Easiest Casino Games for Beginners (18+ Guide)
Keno is just two steps: select your numbers, then wait for the draw. It is completely random, which may make it the easiest casino game for someone who just turned 18. Slots come close, since you put money in, spin and wait, and their learning curve is almost nonexistent even though the probability of winning is low.
Card games reward a little more attention than slots. Blackjack and Pai Gow Poker are both played against the dealer, while Pai Gow is a natural fit for players who already understand poker hand rankings. Three Card Poker keeps that poker-table feel with minimal decisions: once you see your cards, you either fold or match your original wager. For rules, strategy basics, and game comparisons, readers can also explore our other Casinos 18 articles.
Five Starter Games For Your First Bets At 18:
- Keno: strategy is virtually useless, since every draw is random.
- Slots: more popular than most casino games, and available online and in person.
- Blackjack: aces count 1 or 11, face cards 10, and going over 21 is a bust.
- Pai Gow Poker: seven cards split into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand.
- Three Card Poker: your three cards have to beat the dealer’s hand.
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular card games in the entire world. In a simple player-versus-dealer setup, the player and dealer are both given two cards.
The goal of the game is to get 21 without going over, known as “busting,” by using the cards. Aces are worth 1 or 11 depending on the cards it’s paired with, while 2-9 are worth their numerical value. All face cards are worth 10.
A player can “hit” to receive another card or “stay” to stick with their current amount. The dealer then has the opportunity to do the same. Whoever has the most points without going over 21 wins.
While there are endless strategies for 21, the basics of the game are simple enough for new players to master in a short amount of time.
Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow is another player-versus-dealer game that uses cards. However, unlike blackjack, players only get a set number of cards.
Players are dealt seven cards which must be separated into two hands– a high and a low hand. The low hand is made up of two cards and the high hand is five. The only rule is that the low hand must be weaker than the high hand.
For example, a player cannot put a pair of 8s above a pair of 3s. If a player knows poker hands, then Pai Gow will be a great poker-style game to play right after turning 18.
Three Card Poker
Similar to Pai Gow but without the hassle of separating the cards into two different hands, Three Card Poker is exactly what its name implies. After players are dealt their three cards, they must decide to fold or continue playing by matching their original bet.
If the player chooses to keep their hand, their three cards must beat the dealer’s hand. The game involves little decision-making but still simulates a poker-like atmosphere.
Slots
When it comes to casino gambling, slots trump most other games in popularity. While the slot games may differ, the premise is usually the same: enter money, spin, and wait.
Slots are notorious for their low probability of winning but the learning curve is almost nonexistent, meaning anyone can play at any time. Slots are available in brick and mortar casinos as well as online, so playing slots is almost as easy as learning them.
Keno
Keno is likely the easiest game on this list for all players, especially those 18 and over. Just like a lottery, players pick the numbers that they think will be chosen before the drawing determines if they won or not.
Keno is completely random, so strategies are virtually useless. However, players do institute certain playing styles during the game. Either way, the game is just two steps: select and wait.
These games are just the tip of the iceberg for new players. Once a teenager becomes a legal adult at 18, a new world of gambling is opened.
Don’t just take our word for it; play these suggestions or any others to see which games are the best for 18-year-old casino beginners.