There's something about the start of a new year that makes us want to
wipe the slate clean and begin a fresh outlook on life. We set goals,
resolve to break bad habits and replace them with good ones. For now,
put those thoughts about buying a treadmill or bringing a salad to work
for lunch aside and concentrate on how to become a better gambler.
1.
Adhere to the principles of sound money management. Don't allow your
money to lose its value the minute you set foot in the casino. If you
gamble with any degree of regularity this is a must. Bring with you the
cash you have budgeted for the outing and stick to it. Using credit
cards and taking cash advances are paving stones on the road to ruin.
2. Don't chase
jackpots. It's important to keep a realistic perspective as to your
expectations. Coming out ahead is tough enough, making the big score
even tougher. Be satisfied with modest gains. Over the long haul,
preserving winning sessions as opposed to allowing them to deteriorate
into losing ones is the optimum game plan.
3. If you win a substantial amount, always set aside a major portion
and make sure you go home with it. Casinos thrive on gamblers who
contract the "bet it all back" syndrome. If it happens to be a slot
jackpot ask for your winnings in the form of a check. It's paramount to
always have something to show for extreme good fortune because it never
comes easy.
4. Don't chase comps. Let them come to you, based on your desired
and comfortable level of play. Don't fall prey to casino marketing
machines. Always use your player's club card and accept whatever perks
come your way based upon your own terms.
5. Play at a leisurely pace. The faster you bet your money and the
longer you gamble, the greater your vulnerability to the relentless and
unbeatable house edge. Place a time limit on your gambling sessions.
Slot machines are fertile ground for fostering a tendency to play too
fast. Don't fall into the trap.
6. Learn to play all casino games, concentrating on the ones with
the least destructive house advantages such as blackjack, craps and
baccarat. By becoming as diverse and versatile a recreational gambler
as you can be you'll be able to give your bankroll a rest from the
slots. You needn't be intimidated by table games. They're not rocket
science.
7. Become an informed and knowledgeable slot player. Casinos are all
too happy to keep the devices shrouded in mystery and superstition.
Pick up a good book on the topic and learn all you can about how slots
work and the sophisticated computer programs you're up against when you
play them.
8. Play blackjack according to the principles of basic strategy.
Memorizing a few simple rules will keep the house edge to a bare
minimum and make the game an affordable wagering opportunity structured
for long-term play.
9. Take advantage of video poker. When you learn how to recognize
the best pay tables, you're competing against true mathematical
probability, often times close to 100 percent payback. You know a video
poker machine's payback percentage. Not so with slot machines.
10. Become familiar with craps. The best bets at this game carry
some of the lowest house advantages in the casino. One, the odds bet,
has no house edge at all.
