Every now and again, we like to return to the subject of the kinds of common casino mistakes made by millions of gamers on a global basis. Not to poke fun at those concerned, but rather to educate after the dangers of falling foul.
No more than ever, casual gamers in the most enormous numbers are getting involved in online casino gaming. This year alone, the British online gambling industry was valued in excess of £4.5 billion for the first time, of which more than half of this came directly from online casinos.
Impressive enough – especially given the meteoric growth expected over the coming years.
Still, the extraordinary popularity of online gaming doesn’t seem to have yet eliminated the kinds of casino mistakes that have been made since the dawn of online gaming.
So with this in mind, what follows is a brief overview of just a few deadly casino mistakes to avoid when gambling online:
Casino Mistakes #1: Ignoring your level and your limit
First and foremost, you need to be brutally honest when it comes to your level and your limitations. The problem being that far too many newcomers to online gambling get their first taste of virtual Vegas and immediately believe they’re the next colossal gambling God. It’s the fact that online gambling is so enjoyable and easy to get into that makes this such a common problem.
If you’re a newcomer, proceed with caution and take things one step at a time. If you are just getting used to any given game, try playing for free to learn the rules before putting any real money on the line. And don’t ever choose the games you play in accordance with their popularity or prestige – stick with those you understand and enjoy. Take your time, soak up the experience and acknowledge your limitations.
Casino Mistakes #2: Believing the bonus hype
These days, the vast majority of people have accepted the fact that online casino bonuses are not always as they appear to be. Unfortunately, those who are brand new to online gaming may find it borderline impossible to resist the kinds of deals, discounts and decadent bonus offers that really do seem too good to pass up. The only problem being that when a bonus appears too good to be true, it almost definitely is.
The key thing to remember when it comes to bonus offers is this – online casinos exist to make money, not give money away. Of course, this doesn’t mean that a solid no-deposit bonus offer or a few spins here and there is ever a bad thing. But at the same time, it most certainly means that any welcome bonus offer claiming to hand out £200+ in free cash probably isn’t as generous as it appears to be. Always read those terms and conditions in full, or pay the price further down the line.
Casino Mistakes #3: Fake registration info
Some gamers are concerned with data protection, others try to open multiple accounts and then there are those who simply prefer to remain anonymous. Whatever the reason, thousands of new casino customers sign up every day using fake credentials. In the first instance, it can be easy to make it happen. A fake name, fake address, fake contact details and so on – all more than sufficient to get started with a casino. You may even be able to pay money into your account and get busy with the gaming.
But what happens when the casino insists on verifying your identity, before allowing you to withdraw any money? It doesn’t matter whether you win £10, £1,000 or strike it lucky with £1 million, your winning will be withheld and your claim invalidated, due to the fact that you breached the terms and conditions of the website. Worse still, you could even be prosecuted for using fraudulent details in the first place. You can rest assured that sooner or later, every casino will require you to verify your account information. So under no circumstances should you ever use any fake information whatsoever.
Casino Mistakes #4: Chasing losses
It’s a point we’ve raised on countless occasions and will continue to do so indefinitely. The reason being that chasing losses represents the single worst thing any gambler can do at any time. The problem with chasing losses being that not only are you already on the receiving end of a losing streak, but will also find it difficult to make rational and logical decisions.
Any established and responsible gambling authority will tell you the same – nothing matters more than knowing when to walk away. Chasing losses essentially means that you haven’t accepted the fact that you are not going to win every time. Which in a sense means that you haven’t accepted the reality of gambling as a whole. In which case, you may need to take a step back and consider your attitude, before continuing any further.
Casino Mistakes #5: Ignoring the odds
If you decide to get into online sports betting…which can be hugely enjoyable…keeping an eye on the odds could not be of greater importance. Contrary to popular belief, all online betting sites do not offer the same odds for the same sports and events. In fact, the differences from one bookmaker or gaming site to the next can be enormous.
The simple fact of the matter is that if you are going to win, you may as well win as much as possible. Why sell yourself short, given that there could be better odds available elsewhere? It really couldn’t be easier these days to see what kinds of odds are being offered by which service providers. A tiny amount of homework for potentially huge gains in return.
Casino Mistakes #6: Being greedy
Last but not least – and despite what you may have seen in a fair few movies over the years – winning streaks don’t last forever. In fact, they don’t tend to last long at all. The simple fact of the matter is that if you enjoy say three lucky rolls at the craps table, the likelihood of hitting another three in a row is extremely low. The problem being that the bigger the lucky streak you’re on, the more you start to feel as if you cannot lose.
In reality, all that’s happening here is greed. You’re allowing your lust for winning to shoulder common sense and logic out of the picture entirely. Which is, for obvious reasons, never a good thing. Just as it is critically important to know when to cut your losses and walk away, you also need to know exactly when to walk away from a winning streak or big win of any kind.
You might also find the following articles interesting:
- 10 Ways to Make Money While Gambling
- 5 Online Casino Tips You Cannot Live Without
- 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Choosing an Online Poker Website