Top 10 Gambling Mistakes That Prevent You From Winning

Picture this, you’re back at the casino to have a good time and maybe even win a fair amount. We’ve all wondered why our winning streaks at the blackjack table or the slot machine sometimes come to an unceremonious end. 

You can make many hidden mistakes that will lower your chances of winning. Being a successful gambler ain’t easy. Be it beginners or amateurs, sometimes even professionals forget to abide by the basic principles of gambling.

As thrilling as it can be, you need quick thinking and strong self-control, especially when starting out. Skip the embarrassment and headaches; here are the top 10 gambling mistakes that prevent you from winning. 

10. Not Setting Up a Budget

Bankroll management is key to having a fun time when gambling, we’ve all heard of that. It still rings true to this day, not keeping track of your wins and losses can quickly end your time in the casino. Nowadays, you can easily use apps for budgeting your way in and out of the casino. 

Setting up a budget will make sure you don’t lose track of the amount you’re spending. Be it per session, per month, or even per year, depending on how often you gamble, setting up maximum spending limits will always work out in your favor. 

Adding to that, don’t gamble with money you don’t have. It might feel tempting to take money out of your credit card to get back to the games. However, you never want to bet more than you can afford, set up cash beforehand, which you’re comfortable losing and stick to the amount. 

9. Chasing Losses

Another common mistake when starting out is chasing your losses. We get it, it can be incredibly tempting to keep playing in hopes of recouping your lost bets. However, it rarely works out that way. 

We don’t like losing, especially when playing real money casino games. The urge to get back and take one more chance can be strong, and it is one of the most common and widespread mistakes. There is no strategy that will guarantee your next win, so there is no point in betting in hopes of it. 

Impulsive bets can quickly strain your bankroll. Instead, taking a short break or moving to a different game would be much better both in terms of your enjoyment and bankroll! This allows you to play for a longer time and manage your bets effectively.

8. Having unrealistic goals

We all hope of winning millions in a jackpot or winning that high-stakes poker game. Some people spend hours researching and learning the best moves in a game to give them an advantage. Things rarely go as planned, and there are so many variables in a game that predicting wins is neigh impossible. 

Setting high expectations and then not achieving them can leave a sour taste in your mouth. It can even lead to making reckless and impulsive decisions as you strive to attain your set goals. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with setting goals, sometimes reading about a lucky win or watching a player hit a big win can cloud our judgment. 

Remember, there are no easy wins, and having unrealistic goals will only stress you out when playing. Focus is important, and most of us gamble for a good time; no reason to spoil the fun with goals that are statistically improbable. 

7. Playing under the influence

Gambling is and will always be a social activity. No doubt we all enjoy having a drink or two when playing a few games; we are all there to have a good time, after all. Casinos are more than happy to provide free alcohol to you as you gamble, but is it really a good thing?

When playing with real money, you want all your emotions in check. Indulging in a little too much alcohol can just as easily take that away from you, causing you to lose focus. This leads to you making poor choices and maybe even taking unnecessary risks when gambling. 

The next time you go inside that casino, be careful not to drink too much. Improper etiquette can easily get you kicked out, and playing under the influence is definitely one of them. 

6. Playing unfamiliar games

One of the biggest mistakes gamblers can make is playing unfamiliar games. Sure, it might feel tempting to go against the high rollers and show them what for. However, without knowing the ins and outs of a game, your experience will most likely be negative. 

Lack of knowledge of a game can hinder you from making good decisions, as you may not know how to place bets or how to score. You may not even know how to counter the strategies of other players or the dealer either. This might tip the house edge over healthy limits and make you lose more money as you keep going. 

There is no such thing as learning on the job when it comes to gambling. Do your research and learn the basics of a game before you decide to bet real money on it. 

5. Not checking the table rules

Different casinos have different rules when it comes to their games, these rules can even vary from table to table. Not checking the table rules before you play means you don’t know what you just signed up for. 

Checking the payout rate on each table along with the house edge will help you determine which table gives you the maximum chance of winning. With card games especially, the dealer might have some unfair advantages against you on some tables. 

When playing blackjack and baccarat, there might be a single deck or multiple decks with significantly different chances of winning. Similarly, in Poker, the rules of Texas Hold’em are a far cry from Omaha or Seven Card Stud. Check the table’s rules before you play so you can adjust your expectations and strategies accordingly. 

4. Keeping up winning streaks

We all love to see a long inning streak. We love it even more when we are the ones winning. This leads to one of the most common mistakes, overvaluing winning streaks. By their nature, these intervals are rare and temporary, so letting your guard down is not a good idea. 

It can be easy to think you are invincible, and it's your lucky day when you’re on a fresh winning streak. This false confidence can also lead you to increase your bets and play longer games. Some players even stop employing basic strategies and lose their control and calm. 

The odds of winning are always the same. Depending on a winning streak to keep going can be a costly mistake that players can and will make. Winning something is always better than trying to replicate it further and losing more. 

3. Placing high-stakes bets too frequently

Playing games at high stakes is another major mistake that players make often. High risks mean high rewards, right? Jumping into a high-stakes game in hopes of winning it big can quickly put a strain on your bankroll and chances your opponents are gonna be much more experienced. 

Beginners can really lose big time due to their lack of experience and necessary skills when playing at these tables. The higher risk and increased pressure won’t do you any good either, as you might end up making mistakes due to the sheer tension. Losing at such games can also dampen your mood and result in a loss of confidence. 

In short, leave those high-stakes games for the pros. They can afford to lose it big and have experience playing against similarly skilled opponents. If you are one, by all means, go at it and good luck! 

2. Not keeping your emotions in check

Gambling can be a very emotional experience, as we all know. It can take people from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. As thrilling as it can be, playing without keeping your emotions in check can be disastrous when gambling. The poker face exists for a reason, after all.  

Playing with your emotions can make you reckless, overconfident, or even stressed. When on a winning streak, you will tend to bet recklessly, and when losing, you may get impulsive and throw the strategy out the window. 

This is a rule that is known by many but often forgotten in the heat of the moment. If you feel yourself getting agitated, it is much better to take a break and come back with a fresh mind. 

1. Playing games with low odds

Let’s get technical for a moment. We all know betting your bankroll away at penny slots won’t help you win big. Nor will making inside bets on roulette give you a fair shot at winning. In general, games like these give you the illusion of being in control and attract you to them. 

So what will? Take a simple game like blackjack. Tables that would let you play single-deck games and makes the dealer stand on the soft 17 have an exceptionally low house edge of just 0.13%. This was just an example; making outside bets on roulette and learning to play craps will also give you significantly higher odds of winning. 

The bottom line is some games will have lower odds and some high, just like some tables do, as we mentioned in point 6. Find games with a lower house edge and a modest payout to increase your odds of winning more. 

These were some of the most common mistakes players make when gambling. Avoid them, and you will be winning much more, be it in a real money casino or online betting. Knowing the table rules and basic strategy isn’t enough nowadays, you need strategy and insight. Check out some tried and tested strategies here on our blog!

Don’t bet too often, and don’t get too drunk. Carry cash on you rather than cards to strictly enforce your budget. Keep calm and manage your bankroll between games when you take a break. These tips will make your gambling experience that much better. Enough talk, let’s get to winning, shall we?