How to get in the winning mind-set at the casino

It is common knowledge that however lucky or skilled you are when it comes casino gaming that ‘the house’ has a competitive advantage over you as soon you walk through the doors. With very few exceptions the casino will have what is known as the house edge on casino games such as roulette or blackjack – a built-in advantage that ensures that over time the casino will ultimately come out on top, earning the profits that are necessary to sustain what is ultimately a business.

One way to help combat the ‘house edge’ is to prepare yourself mentally for the casino games you are about to play before even entering the casino. This will ensure that you have the correct mind-set whilst gambling, allowing you to make considered, rational decisions that ultimately should improve your chances of walking away a winner.

Gamble within your means

Let us start with the golden rule of gambling - NEVER gamble with money you cannot afford to lose. Put aside money that is not needed for rent, mortgage payments, fuel costs, food, bills or any of the other myriad of vital payments we must make each month. This money then becomes your guilt-free casino pot, allowing you to enjoy and relax whilst gambling. You can be sure that if you do break the golden rule, gambling with money that you cannot afford to lose, that you will be nervous, scared and ultimately on edge and likely to make mistakes and bad bets.

Enjoy yourself

An extension of the idea of gambling within your means as mentioned above is the often forgotten fact that in a casino you are simply playing games – games that should be fun. Sure, there is money involved and you may win or lose what you bet, but if you are gambling with money you can afford to lose then you are far more likely to simply chalk off your losses to bad luck and move on. On the other hand, gambling with ‘guilty money’ may lead to depression and a vicious cycle of trying desperately to recoup your losses that you really cannot afford.

Keep a clear head

Whilst playing casino games it is important to keep a clear head, which should in turn enable you to make intelligent decisions whilst gambling. The main enemies of a clear head are tiredness and intoxication – two states that casinos will invariably aid you in achieving. So whilst the free drinks offered by some casino may seem generous and difficult to turn down, avoiding them and the drunken bad decisions they could bring is a good idea. It is also advisable – even if the casino is 24 hours - to quit before you get too tired, another mind state that might see you make bad mistakes.