Best Casino Games for Beginners

Have you always been interested in casino games but have yet to try your luck? As the gaming options are so diverse and the rules varied, we understand that getting started can be somewhat intimidating. This is why we’ve created this extensive guide to the best casino games for beginners.

Throughout this article, we’ve outlined the top easy casino games for different categories, including slots, table games, live dealer games, and other games. We’ve also discussed the games that new players should always avoid before outlining some helpful tips to consider before you risk your cash to play.

Land-Based vs. Online Casino Games

Before you get started, you may be wondering whether you’re better off playing land-based casino games or online casino games. The truth is that there are pros and cons to each. Firstly, land-based casinos are more widely available across the US, with only seven states having legalized online casinos.

Land-based casinos are also more social and can be enjoyed alongside friends, and they’re especially a favorite among well-seasoned and famous gamblers. However, online casinos tend to offer a wider variety of games that will appeal to newcomers and allow for free play. They may also have betting options that are more affordable to low-stakes players. This is especially the case for table games.

No matter where you are, you’ll always be able to join social casinos. These websites provide casino-style games for free so you don’t need to risk any money. These can be worth joining if you’re completely new to casino games as they will allow you to practice and gain skills before investing any cash.

Slots

Perhaps the easiest casino games are slots. While the style of gameplay can greatly vary from title to title, these require no experience or skill at all to play and don’t require much thought outside of how much you want to bet. That said, some games are more suitable for beginners than others. We’ve described them below.

Video Slot

Video slots are the most modern incarnation of slots, and typically have more paylines, special features, and more variety in themes when compared to classic slots. They are widely available at land-based casinos and make up the majority of the slots offered at online casinos. Below is a list of the best slots for newcomers:

• Starburst
• Gonzo’s Quest
• Blood Suckers
• Aloha! Cluster Pays
• Book of Dead

We have listed these on our list of easy gambling games as they have simple designs, straightforward special features, and user-friendly interfaces. They also have favorable return-to-player rates (RTPs) and low-to-medium volatility rates, which means that they are theoretically easier to win and payouts should be frequent.

Classic Slots

Perhaps the most simple gambling games are classic slots. Unlike video slots, classic-style slots are either physical or digital replications of early slot machines. These are characterized by having only three reels and between one and three rows. They also tend to have no special features or unconventional payout structures.

Of the widely available classic-style slots, we recommend that you try Break Da Bank, Double Diamond, Triple Diamond, or Mega Joker. These usually just require you to set your stake and click the spin button. While they are simple to learn and establish the basics of slots play, they often have lower RTPs than video slots.

Progressive Jackpots

For the most part, we would recommend that beginners avoid these games. While progressive jackpot slots may seem appealing due to their large major prizes, the chances of winning these jackpots are extremely low. They can also have higher volatilities and lower RTP rates to account for the large major prizes.

However, there are some progressive jackpots that are among the best casino games for beginners. These include Mega Moolah, Divine Fortune, and Mega Fortune. There are low minimum bet requirements for these games, and they are hugely popular due to their simplistic mechanisms and enchanting themes and visuals.

Table Games

Table games come in many forms, with the name referring to the fact that the land-based games are hosted on special tables. While some like blackjack and baccarat involve cards, others involve dice or wheels. Although these can seem intimidating to the uninitiated, some options are quite accessible for newcomers.

Roulette

Roulette is a gambling game that requires players to bet on where a small ball will land on a spinning wheel. The betting options are extremely diverse, but if you’re new, you can make a simple wager on whether the ball will land on black or red numbers or odd or even numbers.

Not all games are created equally though, and some are fairer than others. We suggest you favor European Roulette when available, as this has a higher RTP than American variants. Other popular online options include mini roulette and auto roulette. Always choose tables with low-stakes options if you’re a new player.

Blackjack

If you’re looking for easy gambling card games, we recommend you start with blackjack. Blackjack is a game where players compete with a dealer in an effort to get the highest score possible without going over 21. You can either choose to hit to take more cards or stand to keep your score.

If you’re new, we recommend that you start by playing classic blackjack. This has the best odds for players and can have favorable rules such as the dealer needing to stand on a soft 17. We recommend that you avoid options with enhanced betting options such multi-card play or doubling down as these may be confusing and lower the RTP.

Other Games

Other great casino games for beginners include baccarat, bingo, craps, and video poker. Baccarat is an extremely popular casino game whereby players must wager on the outcome of a “Player” hand or “Banker” hand. You must try to predict which hand will have a total close to 9 points or a tie.

Bingo is another game that is entirely based on chance, with the aim to have all of the numbers on a bingo card drawn. Craps is a dice game where you wager on the outcome of a series of roles. While we suggest new players avoid most forms of poker, video poker permits lower stakes and is a great way to learn the game.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games have exploded in popularity in recent years. These are among the best casino games to play online as they pit players against real-life dealers streamed live from local studios. There are many game options available, including blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, baccarat, and game shows.

If you play these games, we recommend you choose the table games we’ve recommended above. You’ll want to play at tables with no or few other players so your inexperience doesn’t hold up the momentum, and choose tables that have lower buy-ins. All live casinos will provide you with the rules of each title.

Game shows can also be exciting, and often are spin-the-wheel games that require you to set a stake and win the value that lands. If you don’t understand the rules of a game before the betting begins, don’t play it. You’ll not only hold up the game for other players, but you’ll be unnecessarily putting your funds at risk.

Games to Avoid

While there are many games that have small learning curves and can be picked up quite easily, there are others that benefit from extensive skill and knowledge. Poker is one of these games and should be avoided entirely if the stakes are high, the competitors aren’t computers, and you aren’t familiar with the variant’s distinct rules.

Another game that can be confusing to newcomers is Sic-Bo, a dice game that has plenty of betting options. Avoid progressive jackpot slots with low RTPs and high minimum wagers, and never play high-stakes table games until you have the experience and budget to back it up.

Things to Know Before You Play

No matter what type of game you end up trying, there are a few helpful points to consider that many newcomers overlook. We have created a list of these tips below that will keep you playing smarter and safer with even the easiest casino game. We suggest you follow them always, even as your experience grows.

Check the RTP

As we’ve mentioned, the return-to-player rate (RTP) of a game will be entirely dependent on each individual title and game type. When playing any game online, head to its settings menu and check the payout rate. If you’re playing a slot, favor games with RTPs over 95% to boost your chances of winning.

As the rules and mechanisms for table games won’t vary too much, the RTPs shouldn’t too. However, some variants will have lower RTPs if they offer side-betting features. It is often wise to avoid these alternative variants completely, though if you do play them, check that the RTPs aren’t unfair.

Check the Volatility

Another important factor in slots is the volatility rate. If a slot has a low volatility, it will pay out frequently albeit with smaller values. High-volatility games will pay out larger sums infrequently. Although each player will have different preferences for volatility, newcomers may want to opt for lower volatility games to experience the joys of regular wins.

Always Play Demos

Most online casino games will allow you to play free demos before you pay to play. This is a great opportunity to test out the game’s special features, paylines, volatility rate, and theme. If you don’t like what you’ve played, then you’ll have avoided risking money on a title that doesn’t suit your preferences.

This is especially important for video slots, as there will be varying features to experience. Interesting variants such as Megaways slots have unconventional payout structures as well, so you’ll want to be familiar with this before you pay. Demo play provides a great opportunity to experiment with betting sizes too.

Read Reviews

Even the best casino game will have its detractors, and it’s always worth knowing what it is that players don’t like about a game before you risk money on it. Whether you check out player reviews on forums, blogs, or YouTube, there are plenty of resources to consider to give you a strong idea about what is good and bad about a game.

There are also plenty of websites created by online gambling experts that break down all types of basic casino games and cover everything from betting options to special features. They will often also provide demos so you don’t have to sign up with a site to try a game.

Set a Playing Budget

This is a rule that we believe all players should always follow. Before any gambling session, whether you go to a land-based casino or play online, set a playing budget. Make sure that it is an amount that you will be comfortable to lose because, in some instances, you won’t profit.

If you have lost your budget, stop playing and walk away until you have the funds. Never chase losses or borrow money to fund your gambling, as this could land you in even deeper financial strife. Many online casinos provide deposit limit tools, and if you’re visiting a land-based casino, you may want to bring your budget in cash and leave your cards home.

Only Play With Licensed Casinos

While most adults will unable to lawfully play at online casinos, those in legal states will have a range of options to play slots and table games. However, you must only gamble with licensed gambling sites, or else you’ll be breaking the law. Not only this, but you’ll be putting yourself in unnecessary danger.

Licensed casinos must prove that their games are fair, their sites are secure, and that they have the means to pay out all owed winnings. They will also follow strict responsible gambling guidelines. If you play at an unlicensed site, the games may be rigged, your connections may be vulnerable, and you will have no legal standing if it refuses to pay out your cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you’ve completed this guide to the best casino games for beginners, you will understand that you have plenty of great games to choose from. If you didn’t read the whole guide and are simply looking for quick answers to your questions about the topic, read our answers to some common queries below.