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- Gambling is for entertainment purposes.
- Never expect to win.
- There is no way to cheat the system.
- Casinos will always have the edge.
- Chasing losses will cost you more.
- Win streaks won’t last forever.
- Everyone is prey to addiction.
- Your emotions will likely be triggered.
- There is a (small) chance your life will change.
- You could spend more than you want to.
Gambling is a pastime that can lead to endless entertainment or endless frustration. The difference between these scenarios often has to do with how you approach gambling and what your expectations are.
Unrealistic expectations of immediately becoming a millionaire or other life-changing experience will almost certainly lead to disappointment. In contrast, having no expectations aside from enjoying yourself is much more realistic. And you can also spend more time searching where to find the best casino apps and finding joy in using them.
If you’re new to gambling or just want to change your approach, we’ve compiled a list of realistic expectations every player should remember when gambling.
Gambling is for entertainment purposes.
The first and arguably most important thing to remember is that gambling is a form of entertainment. Unless you’re a professional player who engages in games of skill (like poker), you should never rely on gambling as a source of income.
Therefore, treating gambling like a fun pastime will help you avoid feeling disappointed and despondent if you don’t bag a win.
Never expect to win.
Relating strongly to seeing gambling as pure entertainment, never expect to win when playing. Doing this (even subconsciously) will build up an expectation that you will expect the casino or game to meet—failure of which will lead to frustration.
Therefore, expect to lose your money and not gain any profit. Write this money off as money spent on finding a way to enjoy your time and see any win as a pleasant surprise you can then celebrate.
There is no way to cheat the system.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no way to cheat the system and ensure you win. Online slots and other games operate using hardcoded algorithms that ensure every spin is random and cannot be predicted. Unless you have access to this source code (which is highly unlikely), there is no way around this.
While poker or sports betting may offer better chances if you follow a strategy or use data analysis to form predictions, even these methods rely on luck.
Casinos will always have the edge.
All casino games have a built-in advantage given to the casino called the house edge. This advantage isn’t aimed at robbing players but aims to ensure that casinos can remain sustainable and profitable so that they can continue offering entertainment to players.
However, for players, this means that the odds of winning will always be against them. To mitigate this, play games with a lower house edge, such as blackjack. However, remember that no method can tip this edge in your favor.
Chasing losses will cost you more.
Many players feel that if they just keep playing, they are likely to win a large sum that will recover all the money they’ve already lost. This phenomenon of chasing losses can affect new or experienced players alike and is one of the most significant traps in gambling.
The reality is that the house’s edge ensures that you will likely never recover losses you’ve encountered. If anything, these losses will grow, and trying to chase them will cost you more. The only exception to this is if you hit a large jackpot, which will require a great deal of luck.
Win streaks won’t last forever.
Although you may encounter multiple bets that result in you achieving a win, it is essential to understand that win streaks don’t last forever. These are often short runs of luck that may grant you some success but will likely be followed by many more wagers that fall short.
Therefore, don’t chase win streaks or continue playing because you think you’re on a win streak. When you do this, you can often find yourself suddenly losing and trying to regain the winnings you’ve paid back.
Everyone is prey to addiction.
Gambling is an activity that can become uncontrollable in the pursuit of riches or further entertainment. It is not, however, only the weak or those susceptible to addictions that problem gambling can affect; it is all gamblers.
Therefore, never think that you are immune to problem gambling, and always be on the lookout for signs you may be developing a problem. If these become severe, don’t be too proud to seek help; try instead to curb the addiction before serious or long-term consequences arise.
Your emotions will likely be triggered.
Regardless of how stoic you may be when approaching gambling, the nuances of this form of entertainment dictate that playing will have its ups and downs. Your emotions will likely be triggered in joy or frustration when these are encountered.
Understanding that your emotions will be toyed with can allow you time to prepare for this and work to mitigate the effects you may encounter. Understanding that frustration may arise will enable you to work on fending this off.
There is a (small) chance your life will change.
While the odds of winning an amount that will drastically change your life may be a long shot, they are certainly possible. Therefore, even if you’re only approaching gambling as a way to have fun and without any expectation to win, you should understand that there is a chance your life will change.
Because of this, it is essential to have a plan in place should you become instantly rich—before logging on to an online casino or visiting a physical one. This plan should involve contacting a financial advisor immediately to ensure you manage your newfound fortune wisely.
You could spend more than you want to.
One of the harshest realities of gambling is that you’ll likely spend more than you do unless you set a strict budget and have the discipline to stick to it. Overspending could be due to several things, like chasing losses or trying to take advantage of a winning streak.
Aside from having a budget, you can also apply limits by approaching casinos and requesting a deposit limit be placed on your account. This will ensure you only spend what you want and can actually afford.