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Many of us enjoy a little thrill-seeking in our lives. We will go bungee jumping, skydiving, rock climbing, and some of us will indulge in risks that are not physical; like gambling, for instance.
Yes, gambling is risky. After all, you’re going to be investing a lot of your time and funds in something that you cannot control; because after all, you’re going to be relying on pure luck alone! So the adrenalin rush that you feel while expecting your number to come up can be addictive, and the line between innocent fun and severe damage is pretty narrow.
Most of us have heard the stories about people who became so obsessed with some casino game that they eventually ended up losing their job, their family, and even their home. That is why your visit to a casino should be well thought through, rather than just a spur of the moment thing!
Whether you decide to opt for is an online or land-based casino, playing for real cash does require you to make some proper preparations. You really do need to set the exact amount of money you want to spend and keep your sanity. Here, we will present you with some tips to help you understand how to manage your gambling budget and have a fairly positive casino experience.
Be Aware That You Will Lose
All those mythical stories you may have heard about the enormous profit some people have made by gambling, and the host of exciting movies you’ve watched in the past, most certainly do not remotely represent the kind of experience you’re likely to have in a real casino. The wins are possible, but be aware that the odds are never going to be in your favor if you keep on gambling in the long run. Casinos manage to stay in business by creating the kind of game rules that are always going to go in their favor. And in most of these games, you’ll have odds of winning that are lower than 50%!
Admittedly, there are certain special methods, like counting cards while you play blackjack, that might turn the odds to your benefit. Still, you’d have to be a real professional to get away with it! So this is why you should always enter a casino with the premise that all of your gambling money is going to be lost; and then you can just play for entertainment!
Plan in Advance
If you don’t have much gambling experience, you should be aware of your limits. Learn about the rules, and make sure you create some useful strategies for the games before your casino visit, not after.
One thing for sure is that you’re going to every penny you have in there! Casinos usually accept debit as well as credit cards. And that’s why it’s essential for you to set the boundaries and walk away when you reach them.
Do Not Use an ATM
Now there are a few steps you need to follow if you want to remain in control of your bankroll. Firstly, decide how much you want to spend. For instance, $200 is a pretty decent sum to bring to a nice gambling weekend in Las Vegas.
Second, take a certain amount of money, let’s say the sum of $200 we just mentioned, and then put it in your pocket before you go to the casino. But your ATM card should stay at home, of course! That way, when you’re staying there without any means of withdrawing extra money, you won’t be able to access it easily!
By the time you get to your card, the rush will probably wear off, and you will not succumb to the temptation to go back to the casino. And if all that doesn’t work for you in the end, well… just don’t gamble!
Know Your Odds in Long Run
As we mentioned, casinos develop games so that they can make a significant profit from them. They have high earnings from table games and machines; not just because many will lose there, but also due to the established house edge. That means a certain percentage of your stake will go to the casino, even if you win. Simply put, the house always wins!
Your odds, however, are pretty low. Even if you enter a gambling establishment with the best tips and strategy imaginable, statistics say that the possibility of winning at any table game or slot machine is just under 5%.
Casino owners are well aware of this percentage. That is why, years ago, they started a campaign for replacing the word “gambling” with “gaming.” This way, the risks would be sanitized, and customers would maintain a more positive attitude towards gambling, rather than becoming sceptical or dismissive. And in the end, sports betting and most of the board and video games out there do provide decent winning odds.
Do Not Chase Free Stuff
Most casinos, if you gamble long enough, are going to give you some kind of gifts. You could get suites, meals, and even limousines or flights. However, that’s not a good reason to gamble, in itself! Be sure you’re going to lose more than these things actually cost, and that the casino is making much more cash from you than these gifts are worth! After all, the casinos are always looking for new ways to encourage you to continue gambling. The casino will try to find a way for you to continue gambling.
Truth be told, even the design is well thought out for this purpose! You may not notice, but most of these establishments do not have many windows; this is because they could distract the visitor and have a sobering effect; whereas the casino bosses may prefer that you get carried away with your desire to win big, and make the odd lapse of judgment! Also, in Las Vegas, if you want to actually enter a hotel room, then in most cases, you can only do it by walking through the doors of an actual casino!
You will find that even the staff there are trained to keep you at the table or slot machine. The waiters are constantly bringing you fresh drinks so that you don’t get distracted and finally decide to leave.
Additional Tips
As you can tell, money management during gambling is pretty tricky; so it is of the utmost importance for you to set some precise, specific limits. That means you should only ever play with money you can afford to lose. Of course, this is why you also need to stay sober while you play, and never give in to the temptation to go over the established limit, or even borrow money!
But let’s remember that as far as online gambling is concerned, the odds of winning are even lower than in land-based casinos. However, since you’re able to play from home, the risk of reaching for more money when your bankroll is cleared is obviously higher. So if you take pleasure in gambling online, maybe the better option is to choose free games instead!
Be aware that frequent visits to any sort of a casino might indicate that you’re in trouble. Gambling addiction is a disorder that can develop over time if you frequent a casino on a weekly or monthly basis. So if you find yourself obsessing over gambling and planning a trip to a casino, even though you can’t really afford it, it really is time for you to seek help! However, if you do master budget management for this kind of situation, then have fun; and let’s hope that Lady Luck has your back!
