Online Gambling for Beginners

The Reality of Gambling for Beginners

The most important thing to know about gambling for beginners is that it is nothing like what it is portrayed in the media. When playing at an online casino, you will inevitably experience both winning and losing.

Here are a number of facts you must make peace with before playing your first casino game:

• The house (casino) always has an edge – although the casino’s advantage varies between games, it is inevitable since it is how casinos make their profits. The house doesn’t need to rely on luck precisely because of the ever-present mathematical edge built into every game.
• Strategies cannot overcome the house edge – even if you seek to learn strategic playing styles to give yourself better chances of winning, these will never overcome the house edge and no strategy is foolproof and cannot guarantee you will win every single time.
• It all depends on luck - even the most experienced and skilled players have to rely on luck, which will ultimately determine whether they win or lose.
• Only play with money you are prepared to lose - Gambling is strictly for entertainment and not a lucrative way to make money. Create clear boundaries for yourself, and never chase your losses.
• Lucky streaks are temporary - If you’ve made a big win, think about stopping or risk losing it all again. The best strategy is to leave on a high note and quit while you’re ahead.

Online Casino Guide for Beginners Top Tips

Here are a few tips to help you get better and move beyond the beginner status:

• Inform yourself about the house edge and RTP and how it varies between different games. Knowing the estimated casino edge in each game can help you calculate the amount of money you can expect to spend during your visit.
• Know the rules and basic gameplay, perhaps by first watching others play or making use of abundantly available online resources, such as how-to guides or video tutorials.
• Familiarise yourself with casino games before you try to play them yourself. Some online casino sites may provide walkthroughs or guides explaining the rules of the game.
• Explore strategies and improve your skill to increase your chances of winning.
• Start with easy and straightforward games to get a feel for placing bets before you move on to more complicated and competitive games such as blackjack.

Always Check the RTP (Return to Player)

Checking the RTP of a casino game before playing is vital for informed decision-making. The RTP provides insight into the game’s potential profitability over the long run and is a crucial element to check before you play. Our guide on online casino RTP explained will contain more information, and can be a great read to understand the concept.

A higher RTP indicates a better theoretical return on your wagers, enhancing your chances of ending a session with a profit. By choosing games with higher RTPs, you’re minimizing the house’s advantage, thereby maximizing your potential winnings.

However, remember that RTP is an average figure, and actual short-term outcomes can vary significantly due to the inherent randomness in casino games. Nonetheless, the RTP remains a useful guide for discerning players.

How To Find a Safe Casino For Beginners

Given the thousands of options available today, choosing which online casino to sign up to can be tough. However, there are a few indicators of a reliable online casino to look out for before signing up. Most importantly, make sure to choose a casino which is reputable and licensed by an official National Gaming Authority.

The license will differ depending on the region you play from. For example, UK gamblers need to pick an operator with a valid UK Gaming Commission license, while Finnish players can safely select an operator with a universal MGA license. Our online casino license page explains this in greater detail.

Other factors to consider when picking your first casino are:

• Variety of games on offer – look at the number and type of games.
• Accepted payment methods – make sure the casino accepts the payment method you are planning to use.
• Bonuses and promotions – these will enhance your experience by allowing you to play longer through free spins or bonus credits.
• Safety and security – choose a reputable casino with clearly certified security measures in place to protect both your money and personal information through measures such as SSL encryption.
• Customer service – check out the accessibility and availability of customer support in case any problems arise. It is preferable to choose a casino that offers 24/7 customer service, ideally through a variety of channels.
• Mobile compatibility – does the casino have a mobile app, or can it be accessed through a mobile browser to play while you’re out and about?
• Player reviews – avoid casinos which have been blacklisted for slow or unsafe payments or those which have bad player reviews.
• Audited casinos – companies such as eCOGRA will independently audit casinos to certify that they are completely fair and that the games’ odds have not been tampered with.

How to Create Your First Gambling Account

Signing up for an online casino for beginners is straightforward. You can read our guide explaining how to create your first online casino account or get a summary below.

On the casino’s webpage, you will be clearly directed to the ‘sign up’ page and will be asked for your personal details such as name, surname, contact details, address, currency and a security question.

If you are gambling in the UK, the casino is then legally required to perform a KYC or Know Your Customer check on new players, which usually involves a basic background check to verify your identity. In other regions, this process will take place later, before your first withdrawal.

ID Verification

The identity verification process normally involves providing an identification document, such as a passport, ID card or driving license, and proof of address, for example, by providing a copy of a utility bill under your name delivered to your address.

Payment Methods

An important thing to check at any new casino is what payment methods are supported for making deposits and withdrawals. Top online casinos offer a wide range of choices for players to choose from, which usually include:

• Debit cards
• Credit cards (MasterCard, Visa)
• e-wallet services (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
• Prepaid cards
• Bank transfer

The exact selection of banking methods normally varies from country to country. For example, in the UK, online casinos that use PayPal are commonly found, while Interac is a more common payment method in Canada.

Opting for certain payment methods over others could reward you with additional bonuses. When choosing a payment method to use at the casino, the main things to keep in mind are:

• Convenience
• Low associated fees
• Safety and security

Although credit card deposits probably clear the fastest, e-wallet services provide an additional layer of protection by keeping your bank details hidden.

On the other hand, using a debit card is useful if you are afraid of overspending since they will only allow you to use the balance already present in your account rather than automatically borrowing funds from the bank through an overdraft.

What Are Casino Bonuses?

Casino bonuses are promotional offers by the casino to reward player loyalty or encourage new players to sign up through free spins or bonus credits. There are different types of casino bonus online which may be associated with terms or wagering requirements, such as an expiry date or a minimum amount of rounds played, which you must fulfil before being able to cash them out.

Different Types of Bonuses

There are several types of bonuses, including:

• Welcome bonuses – for new players. These are often the most lucrative rewards and can be claimed just by signing up.
• Deposit bonuses – for making use of site-preferred payment methods or simply making deposits over a certain amount.
• Reload bonuses – a reward for depositing new funds into your account, usually received as bonus credit or free spins.
• Loyalty bonuses – accrue over time to loyal players, meaning that they often get better the longer you play.

Terms and Requirements

When choosing the most profitable bonus for you, consider how much the bonus will really be worth after fulfilling the requirements necessary to redeem it.

Make sure to read the terms carefully to choose the best bonus and avoid disappointments. Below, you can learn more about the most common terms and conditions.

• Deposit required – large bonuses usually ask for larger deposits, making them more expensive to earn.
• How the bonus is received – do you need to complete the transaction by entering a code to redeem the bonus, or is it debited automatically?
• Wagering requirements – a predetermined amount which needs to be spent on bets in order to earn the bonus. How much of the original bonus will you have left after placing these wagers?
• Expiry date – will the bonus expire by a certain deadline if you haven’t yet satisfied all the requirements?

How To Make Withdrawals at The Casino

The procedure for making withdrawals is very similar to that for making deposits, and normally involves the following steps:

1. Make sure you are logged in to your account on the casino site.
2. Navigate to the Cashier or Payments tab and enter the amount to withdraw.
3. Choose your preferred banking method.
4. Enter your financial details, such as the card information or e-wallet no. and submit.
5. The transaction will be processed within a short period of time, usually depending on the banking method used.

This process will be sped up if you have already verified your identity to the casino by providing some form of official document such as an ID card, passport or recent bank statement.

Best Casino Games for Beginners

It is recommended to check out the casino’s game library beforehand and make sure they offer a wide variety of casino games with real money, especially those you are most looking forward to playing.

The most common casino game you will come across will probably be slots. There are hundreds of themes and variations ranging from the classic three-slot format to five-reel slot machines. Other popular casino games include tabletop card games such as poker, baccarat and blackjack, which usually demand more player engagement and require skill.

The advantage of online casinos is that they normally offer creative variations of classic games with an exciting twist, such as multi-hand blackjack. Top online casinos also host live games where you can play in real-time with a live dealer who is streamed to you via a webcam.

Ultimately, the right games to play come down to what kind of experience you want to have at the casino. Do you want to put your strategy to the test and try to win some money? Or do you want to sit back and enjoy flashy lights and sound effects?

Easy to Understand Casino Games

The easiest games to pick up, which do not require any particular skill or a lot of engagement and attention, are the following:

• Slots
• Roulette
• Keno

They are designed to provide easy-going games for patrons seeking a more relaxed casino experience.

More Advanced Casino Games

However, if you’re looking for a bit of competition, you should go for games that require some degree of skill and will let you play on your bet for some time. The are usually the games with the best odds for players using a strategy.

• Blackjack
• Video poker
• Craps
• Baccarat

As a new online casino player, finding the best games for you is simply a matter of trying them out and picking your favourites. The beauty of an online casino is that the wide range of games offered means that they have a perfect game for every type of gambler.

Managing Your Funds Responsibly

Gambling is addictive and can become an expensive hobby and possibly even drive you into financial difficulty. We recommend you take a look at our gambling responsibly page for more information.

Here are a couple of tips to help you responsibly manage your funds to avoid developing a problem:

• Exploit bonuses such as welcome offers, free spins and bonus credit to get the most bang for your buck.
• Bet well within your limits and place your wagers responsibly. Never place a bet you cannot afford.
• Do not become overconfident, and place large bets because you’re feeling lucky. Although placing small bets means smaller wins, they will also prevent big losses. Especially if you’re still a beginner, it is best to first start out at lower stakes tables, provided that you meet the casino’s minimum bet.
• Know when to stop. Gambling can be addictive, so make sure to inform yourself of the symptoms of gambling addiction, take precautions and know when it’s time to step back.
• Tools and resources are readily available to help you set and maintain boundaries when gambling.
• Applying bankroll management means risking only a small portion of your overall available bankroll for each game to make sure you don’t lose it all too quickly.

FAQ

Kate WebbEditor in Chief

With over ten years of experience working with gambling and writing about casinos, Kate brings a lot of knowledge to CasinoTop3.com. Kate oversees all the content written on CasinoTop3.com to ensure it contains factual information with value to you as a player.