In my last article, I gave you the signs of problem gambling. I also talked about setting boundaries for yourself . . After reading this article, you will know a lot about how to set limits for yourself when you go to your local casino, or even if you stay at home and play online.
Gambling can be a fun pursuit, and provides a lot of entertainment. Whether it’s a night out with your partner or with a guy or a girl, a trip to the casino can be fun and exciting. That’s where the key lies. Above all, gambling, should be something you do for fun, not because you need money. There are many things you can do to ensure that you don’t fall into the problem gambling trap and make sure that trips to the casino are enjoyable for you and everyone around you. Let’s look at some of those things.
1) Don’t think of gambling as a way to make money
Like any good business, casinos (whether land-based or online) are set up to receive more money than they make. Sure, when you get to the casino, you see pictures of people holding large cardboard checks with obscene amounts of money on them. What you don’t see are dozens of people losing so much money in the same casino that a big winner can hit every once in a while. A common trait among people who are problem gamblers is the firm belief that they will eventually be the one holding the big cardboard check. Don’t let that happen to you. Gambling is for fun, not as a means to an end.
2) Always bet with money you can lose
I emphasized this in my previous article, and I can’t possibly stress it enough, so here it is again. Gambling with the money you have set aside for fun and entertainment purposes. If you see a book or something about your chosen game that intrigues you, buy it for the same money. Do not, under any circumstances, bet with money that you will use to pay for expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, or anything else like that.
3) Set money limit
Determine beforehand how much money you will spend. If you have been playing for a while and lost the money, stop playing. If you go ahead, enjoy it. If you don’t think you can do it yourself, you can give the ATM card to a responsible friend, or simply withdraw cash in advance and leave the card at home so you can’t take out any more cash.
4) Set time limit
Setting a time limit can be just as important as setting a money limit. Don’t let gambling get in the way of things you need to do, like work or school.
5) Never chase losses
When you lose what you planned to spend, stop playing. Don’t go beyond your limit to try to reach the big score. It almost always results in nothing but bigger losses and more trouble.
6) Don’t bet when you are upset or depressed
It is quite difficult to make good decisions when you are gambling. Feelings like anger or depression will only make decisions that much harder to make.
7) Balance gambling with other activities
Go to the gym, hang out with your friends, go hiking, or do any number of other things. But don’t let your life be centered on gambling.
If you just follow these rules, you can continue to have fun at the casino and not have to worry about making big losses. As the old public service announcements used to say, the more you know, the better off you will be. Make your next trip to the casino a fun one!