The best-laid plans of mice and men. We could be talking casinos, hey? Becuase for all the fun to be had at your brick-and-mortar casino or even online, any punter can look back in horror at a night they would much rather forget. It could be any number of reasons, but we will take a look at 5 mistakes which have caught even the best of gamblers who have literally lost their shirt. And you know that means pounds, shillings and pence.
1) Set Out How Much Money You Wish To Gamble
If you don’t have an answer to a question, you will be floating around on a tide of emotions and the answer you find will most likely lead to a costly mistake. When going to the casino to play your favourite game decide how much you are willing to lose. Ideally, you won’t have to think about losing if you get lucky in those first few hands or spin of the roulette wheel. But have a figure in mind: £20, £50, £100 or £500. It depend on your budget and ‘literally’ how much money you are willing to lose. When you get to that figure stop right there. Why? Because at that point you are betting out of your comfort zone and on emotions. Neither are good news. The chances are it will lead to even greater loss.
2) Don’t Drink Too Much Alcohol
Sure, you’re going out for a good night. But remember, you could well be betting at the tables from early evening to the next day. We’ve all seen the episode of Only Fools And Horse when Dell and Rodney leave the casino to find it’s the next day. I’ve seen it happen to friends and family that they lose track of time and basically asked to the leave the casino at 6am. If you’ve been drinking alcohol for ten-hours straight you simply can’t be thinking straight. If you are gambling under the influence of alcohol you could well bet far too much, leave you pocket less and with a hangover. Neither good news. It’s hard work.
3) Be Careful When You Are Winning Big
It sounds anything but a problem. But it can be just that. If you are winning big, make a decision to go home with your winnings. I’ve seen plenty of punters winning thousands and then the tide turns and the next thing they are losing thousands simply because they didn’t make the decision to stop when they were in front. Let’s face it, no one will win forever in a game that the odds are against you. In practice, the longer you play the more you will lose. When you are flying high with a pocketful of chips you have the option to cash out and go home with a smile on your face. Losing is bad enough but to go from winning to losing is a sorry state of affairs and it can easily lead to huge losses. Don’t find yourself saying: ‘What on Earth happened.’ You only have yourself to blame.
4) Be Aware Of The Casino Cut
They are not all the same. For instance, roulette and blackjack are some of the better games to play. While 3-card poker (pair-plus) is a raw deal and it can erode your money fast. Fair enough, if you just love a certain game then don’t change because that’s your enjoyment but do appreciate what you are playing against. At the end of the day gambling – unless for a profession – it is about fun, enjoyment, and not losing a week’s wage and going home skint.
5) Be Careful When Going Home
It’s never nice to be cynical but it is better to be safe than sorry. Casinos are a melting pot of many different people and you really don’t know who is watching. And if you’re a big winner, cash out a couple of grand, then I can guarantee someone in that casino is watching your move and thinking about the money you put in your pocket. They probably saw which pocket you put it in, know where you are staying from small talk or listening in, and if you are walking back to your hotel or waiting for a taxi to arrive you could find you have a problem. The chances are you could walk home without a care in the world. However, a quick call from someone may see you walk around the next corner to see the heavy mob and they aren’t going to be asking if you have the time. Go home with family and friend or better still get a taxi and wait inside until it arrives.
Photo: Pixabay (free)
