Easy games to start with
Pokies
Choose a stake and spin. The paytable shows what each symbol pays, and the information screen shows the RTP. Pokies are simple, but their RTP is often lower than table games, typically around 94% to 97%.
Pokies suit beginners because they ask for no strategy. Pokies also hide their cost: every spin carries the same built-in edge, and fast spin speeds make a small edge add up quickly. Set a stake you can afford for the whole session, then treat any win as a bonus rather than income. Volatility is the other setting to check, because high volatility pokies pay rarely and a short budget can run out before a win arrives.
Roulette
Pick a number, colour or group of numbers. European roulette with one zero has a house edge of 2.7%. American roulette with two zeros has a house edge of 5.26% on most bets, so prefer the European wheel.
Roulette gives you the clearest lesson in house edge. The wheel type changes the cost of play more than the bet type does, because the single-zero wheel and the double-zero wheel apply their edge to nearly every bet. Check the layout before you sit down, since it shows one zero or two. Even-money bets such as red or black win often but pay little, while straight-up number bets pay more and hit rarely. Our roulette guide covers the bet types in more detail.
Blackjack
Get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. With basic strategy on a six-deck table where blackjack pays 3:2 and the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge is 0.46%. That is the lowest of the standard games.
Blackjack rewards learning more than any other beginner game. The house edge moves with the table rules, so check the payout for a natural blackjack before you play, because a table that pays 6:5 instead of 3:2 is worse for the player. Basic strategy is a chart that tells you whether to hit, stand, double or split for every hand. You can learn that chart in demo mode before you stake any money.
Low house edge games
Baccarat
Back Banker, Player or Tie. The Banker bet has a house edge of 1.06% after the 5% commission. Avoid the Tie bet.
Baccarat takes almost no skill, which suits a first session. The Tie bet pays 8:1 and carries a house edge of 14.36%. Side bets such as pairs add excitement and a much higher cost per round, so beginners should leave them alone. Our baccarat guide explains the commission and the card-drawing rules.
Video poker
A pokie-style game with poker hands. Versions such as Jacks or Better pay well with correct play, but the right strategy depends on the paytable.
Video poker returns depend on the paytable printed on the screen. Two machines with the same name can pay differently, so compare the payouts for a flush and a full house before you start. Video poker rewards correct decisions on which cards to hold, and you can practise those decisions in demo mode. Treat video poker as a step up from pokies once the basic rules feel natural.
| Game | Typical house edge | Learning curve |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | about 0.46% | Medium |
| Baccarat, Banker bet | about 1.06% | Low |
| European roulette | 2.7% | Low |
| Pokies | about 3% to 6% | Very low |
The table shows why the cheapest game is not always the easiest. Pokies have the lowest learning curve and the highest edge, while blackjack costs less but asks you to learn a strategy chart. Choose the game whose rules you can follow without stress, then lower the cost by choosing the right version.
How to build your skills
Practice is the cheapest part of learning a casino game. Demo mode shows how a round flows, how bets are paid and which buttons matter, and it costs nothing. Once you play for money, use a fixed budget and a session timer, because a game with a low house edge still loses money over many rounds. Welcome bonuses can stretch a small budget, but their wagering rules change how you play, so read our bonuses for beginners page before you claim one.
- Play the demo version first to learn the rules and features.
- Move to the lowest stake tables or coin sizes when you play for money.
- Set a deposit limit and a session time limit before you start.
- Read the game rules screen; table limits and side bets differ between versions.
When you are ready to choose a casino, our guide to getting started covers sign-up, verification and the first deposit.
Keep notes on each session: the game, the stake, how long you played and how you felt. Notes show whether a game suits you, and they make it easier to stop when a session is not going well.