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Getting started with something new is never easy – and online gambling is no exception. But worry not, as we’ve prepared a detailed beginner’s guide to casino gambling, where we take you through all the important aspects of online casinos.
In today’s article, we will take you through gambling tips on everything from which games are best for new players to what you need to know about budgeting for your new hobby. We’ll even go over some of the betting strategies used by the greats.
Whether you’re stepping into a traditional casino to spin some slots or exploring online casino sites, our guide will help you learn something new and have an edge over the others.
Are you ready, player? Let’s go.
Before learning how to play casino online games, you need to know what games are available. There are two schools of thought concerning what makes a good game for a beginning gambler:
Do you want a game that is easy to play, like slots, keno, and instant win scratchers? Or do you want a more complicated game that requires some skills — like roulette, craps, blackjack, and baccarat?
Let’s have a closer look at the top beginner-friendly games online and casino etiquette when playing them.
Whether you’re playing your slots online or at a traditional casino, the online slot is by far the easiest casino gambling game. All you have to do is find a game that looks fun, select the size of the bet you want to make, and press the spin button.
That’s it!
This simplicity makes it one of the best casino games for idly passing time, but unlike some of the other games we’ll discuss in a bit, there is no skill involved.
Modern slot machines are powered entirely by Random Number Generators, ensuring that each spin has the same odds as any other spin.
Keno is a lottery-style game that offers a fast-paced, exciting online gambling experience. Players will select a series of numbers, press play, and wait to see if they win.
This game is exceptionally popular among beginners thanks to its lack of special rules or complicated betting strategies, making it a perfect choice for hanging out with friends or watching your favorite TV show.
Of all the table casino gambling games, roulette is probably the easiest to learn and ultimately win.
At its core, you are placing bets as to where the little white ball will stop on the roulette wheel. There are many bets you can make at a roulette table, with some options reducing the house edge over you down to roughly 1% — and you won’t have to learn any complicated tricks or memorize an entire spreadsheet’s worth of information to do it.
To maximize your chances of winning, play at French or European tables and place even-odds bets like Red vs Black or Even vs Odd numbers. French roulette tables offer the best odds due to the addition of a couple of specialized rules, so stick with those when possible.
Craps is one of the most popular casino games there is, and while there are lots of ways you can bet, we recommend sticking with easy-to-win bets like the Pass Line bet, the Don’t Pass bet, Come, and Don’t Come bets.
These are all simple bets to make that have a fairly decent shot at winning.
Baccarat is popular among film buffs thanks to a certain international super spy — but we’ve included it on this list because it’s one of the games with the lowest house edge. There are really only three bets you can make in baccarat.
If you are mostly interested in playing odds, bet on the banker’s hand. It has a slightly higher chance of winning than the player’s hand, with the house edge being so low that your chances of winning are about 50/50.
Don’t bet on a tie, as your odds of collecting any winnings are exceptionally low.
Blackjack is one of the most difficult “beginner” games out there, but it is fun, and once you learn the basic strategies, you can lower the house edge down to about 1%, which is pretty incredible. We recommend sticking to online blackjack initially so that you can print out a “Blackjack Basic Strategy” spreadsheet to know when to hit, double down, and stay based on what cards are visible.
While you’re learning, make sure to avoid gimmicky side bets, which will not only get expensive fast but also increase your chances of losing.
Before you embark on your casino gaming adventure, it’s crucial to outline a clear budget. It’s paramount that before you sit down to start playing casino games, you decide on a maximum amount you are comfortable losing without impacting your financial stability.
We recommend managing your bankroll by allocating a specific amount you’re willing to spend. You can do this by creating a monthly budget and breaking it up per week — so if you can afford $1,000 per month, you commit to spending no more than $250 per week.
You should also decide whether or not you’ll allow yourself to re-wager any winnings.
For example, if you have $200 to spend on a given day, and your last slot spin is met with flashing lights and a jackpot payout of $500 — do you try to ride out the hot streak? Or do you call it there because you spent the $200 you budgeted? Figure out your answer to this before you start playing, as setting limits for yourself and sticking to them are key.
In addition to creating a budget, keep the following in mind:
Play With Disposable Income: Never use money earmarked for essentials like rent, utilities, or groceries. Gambling comes with an incredibly high risk, so make sure your basic needs are met first.
Don’t Rely on Winnings: Casino winnings are not a reliable source of income, even for the very best players. Never count on your winnings to pay your bills, feed your dog, or anything important. Treat any winnings as a pleasant bonus and not as a financial lifeline.
Avoid Chasing Losses: Few things bankrupt a player as fast as chasing their losses. If you’ve played through your allotted budget, ignore the little voice in the back of your mind that says, “We’ve almost got it. Just one hand more!” as it’s almost certainly full of crap. Don’t chance it.
Regularly Review and Adjust: As your financial situation evolves, adjust your casino budget to match. If money is going to be tight, you may need to slightly reduce how much you’re allowed to spend on the casino floor. If you’ve got more money coming in or fewer responsibilities, it’s reasonable to expand your budget a little.
And if you find yourself consistently exceeding your budget, it may be time to reevaluate your approach to casino entertainment.
In addition to knowing what games you want to play, there are several popular betting strategies available, with many of them being easy to pick up and quite useful, especially for new players. Here are a few of our favorites.
The Martingale System is a straightforward betting system designed to help players recover losses swiftly. The gist of it is that if you lose a wager, you double your bet on the next game. You keep doing this until you’ve won, at which point you go back to your initial bet.
This is a slow-burn betting method that focuses more on reclaiming losses than getting any big wins and works best with games that have a low house edge.
This betting system works exactly opposite from the Martingale System. Every time you win a game, you double your bet. Every time you lose, go back to square one. The Anti-Martingale method capitalizes on winning streaks, and if your luck is particularly good, it can lead to some excellent prizes — just be cautious, as it requires careful bankroll management and can burn through your allotted budget fast.
In blackjack, the “Basic Strategy” is a set of rules you follow to maximize your chances of winning. The key is to always assume that the dealer has a 10 for their facedown card. If your hand is below 11, you hit. If it’s 12-16, you’ll stand against the dealer’s 2-6, and you’ll hit against 7-Ace. For 17 or higher, always stand.
If you’re dealt a pair, split 8s and Aces, but try to avoid splitting 10s.
There are spreadsheets out there we recommend you look at — and print off if you’re playing blackjack online. Don’t print it off if you’re playing at a land-based casino, however. It’s considered poor casino etiquette to bring paper betting guides to the table with you.
Yes, online gambling is completely safe for new players as long as you stick with legitimate, trustworthy online casinos.
The safest bet in a casino is either betting on the Banker in baccarat, betting on Red/Black, or Evens/Odds at a French roulette table.
Both of these options have a house edge of just about 1%, giving you almost even odds for every spin or deal.
The easiest games to play are slots. There are no complicated rules to follow, probability to calculate, or anything else. Just select the amount you want to wager, and spin the reels! This makes them perfect for players just learning how to gamble.
It is impossible to tell when a modern slot machine is about to hit. Today’s slots — whether online or a video slot machine in a casino — all run off of random number generators (RNG), which ensures that every single spin has the same probability as every other spin.
If you’re interested in increasing your chances of winning, we recommend looking for high RTP slots — look for something with a return-to-player rate of 96% or higher.
Yes, many of the best online casinos offer a practice or demo mode where you can play the games for free using virtual currency instead of betting with your cold hard cash. This is a great way to learn new games or to practice your betting strategies.
Online gambling has made it easier than ever for new players to enter the scene.
All you need is an understanding of basic casino rules, some simple betting strategies, and a love of video poker, blackjack, slots, or any one of tons of other games.
It’s important before you start playing that you set yourself a responsible budget and stick with online casinos that you know you can trust.
Wherever you decide to play remember to focus on having fun and to always wager responsibly.
The information on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Playing online casino games should always be about fun. Remember that our guides and all gambling sites are only for people who are 21+. Also, check your local laws to find out if online gambling is legal in your area.
If you have a gambling addiction problem or anyone you know does call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. In addition, the following free gambling addiction resources can be of help:
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