Serious players maintain their gambling bankroll in a separate fund or bank account that is used for nothing except playing their game of choice. Any winnings go back into the fund and losses are taken out. They never use any other funds for gambling purposes or use their gambling funds for any other expenses. One player I know refers to his gambling bankroll as his 401-G.
The size of your bankroll is one of the determining factors as to the money limits of the games you will play. If your bankroll consists of $50 you would be foolish to sit down at a $25 blackjack table since you would only be able to play two hands. If you are a slot player with $20 you would be best advised to avoid the dollar slot machines and stick with quarters or nickels.
The other determining factor in choosing the denomination of the games you play is what I call your “Emotional Bankroll. Your Emotional Bankroll will not be based strictly on the amount of money you have. You can have a very large bankroll but still not be comfortable playing at the higher limits. Your emotional bankroll equates to your risk tolerance. How much stress can you handle when playing a casino game? The size of your bet should be one that gives you a little thrill, but not enough to make you start sweating each outcome.
The Extreme Player:
These types of players the money is only a way of keeping score. The real excitement is in the action. For sports they may enjoy rock climbing or sky diving and if they are investors in the stock market you can be pretty sure they are investing in the speculative stocks. In the casino you will find them playing Craps, Blackjack at the high roller tables or playing the high denomination slots.
The Conservative Player:
Other players are more conservative. They enjoy the games but are also concerned about their price of entertainment. They want to play but do not feel that they want to risk a large portion of their bankroll on any one outcome or playing session. For sports they may enjoy Golf or bowling or some other competitive sport that doesn’t entail risking their life in the process. If they are investors they may choose Mutual Funds or the Blue Chips stocks to give them a steady and safe return. In the casino these players will be at the five dollar tables enjoying the games or playing nickel or quarter slots.