You’re finally in a sparkling, casino gambling. You’ve eaten until your heart is content at the buffet and you want to gamble on lady luck being in your favor. Well hold on there buckaroo. You might have grand visions of winning the jackpot and retiring on your own private toll, but that’s not happening here. Gambling is a fun time and can bring a nice rush when the chips fall one way or another, but it is not what it seems in the movies.
- There’s always a house edge: Regardless of what game you are playing, the house (the casino you are wagering at) has a ‘peace’ of the action. They don’t depend upon luck in order to win and earn income, they simply need players as if you. The math is always on their side. Keep that in mind when you go in, though, and never think that you have the advantage when it comes to these types of games. Somebody’s big win is small potatoes against the thousands of wins the house boasts.
- Luck matters most in winning: You have to rely on the luck to make any money, most of the time, unlike the house. There are smart ways you can minimize the house’s advantage over you slightly, and thus the length of time you can play, but luck is ultimately the biggest element of your success.
- Begin with a set sum of cash you’re prepared to lose: Casino Gambling is not a propitious way to make money. This is strictly for entertainment purposes. Before you step onto the casino floor, determine how much money you can comfortably afford to play with (translation: lose for all time) and keep to that number. Withdraw a little cash, then leave your ATM card locked away in your hotel room. NEVER WITHDRAW MORE MONEY TO RECOVER WHAT YOU’VE LOST Put boundaries in place for yourself. Play only what you can afford to lose comfortably. Sorry. Gambling isn’t made to rescue the unlucky.
- Hot streaks don’t last: If you’re winning, and you have more money than you started with, consider quitting. Sooner or later your run will come to an end and you’ll gaze down at your stacks questioning everything that rolled in.
Pick the Right Casino Games to Play
Some casino games are best played under certain circumstances, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for. Do you really want to use skill to try to win some money? Or do you want to sit around and drink free cocktails? Do you want to touch the casino chips? Or do you want to stare at a box that’s all about flashy effects and sounds?
If you want to win, you want games that require skill to a degree and that won’t leave you naked and penniless too quickly.” The games with the highest chances for players that know how to play (lower house edge) are:
- Blackjack (single deck when available)
- Video Poker (I recommend “Double Bonus” or “Double Double Bonus”)
- Craps (some bets)
- Baccarat
If you’re looking to have a little fun with a game that is easy to learn, though, I recommend these:
- Slots (Reminder: penny slots are not just one cent to play)
- Roulette (though European roulette has slightly better odds)
- Keno
Know When to Stop
Gambling is an addiction, when it’s time to leave you have to leave and be careful of that. Complimentary cocktails, for instance, are lovely, but the casino has a master plan for plopping them in front of you. You don’t want to drink excessively and make dumb bets.
Last but not least, don’t throw good money after bad. Others who believe that they can somehow get lucky, once again, and recuperate their money. You start feeling like you are entitled to a big win, and that you’ll get all your money back if you just put a little more money down. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. And then when you’re starting to think to yourself “If I play a little bit more…” stop immediately.
Also Read: Top Tips to Achieve Winning Streaks When Gambling in Casinos
Finally
Avoid “gambler’s conceit,” which can happen when you’re ahead, playing from winnings or hoping to ride a hot streak. You start to think, “I could bet more at this point because I’m doing this well” and “Sure, I could walk away having made more than I came with, but perhaps I should, you know, see this thing through…” Bad idea.
Quit while you’re ahead. For me, I double up 50% from what I started with, and then those chips, go in my pocket and I never play with them again. Then I play my remaining winnings. If, when this continues, you still succeed, keep, until I lose all good luck, every 50%. With that setup, they’re always leaving a bit better off than where they started assuming they’re lucky.