Editorial

Monday, 12 January 2009 01:41 Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 February 2009 05:44

Casino gambling, whether online or real world is an exciting and enjoyable pastime that brings pleasure to many people. However, people can get carried away from time to time and lose all sight of common sense. This is when avoidable mistakes are made which can prove extremely costly when combined with rash betting and foolhardy play. For this reason, we’ve put together some of the more common of the casino gambling’s do’s and don’ts. These are things like commonly made mistakes, strategies to use and those to avoid, as well as some of the more easily overlooked standard gambling practices to help you stay on track and enjoy your casino experience to the fullest.

Do:

Have a set plan and stick to it. When you are playing with your own money, one of the most important things to keep uppermost in your mind at all times is money management. It is imperative that you set out a clearly defined boundary of the amount of money you are fully prepared to lose in any one gambling session and to stick to it rigidly. Overstepping the mark can lead to incurring heavy debt and misery for yourself and those that share your life, such as family, friends and loved ones.

Don’t:

Borrow money from anyone in an attempt to recover your losses. Accept the fact that every gambler will lose from time to time as this is the nature of gambling. If you get to a stage where you have lost your bankroll for the session, then you must stop, walk away and return afresh another day. If you think that by borrowing money and continuing to gamble you will recoup your losses, you have broken the first cardinal rule of gambling, which is to only gamble with what you can afford to lose and are asking for a heap of trouble. To add to this, its worth remembering that the kind of people who are prepared to lend money to gamblers in that situation are sharks that will not be particularly nice when it comes to asking for their money back.  

Do:

Let your head and not your heart rule the gambling strategies you use. Hone your skills and cultivate good habits and stick to them. The atmosphere, razzmatazz and excitement of a casino are perfect for instigating an emotional surge that could overwhelm you and cloud your judgement. Keep your head and stay focused on the job at hand. The casino will have plenty stacked in its favour as it is without your own foolhardiness adding to it.

Don’t:

Try to impress anyone in a casino. If you go there with something to prove, your good judgement will be compromised and you’ll lose focus and make mistakes, which could prove costly. So if you meet an attractive person of the opposite sex and feel the need to impress them with your gambling prowess, you may find yourself ending up a chump and losing your bankroll quickly!

Do:

Tip dealers and croupiers that are doing a good job. You don’t need to leave very much and it should be done regardless of whether you’re winning or losing. This shows that you have respect for a person doing a tough job under pressure. A little gratitude in this situation comes back to you in good karma, which is something all gamblers can never have enough of.

Don’t:

Expect to be treated any differently than other players by a dealer. Even one you tip regularly and are on first name terms with cannot show you any preferential treatment at the table and certainly never do anything to increase your winning chances as this goes against casino policy and could cost him his job.

Do:

Make a point of asking if you’ve qualified to receive a comp. Casino hosts are not always so eager to let you know when you have accrued sufficient points to qualify for a freebie. You can do this by going over to either the VIP or Players Club desk after your session and simply asking.

Don’t:

Go over your bankroll limit just to qualify for a comp. You have to be aware that comps are allocated according to a special formula that is chiefly designed to benefit no one but the casino. You could find yourself out of pocket trying to collect a free night’s stay in a hotel room when it costs you double in losses to achieve it.

Do:

Always enjoy yourself. A casino is a fun place where you can have a good time while still keeping your gambling habits in check. That means you can gamble seriously but still enjoy all the entertainment that a casino can provide for you as well. If it isn’t fun, don’t do it!