Your first visit to an online casino can seem overwhelming, with hundreds of games, unfamiliar terms and buttons everywhere… But the three classics (slots, blackjack and roulette) are where most beginners start. Here’s a simple guide to each game, along with a few things you should know before you start playing.
Slots: The Easiest Way to Get Started
Slots are the simplest games in the casino, as you don’t have to make any decisions during a spin. You choose your stake, press the button, and the reels do the rest. It’s precisely this simplicity that makes slots so popular.
The most important figure to check before playing is the RTP (Return to Player), which indicates the percentage of the total money staked on a game that is paid back to players over time. An RTP of 96% means that the game pays back 96% and retains 4%. The higher, the better. Most modern slots range between 94% and 97%.
Volatility also plays a role, because low-volatility slots often pay out small amounts, and high-volatility slots pay out less frequently but can yield large wins. Beginners generally prefer low or medium volatility, as long dry spells can be frustrating when you’re still learning.
Start with small stakes. Slots move quickly, and it’s easy to blow your budget in a matter of minutes if you’re not careful.
Blackjack: The Game Where Skill Matters
Blackjack is the opposite of slot machines, as every hand requires a decision, and these decisions actually affect your chances of winning. That’s what makes it appealing – or intimidating, depending on how you look at it.
The aim is simple: to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Therefore, cards 2 to 10 are worth their face value. Face cards count as 10. Aces count as 1 or 11, whichever is more advantageous for your hand.
The most important thing a beginner can do at Bizzo Casino is to learn the basic strategy. This is a table that tells you the mathematically correct move for every possible hand and every possible dealer’s card. It takes an hour to learn and will save you far more than that over time. Without this strategy, you’re just guessing. With it, you’re playing with a house edge of less than 1 per cent.
One rule you should bear in mind is that the croupier doesn’t decide for themselves whether to draw another card or stand – the house rules dictate this for them. You’re playing against a fixed set of rules.
Roulette: Simple Rules, Lots of Possibilities
Roulette is simpler than blackjack, but more complex than slot machines. You place chips on the table, the wheel spins, and a ball lands on a number; if you’ve bet on that number or a group to which it belongs, you win.
The most important decision is choosing between European and American roulette, because whilst European roulette has one zero, the American version has two. That one extra zero almost doubles the house edge – 2.7 per cent versus 5.26 per cent; so always choose European roulette if you have the choice.
Outside bets (red or black, odd or even, high or low) are the easiest for beginners. They pay out at 1:1 and cover about half the wheel. Inside bets pay out more, but hit less often. Start with outside bets and get to know the layout of the table before you get more creative.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- Set a budget before you start playing. Decide how much you’re prepared to lose, and treat it as an entertainment expense, not an investment.
- Make use of the free play option, if available. Most online casinos offer demo versions of their games. Try these out first. Familiarise yourself with the user interface without risking anything.
- Don’t chase your losses. This is the most common beginner’s mistake. If you’re in the red, it rarely helps to increase your stakes in an attempt to recoup your losses. The house edge doesn’t care how you feel.
There really is such a thing as ‘beginner’s luck’ in the sense that new players do sometimes win. But luck isn’t a strategy. Learn the basics, play within your means and treat the whole thing as entertainment. That’s how you get off to a good start – and that’s how it stays fun.
