The casino can be a scary place if you’re a complete beginner. Whether it’s the unusual language, seemingly complex rules or other players behaving intimidatingly. Even online casino games can be overwhelming due to their fast pace and subtle rule variations.
However, there’s absolutely nothing to be worried about as long as you put in a minimal amount of effort. Fortunately, this guide is here to properly prepare you for that first foray into the world of gambling.
Top Tips for New Casino Players
Like anything in life, the more you put in, the more you’ll get out. So make sure you’re ready for your casino debut by understanding the following tips for new casino players.
Understand the Payouts
The first thing to do is pick a specific game to concentrate on. Instead of trying to play everything while not really understanding anything, make sure you fully comprehend the rules of one individual game.
When deciding what to play, read up on the overall house edge of that game. The lower the casino’s advantage, the longer your playing funds will last. Also, make sure that you understand the specific payouts of each bet to ensure you are correctly paid whenever you win. You can find free tools to assist you with this, such as a roulette calculator.
Learn the Etiquette
Gambling is full of superstition and tradition, so don’t upset your fellow players by doing anything problematic. Don’t cross your legs at the table, for instance. Similarly, it’s important to be polite to the dealers and staff, who are simply doing their jobs. It’s not their fault if your bets don’t win, so don’t take your frustrations out on them.
Don’t occupy a seat if you’re not intending to play and never sit talking on the phone when playing a hand. Once a bet is placed, don’t touch the chips again or you may be accused of cheating. There’s no need to touch the cards at the blackjack table either, and if you’re playing poker, don’t lift them off the table.
In live dealer casino games, never hold up the table by letting the clock tick down. If you are happy with your bets, press the button to lock them in and speed up the play.
Maintain a Bankroll
Perhaps the most important thing to focus on if you’re new to gambling is the idea of a bankroll. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to visit live poker rooms or try casino online betting; you simply have to learn how to manage your money correctly.
First of all, keep your gambling fund separate from everyday cash that’s required to pay bills and live daily life. Playing with money that you cannot afford to lose encourages bad decision-making. Secondly, break this amount into blocks of somewhere between 1% and 3% of your overall bankroll. By only risking small amounts at a time, your bankroll can absorb even the longest unlucky losing streak.
Loyalty and Bonuses
Exploiting the many online casino bonuses offered by gambling sites is a great way to top up your bankroll. Most sportsbooks and casinos offer some kind of initial signup bonus, where you’ll receive free bets or casino credits. By gambling with these bonuses, you’re effectively playing with the casino’s money.
What’s more, if you stick around at any one site, you can capitalize on loyalty bonuses and rewards programs. Most top online casinos give you some kind of comp points whenever you place bets or make deposits. These can be traded for bonuses or tangible gifts later on.
Find “Beatable” Games
Playing at the casino is supposed to be fun and it’s important not to forget that. But we all want to win money, too. So if you’re new to gambling, it’s a good idea to research which of the games offer the best chance of winning.
For example, did you know that one of the most famous casino table games is actually beatable? That’s right. By playing basic strategy and learning to count cards, it’s possible to make a long-term profit from blackjack. It’s not easy to do and it requires a lot of hard work and practice. But it’s certainly possible in theory – if you’re at a casino that permits it, of course.
Slots
When it comes to online slot machines, there are some important things that a new player needs to understand. First of all, check the game’s RTP (Return To Player) rate. This comes back to the first point about understanding a game’s payout. In the case of slots, RTP tells you how much the machine pays out in the long run. The higher the percentage, the more rewarding the game.
Secondly, check the game’s volatility and make sure you can handle it. Highly volatile games can go for long periods without giving prizes. But when they do, they tend to be higher than average. If you can’t handle the big swings, you’re better off sticking to low-volatility games. These pay smaller prizes more frequently.
Table Games
It’s tempting when starting out with table games to try to find a betting system. It’s certainly possible to use a playing style that you enjoy, known as a “strategy.” But you must understand that there is no such thing as a “winning system.” Anyone claiming to have a foolproof system for making money at the casino is lying, so watch out for scams.
Also, be careful that you don’t fall for the old Gambler’s Fallacy. You’ll often hear players saying that something is “due” to happen. For instance, at the roulette table, perhaps four red numbers in a row have appeared, so the next one simply has to be black, right? Wrong. This is false. Remember that every individual spin is unique and random. The wheel has no memory of what just happened and nor does a deck of cards.
Poker
A poker room can be an extremely intimidating place. But luckily, you can practice at an online poker site before making the trip to a live venue. At least that way, you can feel confident about your game before stressing about learning live poker etiquette.
Focus on one particular game first rather than spreading yourself thinly. Texas Hold’em is the obvious starting point since it’s the most popular. Try not to think about specific hands but rather view them in ranges. Don’t enter a pot by calling, as it shows weakness. If your hand is good enough to play pre-flop, it’s good enough to raise. Starting out in tournaments rather than cash games will provide more value for money.
Start Your Casino Journey With BetMGM
Now that you’re fully prepared, you need to know where you can play online casino games for real money.
A good place to start is BetMGM. Safe, secure and highly reputable, it’s a fantastic place to enjoy slots, table games and live dealer online games. Register today to see for yourself.
