Common Beginner Casino Mistakes

Common beginner casino mistakes can ruin an otherwise great form of entertainment before you’ve ever really found your way into the swing of things! Partaking in games and slots at both brick and mortar and online casinos can be exciting and rewarding. But by venturing into the exciting world of poker, blackjack, roulette and other games, new players open themselves up to common beginner mistakes that they could eradicate if only they were aware of them.

From grasping the fundamental concepts of each game to implementing simple bankroll management, making a few changes to how you approach casino games can have a profound impact on your ability to win in the long term. Here at topcasinobonus.com we’ve seen our share of beginner mistakes, so here are five that we think you should take extra care to avoid.

Not understanding the basic rules

There are a variety of compelling card games and slots available at online casinos so it can be tempting to jump straight in and play with real money, even if you don’t fully understand the rules. Learning advanced tactics for Texas Hold’em and other poker variants is something that you can develop over time, but beginners should at least try to grasp the basics. That means knowing general betting rules, basic terminology, and how the system works for each game. Punto Banco, also known as baccarat, is a great example of terminology that’s not immediately obvious. A basic punto banco strategy will greatly increase the chances of you coming out on top.

By researching the rules for just a few minutes before you play a new game, you will give yourself a much better chance of winning bets and generating profits. The skill ceiling for many casino games is quite limited but even implementing a simple strategy could help when up against the dealer and other players.

Using real money immediately

When playing at a top ten casino you may spot that there are ‘play money’ options available. These are separate to ‘real money’ rooms where you will need to make a deposit to play. Beginners tend to be enticed by the potential monetary gains of playing at a casino, when instead they should be first focusing on the rules and slowly getting to grips with the pace and flow of each game.

By taking risks with play money and improving your level, you will then be in a better position to make the step up using a no deposit bonus before possibly making a larger deposit with actual money. Slow and steady is a better and more sensible mindset for a beginner than burning out fast with a string of losses.

Chasing losses, no bankroll management

One of the traps novice players fall into is thinking that they can erase losses with a single, big win. This leads to them adopting a reckless strategy that requires double or even triple bets during a typical game, which can lead to even bigger losses.

Bankroll management is a concept that all beginner players should at least be familiar with. By playing within your means, you will be able to enjoy your favourite casino games over a longer period of time, make smarter decisions in games and with your money, and be able to slowly build your skills and plan your gaming time in the future.

A core fundamental of bankroll management is limiting the amount of money you use to play in a game. If you have recently deposited £500 in your account, try to only use 10% of that figure at maximum. That means you can spend £50 on games and slots, whilst having the peace of mind that you will still be able to continue playing even if you run into losses. The top casinos will often allow you to set pre-determined limits – Bet 365 casino is a great example, who use their Deposit Limit system to great effect.

You can also tailor your bankroll management depending on the game. Higher variance games such as slots require more time and spins to win. In contrast, wins are more regular in lower variance games like blackjack. That means you could potentially play higher stakes of blackjack compared to slots.

Forgetting about no-deposit bonuses

Activating a no deposit bonus is a great way to access free money when you sign up to an online casino. Beginners often forget about sign up bonuses that enable them to play without making a deposit. While they are not a substitute for a larger bank roll, a fixed cash sum will allow you to get free spins and test out games that you find interesting without using real money.

Casinos also offer perks, bonuses and VIP reward programs that can help you to get more out of your time and money. Browsing for exclusive offers before you make deposits and being aware of the requirements needed to activate them will allow you to find the top casino bonus for your needs, and get more from what you wager!

Misplaying hands

One mistake that is common, but not always a bad thing for new players, is misplaying hands. Everyone, regardless of experience, will have times when they do not play a hand to the best of their abilities during a game, but beginners do this more than most. While it is okay to make some poor decisions and struggle with the complexities of skill-based games as this is part of the learning experience, you should try to limit mistakes by approaching hands with the right mindset.

That means eliminating any distractions, such as looking at your smartphone or watching other players, and being constantly “active” in your strategic thinking about each move. Being passive and making sloppy decisions is a recipe for disaster, so know when to step away if you feel like you are losing focus or interest.

Again, after using a no deposit bonus at a new site, make sure you know the rules, as well as how to act during each round of the game. You can clear up any confusion by looking up the house rules or by  asking the dealer to clarify something if you are in a physical casino.

Forgetting about odds

Concepts like variance and odds are key to understanding how a casino game works and the types of payouts you can expect when playing over time. These factors are different for each game so you should be aware of them as they can inform your play style and strategy. Beginners that don’t understand how odds work, will make more mistakes in situations where they could actually thrive if they had known how to make the right play. This is yet another example of how knowledge and experience can help a newer player eventually become a more accomplished one.