Casino Game Starter Guide: Do These 5 Things Before You Start Playing

Looking to start your gambling journey but not sure what your first steps should be? Many new players feel overwhelmed by the number of online casinos and games available. In this article, we explore 5 must-do things every new player should do before hitting the “Play” button for the first time!

Always remember you’re paying to be entertained

Every responsible gaming guide will tell you that gambling is NOT a form of investment, and you should think of it as a form of entertainment you're paying for. Of course, you might get lucky and win a substantial sum, but the truth is, most players will statistically lose more than they win over the long term. This can be difficult for many players to accept in the moment, often leading to behaviour that, over time, transitions into problem gambling (e.g., trying to recoup losses).

However, if you walk into the world of gambling with the notion that you’re essentially playing to get entertained, losses are expected and hurt less, control over one’s budget becomes easier, and sessions become shorter. If you’re really looking to grow your money, look elsewhere. Understand that gambling should be enjoyed responsibly as a source of amusement and fun, not as a way to get rich quickly.

Learn about the three core concepts: house edge, RTP and volatility

While most casino games rely greatly on luck, there are several concepts whose understanding will greatly increase your chances of success: house edge, RTP, and volatility. RTP, short for Return To Player, is a metric that casinos use to show how much a player is expected to win back from each bet over the long term. For example, a game with an RTP of 97% means the player will, on average, win $97 back for every $100 they bet. RTP is an important indicator when choosing which games to play, and anything below 96% is considered low and should ideally be avoided.

House edge represents the difference between RTP and 100%. It represents the expected long-term rewards for the casino. As a player, the higher the RTP and the lower the casino’s house edge, the greater your chances of success. Add in volatility, which describes how big and frequent the payouts of each game are, and you’ve got yourself a solid base for determining which casino games are worth your money, time, and effort.

Luckily, websites like Casino Guru provide a wide range of resources to educate both new and existing players, so no matter where in the world you’re located, a world of knowledge is always just a few clicks away. Take some time to learn about how casino games work – the investment will pay off sooner than you think!

Pay attention to bonus conditions

Casinos often try to attract new players by offering different types of bonuses, usually in the form of free spins or other incentives. What most new players don’t realise, however, is that all bonuses come with a set of conditions that specify how the bonus must be used: this includes conditions like wagering requirements, expiration rules, games the bonus can be used in, and more.

More often than not, new players claim the bonus, play a few spins, and those lucky enough to actually come out on top try to withdraw their winnings only to find out they’re unable to do so due to not meeting the conditions of the bonus (e.g., not wagering enough of their own funds to be eligible for a withdrawal).

But while lack of awareness of bonus conditions is a common problem, so are straight-up predatory rules and conditions hidden in the fine print of many online casinos. As a new player, you want to make sure to minimise the risk of falling victim to predatory or unknown conditions, which is why doing your due diligence before accepting a bonus and/or signing up to a new online casino is a must.

Think of it this way: the best online casinos definitely didn’t get to the top by using predatory rules that exploit players, and any business that’s in it for the long term shouldn’t either. You should always look for casinos that are transparent and honest about their bonus conditions, even if it means you’ll miss out on a sign-up bonus or two.

Take advantage of the responsible gaming tools available

More often than not, players start using responsible gaming tools too late in their journey. They believe they’ve “got it under control” and think tools that help them stay on top of their gambling habits are above them. The truth is, however, that once you start displaying symptoms of problem gambling, traditional methods like scheduled breaks or deposit limits might no longer be sufficient.

Remember: the easiest addiction to quit is the one you never start. Before your first bet, make sure to review your casino’s responsible gaming features and set some healthy limits to govern your play. Whether it’s deposit limits, bet limits, automatic reminders, or time limits, reputable and high-rated online casinos should offer a wide range of tools to help you protect yourself from the dangers of gambling (and yourself).

Try out free games

Overwhelmed by the choice and not sure where to start? It’s always a good idea to try out games for free before committing and spending real money on new titles. This lets you test out the game’s interface, mechanics, theme, music, and see whether the game is actually a fit for you before you start wagering real money.

While you can try out any game regardless of its RTP or variance, remember that it’s generally not a good strategy to play games with low RTP for real money. As a recommendation, find a selection of games with an RTP of 96% or higher and test them to determine which one suits you best. That way, you save your hard-earned money for titles you already know will definitely entertain you!