There’s no denying that playing at a casino can be a lot of fun, whether it be at a land-based casino or online. Especially when you’re winning, the games have a way of captivating and relaxing you. Most gamblers don’t expect to win, but the chance that a big win might come is just too irresistible to pass up sometimes.
As fun as it can be, though, it can become a problem when a player doesn’t realise that it’s time to leave. Of course, running out of money is an obvious sign that you should probably call it a day (or night) and go find something else to do. There are other things, though, that serve as good indicators that maybe it’s time to put your money back in your pocket and head out.
1. You’re Feeling Tired
It doesn’t really matter if you’ve been playing for the last 8 hours, or you just started 30 minutes ago. If you’re feeling tired, you’re more likely to make bad decisions, and making bad decisions in a casino is a recipe for disaster. You’re also much more likely to get distracted and make mistakes. Especially at table games, mistakes can be costly.
2. You’re Feeling Unusually Frustrated
Frustration will make people do things they know they shouldn’t do. Strong feelings of frustration are a good indicator that you should probably find something else to do. Many times a gambler has thrown away good money after bad trying to win back what they feel was an unfair loss. The result is nearly always the same; you’re not going to win back what you lost. You’re just going to lose even more and dig a deeper hole.
3. You’re Feeling Overexcited
Hitting a big win is a great feeling. You should feel happy. You should be excited. You should have an ear-to-ear smile on your face. You should probably leave the casino, too.
The endorphins that get released into your brain when you get excited will affect your judgement. There are endless stories of gamblers who’ve won big only to lose everything right back to the casino within a few hours because they started making bad decisions. A very common occurrence is that a big winner suddenly jumps to higher stakes games with their big new bankroll. The result is almost always bigger losses — and an emotional crash too.
4. You’ve Had Too Much To Drink
Especially at land-based casinos, it’s very easy to find yourself in a state where you’ve had a couple drinks too many. Sitting at home sipping on beer while you play online can land you in the same place.
You probably don’t need to be told what effects alcohol can have on your judgement. It’s not just that, though. Too much alcohol affects your movement and motor skills which, again, can be especially disastrous in an online environment.
When you’re in a land-based casino, the floor personnel will usually tell you that you’re done if they notice you’ve had too much. When you’re sitting at home and playing online, however, there’s nobody to stop you from sitting there clicking away. We won’t even get into what might happen if you start clicking on the wrong buttons without realising it.
5. You’ve Lost More Than You Planned To Lose
Most gamblers go to the casino with a fixed amount in their mind, or in their pocket. We all have an amount of money that we’re comfortable losing at one time. For some, it varies from one session to the next. For others, it’s the same every time. What’s important, though, is sticking to that limit.
Both land-based and online casinos make it all too easy for players to pull out their credit card and get some more action going. This is one of the worst things you can do. You will most likely end up losing even more, and if that happens, you will definitely end up feeling much worse.
It may be difficult sometimes, especially if you’re feeling low and frustrated, but when you hit your limit, you should leave the casino.
Some Final Thoughts
If you think about it, you’ll most likely come up with some other signs that should tell you to leave. In case you didn’t notice, the common thread throughout the reasons we’ve listed here is that they all affect your judgement.
Even though gambling and casinos are about having fun, it’s important to remember they’re also about money. When you’re dealing with significant amounts of money, you want to have your wits about you. Any time you’re playing and you notice that something is affecting your judgement, you’ll most likely be better off walking out of the casino, or closing the laptop, or putting your phone away.
Online casinos and especially UK casino brands offer many tools to set limits and have a pleasant experience. Gambling is fun when you play responsibly and stay in control. If you feel like this is not the case and it’s happening too often, you may want to stop, think and seek help. Feel free to check our section dedicated to Gambling Addiction Treatment and Recovery Sources Around the World.
Cheers and good luck!