If you're gambling for fun, entertainment, and to kill time you're wasting both your time and money.
Before you even walk into the casino to gamble, set yourself some ground rules and a goal.
I've learned the hard way and have set up for myself the following guidelines....
- bring in $100 only, if you lose, walk
- never go back to ATM
- if I win $50, walk home with it.
Simple enough? Think you can follow through with it? I've made the mistake of getting too emotional and heated and going back to the ATM before. The second time back usually goes the quickest and you lose the most money. If I have extra money in the pocket, I usually leave it in the car. So that way if I want it I'll have to make a real concious effort to go and get it.
I stuck with that rule for a month and made a decent $1300 profit. Winning $100 each time and walking. Then things got heated and you know the rest of the story....
Now I'm back with lower expectation goal, $50 and I walk. And there's been times when I told myself it's still early I think I'll play a bit of blackjack while I wait for the other game to set up. Big mistake. I lost my pot before I even started the game.
Now I even keep track of all my losses/wins in an excel spreadsheet and make notes as to why I thought I won/lost that day. It's been working so far.
Find a game you're comfortable with. Mine's baccarrat. You're not pressured into playing every hand. I can sit back and relax and watch other people play and make a bet once every so often. With blackjack if you're in and out you'll get the stare of death as people think you're ruining their winning trend as you're messing up the cards.