Getting started at the casino can be intimidating as a newcomer with little experience behind a felt table or slot machine. With so many games and variants to choose from, it’s tough to know where to begin and which options provide you with the best chance to win.
The good news is some casino games at LukkiCasino and on other websites come with significantly better odds than others. By sticking to beginner-friendly games with rules that are simple to pick up, new players can boost their chances to walk away a winner.
Blackjack
Of all casino table games, blackjack is one of the easiest to learn with one of the lowest house edges. The objective is to build a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. With the simplest bet of just whether you’ll win or lose against the dealer’s hand, the odds generally range from around 0.5% up to 2% in favor of the house.
As a beginner, we recommend learning just the basic blackjack strategy to know when to hit, stand, split cards, or double your bet. No need to memorize advanced card counting techniques. Stick to simple bets and basic strategy to boost your prospects of beating the dealer’s hand. Just be careful not to accidentally take hits when the strategy says to stand.
Craps
Although all the betting options can seem confusing at first, the classic pass line bet in craps offers beginners one of the lowest house edges at around 1.4%. You’re simply betting whether the shooter will win or lose on their first roll, which is close to a 50/50 proposition.
Once you get the hang of the basic gameplay flow and pass line bets, you can branch out into odds bets to further reduce the house edge as low as 0%. Just avoid the flashy proposition bets in the middle of the table for now, as those rig the odds heavily in the casino’s favor.
Baccarat
Baccarat tends to intimidate new players with its lavish table and odd numbering system for the cards. But in reality, it’s one of the easiest card games you can play. Simply bet on which hand you think will win between the player and banker. You don’t even have to know the rules for dealing the cards.
With a house edge around 1.06%, betting on banker every round gives you close to even odds against the house. Just sit back and watch the cards play out. Beginners can enjoy relaxing at the baccarat table while not having to memorize much strategy.
Video Poker
Unlike slots, video poker gives skilled players a fighting chance to win in the long run. Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Bonus Poker offer some of the best odds, with skilled players able to gain a slight advantage under optimal strategy.
While difficult to master, even beginners can gain a head start in video poker by learning a simple strategy chart that shows exactly which cards to hold or discard. Combined with the right pay table, beginners can whittle the house edge down significantly and increase their shot at walking away ahead.
Beginner-Friendly Bets to Try
Here are a few other safe beginner bets to consider with generally better odds than what you’ll find on slot machines:
- Roulette: Bet on red, black, even, or odd
- Slots: Play penny slots with highest RTP percentages
- Craps: Back the 6 or 8 point numbers after a point is rolled
- Baccarat: Bet on the banker or player hand each round
By now you’ve hopefully identified several approachable casino games to try first as a novice player seeking to win. Stick to basic bets with the best odds, gamble responsibly within your budget, and you’ll have a fighting chance even as a casino newcomer.