If you’re looking to dip your toe into the waters of online gambling, the sheer variety of choices on offer can be mind-boggling and overwhelming. And if you’re planning to stake your money on your luck, you’ll want to do a little research before putting all your money where your mouth is. From simple slot machine simulators to games of chance such as roulette, to more complex card games like blackjack, poker and baccarat, here are some of the best online casino games for beginners.
1. Slots
Slot machines are mechanical or electronic gambling devices that use a random number generator (RNG) to determine the outcome of each spin. When a player inserts a coin or token and pulls the lever or presses the button, the RNG generates a random sequence of numbers that determines the position of the reels.
The reels spin and come to a stop, showing a random combination of symbols. If the combination of symbols that appears on the payline matches a winning combination listed on the payout table, the player is awarded a prize. The amount of the prize depends on the specific winning combination and the amount of the bet.
Modern slot machines often have multiple paylines, allowing players to bet on more than one line at a time. They may also feature bonus rounds, free spins, and other special features to increase the player’s chances of winning.
Slot machines are the perfect introduction to the thrilling world of online gambling because they require no specialized skills or strategies in order to succeed, all you need is persistence and patience. Your odds are never higher or lower at any point, and the chance of hitting a jackpot is always there with every crank of the arm.
Nowadays online casinos are pushing the envelope in terms of the aesthetics of slot machine simulators, swapping out boring old fruit machine symbols for modern styles and skins, some even from all your favorite TV shows and celebrities.
2. Roulette
Another game of chance, roulette is for you if you want the unbeatable thrill of random chances with increasingly higher stakes if you want to up them. The odds are always 35-1, and with 36 blocks to choose from, the payout on a successful role is always thirty-five times the value of your original bet. And like with slot machines, there is no specialized knowledge or training needed to have a decent chance of winning.
You can choose your bet based on color (red or black), or number (even or odd). As you become more familiar with the game, you’ll want to start reading up on strategies for maximizing your outcomes.
Roulette is a casino game played with a spinning red and black wheel and a small ball. The objective of the game is to correctly predict where the ball will land on the spinning wheel. The roulette wheel has 38 numbered slots (or 37 in European roulette), including numbers 1 through 36, a single zero (or both a single and double zero in American roulette), and sometimes additional special slots such as a double zero in some versions of European roulette. Each number is either red or black, with the zeros being green.
To play roulette, a player places a bet on the table, indicating the number(s), group(s) of numbers, or color(s) they believe the ball will land on. The dealer then spins the wheel and drops the ball onto the spinning wheel in the opposite direction of the spin. As the ball starts to slow down in the wheel it will eventually end up in one of the wheel’s numbered slots. The dealer announces the winning number and pays out to any players who made a correct bet.
The amount of the payout depends on the type of bet that was made. For example, if you bet on a single number you’ll get a pay out of 35 to 1, but if you bet on red or black you’ll get a payout of even money. It’s important to note that while the game appears to be based on chance, the house has an advantage because of the presence of the zero (and double zero, in American roulette), which gives the casino an edge in the long run.
3. Blackjack
Whether you play in a land-based casino or online at a top site like Grand Eagle casino, the rules of blackjack are relatively simple, although strategies for sure-fire success are as varied as they are numerous. A card game using standard playing cards, blackjack is all about reaching as close to 21 for the total value of the cards on the table, based on your own hand and the dealer’s first card, or up card, and last card, or down card. If you bet too high and exceed 21 points, you lose.
Aces are equal to one or eleven, and the royal cards – Jacks, Queens, and Kings – are worth ten points. Because of the high value of these cards, it is generally better to bet on lower values against the dealer’s down card.
4. Poker
The most complicated game on this list, poker is easy to pick up but hard to master, as it’s based on equal parts chance, strategy, and psychology. There are plenty of variations, from 3-card to Texas Hold ‘Em to Omaha and Razz.
The goal of poker is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made in a hand. Each player is dealt a hand of cards, typically five cards in most variations. Players make bets in rounds, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Players can choose to fold (give up their hand and their bets), call (match the current bet), or raise (increase the bet).
After the first round of betting, players can choose to discard and replace some or all of their cards in exchange for new ones (in draw poker) or keep their original hand (in stud poker). Another round of betting follows, with players having the option to check (make no bet if no one else has bet), bet, or fold.
If there are still two or more players remaining after the final round of betting, a showdown occurs, where each player reveals their hand, and the best hand wins the pot.
The ranking of hands in poker from highest to lowest are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.
