred casino site and aren’t sure whether to play for free or for real cash, then here are what you may need to take into account:

Benefits of Free Online Casino Games

• You are not risking any of your own money. You can try out all different casinos from all over the world – UK casinos, NZ online casinos, and even the best USA online casinos as no registration is required. You can play for as long as you like without spending anything.
• You can mess about and make mistakes without worrying about any repercussions or loss of money.
• You don’t need to enter any personal or banking details online to play.

Cons of Free Online Casino Games

• Unless you are playing with a deposit bonus, you won’t be able to win real money.
• You can’t claim any casino bonuses apart from no deposit bonuses.

Benefits of Real Money Casino Games

• Playing real money gives you the chance of winning big payouts – especially on progressive jackpot games.
• You can claim a generous deposit bonus or welcome bonus when you open a new account.
• The playing is more exciting when real money is at stake.

Cons of Playing for Real Money

• If you’re having a bad spell, you can lose your own money.
• Not all of the casino games are suitable for any player looking for low stakes.

Playing on Desktop v Playing on Mobile

All older casinos would have created their online casino for desktop and optimised it for mobile. However, new casino sites would have developed their casinos for mobile first, because more players now enjoy playing on a casino on their mobile device.

Pros of Playing Desktop

• There is usually more choice of games on desktop than mobile.
• Live casino games are normally more accessible on desktop online casino sites.
• Some people find a larger screen gives them a more accessible playing experience.

Cons of Playing Desktop

• You can’t play games or make bets spontaneously.
• You could spend long periods of your time at your computer screen.

Pros of Playing Mobile Casinos

• You can play the games while waiting for public transport etc.
• You can pay whenever you want without needing your computer nearby.
• Mobile casinos are a lot more convenient.
• You can often get mobile only casino bonuses.

Cons of Playing Mobile Casinos

• Not all casino games are fully mobile optimised, especially older games.
• Some don’t offer live casino games on mobile.
• You need a good and secure Internet connection.

 

Download Casino or Non Download Casinos?

Another question often asked – on both desktop and mobile devices is to download or not download casino games. Nearly all casinos on the market today give you both options. Again, there are pros and cons to each of the options.

Pros of Download Option

• With the download option, you can quickly and easily access your account and games straight away with no need to log in to your account.
• If the casino is downloaded, you can play games even with limited Internet connection.
• Gaming apps often offer a large selection of free casino games to play.

Cons of Downloading Games

• If you download your casino games to mobile you won’t have access to them on desktop and vice versa.
• Downloading casino games can take time, especially if you have limited Internet connections, and they take up memory on your desktop or mobile.

Pros of Not Downloading Games

• You don’t run the risk of downloading viruses, so many see this as the less risky option.
• You don’t need to have, or use up, large amounts of memory on desktop or mobile.
• You can start playing free casino games immediately – without having to download the software first.
• You aren’t committing to one casino. You can flick between one casino and another much easier.

 

The Best Games You Can Play at Desktop Casinos

Here are some more details on the different types of games that you can enjoy on the best desktop casinos.

Slots and Pokies

The most popular of all the types of casino games are slots and pokies. The aim of the game is to spin the reels and hope that you get a winning combination on one of the paylines. Although these are predominantly games of luck, there are a number of ways on how to improve your chances of success on pokies.

Firstly, you need to think about paylines. You need to research the paylines on the games you want to play. This will give you some idea of which games give you the best chance of getting a winning combination. The more paylines, the higher your chance of a win. Also, check out the RTP of a game. The higher the RTP, the more money you stand to get back. Here are some of our favourite slots to play at the best casinos:

1. Gonzo’s Quest
2. Book of Dead
3. Wolf Gold
4. Gold Fish
5. Spartacus

 

Blackjack Games

When you continue browsing through the casinos, you’ll find plenty of table games available, including blackjack. The idea of blackjack is to get closer to the total 21 than the dealer – but if you go over 21 then you lose. It’s always a good idea to try the game of blackjack for free first because it gives you a chance to practise strategies that will help your win rate. You can also enjoy playing blackjack socially and against others on live casino dealer games. Here are our favourite blackjack games available at the best online desktop casinos:

• Multihand Blackjack Perfect Pairs
• Atlantic City Blackjack Gold
• Blackjack Reno
• Blackjack VIP
• Blackjack Double Exposure

Roulette Games

Roulette games are seen by many as the ultimate game of chance. You need to correctly predict where a ball will land on the roulette wheel in order to win. You can try these games out for free and find out more about the layout of the table. You can use free games to try out different variants of the game and understand the different types of bets you can play – and the risk of each. Getting to know the game for free first, you can then move on to playing for real cash on some of our favourite games:

• Multifire Roulette
• European Roulette Pro
• Roulette Advance
• Mini Roulette
• Age of the Gods Roulette

Poker and Video Poker

Your aim is to get a high hand and beat the dealer or the machine. Can you get a royal flush and win the jackpot? Poker games are great to play for free first of all. You can start to know each of the different hands and what they are worth. There are also a huge number of poker game types to enjoy, so you can try out a few to see which game or games you like the most. Playing poker online gives you the chance to put your skills to the test and practice practice practice – giving you more chance of winning. Poker is a game of skill and luck, so practice makes perfect. Here are our favourite desktop poker games:

• Joker Poker
• Casino Stud Poker
• Jackpot Poker
• Double Double Bonus Poker 50 Hand
• Oasis Poker Classic

Gambling Providers

The best desktop online casinos will offer a variety of casino software providers to add more variation to your gambling experience. We like to see games from the likes of iGaming giants like NetEnt, Playtech, Microgaming, NYX, Big Time Gaming and many, many more. The more providers on offer, the better the experience because each software provider has its own strengths. If they have a live casino section, then we also like to see the addition of Evolution Gaming – the best in the business.

Desktop Casinos FAQs

Can I Play Video Poker on Desktop?

Yes, you can play all different types of games on desktop. Not only can you play poker and video poker, but also slots, pokies and plenty of other table games at the best sites. On many, you can also enjoy like casino poker games for an added experience.

Can I Play the Best USA Online Casinos on Desktop in NZ?

As long as the casino is fully registered and licensed, then in New Zealand you can enjoy playing at the best casinos from all over the world, whether its US, UK, NZ, Australia or anywhere else. The most important thing is that it is regulated by a top recognised governing body (i.e. a UKGC or Maltese registered company). Make sure you check the license number first before depositing your money or parting with information. You need to know that your casino is safe and trustworthy.

Can I Download Casinos on Desktop?

Yes, you can – most casinos give you the option of downloading their software onto your desktop computer or mobile. This is popular with many because it offers convenience. You can access your account and your favourite games quicker than using the browser. It does take up significant memory though, so you need to take this into account. So, when you choose your preferred casinos, click on the casino links and head over to the sites. You can then choose download required and wait for the software to load. When this is done, simply pick your game and play!

Can I Play Flash Games on Desktop?

As long as you have the correct software downloaded onto your laptop or desktop then you should be able to play Flash games with no problem. You need to check your system and the system requirements to make sure. Older models may have issues.