The truth hurts. This saying is about as trivial as it gets. However, as with all trivialities, there is a reason why it survives.
Gamblers, while being usually well-intentioned, can fall into the trap of unrealistic optimism, even in the face of clear evidence that suggests their positive feelings are unfounded. It seems to me that if you are rolling the dice and your financial state depends on the outcome. You have no choice but to be hopeful.
In this article, I will outline six harsh truths that every gambler needs to hear, whether they like it or not.
You are likely to lose money
Speaking of platitudes, have you heard the one that states: “There’s a reason these casinos are so friendly.” The philosophy is that rich, luxurious casinos exist because people just lose. It is difficult to argue with this thesis. The unfortunate reality of gambling, whether we are talking about sports betting or casino games, is that the vast majority of people lose money. Don’t get me wrong, there are those who are able to win, but these players are few and far between. That’s why you should always check gaming sites very carefully. One way is to go to online casino reviews au websites. There you can check out the casino brands and read the opinions of experienced players.
Why, in fact, is winning so difficult? Partly it is the way the games are set up, and partly it is simply human nature.
Every casino game has a certain ‘casino advantage’. This refers to the percentage advantage the games have over players and is one of the main ways casinos make money. In games such as blackjack or roulette, the advantage may be small, but it exists nonetheless. In the long term, the advantage almost always wins. Examples of RTPs of some slots are as follows:
- Fishin Frenzy – 96.12%
- Eye Of Horus – 96.31%
- Mystery Museum – 96.56%
- Holy Hand Grenade – 96.45%
Next, we have the human nature component. I don’t want to get into a debate about behavioral psychology, but I think it’s safe to say that almost all of us have some sort of ‘greed’ gene that is responsible for bad betting decisions.
For example, if you go to an online casino site and win £200 in the first 30 minutes after picking up the casino’s £10 minimum deposit, you’re likely to think, “How can I turn this into even more?” You know you should quit when you’re ahead, but for some reason, it’s too hard to quit. To reiterate, I want to make it clear that some people do win at gambling. It’s just that the vast majority don’t.
You are probably not ‘good’ at these things
All it takes is one lucky night playing blackjack for real money for your insufferable friend to think they have mastered the game. If you’re talking about sports gambling, hearing this can be even more annoying. Not to mention that those who are able to quit their jobs and gamble full-time can usually take risks that most people can’t afford to take.
No one wants to hear this, although I think deep down, most people know it’s true, success in gambling largely comes down to old-fashioned luck. Once you are able to recognize this, you can start to be successful.
Gambling can be addictive
It’s no news, but gambling can become highly addictive if you don’t take a step back every so often and recalibrate. Like drugs and alcohol, gambling triggers the dopamine centre in the brain; this is probably due to the inherent excitement of being able to win money.
To avoid becoming a victim of gambling addiction, it is important to at least recognise its addictive nature. If you know this is a possibility, you have a much better chance of avoiding negative consequences.
If you find that you are gambling daily or almost daily, consider taking a week off. Once you realize that you can survive without betting on anything like that for a week, you will feel much better.
Another component of gambling addiction that should be mentioned is that even if you are winning, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a problem. Simply put, if you can’t last a week or more without gambling, regardless of your results, you need to slow down before it has a more serious impact on your life and finances.
There are some things you can improve on
As I mentioned in the previous section, whether you win or lose, gambling – especially casino games – is all about luck. With this in mind, if your goal is to be a profitable gambler, there are a few things you can do. As the outcomes of games are largely out of your control, it’s important to look at the things you can actually control, namely gambling money management.
The real difference between those who win money at a casino or a bookmaker and those who lose it often comes down to discipline. If you’re lucky enough to be ‘on top,’ walking away means you literally walk away with free money. Don’t forget this, and your results at the casino will be much better.
In addition to money management, there are several other improvements you can add to your game that will help you increase your profits. For example, taking the time to learn basic game strategy can work wonders. You may think you know what you’re doing, but if you don’t always make the right move, the casino’s advantage is much higher than it could be. Perfecting your skills doesn’t guarantee success, but you might be surprised how much luckier you get when you really know what you’re doing.
The casino is not your friend
If you’ve been to a casino recently, you’ve probably noticed that the staff were extremely accommodating, friendly and seemed focused on making your experience the best it could be. In turn, if you regularly access online gambling platforms, you may have even taken advantage of some of the casino bonuses in the form of free spins or cash. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you probably know this, but it’s worth repeating: the casino is not spoiling you out of the goodness of its heart. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
No one wants to admit it, but when you start collecting freebies from a company whose main goal is to extract as much money as possible from you, something just doesn’t add up. In fact, if you’re getting frequent bonuses, you’re probably one of the most influential players at a particular online casino. Some promotions may include:
- Welcome bonus
- Reload bonus
- Free spins
- Cashback
- Promotional code for free cash
Conclusion
While I think all the things in this article may be overlooked by players, I don’t want to discourage anyone from doing so. The reality is that if you play responsibly, you can make some money and have a lot of fun in the process. Online gambling has always been an excellent form of entertainment, which, incidentally, I enjoy myself, however, in limited quantities.
