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Your Guide To The Perfect Casino Trip

A trip to the casino can be a great experience. Whether it is for an afternoon, evening or weekend it can really make a special occasion with others and you may even get lucky and win some cash. However, like all trips it is best to plan what you are going to be doing just to keep you on the straight and narrow. Sure, you want to enjoy your time but you don’t want things to get out of control and return home with regrets. This article details a brief checklist of things you should do before heading to the casino.

How To Manage Your Bankroll

To be fair, a lot of people don’t even think how much money they should be taking to the casino. Perhaps you just rely on topping up any losses with a credit card. This can get very messy if you don’t have some idea of what you are doing. The classic maxim: ‘Bet what you can afford to lose!’ I know it might sound like your Dad talking to you about the birds and the bees but you don’t want to be naive. If you don’t know where to find that stop button you will spend, spend spend until you have a face like a wet weekend. Set out the money you want to play with and go from there. You shouldn’t just think how much money you will spend but also how much each game. Many experts suggest playing from 3% – 5% of your bankroll. However, it really depends on the time you are betting too. Whatever you choose, stick to your bankroll.

Which Games To Play

Whether you are an experienced player or betting for the first time, it’s likely you are more familiar with some games than others. For example, I tend to play roulette or blackjack as the house edge (especially playing in Europe with the single zero) is more favourable. You may enjoy playing poker best. It pays to have a plan an idea of what games you want to play. If not, you will be attracted to everything and anything. Like Shiny Object Syndrome, where you go from one game to the next or those with the most excited crowds. Also, slots with their flashing lights and noise can be attractive. They have some of the highest house edges so make pretty poor value. Stick to the games that give you the best chance of winning.

Who Are You Going To The Casino With?

This might seems an insignificant question. However, it is important for a number of reasons. The people who you are with can have a big impact on the day you are likely to have and how you behave. It’s best to go with like-minded people who are interested in winning money rather than having a crazy time. You should bet, drink and behave in a manner that suits you as an individual rather than keeping up with others. It can be a recipe for disaster and may even find you getting put in jail. By the way, did you eve hear about a prison with a casino? Or leave those big venues to one side and visit the smallest casino in the world. Don’t bet more that you can afford to lose. You know your friends and be careful not to get carried away. It never ends well.

Play Online Before

This isn’t a prerequisite but it may do you a favour. Why? Because it is good to familiarise yourself with different games so you understand the rules and so you can enjoy the experience rather than learn at the table which may be frustrating for the croupier or others around you. You can play online with fake money or get a free bankroll which means it doesn’t cost you to learn. This gives you a chance to learn about bankroll management and progressive betting systems. Experience is the most valued tool for any casino gambler.

Know When To Walk Away

Kenny Roger’s classic Gambler Song said it all: ‘Know when to walk away’ because this has been a weakness for many a gambler. It would have resulted in a much better outcome. Sometimes winning can be as much a problem as losing if you don’t know when to stop. For example, you are winning £200. You consider you would like to win a little bit more before calling it a day. It seems more appealing. However, this mindset will lead you to problems. You will always be looking for that little bit more but it has no end. It will lead you into the red and you will regret ever thinking about building your winnings to a higher level. You need gambling discipline and set a winning limit. A sum which sees you walk away with extra money in your pocket. You’ve met your goal and can go home with no regrets. Make sure the number is realistic and not too lofty. You don’t want to set yourself an impossible task. When you hit that number keep to your own advise.

Conclusion

A trip to the casino can be some of the best fun you’ve had all year. Win or lose the excitement is usually worth the trip. The outcome of all play is out of your hands. You are relying on lady luck. Stick to your plan and you will have a great time.

5 Reasons Why You Need Gambling Discipline At The Casino

5 Reasons Why You Need Gambling Discipline At The Casino Image by YuliiaKa on Freepik

How did that song go: ‘Money talks, money talks, dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you, ooh.’ The song Dirty Cash (Money Talks) By The Adventures of Stevie V (1990).

Who doesn’t want some clean or dirty cash?

The chances are if you gamble without some element of wisdom you simply won’t have any cash at all. It will be stolen before your eyes by something called the house edge which has seen a million and one people just like you have that empty-pocket feeling. Wise up and do yourself a favour. I looks to me like you need a little bit of knowledge and build your gambling discipline.

Take a look at these 5 aspects of gambling discipline.

The Wise Gambler Built His House Upon The Rocks

You may be thinking that has a religious foundation. You’d be correct. Without a strong foundation you will have no balance. That’s standing as well as bank balance or casino bankroll. To be fair, learning those wise gems of gambling wisdom don’t come easy. They have been found while you’re down on your luck and wondering how did I find myself in this situation. Think about what gambling means to you. How does it motivate you? How does it make you behave? And, ultimately, how do you feel the next day when the dust settles? Those particles of dust shining in the light are like wisdom. You need to stop, look and think about the whole experience. If you assess your gambling you will learn. If you don’t it will be like water off a ducks back. Except you will still suffer the losses which never come easy. Learn lessons from others are they are cheap gains. But ultimately you only learn true lessons from your own experience. Build your gambling knowledge and discipline from a strong foundation. That often starts with safety first.

1) Strict Budget & Bankroll

The problem with all gambling is that without a limit there may be no limit. This can lead to serious problems and huge regret. This isn’t just for gamblers on a losing run but those who are on a winning streak and then nosedive like a plane with no wings. There isn’t a parachute either. Even with skill based betting you need to impose a strict budget and what you call a sustainable loss. Financially and emotionally, how much can you afford to lose? This differs from person to person. But within the average bettor a loss of a few hundred is a day day and beyond that you are in that area of regret. Casino games are fixed odds. That means, the longer you play the more you will lose. That’s just a simple average but it pays to deal with facts rather than imagine something to justify why it’s ok to carrying on betting when everyone and everything around you is saying it’s a bad idea. Ideally you should put a cap on your betting when you lose x-amount. If you don’t, you will build bad habits and you will be a lost cause. Set a limit, then stop. Ideally, leave when you are winning.

2) Identify & Play The Best Games

You know what we mean by best games? Those with the smallest house edge. It’s remarkable how many people go to the casino and they don’t have any idea about the house edge for different games. This can be very bad news if you enjoy playing a game such as double zero roulette compared to the European single zero. We are talking about a difference of 2.7 percent. The same can be said for many slots which have a very high edge. Some up to 15%. This is terrible news for a gambler. You literally have much less chance of winning than say playing blackjack which is more like 2%. No wonder slots equate for about 70% of the casinos earnings. They just syphon your money into their bank account. Play a game which gives you a chance to win. Also, if you strike lucky early it is probably a good time to go home than play and lose.

3) Brain Game

Gambling is basically 100% mental. You use your brain to make decisions and you need to keep in top mental shape. In this world of distractions such as social media and tinpot TV shows, people do everything to avoid being wise to the gambling game. Your body and mind need exercise to function to their best. When you feel your mind isn’t sharp stop gambling. This can be due to tiredness, drinking alcohol, taking drugs or just lacking focus. Mistakes when gambling can be very costly and if you make one you will make more. At the very least you may need to go outside and get some fresh air. Ideally you will call it a night and come back another day refreshed and wiser for the experience.

4) Focus

It’s easy to forget about focus but the best gamblers are very focused people. If you haven’t considered focus within your gambling then you are probably naive or someone who simply hasn’t learned much over the years. This can happen if you solely bet for fun. Losing money isn’t fun. Lacking focus and losing a lot of money is pointless and regrettable. Casinos are designed to fill your head with distractions. The noise of slots, the crowd, and the environment can see you make mistakes. As the definition explains, you need to be in the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition and pay attention. You need to be mindful of how you focus and practice. This can be quite tiring at first but it can help you achieve a higher level when gambling. Slots don’t need any focus to play them but your focus should be on how much you are betting and if losing to know when to stop.

5) Stop Betting

Every gambler needs the discipline to walk away especially when you hit the limit on your losses. It can be difficult to stop betting if you are losing more money than less so good reason why you should bet small stakes. I have found slots quite difficult to leave and it has made me question playing them at all. Without a bankroll or staking budget you simply have no limit. This is a disaster of a mindset. Remember having discipline is a strength. Focus on that strength.

How To Improve Your Gambling Discipline

Simply make the decision
Be 100% committed to being disciplined
Keep focused
Reinforce good discipline
If you are really struggling with discipline break it into timely segments, say 30 mins
Expand those segments over time
Keep a journal or make assessments of your casino trip pros and cons

by casino Gambler Mindset psychology 0

5 Reasons Gambling Is Anti Social

Image by wayhomestudio on Freepik

So you love a little flutter?

‘I’ll do as I wish!’

However, the problem with being interested in gambling or desensitised if not normalised to it is that we are blinded by how we can be stigmatised by our peers, that old lady standing outside the bookmakers or making small talk in the confessional box at your local church.

You’ve become so habituated to it’s ‘evils’ (I say that with a smile) that we don’t realise that we may have tarnished ourselves. Just imagine, if you saw Rev Furlong, of St John’s Church, standing outside the local convenience stored with a scratch card, feverishly rubbing away the silver hopeful, if not daring to pray, for a win.

Perhaps you would never look at him in the same way again.

Each to their own. I guess. But life, actions and discourse aren’t value free and you may have wished you’d kept your gambling as a dirty little secret. Let someone else spread the gossip behind your back.

Yes, I paint a picture with words. Even more so if they were written in blood.

But why is gambling anti social?

Here are 5 examples I have noticed. I’m a gambler so I can only imagine how the normal, average person may think.

1) It’s You’re Favourite Subject

You know your subject matter. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. You know lots of stuff other people don’t know. For example, how many seconds it takes a horse to run a furlong, how many metres are there in a furlong etc. You have facts and figures coming out of your ears. You find you want to share your ‘gems of wisdom’ with anyone you meet. It’s like a meet and greet without the person really being interested at all. The lady who works on the till at Sainsburys hasn’t even ever thought about a thoroughbred horse, let alone think about betting or making a bet. She’s going to look at you as if you’ve got two heads – one your bonce and the other a manic horse who can’t stop chatting. Be careful that the person you just love to tell enjoys the conversation or gets something from it. Your favourite subject may be theirs but you will understand if a tree hugger starts talking to you about how you grow an oak tree to encourage squirrels.

2) Let’s Play The Slots

I’ve found myself in this position before. My cousin loves to play the slots. In the UK we are more likely to call them one-armed bandits (if you have grey hair) or fruit machines if you have have some aspect of youthfulness about you. Whatever you call them, it can be a very anti social act when with company. If your slot-playing friend is playing the slots then don’t try to engage in small talk. In fact, don’t talk about anything even fruit machines. They won’t be interested in a single word you are saying, unlikely to reply and you’ll question whether they have gone deaf. To be fair, you are the problem rather than them because I know for a fact they wouldn’t invite you for a chat as that first coin or note goes down the throat of the beast. So it’s you inviting yourself to the party and then being given the cold shoulder. Sure it’s anti social but that’s the life of the gambler. Those flashing lights and sounds block the brain from social interaction.

3) Chatting In The Pub

Unless you live in a vacuum or enjoy chatting to yourself in a sound-proof room your conversation about gambling may well be in the public arena. Someone may be earwigging your conversation. If they wear a hearing aid they may have the luxury of switching it off. Not that will help them too much unless they can lip read. For example, you are going to the horse racing and sitting in the pub before the first race. To be fair you are in your environment. However, even if you are the font of all wisdom you will be viewed as a prat (who either knows too much or too little) because you can’t please everyone all the time. In fact, you are unlikely to please anyone even the person you are having the conversation with. Do yourself a favour, don’t say anything about your fancy in the next race or reasoning. Drink, chat about anything else, and be merry.

4) You Know Nothing

If you are successful at gambling, making a few quid, and have something to tell the world, I wouldn’t bother. You will be viewed as anti social if not contempt. Why? Because very few people, including punters, can get their head around the fact that you know enough to make your betting pay. They reason if they can’t do it why should you be able to. Perhaps they have the same understanding with anyone who makes money. Gambling breeds an audience of contempt. They know nothing but illogically they know more than you. They simply cannot understand how it is possible. Win and you got lucky. Lose and they are correct. Basically ‘you know nothing!’

5) Don’t Say A Word About Gambling

The best approach to not being anti social in your gambling is to skip to number (5) and just don’t experience the toils and tribulations which hit you on the head like one of those whack-a-mole games. All people will bring you is a sack load of problem, knock your spirits and you’ll feel abused by a bunch of idiots.

by Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas gambling psychology 0

5 Crazy Facts You Wouldn’t Believe About Casinos

5 Crazy Facts You Wouldn’t Believe About Casinos Image by katemangostar on Freepik

You’re probably saying: ‘I could tell you 100 crazy facts about the casino just around the corner.’ Establishments across the world are a melting pot of different people, money and aspiration. For some it’s a simple night out while others may be money laundering, testing a new system on the roulette table or have hopes of being a professional gambler. For most, a trip to the casino is about a little bit of fun with a hope of winning some cash. On the spectrum of crazy facts you have the stories from the average punter to those which really do take some believing. These next five facts really do push the boundaries.

1) Inmates Had A Casino In Prison

I’m not sure what percentage of inmates are there through bad bets, stealing to play the slots of even murdering the poor soul who took their money. They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. The state of Nevada has probably seen and heard everything to the point of being pretty liberal for a prison. Believe it or not, but Nevada prison used to have a casino for inmates. Who doesn’t like a bet and the inmates were no different. Unfortunately, in 1967 a warden shut the casino down.

2) This Casino Is So Small It Doesn’t Even Have An Address

I’ve been to many Grosvenor casinos in the UK. One of my favourites being at Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast. I’ve never heard about the smallest casino as it is mobile in the back of a moving London cab. It has a gaming table with a dealer, chips, a TV showing sports and even a bar. Even more reason to give that taxi a call.

3) The Numbers On A Roulette Wheel Equal 666

The sign of the devil. You know, some people call a pack of playing cards the devil’s bible. Is gambling a sin in the eyes of God? Well, if you are looking for another sign then all roulette players should remember that all the numbers equal 666. Some call it the devil’s wheel.

4) The Ultimate Fruit Machine

I guess this is why some people call them fruit machines? It might be due to the fruit symbols on the reels. However, it is a fact that the early fruit machines didn’t pay out money they paid chewing gum and the symbols related tot he flavours. All this is part of the slots history.

5) The Biggest Casino Jackpot Win

These progressive slots can change someone’s life. And that’s exactly what happened when an anonymous player turned up at Las Vegas Excalibur Casino with $100. The Megabucks slot must have been warming up nicely as his small wager turned into $39.7 million jackpot prize.

by casino 0

5 Ways To Manage Your Bankroll At The Casino

5 Ways To Manage Your Bankroll At The Casino Image by storyset on Freepik

Boring!

That’s what the last person said as they walked from the casino pot less.

There is a lot more to enjoying the casino than losing far too much money and being left with regret. Part of being a successful if not seasoned gambler is understanding gambling discipline and an important part of that is bankroll management. An appreciation of these basic or complex skills may be the difference between you enjoying an evening, night or weekend at the casino. Take a look at these pointers to keep you on the straight and narrow.

1) How Much Are You Going To Bet?

That’s a very private question! Perhaps it is. However, I’d rather you say now than leave the casino in the early hours and say: ‘I’ve lost £5,000!’ It sounds impossible but it’s happened more times than you’d imagine. Remember Louis Theroux in the 2007: Gambling in Las Vegas. He shared a lift with a couple of gamblers and asked how much they had lost. A woman said: ‘Ten’. He said: ‘What ten dollars!’ She said: ‘No. $10,000.’ Louis was the only person who looked surprised. However, I think later that evening the woman would have been thinking it was a bad day at the office. Perhaps she was using her bankroll management and saved a healthy sum. It’s vital you decide what you can afford to lose and bet in that manner. Don’t get carried away by what others are doing and bet what is right for you. How many punters leave the casino with regrets? All those who didn’t set an acceptable bankroll and paid for the experience in cold, hard, cash.

2) Individual bets

So you have some aspect of gambling discipline. Good for you. You are going to chance your luck (fixed odds mean you need to get lucky) and bet £2,000. I go to the casino and bet £60 and have a good time so you need to decide at what point of the spectrum you are betting. It’s not simply about betting the total and going home broke. You need to divide your total bankroll and bet individually perhaps 3% – 5%. Remember, five percent is one twentieth of your total cash. That’s not a great deal of bets and playing three-card poker or blackjack can see your cash disappear quick fast. I really would be looking to bet 1% – 2% of your bankroll. What’s the rush? You have plenty of time to assess and think about your situation.

3) Games To Play And House Edge

It always surprises me that punters don’t know much about the house edge and how one game compares to another. This is important to your bankroll and your success. For example, some slots are bad news as the house edge is up to 15% which is a ridiculously high number. Other games such as blackjack are more like 2% and European roulette with the single zero is 2.7%. Other games fall somewhere in between the two. Three-card poker is a game I have played here and there. I think the house edge is pretty steep and the hands can come round fast which is important to consider. Roulette is a much slower game than slots. Consider how quick or slow your bankroll goes for each game. It’s best to stick with what you are familiar.

4) At The End Of The Night

Gambling at the casino can be great fun but it can be problematic. That’s why it’s never a good idea to drink alcohol. It can lead to other drinks and loosing inhibitions and acting recklessly. Whether you win or lose you should assess your evening and consider how things have gone. Perhaps you spent too much money of a new game. You may have pushed your luck too far when twisting on blackjack. There will also be good points about the evening including bets but also the environment. Being careful when leaving the casino with a lot of cash. Getting a taxi straight to your hotel. If you can learn something from the experience your next visit will be even better.

5) Conclusion

Many punters don’t think about their bankroll. They just bet and win or lose. It can be a recipe for disaster and lead to chasing losses which is the scenario many have found themselves. This is never going to turn out good. Having one eye on the bankroll will give you something to measure your time gaming and on your winning or losing. Part of the bankroll is knowing what you can afford to lose and that has as much to do with gambling discipline as anything else. Don’t get carried away in the moment and appreciate that you need to be just as careful when winning as losing. Don’t go from winning good money to losing. Stop when you can leave with a profit.

by casino 0

Your Guide To The Perfect Casino Trip

5 Reasons Why You Need Gambling Discipline At The Casino

5 Crazy Facts You Wouldn’t Believe About Casinos

5 Ways To Manage Your Bankroll At The Casino

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