Top 10 intimidating bets and games for a casino newbie

It can be intimidating to step into a casino for the first time, with the bright lights, loud noises, and large crowds. Even if you've played a few online games, the live atmosphere at a casino can be overwhelming.

Roulette is one of the slower games.

Here are 10 of the most intimidating casino games and how to play them.

10. Above the slot minimum
If you are walking into a casino for the first time, you are undoubtedly going to witness a sea of slot machines all over the casino floor.

Slots are a very relaxed way to start off when you aren’t comfortable with live play yet. However, if you aren’t familiar with the slot you sit down at, playing above the machine minimum can lead to your money bleeding out quicker than you were hoping.

In the matter of minutes, your bankroll could be gone before you even realize what happened. Start off small and go from there.

9. Blackjack
While it seems quite simple, blackjack does have a few intimidation factors.

The speed of the play may shock a newcomer. You are going to have to make dozens of decisions over the matter of a few minutes, depending on how many people are at your table.

You also don’t want to be the player who makes a decision that goes against the book and annoy others at your table. While they need to let you play how you want, there are people who will show their disapproval, unfortunately.

8. Doubling down
The book tells you to assume the dealer’s under card is always a 10. When you have an 11, and the dealer is showing a face, 10 or ace, the book says to still double.

Now for a beginner, it may be difficult to justify doubling your bet when you must assume the dealer has the second-best possible hand. In your head you may think it is unlikely to win so why would I risk more money.

Just as you assume the dealer’s down card is a 10, anticipate the same for your double down card coming.

7. Poker tournaments
Playing a live poker tournament is night and day compared to online.

For one thing, at many online tournaments, some of the procedure is handled for you, such as antes, blinds and some of the math even.

The big difference though is in live tournaments, you have to worry about if you have any tells and you’ll have to hide them as best you can around other players instead of behind a screen.

For a player who is taking part in their first live tournament, it can be a lot to worry about and have on your mind, which can distract you from your play.

6. War
While I haven’t played it live in a casino yet since it was recently introduced as a table game, War even intimidates me despite having been playing table games for nearly 10 years.

It is the rapid firing that worries me. I fear that I will be making way more decisions at a quicker rate than any other game, causing more risk to my bankroll and a heavier house edge.

Of course, I played this game at my home with family or friends when I was younger as many did so this does draw interest, however, it does not outweigh how quick this game can go for you.

5. Baccarat
If you don’t know how to play baccarat, it seems quite simple at the surface. The closest hand, banker or player, to nine wins the hand.

Face cards and tens are worth zero, aces are one, and all others are their value. Seems pretty straightforward, right?

Well, the confusing part is learning when the player or banker has to draw a third card. You may think you have won by simply beating the banker on the opening two cards, but there is more to it.

Make sure you at least have an idea behind this before sitting down because you won’t have a clue who is drawing and when.

4. Inside roulette
One of the more common games for casino newbies is roulette because it is a slower game and very simple to learn.

If you want, you could play an entire session just wagering on black or red on the outside and enjoy yourself. Now, if you move to the middle of the board it can get more complicated with splits, streets, corners, etc.

Playing the inside, depending on your bet, you are most likely going to hit at a lesser rate, but because of that, the payouts are greater so it is attractive to new players because of the odds. But if you are more comfortable playing the outside, don’t get sucked into the inside bets just solely because of the odds. Keep your bankroll in mind always.

3. Pai Gow Poker
Poker can be difficult for a player to pick up right away, but what if we said this poker game has two hands per player?

In Pai Gow Poker, players are dealt seven cards and they are meant to create a five-card hand and a two-card hand that beats the dealer’s two hands.

The most intimidating for new players.

While I have sat down briefly to try this game, I still do not have the strategy down by any means so I still go off the cuff a bit which isn’t the best.

That being said, it can be quite tricky for a casino newcomer.

2. Ultimate Texas Hold’em
When walking around the casino, if you see a $10 Ultimate Texas Hold’em table, that is going to feel deceiving to a player who hasn’t sat at that kind of a table before.

Your ante will be $10 but you also have other bets like the blind, side bets like trips and you also have to back your ante with a play wager. So, all of a sudden, your $10 expectation can turn into $40-$50 per hand.

If you are new to gambling, this wouldn’t be where I start. Begin at smaller tables, get used to strategies and the live action before sitting down at UTH where money can go quick.

1. Craps
Craps is definitely the most intimidating game for not only new casino players but even some experienced ones.

If you walk up to a table, you will see several dealers because of the amount of players and the quick math needed to be done.

Chips will be flying from players on the table for dealers to place and the number of bets on the table can make your head spin.

My advice, go with someone who is experienced in craps and knows what they are doing. Watch them play a few rounds explaining what is going on. Once you have an idea, it really isn’t that scary or complicated of a game, but off first sight, it is quite daunting.