The Best Way to Learn Every Game in the Casino
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When I first started gambling, I really did not know much.
I started writing about gambling before I actually played any casino games, so I knew a little bit about most of the games, but I lacked experience.
Any knowledge that I had was more of an abstract understanding because I had never actually tried it.
So, I made it my mission to learn every game in the casino.
It has been about a year since I started, but now I have actually played every game that my online casino offers, including live dealer games, specialty games, and a variety of poker games.
My goal was to start with the most straightforward games first, and then gradually progress to the ones that were more difficult.
If you have been following my blog, you may have noticed that I pretty well stuck with that progression.
However, now that I have accomplished my mission, there are a few things that I wish I had done differently.
Some games, like roulette, that I thought were going to be complicated ended up being a lot easier than I anticipated, and other games were a lot more challenging than I thought they would be.
Overall, I was overthinking everything, and almost everything was a lot easier when I finally started playing.
Here are ten steps to help you learn every game in the casino from the easiest to the most challenging. Keep in mind that this assumes that you have never gambled or played any of these games before.
If you grew up playing blackjack or have regularly attended poker nights with your friends, then you should probably start with those games.
No matter who you are, interpret this as a simple guide, as opposed to a hard and fast rule.
- When you get to a game that you do not like, stop playing it.
- If one of the games sounds more appealing than another, go for that one first.
These steps are based purely on how easy it is to learn the games, but your final decisions should incorporate your own personality and preferences.
With that in mind, here are the ten steps that will help you learn every game in the casino.
1. Slots
I will be honest and tell you that I debated about whether slots should be the first game.
It really is the easiest game to learn because all that you have to do is place your bets and push a button or spin a lever.
The problem with that is that it can become a little boring. So, try a few different games, but give yourself the freedom to move on if you find yourself getting uninterested.
On the other hand, it is also easy to get caught up in the fact that you need the next win.
If you find yourself continually believing that the next spin is going to be the one that wins the jackpot, you will lose a lot of money very quickly.
Even penny slots cost more than a penny because you have to play more than one line.
Those five pennies or twenty-five pennies can turn into ten, twenty, fifty dollars before you even realize what is happening.
Slots are the easiest game to learn, so they are an excellent place for any beginner gambler to start. But there are some things that you need to be prepared for.
If you get bored with the slot machines, do not give up on gambling altogether because you will probably find other games far more interesting.
Those of you who enjoy slots need to be mindful of bankroll management.
2. Baccarat
The first table game that I think beginner gamblers should learn is Baccarat.
Some people in the gambling industry might disagree with me on this because they believe it is challenging to learn the rules of the game.
But here is the problem with that argument. You do not need to understand the rules in order to play.
Baccarat is similar to blackjack because there are two hands in play, and whichever hand has the highest number, without getting into double digits, is the winner.
There are specific rules that dictate when the player hand gets a third card, and when the banker’s hand gets a third card. You do not need to know those rules.
All that you have to do is predict whether the banker or the player is going to win.
Mathematically speaking, the banker’s hand has a higher probability of winning. So, your best bet is to play on the banker.
That is all that you have to do. Place your bet on the banker, every time.
As you play, you will automatically become familiar with the game, and you will learn the third-card rules by paying attention to the cards.
Baccarat is one of the most straightforward games in the casino because the best strategy is to always bet on the banker.
Once you are ready for more challenges, you can begin to learn about baccarat side bets, or you can move onto roulette.
3. Roulette
When you first walk up to the roulette table, it can be somewhat intimidating because there is so much going on. But the game itself is really quite self-explanatory.
Your only objective is to predict which number the white ball will land on when the wheel spins.
The only reason that roulette gets a little complicated is that there are several different kinds of bets that you can make.
You could bet on a specific number, or you can simply wager that the number will be odd or even. Each wager has its own payout based on the probability of getting it right.
Outside bets have a higher likelihood of winning than inside bets.
Once you learn the betting options, roulette is a very simple game to play.
All that you have to do is place your bets and hope that the ball stops in your favor.
The betting options are the only thing that makes roulette a little more complicated than baccarat or slots.
4. Blackjack
I always heard that blackjack was the most straightforward table game to learn, so that is why I started with that one, and I certainly had reasons to agree on that topic.
If you are a little unsure of baccarat or roulette, you could begin with blackjack, and most of you will learn how to play very quickly and without difficulties.
The thing that makes blackjack one of the easier casino games is the fact that there is a perfect strategy that gives you the best chance of winning.
As long as you follow a strategy guide, you should be able to play a simple game of blackjack, and it will have an incredibly low house edge. That makes blackjack one of the fairest games in the casino.
However, there are a lot of mistakes that you can make when you play blackjack.
One of the most important things to know is that you have to choose the right strategy chart for that particular game.
Multiple decks and changes in rule variations affect the best move in a lot of choices. So, if you plan to use a strategy guide, make sure that it is the one that goes with the game that you are playing.
Blackjack is an easy game to learn, especially when you have access to a strategy guide.
But I do not think it is easier to learn than roulette or baccarat.
It is not a difficult game, but it is not the easiest one to learn, either. That is why I think that it fits perfectly as your fourth game to learn.
5. Craps
Craps is the table game that I recommend you master next.
It is similar to roulette in that it is a relatively simple game, but it gets tricky to learn the various betting options.
To put it simply, the objective of craps is to predict what number the dice will land on.
The challenging part is figuring out which number you are hoping for and at which time.
Another thing that makes craps a little more complicated is that you can bet for or against a particular outcome.
Keeping all of the different bets straight can be difficult for beginners, but the best way to learn them is to play.
The more that you play, the easier it will become. Soon enough, those betting options will become like second nature to you.
6. Video Poker
Some of you are probably surprised that I suggest playing video poker before you play traditional poker, but there is a good reason why.
Anyone who has played poker for any amount of time will already have the poker hands and betting systems memorized.
But for those of us who are new to the game, poker is scary because there is so much to learn.
That is where video poker comes in.
Video poker gives the player an opportunity to practice some parts of poker without having to figure it out all at once.
You can familiarize yourself with all of the different poker hands, which one is better than the others, but you do not have to worry about betting against other players.
More importantly, you will lose less money playing video poker than a traditional poker game.
In conventional poker, your ante might only be $5, but you can easily be playing $100 or more on a single hand, depending on how many times the other players raise.
Video poker moves at a faster pace, but you only place one stake for each hand.
Your $5 stake will remain the same until you decide to change it.
Practicing the elements of poker without the potential of losing all your money makes video poker a perfect prerequisite to get you ready for live games.
7. Poker Cash Games and Tournaments
Once you have used video poker to master all the different poker hands, you will be ready to play in a live poker game.
I recommend that you play a few small-stakes cash games first. That way, you can get used to competing against other players, but you can leave the game at any time.
However, you absolutely have to manage your bankroll carefully when you play a cash game.
If you are not sure that you can manage your bankroll effectively, you should choose a tournament instead.
Tournaments give you the opportunity to play with more chips than your bankroll, but you cannot cash out mid-game.
The benefit of playing poker online is that you can compete against other players, but you cannot see their faces. You have to analyze their actions instead of reading their facial expressions.
They cannot bluff or trick you by changing their faces. Instead, the only way to bluff is by making more extravagant bets than your cards warrant.
Learning to play poker by focusing on people’s actions will help you when you move on to playing poker in a brick-and-mortar casino.
8. Specialty Games
Many gamblers will stop after learning poker, but I think there is one more category of games that you should check out.
Every online casino will offer a variety of specialty games, such as bingo, lottery-style games, keno, and more.
These games are not as popular as the traditional table games, but they are worth exploring.
If you have not played bingo since you were a child, check out the different varieties that your casino has to offer.
Some of you have probably never heard of red dog poker or casino war, but they are both fast and simple card games.
Lottery-style games are similar to slot machines in some ways, but they allow you to win in a variety of ways.
Take some time to check out the specialty games that are available at your online casino.
They might be a simple way to mix things up when you get bored, or you might find one that you actually enjoy more than traditional casino games.
But you will never know if you never try them.
9. Live Dealer Games
At this point, it would be fair to say that you have at least tried all the games that casinos offer.
But I would not want you to miss out on the fun of playing some live dealer games.
Most online casinos offer roulette, blackjack, and baccarat in a live dealer format, but some casinos have more variety.
It does not matter which live dealer game that you play, but you should try at least one or two of them.
Live dealer games offer a more authentic experience because you can see the dealer. They use real cards and roulette wheels.
If you do not trust the random number generators that digital games use, live dealer games are a better option.
It gives you a land-based casino experience, but you do not have to leave your house.
One thing to be aware of is the fact that some casinos do not count live dealer games toward bonus playthrough requirements.
If you got a bonus and you are close to meeting your rollover amount, check the casino’s policy before you start playing live dealer games.
10. Different Variations
Now that you have experienced all of the games in the casino, the only thing left to do is to pick your favorites.
I recommend that you try out a few of the different variations of your favorite casino games so that you can learn the differences between each version.
- If you love baccarat, you are probably playing the punto banco version. Try the super six or chemin de fer variations.
- Those of you who love five-card draw should try Texas Hold ‘Em or three-card stud.
- Slot machines lovers have thousands of options to choose from.
Another option is to mix things up by trying side bets. Blackjack, baccarat, craps, and many other games have side betting options.
I recommend that you do some research to check the house edge for those various bets so that you can choose wagers that are more likely to win.
A general rule is, the higher the payout, the less likely you are to win. So, you will have better luck if you play side bets that pay two to one or even money.
But if you are dying to try the wager with a thirty to one payout, then give yourself a chance to try it.
At this point, you are just trying everything out so that you can see which games, side bets, and variations you enjoy the most.
Conclusion
There is no wrong way to learn how to gamble, so if you do not want to stick with this plan, then don’t. It is merely a guide for those of you who prefer to learn the simplest games first.
I hope that this step-by-step guide has given you some vital information that can help you decide which games you want to try and the concepts that you should focus on learning first.
More importantly, you can use the attached resources to help you learn whichever game stands out to you.
Good luck on your beginner gambler journey!
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