Between the table games, the slots, and the never-ending trays of free drinks, your first visit to a casino can be overwhelming. Thankfully, we put together this helpful list of casino tips for beginners (complete with advice from experts!) to help you prepare, whether you're planning a night at a nearby gaming hub or an excursion to a Las Vegas casino.

Tip #1: Know your odds.

Sure, beginner's luck is a thing (at least that's what we tell ourselves), but let's face it ... if this is your first time gambling, you should expect to lose. And that's okay! If you're just learning a casino game, losing can be a great way to figure out what you're doing wrong and what to do differently next time—as long as you don't bet more than you can afford to lose, of course.

That being said, there are ways to maximize your chances of coming out on top. And one of the best ways is to know which games offer the best odds.

Best casino game odds:

• Blackjack: Though it may seem like an intimidating game, blackjack actually offers players the best odds of any other casino table game, and has a house edge of just around 1%.
• Craps: If you can roll a set of dice, you can play craps, which makes it an ideal game for a beginner to learn. Even more of a draw: your odds of winning are an even 50-50.
• Roulette: There are lots of different ways to bet on a roulette wheel, but if you just stick to either red or black or evens or odds, you have a 50-50 chance of winning.

Games with the worst odds:

• Slot machines: Slot machines can be a ton of fun and are extremely easy to play. But the house edge on most machines can range from 10–17%, meaning they aren't the best bet if your heart is set on hitting a jackpot.
• Keno: Keno is considered a "sucker game" for a reason—the house advantage can climb as high as 25–35%!
• Wheel of Fortune: Though it's easy to play (Just spin the wheel and guess where it will stop!), easy, in this case, doesn't mean easy money. Experts estimate this game has a house advantage of about 25%.

Tip #2: Go early to get a free lesson.

"The business levels are slow enough [in the early morning] where the dealers are happy to see you here and they have that time where they can teach you how to play," says Susan Battaglia, casino operations manager for L'Auberge Lake Charles in Louisiana. One of her top casino tips: start with low-limit tables, as high-limit gamblers don't have patience for novices. Check for signs on each table detailing the minimum and maximum bets.

For extra help learning a new game, you can often find learning aids at the casino itself. Battaglia notes that you can get a player tracking sheet for roulette that lays out what each bet pays. Frank Scoblete, author of 35 books, including I Am a Card Counter: Inside the World Of Advantage-Play Blackjack!, also recommends picking up a basic strategy card that helps you learn blackjack by telling you what to do with every hand.

Tip #3: Don't give out free advice.

You might be excited by all the new things you're learning on the tables, but that doesn't mean you should flaunt your newfound expertise around the casino. That sort of unsolicited advice can be especially rude or annoying to experienced players, making it one of the most important casino rules. If another player asks for help, Scoblete advises you to refer them to the dealer. "If the player loses you might never hear the end of it," he says.

Related to unwanted advice is unwanted company. Nobody likes a lurker, and that's especially true when there are large sums of money around. Whether you're watching a table game to figure out how it's played or drawn to the excitement of a slot payout, keep your distance. "The key is not to be intrusive," Scoblete says. "Don't hang your head over someone's shoulder at a table game and don't stand close behind craps players."

Tip #4: Keep your phone on silent.

Most casinos allow cameras on the gaming floor, but they frown upon taking photos of the staff or anyone you don't know. As for phones, don't hold a game up to tell your friend back home how much fun you're having. "If you get a phone call and [you're] in the middle of a hand, you have to wait until the hand's played out," Battaglia says. "[At that point, you can] step away from the table and use your phone."

Tip #5: Go easy on the free drinks.

"If you've had too much to drink, then we ask you to go take a nap [or] get something to eat," Battaglia says. "The last thing we want is someone who's not coherent sitting down at a table losing money."

Speaking of which: if luck eludes you, don't take it out on others. Battaglia and Scoblete both say yelling at staff or other guests is a surefire way to get booted from the casino.

Read our insider guide to Las Vegas and then plan a weekend for two in Sin City for just $300.