There’s so many guides for high rollers out there, explaining what casinos to go to, the right way to play, how to bet big while you protect your money, and those are great, as long as you are that way inclined (and can afford to be).But what about the more conservative player? The hobbyist who prefers to drop a few coins here and there but never bet high, and keep themselves well below the level that losses would cause any issue?There’s less risk this way, sure, which to some may take away for some, but for others, less risk is exactly what they’re looking for.If you’re one of those people who would much prefer to bet the minimum stake than the maximum on your favourite online casino sites, resources can feel a little thin on the ground.Don’t worry though, because, as always, we are here to help with that, with our handy guide of the best online casinos for those who favour low stake play.
The Benefits of Low Stakes Casino Play
It is a fairly simple assumption to claim that those who bet low miss out on all the fun of casino play, because outside of James Bond movies, the joy isn’t in the risk for many, but in the act of playing their favourite games.Not only does low stake play remove a large amount of the risk for players, it also does less damage to your balance, meaning you can probably afford more spins and hands than someone who bets as much as they can afford to on one hand.It is also wrong to assume that low stakes gamblers only choose this direction due to a lack of funds, the way a player plays is not always affected by their bank balance, in fact, it has far more to do with personality type.Another reason for low stakes play is for new players, who are ready to step out of freeplay modes, to be able to experience gambling while not running the risk of losing big money through novice mistakes.Not only that, but contrary to popular belief, there are actually far more options available for those who bet low.Casinos will have more tables offering low stakes play, due to the popularity (or, granted, in some cases, necessity) of low stakes play, and all slot games will start with a minimum stake that is no more than £1, and is often substantially less, while the upper end can range from £20 or so, all the way up towards the thousands, so high rollers have to pick their games more carefully.So, as much as low stakes players may be frowned upon by high rollers, they will normally be playing a fun game at a full table while their big spending counterparts wait at an online table for enough players to arrive to create an exciting enough game.
What to Look Out for at Online Casinos
If you are looking specifically low stakes casinos, then there’s a few extras to be aware of too.Firstly, check out promotions. Most welcome bonuses will be advertised with the maximum deposit, for example, deposit £500, get £1,500 to play with.But for low stakes players, these numbers are beyond interest, so it’s sensible to see what is on offer for players who deposit less, and the minimum deposit needed to activate them.It’s always worth keeping an eye out for no deposit bonuses which can, if you’re lucky, give a nice little boost to your balance without any cost or risk for you.Perhaps the most important factor to be aware of when it comes to promotions, welcome bonuses or otherwise, is the wagering requirement.Sometimes, you will be expected to spend 30x your deposit and bonus, or more, and for some, this simply isn’t an option.However, there are sites that offer lower wagering requirements that are more attainable for low stake players, and in some cases, there are no wagering requirements at all.
Games
If you’re playing for low stakes, you may assume this will cut you out of a few games, and while this is true in some cases (a £100 buy in game is unlikely to be one you can consider, for example) there are far more games you can play than games you can’t.In the case of table and card games, there’s almost always low stake tables available, the only issue can be that the popularity of these tables can sometimes mean you have to wait a while for a seat.As far as slots go, you’re not cut out of a lot, there are a few progressive jackpot slots with variable paylines that will only pay out their jackpots if you have every payline activated, these are worth avoiding.However, as they have proven on many occasions, the NetEnt progressive jackpot slots such as Mega Fortune and Hall of Gods are as happy to pay out a multi-million jackpot for a 50p bet as they are for a £20 bet.
Top Casinos for Low Stakes Players
Now, this list is not comprehensive, because it’s impossible to mention them all, so it’s worth doing some research and seeing if you can find a few more to add, but here are a few excellent choices for low stakes players to get you started.
888 Casino
There’s a reason 888 Casino has maintained the popularity it has for so long, and its their ability to cater for a wide range of players.While there’s a multitude of high roller games available, low stake players still feel like a priority here, with proprietary slot game Treasure Fair a genuine favourite amongst those who prefer low stakes, with an achievable progressive jackpot even for those who bet the minimum.
BetVictor
BetVictor is a popular online casino amongst the more careful of spenders, deposits can start at just £5 here, and a wide range of games means you have a lot of choice for how to spend that.
Grosvenor Casino
Grosvenor could not advertise itself more as a high roller casino, with the online site being far more grandiose than its land based cousins (not that those are shabby in any way).It may, therefore, be somewhat surprising to know that Grosvenor have some of the lowest wagering requirements amongst high profile, established casinos.Deals with all the best software developers means that pretty much every low stake game available can be found here, with bonuses that can be achieved even by the most stubborn of low stakes players.
PlayOJO
PlayOJO can pretty much do no wrong at the moment, sweeping up various awards in its first year and enjoying a stellar reputation amongst players.One of the biggest selling points to PlayOJO is that there are no wagering requirements here, anything you win from bonus spins or any other bonus play is yours to keep, with no hoops to jump through.This plays into the hands of low stakes players perfectly.
How to Maintain a Low Stake Attitude
Now, for some, gambling at low stakes is a case of self-preservation, a way to keep control and stay away from the well documented struggles that can develop through problem gambling.Whether or not this is your reason for choosing low stakes play, it’s worth being aware of the options available to ensure you can stay safe and in control at all times.Every site will offer a monthly deposit limit, so if you are planning to spend no more than £20 a month, for example, set your deposit limit there.This is enough to take advantage of the welcome bonus at most casinos, and if you’re lucky and you win a tidy sum from that £20, it’s entirely up to you whether you spend that, or withdraw it, either way, you have only lost the £20 you put in for the month, and as long as you do not cancel the limit (which has a 24 hour col-off period before becoming active if you do) you will never spend more than that.There may have been a point when the casino games available were limited enough that one had to find the thrill in the risk of gambling high, but that is so far away from the truth now.With the online casino world being as huge as it is, and there still being a plethora of land based options left, there is a smorgasbord of to-quality, entertaining games that would be great fun to play even if you weren’t betting money.This level of built in entertainment makes it far easier for players to choose to spend small amounts, and with the low stakes friendly casinos above, and many others, offering a host of exciting games and promotions aimed primarily at the small spenders as opposed o the high rollers, the options available look only set to increase in the coming years.Preferring low stakes play is no longer something to be mocked for, in fact, for most, it’s the right choice, and the most fun!