In the face of external expectations, self-control is defined as the ability to function normally in society while controlling your emotions, wants, and conduct. The majority of individuals – the ones who can’t be blacklisted or jailed up – manage to achieve this balancing act on a daily basis.
In the casino, self-control works in the same way, though the consequences of failure are often just as severe. Some people have lost all of their money playing the slots, while others resort to white-collar crime like fraud to support their addiction. Of course, this is not typical behaviour, but it affects millions of casino visitors to some extent.
On this page, we’ll discuss some of the most effective strategies for maintaining self-control while gambling in a casino. We also offer some advice on how to improve your overall discipline, as well as a list of warning indicators that someone may be addicted to gambling.
How do you stay in control in the casino?
Keep the following suggestions and strategies in mind the next time you step into a casino. Although you may not be able to use them all in one trip, any committed gambler will have plenty of opportunities to do so over the course of several years.
• Know the rules • Avoid drinking • Take breaks • Manage your bankroll • Don’t be greedy • Never borrow money • Don’t use the ATM • Don’t chase losses
Recognize the guidelines.
How can you expect to win if you don’t know how to play the game? Some casino games are simpler to pick up than others, so do your homework before taking a seat at the table. This can save you a lot of shame during a game, and it can also prevent you from making costly blunders. Many casinos include free practise tables where you can learn how to play without paying, and the internet has free versions of all your favourite casino games.
Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages.
Drunk people frequently deceive themselves, and even a moderately inebriated person is not fully functional. The fact that many casinos provide complimentary alcoholic beverages should tell you all you need to know. They don’t do it to make their customers happy; they do it in order for them to become drunk and make gambling blunders. The casino already has a leg up on the competition. Don’t let them down by getting hammered again.
Taking time off
Anyone who has visited a casino has seen blurry-eyed gamblers who appear to have been awake for days. Smart players, on the other hand, never place themselves in this situation. Sleep is necessary for your body to function correctly, and denying it causes mental blunders that can be costly. If you’ve played a lengthy session, don’t be afraid to go to your room for a few hours of rest. In any event, take a break every hour or so to clear your thoughts and battle the slot machines’ magnetic allure.
Cash Flow Management
The amount of money you have set aside to gamble is known as your bankroll. Always play within this budget and stop when it’s depleted. If you’re gambling across multiple days, divide the sum by the number of gaming sessions. Stop playing and find something else to do if you lose the permitted amount throughout a session. Another option is to set a target and stop when you reach it. This may sound excessive and tedious, but it’s this kind of self-control that keeps experienced players from going bankrupt and blowing their children’s education money on a Beverly Hillbillies slot machine.
Don’t be a glutton for punishment.
Assume that a player wins $300 at a slot machine. “Now that I’m playing with the casino’s money, I’ll see how long I can keep this hot run going,” he thinks to himself. Then he loses the $300, along with another $150 of his own hard-earned cash. When the gambling gods think it essential to bestow a blessing on you, you should always take it and walk away. In the long term, the house edge affects everyone, so take the money and flee when the time arises.
Never take out a loan.
You can presume that if you borrow money to bet, you can’t afford to gamble yourself. What happens if the session finishes in a loss? While a winning session may allow you to repay the loan and still have some money left over, what happens if the session finishes in a loss? You’re now broke and owe money to someone else, which can lead to the dissolution of friendships and the alienation of family members. Don’t play at all if you can’t afford to play with your own money. Anyone who can’t follow the preceding sentence should read our final section on gambling difficulties, since they may require assistance.