Online casino games for beginners: An introduction

Poker, blackjack, baccarat, online slots, you name it. If you have visited an online casino, you know how much choice there is in terms of games such as the huge variety of games available at Neon Vegas. Browsing the games can be a thrilling experience, but it can also be a little daunting, especially for beginners. And that might not be a great way to start your online gambling adventure, right?

That’s why we have decided to take a look at some of the most popular games and briefly break them down for you. We are spoilt for choice when it comes to online casino gaming, and it’s true that some games will fit you and your risk profile much better than others. You should normally come across these games in most online casinos, so we suggest you just try them out first, without going in big straight away.

Of course, regardless of the game, always remember to gamble responsibly. As the industry slogan goes: when the fun stops, stop.

POKER

Poker is probably the best-known and most popular online casino game out there right now. The name “poker” actually refers to a family of card games with varying rules in which players wager over which hand is best according to the specific rules of the game they are playing, like Texas Hold ‘M, easily the most popular format, and 7-Card Stud. The game has been around since the early 19th century and experienced a great surge in popularity during the second half of the 20th century, especially after the start of the World Series of Poker in 1970. The big difference between poker and many other online casino games is the fact that, at poker, players compete with each other instead of individually against the house and there is a considerable element of skill involved in winning which is why there are a number of poker societies set up.

BLACKJACK

Speaking of playing individually against the house, blackjack is possibly one of the best examples. It’s a fun game with a rather low barrier to entry, as the rules are quite easy to learn. Based on a standard classic deck of 52 playing cards, where each player competes against the dealer (or the house), the goal of the game is to get a total card value of 21 or as close as possible to 21, without exceeding it. Once you get deeper into the odds involved in blackjack, you will learn how to better take advantage of the low house edge, meaning that the odds of the dealer winning a round are relatively low compared to other online casino games, and how to better control your chances.

ROULETTE

Regardless of where you are gambling, online casino games don’t come much simpler than roulette. It’s a game that is purely based on chance and does not require much experience or preparation. The players basically bet on a number between 0 and 36 and then a small ball dropped onto a spinning wheel will end up at one number within that range. If you guessed correctly, you win. It’s that simple. There are, of course, some strategies you can adopt to spread your chances, for example by placing bets on several numbers at once, but in the end, it will come down to luck in every turn. This is one for the beginners who prefer to start off very easy.

BACCARAT

Another online casino game that is very easy to learn and understand is baccarat, James Bond’s favourite. The game uses three to six standard 52-card decks, with cards 2 through 9 valued at face value, while a 10, jack, queen and king cards have a value of zero, and an ace is worth one. The dealer starts by handing two cards to the banker (the house) and two cards to the player. Very much like blackjack, where players need to get close to 21, the goal of baccarat is to guess, based on the game’s specific scoring system, which of the dealt hands is closest to 9. It’s really quite simple to master and despite it being an almost entirely luck-based game, there exist plenty of strategies and expert tips to help you get off to a flying start at baccarat.

SLOTS

If you are a beginner and you are really looking for easiest, most straightforward online casino game available, then the slot machines are probably for you. It effortless, it can be hugely exciting, and the pay-outs can be gigantic. All you need to do is insert a virtual coin or token, virtually spin or pull whatever you need to pull to get the machine going, and pray for the best. For added fun, most online casinos also offer different versions of slots, based on aspects like themes and specific bonuses that can be win, for example.