Seven Ingredients, One Recipe For a Successful Gambler

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One quick disclaimer – ‘successful’ in this instance doesn’t necessarily refer to financial gain. There’s nothing anyone can do to guarantee profits when playing casino games, so it’s best to get that out of the way right now.

Instead, we’re talking the kind of ‘success’ that manifests in genuine enjoyment.  Not the kinds of casino experiences that consistently result in disappointment and debt. 

Realistically, you have to acknowledge the fact that casino gaming costs money. It’s not there to generate revenues for the players, nor is it offered free of charge for nothing in return. Sooner or later, you’ll be looking at some kind of loss – necessary for casinos to make money and stay in business. 

If you can comfortably get your head around this inevitability, you’re already well on your way. Other than this, there are seven primary ingredients that come together to form the recipe for a successful gambler.

…and here they are:

1. You Embrace the Educational Side

Firstly, all good gamblers know (and appreciate the fact) that everything that takes place is an invaluable learning experience. When they win, they take note of exactly what they did and attempt to recreate it going forwards. When they lose, they walk away with their heads held high and learn from their mistakes.

In addition, embracing the educational side of gambling means doing as much off-table research as necessary to get to know your preferred games at a deeper level. There’s always something you could be doing to boost your knowledge of the games you play, enhancing your capabilities as a result. None of which should feel like a chore, if you’re generally into what you’re doing.

2. You See Things From a Mathematical Standpoint

In theory, you can enjoy playing any casino game irrespective of the odds of winning a prize. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of people play casino games with cash prizes in mind. In which case, it simply makes sense to choose games and place bets from a mathematical perspective.

For obvious reasons, a game that has a house edge of 1% is statistically more likely to pay out than a game with a house edge of 4%. Likewise, an online slot machine with an RTP of 95% is probably a safer bet than a similar machine with an 80% RTP. Seeing things from a mathematical standpoint doesn’t have to mean removing all the fun and enjoyment from the whole thing. It’s simply a case of hedging your bets wisely, in order to stretch your bankroll as far as possible.

3. You Know What ‘Sensible’ Gambling Strategy Really Means

Over time, you’ll naturally fall into your own preferred gambling strategy. A way of playing you’ll instinctively stick to, rather than making things up as you go along. This strategy will be based on your research, your own gambling experience and the various lessons you learn along the way. Once you’ve found a strategy that works for you, sticking with it is the sensible way to go.

At the opposite end of the scale, you have the kinds of ‘winning’ strategies that are supposed to guarantee profits. As no such strategies exist, all good gamblers avoid them like the plague. They also advise others to do the same, rather than perpetuating misleading myths about fool-proof strategies that simply do not work.

4. You Never Let Your Emotions Get the Better of You

Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean you have to spend the entirety of your time at the casino stone-faced and emotionless. You can get as emotional as you like, be it when on a fantastic winning streak or facing heavy losses.  Getting emotional and displaying your emotions is fine (within reason), but allowing your emotions to get the better of you is something else entirely.

This refers to the mistake of making bets on the basis of emotions, rather than logic. Something even the most experienced gamblers do from time to time, despite knowing it’s a recipe for disaster. Bets should only ever be placed on the basis of logic, rational thinking and common sense. Otherwise, you can almost guarantee that the outcome will not be the desired one.

5. You Prioritise Your Bankroll Over Everything Else

Bankroll prioritisation simply means ensuring you only ever gamble within your means. Gambling should only ever be enjoyed with money you can comfortably afford to lose. As already touched upon, you need to be mindful of the fact that you could lose every single penny you bring to the casino on any given visit. Great if you don’t, but tough luck if you do. 

Prior to indulging in your preferred gambling activities, you need to take the time to consider how much you can afford to lose. In addition, you also need to know when the time comes to walk away following a big win or a heavy loss. Again, without allowing your emotions to get the better of you.

6. You Have a Goal in Mind When You Gamble

Most gamblers have one rather vague goal in mind – to win money. But when does the time come to walk away with your winnings and bank them? What is your target profit, which upon hitting (if you do) you’ll cash out and leave? How much time are you planning on spending at the casino, and how often do you plan on going?

Winging it isn’t something good gamblers do. Certainly not professional gamblers, who have at least a rudimentary gameplan in mind most of the time. Don’t make the whole thing too formal as to take all the fun out of it, but having a goal in mind can make for a more rewarding and enjoyable experience.

7. You Genuinely Enjoy What You Do

Last up, the mark of a good gambler is getting genuine joy out of the experience, irrespective of the outcome. Being able to walk away from a loss with a smile on your face indicates you’ve carefully planned and orchestrated the whole thing to avoid unacceptable losses. It also means you’ve acknowledged and accepted the house edge, along with the inevitability of occasionally losing your wad. 

Given the fact that gambling is supposed to be about pure enjoyment, that’s exactly what you should take out of every experience. If not, you may need to consider why it is you’re gambling in the first place.

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