Best Casino Games for Beginners: How Should You Start?

First time at a casino? For those new to the world of gambling, it can be daunting when you walk into a vast room chock-full of slot machines, roulette tables, and players shouting in excitement (or frustration). It might even make you think twice about trying your hand at casino games.

But don’t worry!

Casino games can be fun, and you may be able to win some money, even as a beginner. So, in this article, we’ll discuss the best casino games for beginners and give you some tips on starting.

Let’s learn!

What Are the Best Casino Games for Beginners?

You might be surprised to learn that there is such a thing as easy casino games. Well, easier. 

Below, you’ll discover which games are most suitable for beginners, give you the best odds, or are simply easy to grasp. 

1. Slots

Slot machines are usually the first thing many novice gamblers think about whenever someone mentions casino games. And there’s a reason for that – slots are one of the easiest casino games to understand and play. Namely, you simply spin the reels and hope to land matching symbols. 

There are many different types of slot games at casinos. Some of them have the potential to make you an instant millionaire (progressive jackpot, anyone?), while others are more likely to set you back. Here are some of the most popular slot machines:

• Single-coin machines
• Buy-Your-Pay machines
• Multiple Payline machines
• Wild Play machines
• Progressives
• Three-reel slots
• Video slots
• Touch-screen machines
• Multi-game machines
• Reel-slot machines

As you can see, if you’re ever interested in playing slots, you have many choices. And if you want a detailed guide on wagering and winning at slots, we’ve got that too!

2. Roulette

Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to win, and we understand why. Primarily, the game is mostly based on luck, so even if you’re a complete newbie, you can get good payouts on a smaller bet. 

The objective is simple – you bet on where a small ball will land on a spinning wheel with numbered and coloured slots. On most wheels, there are 18 black and 18 red numbers, not counting the green zero. So, you can bet on a single number, or you can bet on a group of numbers. Other types of bets include:

• Red/Black bet (wager on a colour)
• Even bet (wager on a number divisible by 2)
• Odd bet (wager on a number not divisible by 2)
• 2 to 1 bet (wager on a number divisible by 3)
• High/Low bet (wager on whether the number will be below or above 18)
• Column bet (wager on the column of the number)
• Dozens bet (wager on the group of numbers, 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12)
• Straight-up bet (wager on 1 number)
• Split bet (wager on a line separating 2 numbers, thus betting on 2 numbers)
• Street bet (wager on a number within a row of 3)

Admittedly, there are many other bets that we won’t mention here, but you can read about them in our guide on playing poker or our breakdown of roulette odds. 

3. Keno

Although keno is certainly not as popular as slots or roulette, it doesn’t make it any less interesting and easy to play. At the crux, keno is a lottery-style game often found at casinos. To play, you’ll need to wager by choosing numbers from 1 to 80. Then, 20 random numbers are drawn, and if any of your choices match the ones drawn, you win!

Consequently, the more numbers you match, the bigger the prize will be. So for those looking for easy gambling games, what’s easier than picking numbers and hoping for the best? The payouts vary depending on the casino, and they’re usually based on the wager, the chosen numbers, and the number of matches. Some variations include:

• 246 Way Keno
• Super Way Keno
• Caveman Keno
• Triple Trouble Keno
• Cleopatra Party Keno
• Top Bottom Keno 
• Power Keno
• Super Keno
• Extra Draw Keno
• Super Times Keno
• And many others

So, if the standard keno doesn’t do it for you, there’s always an opportunity to spice up your games. 

4. Blackjack

Even if you’ve never visited a casino before, you’re bound to have at least heard of blackjack, as it’s one of the most famous and easiest casino games. Blackjack is a fast-paced card game using 52 cards and simple rules offering good odds of winning, at least in comparison to other gambling games. 

In blackjack, your goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over (or busting). What’s interesting here is that you’re competing against the dealer, not the other gamblers. But since this is a fast game, you shouldn’t get too caught up in trying to count cards or make complex strategy decisions. 

Depending on the strategy used, the house edge in blackjack can increase or decrease. Here are some player deviations that can affect the edge:

• Dealer hits soft 17 (0.2% increase)
• Using more decks (0.66% increase for 8 decks)
• Late/early surrender (late surrender increases edge)
• Hit/resplit split aces (split aces reduces edge by 0.03%)
• No double after split (0.12% increase)
• No hole card and OBO (0.11% increase)
• Altered payout for a winning blackjack (1:1 game increases edge by 2.13%)

In the beginning, however, you shouldn’t concern yourself with the house edge all that much. Instead, focus on learning the rules, mastering these tips, and having fun. 

5. Baccarat

If you’ve ever watched a James Bond film, baccarat will be instantly recognizable. This card game has been around for centuries and it’s often associated with wealth, partly due to the fact that it’s one of the easiest casino games to win. To play, you need to bet either on the player (you) or the banker (the casino). 

After the dealer deals 2 hole cards (face down) and 2 face-up cards, the winner is determined based on the total value of the cards dealt. If the total value is 2 or 3, the banker wins, if it’s 4 or 5, it’s a draw, and if it’s 6 or 7, you win. You might have realized that you don’t actually do anything, it’s all determined by the cards the dealer draws. 

Apart from the standard baccarat, you can also try your hand at other versions, such as:

• Punto banco
• Chemin de fer 
• Baccarat banque 
• Macao 

If you want to learn how to play baccarat like a pro, check out our comprehensive guide. 

6. Video Poker

Video poker is one of the easiest casino games, based on five-card draw poker. Here, you’re playing against a computerized console and not other players on a poker table. Like standard poker, the goal is to get the best possible hand and you’ll be paid based on the paytable. 

That said, video poker is a relatively simple game to learn. And if you find the right machine, it can offer decent odds of winning. As with any gambling game, there are many different types of video poker and each one has its own set of rules. Some of the most popular variants include:

• Jacks or Better aka Draw Poker
• Bally’s All American
• Tens or Better
• Joker’s Wild
• Deuces Wild
• Sigma Flush Attack
• Bonus Poker
• Double Bonus
• Double Double Bonus

If you’re into online gambling, you can also play video poker in most online casinos. Check out the best online casinos in Canada to get the best experience. 

Conclusion

That’s it for now, folks – a brief overview of the best casino games for beginners. Remember that you should always thoroughly think through your first gambling games. Although these games are relatively easy to learn, they’re still a gamble and can set you back significantly if you’re not careful.

Good luck!