Feeling intimidated by the prospect of gambling? Our beginner’s guide will show you everything you need to know to start playing your favorite casino games online.
If you have looked online and feel lost, I get it – each table game comes with complicated rules you need to know, slots come with different payouts, and most importantly, there’s money at stake.
So how do you approach gambling risk-free to learn the ropes? You create an account at sweepstakes casinos. Easy enough.
These are online gaming sites that host all of the gambling games you can come across at brick-and-mortar casinos, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, dice games, slots… you name it.
As a new player in sweepstakes casinos, you’ll receive special tokens — gold coins and sweeps coins – which you can use to play the games for fun instead of spending money right away.
Lucky for you, I’ve ranked all of the best sweepstakes casinos right here in this article, focusing on their selection of games, beginner-friendly features, and security.
But first, I’ll begin with the games you should gravitate towards as a beginner, and explain what makes them ideal!
Let’s check them out.
Best Table Games for Beginners
If you want to start your gaming experience with skill-based games instead of ones based on pure luck, it can be pretty intimidating for you as a beginner.
Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker — so many rules, leaving you full of questions. So let me give you some basic knowledge in order to help you decide which one is for you.
Roulette
The roulette wheel is one of the most recognizable parts of every land-based casino. Moreover, it’s among the easy casino games for newbies because it’s exciting and easy to play.
Roulette is not about betting on a single number or choosing red or black — it has over 20 different types of bets available, and the two main ones are inside and outside bets.
Inside bets are related to numbers from 1-36, and the options for inside bets are straight up, split bet, street bet, corner bet, line bet, and five bet. These bets have higher payouts but lower chances of winning.
When it comes to outside bets, there are well-known 50-50 bets, red or black, or odd or even. Another available choice is the dozen bet, where you can bet on one of the three groups of dozen numbers 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36. And finally, the column bet, where you place bets on one of the three columns of 12 numbers.
This may sound pretty confusing, but once you try the game – you’ll realize just how easy it is.
Great Roulette Variants for Beginners
American Roulette is one of the most popular casino games, also known as “double zero” roulette. It consists of 38 number pockets, including numbers from 1-36, single zero (0), and double zero (00). Numbers are colored in red and black, and zeroes are colored in green. It’s perfect for beginners because it has simple betting options, which are easier to understand.
Another popular option is European Roulette, which actually has a low house edge because it only has one zero (0). Therefore, this one’s a slightly better option than American Roulette for beginner players.
Blackjack
Ah, the classic card game that built the gambling halls in Las Vegas.
Blackjack is the most widely played card game in the world, and it’s incredibly easy to learn. You play against the dealer, and the rule of the game is simple — score higher than the dealer without going over 21.
When you start each hand, you get two cards face-up, with the dealer getting two cards as well – 1 face-up and 1 face-down. Then, you can either ask for more cards, split your cards, double down your hand, or simply stay if you have a high number close to 21 with your initial cards.
The premise of blackjack is very simple, and most players usually need around 10-20 hands to learn it. To master the game, though, you will need to learn all the possible combinations and know exactly when to split, hit, double down, and so on.
Excellent Blackjack Game for Beginners
American Blackjack has better odds than European Blackjack because the dealer immediately gets both cards: face up and face down. In European Blackjack, the dealer gets only one card – with the second one coming in after all players make their moves.
Therefore, I strongly recommend that all newbies play the American version when getting started.
Video Poker
The odds on video poker are among the highest in the casino. The game is easy to understand: You have 5 cards and may select which ones you want to keep. Then you press the DRAW button to acquire new cards for the ones you didn’t keep.
You will win if you get a combination such as two pairs, a full house, flush, straight, etc. There are many different video poker variants, and the payouts and combinations will differ based on the game.
Top Poker Game for Beginners
Jacks or Better – The goal is to create a five-card hand that overcomes the “invisible” dealer’s hand. Because the dealer always holds a pair of tens, you must have “Jacks or Better” to win. As simple as that!
Baccarat
Known as James Bond’s favorite card game, baccarat’s popularity will never fade away. The name of the game comes from the Italian word “zero,” meaning that tens, jacks, queens, and kings have a value of zero.
Baccarat is about betting which hands out of two deals will win – the banker or the player hand. The winning hand has the highest points of possible 9.
Best Baccarat Variant for Beginners
Punto Banco Baccarat was introduced in the USA in 1950, changing the world of gambling forever. Punto Banco players need to place a bet before seeing the cards. We recommend it for beginners – and gamblers at heart – because it’s easy to learn and play.
Pro tip? Always take the banker bet.
Craps
Craps is by far the most thrilling casino game available. It’s the ideal combination of adventure and risk, with its fast-paced action and many bets. Craps has a clear goal: Bet on the numbers you believe a pair of dice will produce. That’s all!
We recommend it for beginners because it belongs among the easiest casino games that have nothing to do with experience and strategy but pure luck.
5 Easiest Slot Games for Beginners
Let’s be real – every slot game out there is easy. You just press spin, and the symbols go rolling. However, understanding the possible combinations is not as easy as pressing the spin button.
While understanding them won’t really help you in any way, it’s still nice to know you’re a winner before the machine announces it. Sounds good? Let’s check out the easiest slot games.
Sugar Rush
Primed for some sugar-coated action? Sugar Rush is a candy-based game by Pragmatic Play, offering a maximum win of 5,000x your stake.
Seven symbols presented by candies sit on a 7×7 grid, paying for a block of 5 horizontally or vertically. The higher-paying symbol is pink round-shaped candy worth SC0.60 for five and SC90.00 for 15+ candies.
The special features of the game are:
- Tumble feature – winning combinations disappear from the grid and are replaced by new ones.
- Multiplier spots feature – Exploding Symbols will mark a spot on the grid. After a second symbol explodes on the same spot, the multiplier from x2 to x128 is added to your initial winnings.
- Free Spins – By hitting 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 Scatter symbols, you will get 10, 12, 15, 20, or 30 FS, respectively.
Sugar Rush is best for beginners because of its simplicity, and you can play it at WOW Vegas Casino.
Shining Princess Rapid Link
If you’re a big fan of anime and want to start your casino journey with big payouts, then the Shining Princess slot game from NetGame may be the one for you.
Eleven symbols are presented by the Chinese Dragon, cat, golden item, panda, and the ancient Chinese coins as higher paying symbols. The lower ones are cards from 9-A. The Shining Princess slot game has a 5×4 grid, 40 paylines, and Scatter, Wild, and Sphere symbols.
The special features of the game are:
- Replay feature – When 4 Chinese Dragon symbols appear on the first reel, they activate the replay feature.
- Rapid Link Bonus – This feature is triggered when 4 or more Sphere symbols appear on the grid, bringing you 3 free games. During Rapid Link Bonus, a jackpot sphere may appear, awarding you with a maximum win.
- Free Game Bonus – You can activate this feature by landing 3 Scatter symbols on the first reels and receive 12 free spins.
This Asian-themed game is available at NoLimitCoins Casino, and it’s the best for beginners because of its low volatility, which allows you to play for longer without burning your bankroll quickly.
Madame Destiny Megaways
The fortune-teller in this Pragmatic Play slot game is not an old granny but an elegant and charming woman who can bring you a high winning potential of 5,000x your stake. The game is played on a 6-reel Megaways grid featuring 200,704 paylines.
Madame Destiny’s symbols are 10, J, Q, K, and A, and the medium-paying symbols are lit candles, tarot cards, a cat, and a heart-shaped potion bottle. The higher-paying symbol is an owl, and the wild symbol shows Madame Destiny itself.
The special features of the game are:
- Tumble Feature – The winning symbols disappear from the grid, all symbols fall to the button, and empty spaces are filled with new ones.
- Free Spins Rules – By hitting 3 or more scatter symbols, you’ll unlock the free spins round, and the wheel of fortune awards you a random number of free spins.
- Ante Bet – This option is on the screen’s bottom left corner. If you use this option while playing, your stake will increase by 25%.
- Buy Free Spins – This feature can be activated in the base game for 100x your total bet.
It’s good for beginners because of the great graphics, different game mechanics, and innovative features. Newbies can find it in Pulsz Casino.
Geni’s Lamp
This Blazesoft slot game is a 5-reel slot with 4 rows and 35 paylines with the animation of Disney’s movie Aladdin.
The low paying symbols are A, K, Q, J, and number 10. Princess Jasmine pays out the highest amount, and other symbols are a glistening golden palace, a magic carpet, the contents of Alladin’s cave, and the monkey Abu.
The special features of the game are:
- Three Wishes Power Spin Feature
- Magic Carpet Bonus
- Big Genie Jackpot
- Gamble Feature
It’s great for beginners because the mechanic is slower, and you can explore all the features and understand the game mechanics easily. The game is available at Fortune Coins Casino.
Kluster Krystals Megaclusters
The Kluster Krystals slot game is Relax Gaming’s debut in Mega Clusters with a top prize of 9,921x and RTP of 96.49%. The symbols are raw crystals with various shapes and bright colors and come in singles, doubles, triples, and quads.
In order to hit the winning combination, you need to land 8 matching symbols in the group, which is not too difficult as it sounds because of the various shapes of the symbols.
The special features of the game are:
- Krystal Boost
- Krystal Kut
- Krystal Vanish
This game is good for beginners because of the higher winning potential and good RTP. You can play it in Stake.us Casino.
Smart Bets for Beginners
Some bets are simply better than others. You don’t agree? Go and place roulette bets on the green socket instead of playing it smart with outside bets, and see how long it is before you bust your bankroll.
Now you’re starting to understand. Read on for the best bets you can place as a beginner.
Play Slot Games with Low Volatility
Lower volatility games may pay less, but in turn – you’ll win more often. Playing slots is great for beginners because you won’t run out of coins to play right away, as opposed to low-RTP jackpot games that can eat into your account budget faster than you can realize.
These low-volatility video slots are also great when you’re trying to meet a bonus wagering requirement or turn your free SCs in redeemable cash.
Blackjack – Double Down On a Hard Eleven
Getting hard eleven in blackjack means getting 5 and 6, 7 and 4… not ace and a ten. This immediately gives you big winning chances because if you hit another card and you get a 10 – you will get blackjack (21) and win the hand.
Even if you score something like an 8 or a 9, your hand will still be very strong.
Stay Away From the Green Socket in Roulette
We don’t care about your friend’s story of betting a hundred dollars on the zero and ending up a winner with $3,600. In reality, this won’t happen. It’s usually a one-way ticket to account balance zero.
Therefore, take the bets that give you close to a 50-50 chance of winning as a beginner, including red or black, odd or even, and so on.
Always Take the Banker Bet in Baccarat
Sometimes exploring is fun, and sometimes it’s definitely not. This is very true in the case of baccarat, where exploring outside the simple banker bet will, in the long run, provide many more losing hands.
The math explains that the banker bet has a 1.06% house edge, whereas the player bet has a 1.36 edge. Always trust the math.
Manage Your Bankroll
The absolute most important thing is to manage your bankroll properly. The smartest bet you can place is with money you can afford to lose. Everything beyond that is unacceptable.
Therefore, always remember to gamble within your means and never chase your losses.
Top Online Casinos for Beginners in the US
At each of the listed sweepstakes casinos below, all you need to do is register to get your welcome bonus or no-deposit for free and start playing. When (if) you run out of gold coins, you can purchase a package with gold coins and receive sweepstakes as a gift.
You can use these to play slots, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and poker – and you can even redeem your sweep coins for real money if you end up a winner.
This model makes sweepstakes casinos the best option for beginner bettors, while also keeping them safe since these hubs are legal in the US.
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks.
Pulsz Casino
Pulsz Casino is our number-one pick for beginner gamblers. Pulsz has 350+ slot games, scratch cards, table games, jackpots, and bonus buy games. This huge selection is perfect for newbies to try out as many game styles as possible.
Let’s see what makes Pulsz Casino the best for beginners.
Beginner-friendly features
- Playing with virtual coins – Start with gold coins, and once you get familiar with the table games and slot games, you can switch to sweeps coins. Remember that sweep coins can be redeemed for real money at a rate of $1 for 1SC.
- Guide for playing games – You can find a guide for playing particular games under each category.
- Great selection of game providers – The world’s best providers stand behind the games of Pulsz Casino. You can try out titles developed by Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Playson, and many more.
- Helpful search bar – Instead of endless scrolling, you can find your favorite game using the search bar.
- Application for iOS and Android – You can take your game with you wherever you go, thanks to Pulsz’s cutting-edge apps for iOS and Android.
Stake.us
With 400+ Stake.us slot games, table games, bonus buy games, and live dealer games, Stake.us Casino provides a great selection of titles for beginner gamblers to try. So let’s find out why it’s good for beginners.
Beginner-friendly features
- Generous welcome bonus – Upon registering at Stake.us Casino, you’ll get 10,000 gold coins and 1 Stake Cash coin. Make sure to get involved in tournaments and daily races, guess the game, and Stake Cash Giveaways to receive more coins.
- Search bar available – Find your favorite game or a game provider you want to start with easily.
- Chat with other players – You can join the chat rooms and get in touch with other players, learn from their experience, and learn the basic strategies they use.
- Easy-to-navigate website – As a beginner, you won’t have difficulty navigating Stake.us Casino from a desktop or mobile browser.
Fortune Coins Casino
Fortune Coins Casino has a 4.6/5 star rating on Trustpilot, meaning it’s an excellent choice for all US players, especially new ones. With a hefty sign-up offer, daily free coins, a mail-in bonus, and many promotions, you won’t run out of coins any time soon.
And even if you do — they have one of the best first-purchase offers out there.
Beginner-friendly features
- Exclusive offer for new players – A monster sign-up bonus is available for all new players at Fortune Coins. A package of 360,000 gold coins and 1,200 fortune coins awaits your arrival. Now that’s a super offer for just $10!
- Jackpots on many games – You can try your luck on jackpot games, too. They don’t require any skill to play. As a novice, you may experience the beginner’s luck phenomenon. Who knows?
- Game explanation – How to play and what to expect? You can read the rules of each game at Fortune Coins Casino.
- Best casino games for beginners – You can choose from 100+ best casino games for beginners.
- Refer your friend – Play with your friends and gain some free coins by referring them.
WOW Vegas Casino
The WOW Vegas Casino stands out from the crowd with its best welcome offer for beginners worth 4.5 SC and 8,500 WC. This is accompanied by a generous 200% first purchase bonus on the $9.99 package giving you 30 SC coins.
So what else does it have for beginners? Let’s see.
Beginner-friendly features
- Hundreds of casino games for beginners – Slots are one of the best casino games for beginners, and at WOW Vegas Casino, you can explore hundreds of slot games from Pragmatic Play, 3 Oaks Gaming, and Betsoft.
- Simple layout – Easy-to-navigate layout suitable for beginners.
- Plenty of daily and weekly promotions – Get engaged in Super Sundays, Magic Mondays, and Mega Wednesdays to participate in giveaways and win some Free Wow Coins and sweeps coins.
- Filtering games – Use the search button to find your best casino game.
NoLimitCoins Casino
The casino name speaks for itself — you’ll get one of the best welcome offers in NoLimitCoins Casino with gold coins and super coins. It doesn’t offer as many games as the previous casinos (only 50 slots and fish games), but it’s a very good platform for newbies to learn the ropes.
Beginner-friendly features
- Generous welcome bonus and 33% discount on every package – NoLimitCoins Casino has the best starter pack offer for beginners, giving away 100,000 gold coins and 1,000 super coins. On top of that, you’ll get a 33% discount on your first purchase.
- Lucky Wheel twice a day – Challenge your luck and claim free coins twice a day.
- Refer your friend – You get 900,000 gold coins and 2,500 super coins for every friend referral.
- Excellent customer care – Contact customer support if you have questions or doubts. They are helpful and friendly and will answer all of your questions.
Things Online Casinos Don’t Want You to Know
Brick-and-mortar and online casinos are intended for fun and entertainment, but behind the scene — it’s all about the money. There are certainly some things they don’t want you to know.
Check them out below.
The House Edge of the Casino Games
Slot games are the most tempting gambling games because of the fun and ease of playing. But the house edge of slots can be as high as 10%. Unlike slots, table games such as poker and blackjack have a house edge of around 3%, and the best odds have video poker of 0.46%.
However, this is numbers talking. Some may say that blackjack has the highest winning chance, but that’s only the case when you play it perfectly. Therefore, if you’re not a perfect blackjack player, the house edge for you will likely be extremely low.
Don’t Play Keno
Like, ever! You are highly unlikely to get ahead playing Keno. The house usually gets 35-50% of all wagers, so it’s definitely a game you should avoid. Does a casino say this?
Jackpot Slots Aren’t As Good As They Seem
It’s true that winning a big, fat jackpot is a gambler’s dream. But how often does this happen?
Whichever casino you walk into or open online, progressive jackpot slots are basically shoved in your face. This is because their RTP is usually a lot lower than low-volatility slot games, with the casino getting the lion’s share of the money staked.
One player will walk out a massive winner, and thousands will go to destination… you know which one already. This is why you see those millions of dollars on those big screens everywhere! Don’t be deceived.
Beginners’ Tips for Casino Gambling
Always remember these tips, no matter how experienced you are with casino games:
Practice Before You Play
Learn about the casino game by reading reviews, playing in demo mode, and practicing different strategies. Afterward, you can dive into playing for real money.
Play When You’re Relaxed
The ideal strategy is to play when you’re completely relaxed. This reduces the possibility of making poor gaming choices that could put your finances at risk.
Don’t Believe in Strategies
There is no such thing as a strategy to win a slot machine. The random number generator decides the game’s outcome, so whatever you think you’re doing, it’s not worth it.
Some strategies may only work with table games, but even those will never give you an edge over the casino – just slightly increased winning chances.
Know When to Stop
If you’re experiencing a losing streak, leave the game. Don’t chase your losses ever.
FAQs
-
What should a beginner play at an online casino?The best casino games for beginners are slot machines, especially low-volatile ones. Roulette also ranks high among the best games for beginners, but you must bet cautiously.
-
What is the easiest game to play at the casino?The easiest game to play at online casinos is slot games. It doesn’t require any skill or experience to start playing. However, it’s best to try the game in demo mode first to learn the features, paylines and study the paytable. You can do this at sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz.
-
What are the best bets to make money at online casinos?While we wish to say, “Do a, b, c, and you’ll be rich, “ there is no simple and precise answer. If you are an experienced player, your best bet is live poker and blackjack. If not, you should play low-volatile slot games.
-
What is the most profitable game at online casinos?
There are no surefire answers on what is the most profitable game to play online. However, statistically speaking, live poker is the first on the list if you have proper training and skills. Afterward are blackjack, roulette, and craps.
