Guide to Online Gambling for Beginners

How We Rate

Safety & Security

You should be able to gamble online without fear. So we only recommend licensed sites that use the latest security and encryption techniques.

Bonuses

Maximize your bankroll with fantastic bonuses. Our recommended sites offer valuable bonuses with fair terms and conditions, including manageable wagering requirements.

Games & Betting

The best sites have the best wagering options. That’s why you will find extensive games and betting opportunities on our recommended sites.

Banking

Getting your money to and from your account shouldn’t be a hassle. We only recommend sites with a variety of convenient banking methods, including cryptocurrency and e-wallets.

When you think of gambling, the image that forms in your mind is probably a flashy Las Vegas casino, with slot machine lights, and dice, and poker chips. Gambling at a brick-and-mortar casino may be more traditional, but what if we told you that gambling online has more benefits?

It’s true. You won’t find a land-based casino that offers a $500 sportsbook bonus, $1 blackjack games, or dozens of poker tournaments running simultaneously. But all this (and much more) is available online. We talk about all the advantages of online gambling below. Once you’ve finished reading them, we’re confident you’ll never wonder “why gamble online?” ever again.

Some benefits of real money online gambling only apply if you participate in a particular type of gambling. We will go over those benefits later, but for now, we want to explain the online gambling advantages that apply to every gambler. Whether you play casino games, poker, or you enjoy betting on sports, these features of gambling online will enhance your experience.

The number one benefit of online gambling is convenience. You can gamble whenever you want and wherever you want. As long as you can connect to the internet, you can gamble online for real money. When you gamble in person, you are subject to opening hours. Some casinos are open 24 hours per day, like many in Las Vegas, but other casinos have limited hours. The same is true for bookmakers and betting shops.

You don’t have to worry about timing when you use the internet to gamble. Online casinos and sportsbooks are available at any time. Whether you want to gamble in the middle of the night or on a weekday while most people are working, the top online gambling sites make it easy to gamble at any time.

It is also a lot easier to gamble when you don’t have to go anywhere. Land-based casinos always require travel of some kind. Some people have tribal casinos or commercial casinos that are within a short driving distance. Other people have to travel for several hours or fly to Las Vegas because there are no casinos nearby. Travel also requires a cost, whether that be the expense of airfare or the cost of gas to and from the casino. If you live more than a couple of hours away from your nearest casino, you may also need to consider the cost of an overnight stay.

You can save money to add to your bankroll to enjoy more gambling when you play online.

More money and time to spend gambling means that you have more chances to win and more time to enjoy your hobby. Online gambling sites and mobile gambling apps let you gamble from your living room, the commuter train to work, or anywhere else you can imagine. That convenience is something that land-based casinos will never be able to match.

Gambling can be an expensive hobby, especially if you are visiting land-based casinos regularly. It is crucial that you only gamble with money you can afford to lose. If you use money that you need for bills or expenses for gambling, that is usually a sign of problem gambling. Some people only have a small amount left over after they have paid all of their bills. They could spend their entire bankroll in a matter of minutes at a land-based casino. They could play penny slots, but you have to pay per line when you play the slots. If they only play for one penny, there is only one way they can win. So, most slot players spend at least a dime per spin. Slot machines spin an average of 600 times per hour, which means you could easily spend $60 or more per hour.

In-person gambling is more expensive than gambling online.

Land-based casinos have betting minimums for table games. If you want to play a table game, you will most likely have to spend $10-$25 per hand, depending on the game you want to play. If your bankroll is only $30, you have enough money for three hands of blackjack at $10, or one hand of baccarat at $25 and a tip for the dealer. People with limited bankrolls should have options for gambling if they want to. That is where online gambling sites come in. Online gambling sites offer more inexpensive games. Digital table games almost always have a minimum of $1.

You can play 25 hands of baccarat for the same amount as one hand in a land-based casino. Poker players can take advantage of budget-friendly options as well. You can buy into a cash game with one-cent small blinds and two-cent big blinds. It will only cost you $2 to get 100 big-blinds in that game. It’s the same for sports bettors. A land-based sportsbook or a bookmaking shop will typically have much higher minimum bets than an online betting site.

Another benefit of gambling online is that you can fund your account in any way you want to. Land-based casinos only accept cash. They have ATMs available, so you can get cash out using your credit card, but they typically have astronomical fees. Some casino cashiers will work with you to cash money orders or use other forms of payment. But it can be a complicated process.

Online casinos and betting sites offer many banking options. You can use your credit card to fund your account, initiate a wire transfer, use prepaid credit cards or Visa gift cards. They also often work with electronic wallet providers, such as Paypal, Neteller, or Skrillex. Many gambling apps and sites also accept cryptocurrency transactions, such as Bitcoin.

More banking methods are a major advantage of gambling online.

You can also choose how you want to withdraw your funds. A gambling website can mail you a check, initiate a wire transfer, or deposit money directly into your bank account. Some sites also offer cryptocurrency withdrawals. These are examples of banking methods that are typically available for players in the United States. Online gambling transactions in the US are complicated because of the UIGEA. Players in other countries will have even more options.

All of these banking options benefit the customer because they offer more confidentiality. When you use cryptocurrency or an electronic wallet, all of your account information is encrypted, so the casino or sportsbook only gets the information they need to know. There are some fees or limits that apply to each of these banking methods, depending on the gambling site you use. But the variety of options lets you decide what method is most convenient for you.

We all LOVE choices! We especially love choices and variety when it comes to our favorite gambling games.

While many of us could play the same game for hours on end, we definitely love the ability to switch things up and play something new or different.

Let’s slow down, though, and take a step back.

As cool as that would be, that’s not how things work. Finding a new online gambling game to play does take a little bit of “work.” We say work because the entire process should be fun from start to finish.

The only reason we referred to it as “work” is that there are a solid set of guidelines that you should follow to help you get the most out of the experience.

Today, we’re going to walk you through the steps you should follow to find a new game or to find more games to play. These steps will work whether you are a brand-new player who has never played before or a seasoned player looking for a change of pace.

There will be a few nuances for both of these different player types that we will point out as we get into the meat and potatoes of it all.

Without further ado, let’s jump into this so you can get to playing!

While many sites do their best to put out top 10 best games lists, these come with some flaws. A top 10 games list assumes that everyone in the world likes the same things and is looking to get the same out of their gambling experiences.

This is simply not true. We’re a world of unique individuals with a lot of unique wants and needs. This means that we’re inevitably going to like different games, which is completely ok.

What you need to do is figure out what you’re looking for with your online gaming experience.

Depending on your answers to these big questions, you may want to start in some different areas. If you’ve been gambling for a while, you may already have a strong idea of the answers to these questions.

We’re going to do our best to offer up some suggestions based on different answers to these questions. You MUST remember this, though. These are NOT all of the games that sufficiently satisfy each want.

In fact, it’s not even close. We just wanted to give you a bit of a jumping off point.

For action junkies, you may want to start your search with table games. Craps is always a favorite of adrenaline junkies. Roulette can also be fun, as well as sports betting (which is a little outside the realm of traditional casino games).

The good about with playing games online is that you dictate the pace. You can take a traditionally slower game and play quickly or play multiple hands to get your rush in.

We recommend that people who are looking for relaxing games start with slots. They’re exciting, fun, and give you an opportunity to win a lot of money, but allow you to go as quickly or as slowly as you want to.

They also require a bit less thinking than a game like craps which can make them more relaxing.

The slot machines take the cake here again. Online slot games are loaded full of awesome bonus games, frills, and flashing lights and sounds that make for a killer-fun experience.

In the table games sector, craps is a game that has a ton of different betting options which should keep you entertained if you need some bells and whistles.

Not looking for your screen to go crazy with lights and sounds? If you’re looking for something simpler, you might want to try something like blackjack, three card poker, or a similar game.

Card games are some of the simplest and easy to follow.

They allow you to go at your own pace as well, which we are big fans of. Some of the slot machines offered are simple, but you need to make sure you pick a classic machine to get one that meets that criterion.

Looking to challenge your mind? The good news is that almost anything outside of a slot machine will force you to think. In fact, most games can be played without a lot of thinking, or you can employ thinking and strategy to improve your odds.

It’s up to you. Games like craps and blackjack are great for keeping your mind engaged. Baccarat is also a big favorite, though the game is rather simple initially.

You could also move away from casino-style games and look into skill games like poker or sports betting.

These games are beatable long-term if you have the right skill sets and apply your mind properly.

These are probably the best options if you’re looking for mental exercise.

Slot machines take the cake here. These are games that you can mentally check out from without hurting your chances of winning.

Some card games like blackjack or video poker would fall into this category after you had learned and mastered the basic strategy.

Once you’ve figured out the type of game you’re looking for, you need to find a site that offers this action. Thankfully, you don’t have to click around to hundreds of sites to see what they have to offer.

In our dedicated reviews, we walk you through the different sites and what all they have to offer. These reviews and guides will help you to find the best online gambling sites for your needs very quickly. You shouldn’t have to spend hours trying to find somewhere to play.

One of the great things about online games versus brick-and-mortar games is that you are allowed to try them out for free first almost all of the time. Sites will allow you to play with play money to get a feel for the game and see if you like it.

We HIGHLY recommend that you take a few minutes and do this with a new game for several reasons.

If you’re not having fun, no big deal! You’ve put in zero dollars and can move on to the next game on your list that you’re interested in trying out.

Online casinos have thousands of games to choose from, so don’t get hung up if the first game you try isn’t as much fun as you wanted it to be. There is absolutely no reason you should ever settle for a subpar game that doesn’t give you everything that you want.

Speaking of never settling, you should look for variations of a game once you find one you like. A lot of popular games will have second or third-generation versions that have enhancements that people requested.

These games can sometimes be way more fun and exciting than their originals. On that same token, sometimes the original games are the best. If you’ve ever seen the movie Caddyshack II, you know what we’re talking about.

You should also check to see if there are any rule variations that you prefer.

For example, did you know that there are multiple versions of the popular game roulette?

Not only do some of these variations play differently, but they have varying odds that can increase your chances of winning!

American Roulette has two zero spaces while European Roulette has only one. This means that when you’re playing European Roulette, your odds of losing if you don’t bet on one of the zeros are cut nearly in half! The rest of the game is exactly the same, but because of the variation, your odds are better.

Take a little time to do some research when you find a game you like. This is especially true if you’re playing card or table games. Each card or table game has tons of different variations that can change your odds and also change how much fun the game is for you.

In the end, it’s all about finding a game that works for you. Just because the game you find isn’t someone else’s favorite does not mean that it can’t be yours. Remember, it’s your hard-earned money that you’re playing with.

Don’t waste it on a game that you don’t enjoy just because someone else says it’s great or you can’t find anything better.

With literally thousands of options out there, we guarantee there is a game out there that you’ll enjoy. Also, don’t be scared to keep trying new games. There’s nothing wrong with having several favorites that you like to play.

There are also tons of new games that come out every day that are bigger, badder, and more exciting than their predecessors. Don’t be scared to live a little and try something new and off the beaten path.

Above all else, though, remember that this is supposed to be fun.

You’re supposed to enjoy gambling online. Otherwise, what’s the point?

This all begins with finding a game you like that meets all of your needs, likes, and wants. Don’t settle, ever.>

This could be considered the golden rule of playing any game in the casino. Many games are really simple to learn and you can easily enjoy playing them by knowing just a few basic rules.

However, it’s an even better idea to make sure that you know all the rules before you start playing, as this way you are far less likely to make mistakes or miss out on opportunities that give you a good chance of winning.

Our Recommendations

As we mentioned earlier, all casino games have a built-in house edge which gives the casino the overall advantage. The house edge isn’t the same in all games though. Some games have a very small house edge, while others have a significantly larger one. Mathematically speaking, your long-term results are likely to be better if you only play games where the house edge is small.

This piece of advice focuses on reducing your expected losses rather than improving your chances of winning, but it amounts to the same thing in reality.

Our Recommendations

The following games feature some of the lowest house edges that can be found in the casino. You should play these if you want the best chance of making your money last as long as possible

Perhaps the best way to be an overall winner in the casino is to land a big jackpot win. Your chances of winning a large jackpot aren’t particularly great, but you don’t stand any chance at all if you don’t even try.

We obviously wouldn’t advise that you spend all of your money chasing a dream win, but there’s nothing wrong with allocating some of your casino budget to playing jackpot games.

If you do get lucky and win a large sum of money, then you’ll want to make sure that you don’t end up giving all your winnings back to the casino. You don’t have to quit playing at the casino completely, but please don’t be tempted to start playing for higher stakes than you normally would just because you have the funds to do so.

Our Recommendations

The following games are usually the best options for going after a jackpot. These are the games you should play if you want to try to land a big win.

All casino games are based primarily on luck, and many of them are entirely so. There are, however, a few games where you can influence your overall chances of winning. In video poker, for example, which cards you choose to hold after the first deal will have an impact on the likely results.

In blackjack, your overall results will be affected by how you choose to play your hands. In both situations, the decisions you make will have an effect on the outcome.

Playing the “correct” way in such games requires learning some strategy. Casino game strategy typically involves learning a number of rules about what to do in any given situation and these rules are based primarily on the laws of probability.

By following them you can give yourself the best mathematical chance of winning every time you play.

Our Recommendations

The following casino games all involve some degree of decision making that can directly affect your chances of winning. If you want to use strategy, then these are the games you should play.

It’s also worth noting that there are better forms of gambling if your goal is to make money by learning and using strategy. Poker and sports betting are two of the best examples.

The house edge isn’t the only reason why people tend to lose money in the casino. It always has some effect, but a player’s own actions are also often a factor to some extent. Many players are the architects of their downfall simply because they make poor decisions that essentially increase the effect of the house edge.

Two typical examples of the mistakes players make are not managing their money properly and not having enough self-discipline. Money management and self-discipline are very important if you want to give yourself the best possible chance of winning in a casino.

Good money management is primarily about setting limits for how much you are prepared to spend overall as it relates to how much you are prepared to risk on each individual bet you place. Although doing this won’t directly affect your chances of winning any given bet, it will prevent you from losing your money too quickly.

The longer your money lasts, the more time you have to hit a lucky streak.

Good money management also helps to ensure that you gamble responsibly and that you don’t lose money you can’t afford to be without.

Self-discipline is largely about sticking to the limits you set for yourself. A lack of discipline can easily lead to the increasing of your stakes in order to chase your losses after a bad run or giving back all of your winnings after a good run. Good discipline will also help prevent you from taking unnecessary risks which is useful if you’re trying to follow a particular strategy.

Our Recommendations

Most gambling sites have their own unique way of providing extra value to their customers, so the exact details of what is on offer can vary quite significantly from one site to the next. There are actually a number of different types of bonuses and rewards, and it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with all of them if you can. Doing so will help you to work out how, and where, you can get the best value for your gambling activities.

The three main types of bonuses and rewards are as follows.

The sign up bonus, which is also known as the welcome bonus, has become an industry standard. There’s one available at pretty much every gambling site on the web. This is what you get offered when you join as a new member and make your initial deposit. The size of the bonus will usually be based on a percentage of your deposit, and there will be a maximum amount you can claim. You’ll only be able to claim it once at any site, although a lot of places do spread their welcome offer over your first few deposits.

It should be noted that some sites also offer a no-deposit bonus to new customers. Such bonuses are typically very small, but they allow you to try out a site without risking any of your own money.

Reload bonuses are also commonplace, and these are offered on subsequent deposits that you make. Some sites make reloads available to all customers on their first deposit of the month or week, while others only offer them based on certain criteria. There are a few places that offer daily reloads, or even reloads on every single deposit, but this is quite rare.

There is some form of loyalty scheme or VIP program in place at most gambling sites these days. These work by rewarding you based on your gambling activity. In simple terms, the more you bet or play the more you’ll receive. Rewards may be simply in the form of cash credited to your account, or you may be able to earn things like exclusive hospitality at sporting events, tickets to concerts or electronic items.

It’s worth noting that the bonuses and rewards available to you, and the way in which you earn them, will vary depending on what form of gambling you are doing. You can find more specific details on all the different ways in which sites provide extra value on the following pages.

In addition to the advice on this page, and all the articles in this section, we have also provided comprehensive guides to each of the main forms of gambling. These guides contain loads of useful help and advice for beginners.

There’s also plenty in them for more experienced gamblers as well. They can help you get the most out of your gambling experiences and even improve your chances of winning some money.

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