The 7 Best Casino Games for Both Beginners and Experts

Many people who have never gambled before might feel scared when they walk onto the casino floor for the first time.

Lights are flashing everywhere, the air is filled with the hum of enthusiastic chatter, and money is being moved in one direction or another. Rows of games appear to provide the same sensation: cards or dice deciding who wins or loses chips.

But if you look more closely, you'll see that the games at the many tables are all slightly different from what you're used to. For example, Spanish 21 is played instead of standard blackjack, tiny baccarat is played instead of the classic card game, and so on.

People who have never gambled before might find it hard to get into because of the thrill of risking money and the unique adult playground atmosphere that can only be found in a casino.

As a result, many inexperienced casino players make typical rookie mistakes. New players simply don't know enough about the industry to make sound decisions, such as taking their chips to unbeatable games with significantly skewed odds in favor of the house or backing the worst bets available in any game.

And, clearly, casino operators and managers make their living off the backs of newcomers, encouraging them to chase large jackpots with a tiny possibility of winning, and betting that their inexperience would land them in the loser column when all is said and done.

That is why, every time I step foot on the casino floor, I prefer to have a gambling game plan in mind. Rather than wandering around the enormous halls from one game to the next, I love patrolling the casino like a tiger looking for prey.

Of course, I've spent many years as a leisure and semi-professional gambler, and the only way to become more familiar with casino games is to play them.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not claiming to be some kind of gambling Terminator who only takes on the best bets.

Yes, I try to put most of my money on reasonable bets by using a basic understanding of how probability and rewards work together to determine each game's house edge rate.

But I can still let loose and have a little fun playing a game like roulette, even though I know the odds aren't in my favor.

For me, effective casino gaming is all about striking the proper balance between profit and pleasure. I could sit down at a Jacks or Better video poker machine and use the strictest optimal strategy at all times if I wanted to grind out the thinnest of edges.

Or I could play blackjack for hours, combining the hard process of counting cards in my head with another way to use perfect strategy. And these strategies would almost certainly put me on the right side of variance, effectively erasing the house's edge and even turning the game into a positive expectation experience.

But I've done it before, and I'll let you in on a little secret: it's as monotonous as any 9-to-5 cubicle job you can think of. They say it's not work if you enjoy what you do, but even the most seasoned gamblers who make a profit from the games dislike the grind of true advantage play.

Instead, I try to find a balance between making the best bets and having fun when I gamble. I know which games have the best odds, but I also know that some of the games with the lowest expectations are also among the most enjoyable on the casino floor. By combining my sessions with the appropriate amounts of entertainment and revenue, I always leave with a smile on my face, win or lose.

Having said that, I'm still a winner, and I'll always try to play even the poorest games with some common sense and gambling expertise. Just because I like a spin on the roulette wheel doesn't imply I'm throwing money around with reckless abandon - rather the opposite. I make decisions based on my knowledge of how the game works mathematically. I also use good bankroll management to avoid big losses and have the discipline to resist "systems" and "strategies" that claim to help gamblers win consistently at games of chance.

Without further ado, I give to you my 7-point gambling game-plan, which covers the seven top casino games - both in terms of numbers and fun - that I recommend all new gamblers experience and enjoy.

1. Roulette

The roulette wheel is always my first stop at the casino. Not because it's a wonderful game in terms of probability, or because I expect to win a lot of money there.

No, I begin my session with a few spins since I have more fun at the roulette table than at the other sites on the list. And, first and foremost, casino gaming should always be about having fun.

Unlike many casino games, roulette is elegantly made to make it as easy as possible for players to know what the odds are against them. All bets on the table (save one "exotic" bet that most players avoid) have the same house edge: 2.70 percent or 5.26 percent.

The or in that sentence is predicated on a single important factor: the roulette wheel itself.

Most casinos in North America employ the "American" or double zero wheel, which has the standard 1 36 numbered spots in alternating black and red, as well as two green "0" and "00" spaces that work for the house. Most roulette games in Europe and worldwide use the "European" or single zero wheel, which has the identical design but only has one green "0" slot for the house.

The house edge on the American wheel is 5.26 percent, which is fairly large when compared to other classic casino games. But if you can get a European wheel, the house edge against you goes down to 2.70 percent, which is much easier to deal with.

Visitors to Las Vegas, Nevada's modern gambling hotspot, will have to settle for American double zero wheels at low to medium stakes, with European single zero wheels available only to high rollers wagering $100 minimum per spin. But big casinos like the Mirage, Aria, and MGM Grand all have European roulette games with a minimum bet of $25.

Personally, the first step in my gambling strategy is to put $100 on the first European roulette wheel I come across. From there, I avoid the typical "method" employed by recreational roulette players, who enjoy sprinkling chips on lucrative (but incredibly low-odds) single number wagers based on birthdays, anniversaries, or Michael Jordan's jersey number.

Instead, I wager $15 on one of three "column" bets, which cover a whole column of numbers on the betting layout (1, 4, 7, 10...; 2, 5, 8, 11...; 3, 6, 9, 12...). These column bets pay off 2 to 1 if the ball lands on any of the numbers in your chosen column, which almost exactly matches the 2 to 1 odds of that happening when you choose a single column.

To spice things up, I spread the remaining $10 needed to meet the $25 minimum wager on a variety of random single number bets at $2 each. I try to limit these risky bets to numbers outside of my current column bet, which acts as a sort of offset.

As a result, each spin results in one of three outcomes:

• I miss both the column bet and the single number bets, losing my $25 on that spin.

• I hit the column bet but miss the single number bets, winning $30 at 2 to 1 on a $15 wager but losing the remaining $10 in bets. That's a $30 victory and a $10 loss for a total profit of $20.

• I win $70 at 35 to 1 on a $2 bet but lose the other $24 in bets after hitting one of my single number bets but missing the column bet. That's a $70 victory and a $24 loss for a total profit of $56.

If arithmetic isn't your strong suit, these figures sum up to a few significant things. On each spin, I have an approximately 66 percent probability of losing the entire $25, but I also have a 33 percent chance of making $20 profit and a 2.85 percent chance of making a wonderful $56 profit.

On the column bet, I'll usually vary between a few outright loses and a few minor savings. But every now and again, the wheel turns in my favor, and a few single number hits in quick succession kick off the night in excellent style. In any case, after accumulating any kind of gains - twice my $100 investment or more - I tend to cash out from the table, realizing that roulette is best played in short bursts.

On rare circumstances, the ball will bounce the wrong direction four times in a row, resulting in a rapid burn through of a $100 note.

Whatever happens, I enjoy the companionship of sweating the outcome of a roulette wheel with new people at the table, as well as seeing the rituals of leisure gamblers. The action is relaxed here, and the players are simply having fun, so it's a fantastic place to start my journey through the casino floor for me.

2. Blackjack

After attempting my luck at the pure game of chance that is roulette, I usually proceed to the blackjack tables to chase the appetizer with a game that has more meat on its bones.

Blackjack is the traditional "thinking player's" game because, rather than relying on chance, players are allowed to employ good strategy. Simply put, blackjack is a gambling game with partial knowledge that lets players to make judgments, so those who consistently make the best selections will lose significantly less in the long term.

Furthermore, many blackjack players can really turn the tables and gain an edge over the house by combining the totally legal and acceptable concept of fundamental strategy with the absolutely legal but frequently unaccepted practice of card counting.

According to the statistics, a player who relies solely on instinct - that is, a blackjack novice making clearly avoidable mistakes - has an average house edge of 1.50 percent working against them. This is actually fairly reasonable in terms of the complete variety of casino games, so even the proverbial drunk playing by the seat of their pants can stretch out a bankroll at the blackjack table.

I can rapidly reduce the house edge to 0.50 percent or below by implementing the learned rules of basic blackjack strategy (hit on a 12 against the dealer's 2, double down on a 9 vs a dealer's 6, etc.).

Finally, those few players who can mentally track and "count" the exposed cards that flash on every hand have the potential to turn blackjack into a beatable, positive expectation game.

I can't pretend to be a skilled card counter, but I do my best to keep a normal High / Low count in a casual setting. In any event, you don't need to be concerned about card counting when using blackjack as a bankroll booster at the casino.

The only true need is a willingness to memorize the basic strategy chart for blackjack (s). That is left plural since basic strategy rules vary depending on the game configuration - multiple or single deck, dealer hitting or standing on soft 17s, and so on. If you're prepared to put in the mental effort required to master fundamental blackjack strategy, that 0.50 percent house edge (or even lower) becomes one of the lowest on the casino floor.

Personally, I prefer switching gears after a night of frolicking at the roulette table. While spinning the wheel, the power of luck was all-encompassing, but when I battle the dealer with a deck of cards between us, the game becomes an exercise in probability. Sure, I'll lose a few hands when the odds are stacked against me, but I'll also come from behind to win a few. That is the nature of gambling, and every game you play inside a casino will incorporate some element of chance.

Sharp blackjack players, on the other hand, can reduce the effect of luck to a considerable extent by using sheer dedication and solid strategy. The cards will still decide your fate from there, but by continually playing successfully over the duration of a session, most expert blackjack players can grind out a good return on their original buy in without exposing themselves to undue risk.

3. Slots

Even in the best of circumstances, blackjack may be a difficult game to master since memorization and recall require mental resources.

I can certainly swing it, so I'm not complaining, but after an hour or so at the blackjack tables, I'm ready to let off some steam. More often than not, I'm counting my earnings after a successful run of double downs and dealer busts, but even if I finished down on the twenty one game, the slot machine parlor is generally my next trip.

I'm not going to lie and say that slots are my favorite game or even that I love them, but they are a regular part of my casino routine.

Why? Because I know the score, and slot players are considerably more frequently rewarded by the casino than any other group. By joining the Slots Club, Player's Reward Program, or another similar agreement with my favorite casinos, I can make sure I get all the comps, freebies, special offers, and other prizes I am entitled to.

The only catch is that if I need a break from more serious gambling, I have to put in an hour or two at the slots. Casinos track your play and provide various bonuses when you hit certain criteria after inserting my Player's Card into the machine, which is commonly a five reel, 40 pay line video slot like The Walking Dead.

These perks can include free credits that can be used to play more slots, cash payouts based on point exchange, free meals or tickets to shows, and a lot of other nice things. Also, tracked slot players who also play other games, like me, are often offered the best hotel reservation discounts and other ways to get them to come back to the same casino the next time they go. Overall, a smart slot player who maximizes their incentives and bonuses may easily cover entire Vegas vacations through discounts and comps.

I enjoy playing "penny" slots, or machines that technically require only $0.01 per play. In actuality, these slots typically have 20 or 40 pay lines, or lines linking across the reels where winning combos might be hit. You must activate all pay lines to get the complete video slot experience, which includes bonus games and free spins as well as entertaining video clips and music effects that fit the theme. The minimal "cost to cover" for most slot games is $0.40, so even a tiny buy in of $40 or so gets you 100 spins.

As a thoughtful gambler, I also try to do some preliminary study to locate slots with large progressive prizes. For casual gamblers, the progressive principle is highly appealing because a modest investment of $1 or less can lead to life-changing money. A fast Google search for "progressive slot jackpots" yields dozens of articles of large progressive slots awarding millions of dollars to lucky winners.

I'm a realist by nature, so winning the seven or even eight figure sums flashing on the screens overhead doesn't appeal to me. But, knowing that I'm only playing slots for a limited time to earn rewards points, taking a shot at the big money is a great way to pass the time.

For the mathematically inclined, each slot machine is programmed by the manufacturer to offer its own "payback percentage," which is the inverse of the house edge. In other words, each slot machine has its own theoretical return to player (RTP) rate based on the preprogrammed probability of winning relative to the payments delivered. RTP and payback % are terms used interchangeably in gaming, and the statistic can also be used to calculate the house edge.

My favorite slot is The Walking Dead, a themed video slot created in 2014 by Aristocrat Leisure to capitalize on AMC's hit zombie series of the same name. That game has an RTP of 97.05 percent, which means that for every $100 wagered on it in the infinite long run, I may expect to "win" $97.05. In terms of house edge, I just remove 97.05 from 100 to get the amount, which in this case is 2.95 percent.

But, as I previously stated, each slot machine has its unique RTP and house edge rate, so do some research and select a few of the lesser ones that you like the look of. One thing to keep in mind is that progressive slots have a bigger house edge than non progressive slots, so unless you have a substantial bankroll, stick to the more player friendly non progressive games.

To get the full benefits of the rewards program, simply join your casino's Slots Club - and be sure to enter your Player's Card for tracking purposes whenever playing - once you've selected a favorite slot title.

4. No Limit Texas Holdem

The following stop on my gambling game plan is an optional one, and it all relies on my current attitude.

If everything is going well and the night appears to be going in my favor - which means I'll probably have a few hundred dollars more than I walked in with - there's nothing better than going to the poker room.

We've all seen the game of no limit Texas holdem (NLHE) on our television screens; perhaps not so much currently, but the game had 24/7 coverage for a few years. If you're inexperienced with the game, NLHE is played utilizing typical poker rules and gameplay between yourself and one to nine opponents.

You begin with two hole cards that no one else can see before betting, raising, calling, or folding based on the strength of those cards, regardless of bluffs.

The dealer then places three community cards face up on the felt (the "flop"), a second betting round takes place, and the process is repeated with the fourth (the "turn") and fifth (the "river") community cards. The goal of NLHE is to build a better five-card poker hand - one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush - than your opponent by utilizing any combination of your hole cards and community cards (s).

However, as anybody who has seen celebrity poker pros like Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey on TV knows, NLHE may be more about the players than the cards. The game requires bluffing, trapping, posturing, and a variety of personality-driven talents, in addition to math and card sense.

As a result, the game isn't for everyone, and we're not urging readers to become poker pros anytime soon. Instead, we strongly advise you to play a small stakes game of NLHE at least once, if only for the unique experience that only a poker game can deliver. You'll face a diverse range of opponents, from pensioners enjoying their golden years to youthful "grinders" who believe they're the next Phil Hellmuth.

I prefer to seat in the smallest NLHE game available, which is nearly always the basic $1/$2 game with blind bets of $1 and $2 required throughout every orbit. If the concept of blind bets confuses you, look up a fast NLHE instruction online, and trust me, you'll be up and running in no time. The old adage about NLHE goes, "a minute to learn, a lifetime to master," and no truer words have ever been spoken.

You'll be able to play NLHE without any preparation, so take a chance and seat with $100 or $200 - whatever you're comfortable losing, because that's the most likely outcome. All poker games rely largely on skill, so I can't promise you'll win on your first try, but you'd be amazed how often "beginner's luck" helps new players.

The best thing about NLHE and other poker games, in my opinion, is that they are not played against the house, so there is no house edge to fade. Instead, you'll be fading superior players' skill advantage, while the house earns a little percentage of each pot played as "rake."

At lesser stakes, that skill advantage isn't insurmountable, so I can hold my own in NLHE - and you can, too. Take the game seriously and give it your all, while keeping a close eye on what the successful players do. If you can do that, you'll undoubtedly realize that NLHE is one of the most consistently enjoyable, and tough, casino games available.

5. Craps

I don't consider myself a craps expert, and it's definitely the game I play the least of all.

The classic dice game was included for one reason: it's a one-of-a-kind gambling experience that everyone should try at least once.

Every gambler on the floor can't help but notice the craps table, which is always the scene of a riotous good time, as strangers become best friends congratulate each other on wins while applauding on a hot shooter. Craps tables are always the loudest spot in any casino (apart from the nightclub), and the entire scenario can be scary and difficult for individuals who have never rolled the dice.

And it's true that craps is more complicated than other casino games, with three or four staff people (dealers, stickmen, pit bosses, etc.) keeping an eye on things and a dozen players ringing a table lined up with what appears to be hundreds of wagers.

When playing craps, you can make a wide range of wagers, and many players will be spraying chips all over the felt, but the game can also be reduced to a binary decision: Pass or Don't Pass.

You can delve deeper into the laws of craps at your leisure, but to cut a long tale short, the Pass Line bet is the most fundamental craps wager. You're betting on the shooter rolling a 7 or an 11 before a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number rolled is practically neutral, so your bet remains in place, and you're now hoping for the same number (known as the "point") to be rolled again before a 7.

Because it has the second lowest house edge of 1.41 percent, this ultra low risk proposition is the typical option for most seasoned craps players.

During my rare travels to the craps table, I stick to the Pass Line wager and following "odds" bets (which carry no house edge at all). You may be questioning why I am backing the second most advantageous bet rather than the best bet on the board, and that is a valid issue.

The reason I don't take the Don't Pass bet, which has a somewhat lower house edge of 1.36 percent, is that it pits me against the shooter - and hence the entire table. Craps players are a superstitious lot, so betting against the shooter is a clear no-no. Even if it wasn't frowned upon, it's not much fun to celebrate big victories just a few feet away from someone who just lost as a result - unless you're at the NLHE table.

You'll know whether craps is the game for you right away, and some players swear by their own Pass Line and odds bets as a proven moneymaker. I can't speak for other systems, but a 1.41 percent house edge is fairly realistic, and a hot shooter rolling the correct numbers can easily change a tiny stack of red $5 chips into a rising cradle of green $25 and black $100 replacements.

6. Three-Card Poker

The Three Card Poker table is almost certainly the location if you ask your local casino management about the highest non-slot jackpots won under their roof.

In this classic table game, the dealer deals three cards face up to each player and three cards face down to themselves. Based on the poker hand strength of those three cards - one pair beats ace high, three of a kind beats two pair, and so on - either the player hand or the dealer hand wins.

Based on the strength of their own hole cards, players can either continue and double their Ante wager or fold and forfeit their Ante bet to the house. Three Card Poker strategy is as simple as it gets, with only one rule to remember: raise on Q 6 4 or higher and fold on Q 6 3 or lower. This single rule will keep you on the right side of variance at all times.

But by adding a progressive jackpot, Three Card Poker adds a level of tension and excitement that no other game can match. Every stake adds a little percentage to the house's progressive jackpot for the game, several of which exceed a million dollars.

As the player, your aim is just to pray for the perfect runout of a "super royal flush" - or a six card royal running from 9 10 J Q K A in the same suit - in the same suit. Because you only have three cards, this monster hand is created by merging your hand with the dealer's. Smaller jackpot payments are also given for premium six-card hands such as straight flushes and so on, so Three Card Poker has a lot of potential for low risk / big reward scenarios.

The house edge isn't particularly appealing, at 3.37 percent for standard Ante/Play bets and a staggering 7.28 percent for the optional Pair Plus stake, which is why I rarely play Three Card Poker for more than an hour at a time. I'm not looking to blow my bankroll on lousy odds, so I limit my action in this fascinating game, but I also realize that a higher frequency of "pushed" bets helps to reduce variance.

Three Card Poker isn't my favorite game by any means, but I do enjoy action-packed, chance-based table games.

Don't try to become a Three Card Poker specialist; instead, see the game for what it is: a primarily luck-based bet with a small amount of skill involved. Take a few attempts at the progressive jackpot or a solid base game score, and if the cards aren't cooperating, simply move on to the next game.

7. Video Poker

The last place I go to in a casino is the video poker room, which is a great place to relax after a long day in the pits.

In more ways than one, video poker is a mechanical game, which means I can approach the strategic parts only through memory. In many ways, video poker is a close relative of blackjack because both games use a 52-card deck of playing cards that can be broken down mathematically to build a perfect strategy.

Whatever five cards appear on my screen during a game of Jacks or Better - or Deuces Wild if I'm feeling froggy - I may use simple strategy charts to select which ones to keep and which to discard. Some selections are self-evident, and most video poker games are as plain as they can be. Others necessitate a bit more thought to solve, which is when those charts come in handy.

There are no written laws that say people can't use basic strategy charts when they play blackjack or video poker. You might get a sidelong glance or a few chuckles from expert gamblers, but scanning the screen, checking your chart, and making the correct bet before the draw are quite normal. The rest is up to the luck of the draw, but at least you can make the correct bets that have the best chance of winning.

As a result, video poker games have a very low house edge, with the conventional Jacks or Better game employing the "full pay" 9/6 pay table delivering a generous 0.42 percent house margin. Remember, that's even better than blackjack employing optimal strategy, which is why many seasoned gamblers stick to only those two games.

Because video poker is a terrific game for grinding, I normally deposit a few hundred dollars and play at the $0.25 level, always max betting the full five coins for a $1.25 wager. Royal flushes, four aces, and other high-value cards pay out more to people who bet the maximum, so you should always be ready to bet the maximum.

Patience is the key to perfecting strategy for gamers. Maintain your bankroll during ups and downswings by making the appropriate choices. The cards will eventually line to trigger a large payout, and your patience will be rewarded with a high jackpot score.

Those first couple hundred dollars can be lost quickly, though, if you have a bad run at the video poker machine. This is why discipline is another important part of this classic game. When I lose my first bet at Jacks or Better, it's clear where I'll go next: home to plan my next trip to the casino.

Conclusion

There are so many games and variations in casinos that it can be hard to decide which one to play first. Begin with the games on this list. After you've completed all of these, you may begin looking for others that may be of interest to you.