The Best Ways to Gamble Responsibly
Gambling is all fun and games until you take a look at your wallet and find out you’ve exceeded your budget and are almost halfway through your savings.
Sometimes, it’s probably not even because there was an underlying addition. It could be that you just got carried away while having a good time.
Either way, you want to stay ahead of situations like that and gamble responsibly. Let’s look at how you can do that.
Set a Bankroll and Stick to It
Bankroll refers to the amount of money you set aside for betting. You need to have one before you log in to any online casino in NZ. Now, when setting a bankroll, it’s important to bet with only 1% of the amount you set. In other words, split it into several units, say five or ten.
This is important because, let’s say you start with an initial bankroll of $600 and you lose it, you’d have to cut the fun short and be forced to take a break. It’ll be a different story if you started with less than $600.
This method helps you save your money and prevents you from going overboard or dipping into your savings.
Avoid Chasing Losses
Gambling is a game of luck; some days you’re up and other times you’re down. On days when it doesn’t seem like you’re hitting the jackpot, there’ll be a desire to keep playing, hoping the tide turns. But the truth is that this rarely happens.
To be on the safe side, you want to avoid chasing losses, as this can lead to what’s known as problem gambling. If you stay within your gambling budget, you’ll be gambling responsibly.
What we’re trying to say in essence is that it’s important you avoid gambling more, hoping to recover your lost money.
Avoid Being Superstitious
It’s important to keep in mind that being superstitious has no effect on the outcome of your gambling. Do you have a “lucky” number, game, or color? Feel free to use them whenever you play. But don’t forget that gambling is primarily dependent on luck and chance.
As such, there’s really no amount of superstition that can affect the outcomes or how much you win eventually. In addition, winning or losing when gambling has little to do with who you are as a person, so just have fun within your budget, and if you win, great.
Don’t Forget About Other Things Going on in your Life
Gambling is fun and exciting—and sometimes it can feel like there’s nothing else in the world besides your lucky number hitting at just the right time (or not hitting at all).
But don’t let that happen! Make sure that when you’re at the casino, you remember that there are other things going on in your life: friends, family, pets… whatever makes up your “normal” existence outside of those four walls. And they require money, too.
Set Personal Limits
Aside from limiting how much you spend, you also need to have personal boundaries. This doesn’t have to be a hard and fast rule, but it’s a good idea to have some sort of guideline for how much money you’ll use, how much time you’ll spend gambling, and how many games you can play.
You can make this as flexible as you want—maybe you want to try out a new game that looks fun, or maybe you just want to see what the craps table feels like. Whatever the case may be, setting a limit beforehand will help keep you from getting carried away and spending more than you intended.
Avoid Games You Don’t Understand
While gambling is a game of luck, it’s good practice to never bet on games where you don’t understand the rules. For you, it could be sports betting or poker tournaments where all the players win something rather than just one person winning everything (like in roulette).
These kinds of games can be complicated for beginners or might require some experience, so it’s best not to play them at all. Bet on games you know like the back of your hand, and if you want to take big risks, perhaps stick to games you’re learning to play. You know, to be on the safe side.
Only Play When You’re in High Spirits
By “high spirits,” we mean when you’re in a good mood. Gambling when you’re feeling stressed out or depressed is way too risky for your finances. When we’re under stress or depressed, our emotions are heightened—and so is our desire for risk-taking behavior like betting or playing a game you’ve never heard of. So, you want to avoid situations like this altogether.
If you’re feeling stressed out or depressed and need to relax, try taking up an activity that helps calm your mind and relax your body, like watching TV, instead of making things worse.
Conclusion
All of these tips discussed above aren’t meant to discourage you from having a good time at your favorite casino; instead, they’re meant to help you make the most of your time while staying within your budget. If you happen to have a gambling problem, it’s recommended you seek professional help as soon as possible.