With so many different online casino games available, deciding what to play might be a bit overwhelming for a new player. To help those who are box-fresh to casino games find the perfect game to start with, we’ve put together a list of five great games.

1. Blackjack

Blackjack is an incredibly popular card game that’s been enjoyed by gamblers for hundreds of years, so it’s no surprise that it was one of the first games to make its way into the online space. Also known as Vingt-Un, Vingt-et-Un, or Veintiuna, the earliest record of this game is found in the Spanish series of books Novelas Ejemplares, which was printed in 1613. This game may not have used the classic 52-card deck we are all familiar with today, but the rules were virtually identical to what they are today.

In this well-loved game of chance, players must try to get a hand that has a greater value than the dealer’s hand without going higher than a total of 21. If the player gets a hand with a value higher than 21, they are “bust” and lose the game. Cards whose numerical values match have the same value in blackjack (so the suits don’t matter), while the kings, queens, and jacks all share the same value of 10. The ace is considered to be worth 1 or 11, depending on the value of the other cards in your hand. 

Both you and the dealer receive two cards at the start of the game. If you aren’t lucky enough to get a blackjack (which is an ace and another card worth 10) with your first two cards, you can choose to “hit” (get an extra card) or “stand” (keep your current hand). The decision to hit or stand will depend on the value of the cards you have, and whether you believe you can beat the dealer. 

Blackjack is the game with the lowest house edge, which means you have a greater chance of winning compared to any other casino game on offer. This makes it a great game for gamblers who are just starting off. There are many versions of blackjack available to play online, like live dealer blackjack, and you’ll find a lot of reading material or blackjack strategy charts and tactics for playing the game.

2. Instant-win online scratch cards

If you are looking for a game that defines pick-up-and-play, you can’t go wrong with instant win scratch cards. Many of us will have seen someone buy one of these scratch cards, pull out a coin, and then scratch to find out if they’re a winner. Instant-win online scratch cards provide virtually the exact same experience, albeit one that’s played at an online or mobile casino. 

The move to digital has allowed some of these games to get creative with their experiences, while still keeping the overall simplicity and appeal of their physical counterparts. For example, some scratch games have chosen to implement a mechanic where players click on parts of the card to reveal their symbols instead of swiping with a mouse to “scratch” the surface layer of the card away. Another change that some games have embraced is a flexible betting system and multipliers, bringing these scratch cards closer to online slots. This gives players increased flexibility around their spending, while still giving them a chance to win reasonable prizes if they get lucky.

But no matter how this game type has evolved, it’s still incredibly easy to get into, even for complete novices.

3. Roulette

You might think roulette is a game that appears complicated, but it can be surprisingly easy to get the knack of. Yes, the bets may appear intimidating and overwhelming due to the sheer number available, but the variety of wagers is one of the reasons why roulette can be so simple to pick up and enjoy. This is because the game has some bets that are incredibly easy to understand, while there are also more advanced bets for more experienced players. 

At its most basic level, roulette is a game where you bet on numbers or colours on a roulette wheel, with the hope that the roulette ball will land on the number or colour on the wheel that you chose and make you a winner. Players can focus on these straightforward bets when they begin to play, and then slowly start to explore the more advanced and riskier bets, such as split, street, or six-line bets, as they become more comfortable with the game.

So remember, if you’re new to gambling games, roulette is a great game in that you can ease yourself into it, while also providing you with a lot to learn if you decide to try to take your gameplay to the next level. 

4. Slots

If any game type matched scratch cards in simplicity, it would be online slots. The original physical slot machines only required a player to put in a specific amount of money, pull a handle and hope for the best. While the games have become more advanced as they have escaped their physical limitations, all slots return to this simple principle of play: put in some money, press a button or switch, and see if luck is on your side.

As a new player, you’ve probably taken a glimpse at the massive number of slot games available and wondered where to start. 

Our first suggestion would be to try a game with a theme that looks fun and exciting to you. Whether you’re a fan of adventures set in the jungles of South America, science fiction journeys deep in outer space, or even food, slots have a great range of settings to appeal to all sorts of players.

Our second suggestion would be to also find a game that suits your budget, which could mean looking for free demo slots, a no-deposit mobile casino that will let you try a few free spins, or slots with very low betting options if you still want to play for real money without burning through your bankroll.

Finally, some games offer a variety of bonuses and extras that you may enjoy. From free spins and lottery wheels to cascading reels, these features offer players a twist on the usual slots formula. However, some of these additional gameplay mechanics might be rather complex, or simply not to your liking, so keep this in mind when you choose which slots to play.

And that’s all you need to know to decide which games you’d like to try when you play online slots.

5. Video poker

The fifth and final entry on our list is video poker. Yes, poker can be a rather complicated game to learn, depending on which variation you play. However, the good news is that, while being the most complex game on our list, video poker is still much easier to learn than regular poker, while offering a very similar experience. 

A game of video poker plays similarly to regular five-card-draw poker. You start the game by placing your wager, which can vary from game to game. After making your bet, you receive five cards and decide which ones you want to keep and which you want to discard. You can choose to keep your entire hand, some of your cards, or get rid of your hand entirely – it’s up to you. Depending on how many cards you discard, the game deals you a specific number of replacement cards. It then checks if you have any winning combinations, and if you do, you receive a payout. 

What makes this game easier than regular poker is its two-round structure and the fact that you are only playing against the game and not other players. If you’d like to learn more about the ins and outs of this easier version of poker, you can also take a look at our video poker tips and strategies guide for more information and insight into the game. 

Enjoy all these games and more at The Phone Casino

Whether you’re interested in easy-to-learn games or ones with a bit more complexity, you can enjoy them all here at The Phone Casino! You can play roulette online here, as well as other great games like blackjack, slots, video poker and much more. Discover all we have on offer at our jackpot mobile casino.