When a person engages in gambling within healthy limits, the thrill of the game can be enjoyed to the full, without having one’s life, finances, and relationships threatened in any way whatsoever. However, when a person sees gambling as a channel through which they can make money, possibly exceeding their budget limits and using gambling as an escape from their troubles, then gambling would become problematic.
And this is where mindful and responsible gambling comes in: real money casino games are enticing, yes, but setting realistic expectations is important. In this article, we highlight ways in which you can stay in control of your gambling activity.
#1. Never Chase Wins!
Perhaps one of the best pieces of advice we can start off with is this: never (ever!) chase a win. Gambling should always be seen as a pastime, where one plays to have fun and not to earn money. This is why adopting the right mindset is something we cannot emphasize enough. You should think about your deposits as purchases rather than investments because you’re much more likely to lose money than to win big. True, there are certain tips and tricks you can follow that can increase your chances of winning, but there is nothing that can really guarantee a win.
#2. Establish A Budget And Stick To It
Since you’re much more likely to lose money when gambling, it’s important to allocate only a portion of your disposable income to gambling. The amount of money to set aside for gambling should be an amount that you can afford to lose. As a general rule of thumb, you should use 1% to 5% of your bankroll for each bet, with the upper limit of 5% being the absolute maximum. As tempting as it might be to increase your bet size to recover losses, it’s crucial to resist the urge to do so, because you’d probably end up in a cycle of chasing losses and experiencing further financial loss in the process. Therefore, whether you’re winning or losing, make it a point to set a budget beforehand and be disciplined enough to refrain from exceeding it.
#3. Keep Alcohol Out Of The Equation
We’re not talking about having a beer here and there; we’re talking about excessive alcohol consumption while gambling, which will inevitably impair your judgment and lead to impulsive decision-making. If you’re intoxicated, you’re much more likely to end up going on a losing streak. So, if you know that by having a few drinks you’ll end up consuming more and more alcohol, it might be better to refrain from having any alcohol whatsoever. By doing so, you’ll be making sure that your gambling activity remains harmless and enjoyable.
#4. Take Regular Breaks
Taking regular breaks is an effective way to keep track of the time even while you’re in the heat of the game. Since time seems to fly by while gambling, it would help you to predetermine how many breaks you’ll take within a specific timeframe, to avoid becoming consumed by the game. By taking breaks, you can step back from the game, assess your situation, and make an informed decision about whether or not to continue playing. This practice allows you to maintain sound judgment and a healthy relationship with gambling. Additionally, taking breaks can help to prevent burnout, reduce stress and promote overall mental and emotional well-being.
#5. Make Use Of Responsible Gambling Measures
There are many features that you can access to make sure you gamble responsibly. One example is setting loss limits, which allows you to modify your account settings to prevent yourself from losing more than you afford. Play limits are another useful tool, where you get to predetermine the maximum amount of money and time you can spend while gambling. To avoid overspending, you can also make use of deposit limits, which prevent you from depositing more money than you intended. You can even avail yourself of bet limits, which enable you to set a maximum wager amount on a single game or concurrent games.
To sum up, gambling can be enjoyable and exciting, but it’s equally possible for this activity to get out of hand. This is why it’s important to prioritize responsible gambling habits, such as refraining from chasing wins and sticking to a predetermined budget that doesn’t exceed 5% of your bankroll. It’s also important to avoid excessive alcohol consumption; take regular breaks to avoid being consumed by the game, and make use of the many features available to help you gamble responsibly, so that you can keep the fun in gambling while also avoiding any negative consequences.
