Best Online Casino Games for Beginners

Online casinos are awash with games. From thousands of classic and video slots to virtual table games like blackjack and roulette, you’ll find countless options when exploring the casino’s portfolio. Live dealer variations deliver an authentic casino experience, while specialty titles such as video poker, instant wins, and keno offer a great alternative.

If you’re new to the world of online casinos, this huge choice of games can feel overwhelming at first. So, before diving in, you should know that some games are better suited for beginners than others.

To help you start on the right foot, we’ve listed the best online casino games for beginners that are simple to play and offer a great chance to pick up some early winnings. Let’s jump right in.

#1. Start with virtual table games

The ideal starting point is virtual table games, which simulate the outcomes of the real games found in land-based and live casinos. As there are no dealers or physical cards involved, these titles use random number generator (RNG) algorithms to ensure fairness and random results.

More importantly, these games let you bet with lower stakes, making them ideal for beginners. Likewise, unlike the live environment when new game rounds start every few seconds, there’s no rush, giving you ample time to consider your next move.

Virtual table games are great for learning the ropes and yet still offer a high return-to-player (RTP). This percentage reflects the casino’s house edge and indicates how much the game is expected to pay back over time.

With that in mind, let’s review some of the best virtual table games suitable for a beginner.

Dragon Tiger — Head-to-head battle

Dragon Tiger, also known as Casino War in the US, is one of the relatively easy games to win at casino sites.

At the core of this game are incredibly simple rules. You bet on one of two sides, represented by a Dragon or Tiger, with each being dealt a single card. If you back the higher card, you win. Easy as that.

The odds of winning aren’t an even 50/50 split due to the possibility of a Tie (which you can also bet on at 8:1 odds), which lowers the RTP to 96%. This is still relatively high for beginners, while most Dragon Tiger games also refund 50% of your stake if a Tie occurs in any case.

It’s best to start with the standard Dragon Tiger game as a beginner, although side bets are available once you get more confidence. For example, this could be for both cards to have the same suit and value. However, remember these have a low chance of winning despite the payouts being significantly higher.

Blackjack — Master blackjack strategy

Despite being a favorite among many pros, blackjack remains easy to understand. It’s a classic for a reason, combining simple bets and player actions with a touch of skill through the use of optimal blackjack strategy.

The game’s objective is clear – to reach a total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding this amount, while also beating the dealer’s score. You only need to decide whether to Stand (keep your tally) or Hit (draw another card) on a basic level.

In fact, as an online casino beginner, you only need to refer to a basic blackjack strategy chart when playing the game. This acts as a visual guide, telling you the best time to Hit or Stand to increase your chances of winning. There isn’t anything illegal about doing so, just as with blackjack card counting, making it one of the easiest casino games to play.

Roulette — Understand probability

Roulette is another simple casino game for beginners, easily recognized by its iconic wheel divided into colored and numbered segments. You place your bet, wait for the wheel to spin, and hope the ball lands in your favor. As a game of pure chance with numerous betting options, it’s a great way to learn about probability.

As a beginner, it’s ideal to start with simple ‘outside’ bets such as red/black or odd/even, where the chance of winning is roughly 50%. The payout is at a ratio of 1:1, meaning a $5 bet would return $10 should you win. As you gain experience, you can implement more advanced roulette strategies like betting on specific wheel sections.

Roulette comes in three main variants — French, European, and American. However, only playing the first two is recommended, as they feature a lower house edge compared to the latter. This is owing to the appearance of the double zero (00) pocket in the American version.

Baccarat — Choose your side

Baccarat is similar to Dragon Tiger, and while it may appear more complex, it remains a straightforward game for beginners. Again, you bet on one of two sides – Banker or Player – this time wagering on which will get closer to 9. The game is played with two cards, and while a third card is sometimes drawn, this is automatic and doesn’t require any skill or knowledge.

Because of its high return-to-player (RTP) of 98.94%, baccarat is considered one of the more easy casino games to win. The key is to understand the odds and practice effective bankroll management, all of which are part of standard baccarat strategy.

Most variations have side bets. However, since these carry a much higher house edge and are rarely worth the risk, beginners should stick to traditional baccarat, called Punto Banco. It’s also useful knowledge to know that the Banker bet has a slight edge in terms of win probability over long-term play.

#2. Spin the reels of online slots

Slots are considered one of the best casino games for beginners, largely because almost everything is automated and happens at random. Your only decisions are setting your stake and hitting the Spin button.

Simplicity is not the main reason why newbies should consider slots; fun bonus features and big win potential can trigger from any spin. Let’s review which slots you should focus on as a beginner.

Demo mode slots — Practice with no risk

Most online casinos provide demo versions of their slots, allowing you to play for free without any financial risk. For beginners, these demos are a great way to understand how slots work, how frequently wins and bonus features trigger, and the expected returns over multiple spins.

Demo slots use fake credits, which can simply be reloaded if you run out, while the gameplay and everything else remain the same as in the real-money version.

They’re an excellent way to practice playing games without taking risks and test out new titles before using real money. If the slot includes the Buy Bonus feature, you can also use the demo funds to purchase it and test out the bonus round.

Play classic slots — Start with simple paylines

Classic slots mimic traditional slot machines, just like the ones found in Las Vegas casinos to this day. These slots are very simplistic and usually consist of just three reels and a minimal number of paylines. Moreover, there are rarely any special features, although some games incorporate wild symbols and free spin rounds.

Playing classic slots is ideal for beginners due to their simplicity. Many just offer one single payline and use classic symbols – such as fruits, bars, or lucky sevens – making them easy to follow. Some modern releases, notably Megaways slots, have a dynamic number of paylines (reaching up to 117,469) that vary on each spin.

If you want to play some of the best games in a casino that belong to this category, consider releases like Wild Diamond 7x (Booming Games), Thunder Reels (Playson), and Hot 777 Deluxe (Wazdan).

Find low volatility slots — Preserve your balance

Every slot game has a volatility rating — low, medium, or high — which determines its payout pattern. Low-volatility slots pay out more frequently but in relatively small amounts, while high-volatility slots offer fewer winning spins but much larger payouts when they hit.

As a novice, it’s best to start with low volatility slots when you first start playing. With more frequent wins, you’ll stretch your bankroll further and enjoy longer gameplay, increasing your chances of triggering a high-paying bonus feature.

These titles also produce a lower emotional impact, as they are unlikely to take you on a rollercoaster of adrenaline. Still, you should focus on finding low-volatility slots with good gameplay and high RTPs.

Some interesting examples here are Starburst (NetEnt), Crystal Vault (Lightning Box), and Thunderstruck II (Microgaming).

Avoid jackpot slots — Don’t get sucked in

Jackpot slots offer fixed or progressive jackpot prizes that land extremely rarely, making them highly volatile. Their amounts can be life-changing, however, just like the many Mega Moolah jackpot wins that have surpassed $10 million multiple times.

Jackpot slots can drain your balance quickly since base game wins are infrequent. This is because the RTP is lowered to compensate for the huge payout that will come sooner or later. As a beginner, it’s best to avoid this type of gameplay where you seemingly have just thrown your money away with little return.

As you become more accustomed to online casinos in the future, hopefully after increasing your bankroll in the meantime, this is when playing jackpot slots could be an option. Standout titles include the above-mentioned Mega Moolah (Microgaming), Mega Fortune (NetEnt), Age of Gods (Playtech), and Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop (Relax Gaming).

As a beginner, don’t get drawn in by promises of life-changing rewards too early in your casino adventure. It’s best to avoid spending too much time or money on these highly volatile games before you’ve gained more experience and understanding.

You can learn more about progressive slot machines in our extensive guide.

#3. Branch out into specialty games

Slots, virtual table games, and live casino games make up the majority of most online casino catalogs. Still, you shouldn’t neglect the more niche sections, as they’ll give you a broader understanding of what casino games can offer.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few suggestions for you. We focus on specialty games, which often contain hidden gems that are unintentionally tucked away in the casino library.

Keno — Play casino bingo

Keno is based on lotteries, meaning that it’s incredibly simple and can suit any player, no matter their experience level. In essence, you only need to choose numbers and hope many or all of them get drawn.

Although keno strategy can be used, there’s little you can do to affect your expected returns – just like in a real lottery game. On top of that, the pacing is slow, making the game very relaxing.

Beginners should focus on basic keno games, as variations add bonus features and multipliers, which don’t bring much to the table.

Live gameshows — Spin the prize wheels

Although live casino gameshows may be unfamiliar to you as a new player, they actually offer an easier route into the live casino environment. This is due to their simplistic and fun nature.

Most are based on large prize wheels with equally divided segments, where you bet on where the wheel will stop after the presenter spins it. It’s that simple. Exciting bonus rounds and boosted multiplier wins add extra thrills to the experience. Monopoly Live, Dream Catcher, and Crazy Time (Evolution) are perfect examples.

Some even draw inspiration from popular TV game shows like Deal or No Deal, creating a familiar feel to proceedings.

Video poker — Learn poker hands

Video poker combines elements of RNG-based slots with the strategy of poker, offering high RTPs and engaging decision-making. This makes it a great choice for developing a more tactical approach and, of course, learning poker hands.

Rules in video poker games are simple, the pay tables are clear, and the RTP is as high as 99.54%. It can even go above 100% in some cases, while you can also use video poker strategy charts to improve your decision-making. They tell you the best course of action depending on your starting hand.

Video poker challenges you to form a winning hand using standard Texas Hold’em rankings. The round begins with five randomly dealt virtual cards, of which you can choose to replace one or more. This is where the charts come in handy since they tell you what to keep or replace.

Once you’re done, you’ll receive new cards in exchange for the ones you’ve discarded. If you form a winning hand, you’ll win based on the paytable. For instance, in the screenshot below, the player kept two 7s and discarded the rest. One of the three new cards was a 7, which formed a three-of-a-kind. This paid out at 3:1, which turned a $1 bet into a return of $3.

Conclusion — Casino games for beginners

Every online casino will feature a bunch of games that are ideal for beginners. From virtual table games to quality classic and low volatility slots, you’ll have plenty of releases to play and learn the ropes. You can even try them in demo mode to get a feel for how they work.

To ensure you have fun in a safe and budget-friendly manner, it’s best to stick to casino games for beginners, which we’ve covered extensively in this article. All you need now is an account at a safe and reliable online casino, and you’re good to go.

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