Gambling is fun. Yes. We said it. It’s no surprise that we’ve become a nation of gambling lovers. Brighton is rife with gambling too. You’ve got that big casino down the Marina, and a couple of smaller slot businesses in the centre (including West Street). However, gambling is only fun when you do it properly. Obviously, with gambling, you can lose money. We don’t want the same to happen to you.
This is a guide to making more informed decisions at online casinos. While we can’t promise that our tips and tricks will have you winning oodles of money, they should help to keep your losses to a minimum.
Set yourself a budget
What is the number one cause of bad decisions at an online casino? Needing to win. When you need to win to cover your bills, you’re much more likely to make terrible decisions in the hope of winning all your cash back.
It is important that you set yourself a gambling budget. Just like your entertainment budget, or however much you set aside for a trip to your local boozer – hopefully not on the aforementioned West Street, as we assume you’re a bit older than 18.
Your gambling budget is money that you can afford to lose. Money that you should expect to lose. If you go in with that mindset, life becomes much easier.
Don’t gamble when emotional
We don’t just mean when you’re feeling a bit down in the dumps. We suggest you avoid it when you’re riding an emotional high too.
Overly emotional people tend to make poor gambling decisions at online casinos. We reckon that if you want to gamble properly, then you should just be content with life. Happy, but too happy.
Once you get too excited, or sad, your emotions will get the better of you and you will end up over gambling.
Don’t gamble when drunk
You’d think this is obvious, but it is not. There is a reason why major casinos in the US are willing to ply you with free drinks. When you drink too much, you’re much more likely to make poor decisions. We are sure you’ve done the same too after a few drinks at one of Brighton’s rooftop bars, although hopefully not at an online casino.
So, if you’re feeling a bit tipsy, step away from your computer or phone. You won’t be able to make an ill-considered gambling decision. Trust us.
Understand the game
Hopefully, this won’t apply to too many of you. However, if you are going to gamble, at least know what you’re gambling on. There are far too many people who play games without really understanding the rules. Playing something like roulette, for instance, may seem simple enough, but it is still important to understand the odds and the general process of the game – for example, when you can place your bets.
By understanding the game, you may also be able to start formulating betting strategies. Betting strategies won’t guarantee a win. They’ll make it slightly more likely, though. That’s called being informed.
Playing a slot? Learn about volatility
Not all of you will be slot players. But it’s fair to say that slot players make up the bulk of online gamblers at online casinos in the UK. Slots are just so simple to play, and it’s equally easy to blow through a lot of cash in a very short amount of time.
We can’t push you away from slots. You do what you have to do. But, we do urge you to try and get a little bit of understanding about how slot machines work. All slot machines are random, but some may pay out a bit more often than others.
All slot machines in the UK need to list the return to player rate or RTP. No prizes for guessing what this means. If you have an RTP of 98%, then it means for every £100 gambled on that slot, £98 goes back (eventually) to the player. Although, obviously, this doesn’t mean you’ll win £98 for every £100 you gamble.
What you won’t see listed, however, is slot volatility. This determines two things. Firstly, how often the machine pays out, and secondly, the amount it pays out when it does. A slot machine with low volatility pays out frequently, but the winnings are paltry. A slot with high volatility doesn’t pay out often, but when it does, the prizes are much higher. Slot machine reviews will often talk about volatility. If you wish to learn more about this, then consult the guide from CasinoMeister on volatility in slots.
Your bankroll will determine what sort of slots you should be playing. A smaller bankroll often means you should consider machines with lower volatility so you’ve got a better chance of winning something.
Finally – learn when to walk away
Finally – and this might be one of the most important tips of all – know when to walk away. Don’t chase losses. It is a stupid decision. When you know when to walk away, you’re preventing yourself from getting emotional and gambling something that you can’t afford to lose.
So, if the losses are stacking up, give up. Don’t gamble any more that day. Your bank account and stress levels will thank you.
