Don’t let the Casinos Psyche You Out!

Casinos are adult playgrounds, plain and simple. They are specifically designed to be that way, and usually I'm happy about that. I can't wait to go out to recess, but I have learned to walk, instead of run, towards the games of chance that the casinos offer me.

Where are the Clocks?

It's no surprise that you won't see any clocks in a casino, or any windows to the outside world visible from the table games or slot machines. Those are psychological ploys to keep you guessing about how long you have been playing. If you see the sun go down (or even worse, rise) you'll realize it's really time to go home. Cinderella lost a shoe trying to get home, if you linger for hours you are likely to lose your shirt.

If you wander into a hotel-casino, the odds are that you will have to walk through a gaming area to get to the front desk. If you don't, you will have to walk past the gaming areas to get to your room. Psyche.

Planners know how to design their casino-floor layouts to lure you into the slots area, and even though you probably came to the casino to gamble, they aren't taking any chances. So, take a deep breath and relax. Budget your time, and your money.

If you plan to play until midnight, that's great, but don't extend your playing time past when you are making good decisions. The casino managers wants you to stay and play all night. They are looking for "time on device." That's their benchmark of quality income. Don't let them psyche you out.

Your Bankroll

Do you carry more than $100 in cash (aside from the times you use a credit card) when you go to dinner and a movie? If you're like me it's not that likely. I'm not going to spend that much.

When I go to a casino I carry a little more cash, but I don't stuff my entire months mortgage and grocery money in my pocket before I head out, but that's what a lot of people do. Before you go, decide what your living bankroll can afford. If it's forty bucks, don't take the whole $300 you happen to have in your bedroom. Take the forty and enjoy yourself, don't take the $300 and get stuck eating ramen noodles for the rest of the month.

If you are susceptible to changing your plans, you might want to leave your bankcards at home. I don't like to travel without them, but I've learned to ignore their little cries when I lose my gaming bankroll for the evening. You'll need to do the same.

The Curse of Winning

Sometimes when we gamble, we get lucky - and we win. Winning big your first outing to a casino can be a curse, because you'll think it's easy, and likely to happen again.

Photo Courtesy of (Angel Fire Press)

The first time I ever played craps I threw 13 straight passes and stacked up a lot of chips. I figured the game was easy and I'd be able to do the same thing again and again. Psyche! It took me two years to duplicate that run of luck, and I lost a lot more during that time than I had won on my first excursion to the craps table.

So, treat your results for what they are, a sample. They are not indicative of any guaranteed results in the future. And, just for your own good, keep a little journal of how you fare on each trip to a casino, you know, a few notes and a dollar amount of your wins and loses.

Sure, it's boring, and you'll have to be honest with yourself, but it will be the best thing you ever do with regard to gambling, because you're human. We are all likely to emphasize wins and disregard losses. Don't let the casino pysche you out that way. Keep track, and you'll know how much money to take for your next trip to the playground.