CasinoCityTimes.com

Home
Gaming Strategy
Featured Stories
News
Newsletter
Legal News Financial News Casino Opening and Remodeling News Gaming Industry Executives Author Home Author Archives Author Books Search Articles Subscribe
Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter!
Recent Articles
Best of John G. Brokopp
author's picture
 

Don't Let Your Money Lose Its Value In A Casino

18 August 1999

Isn't it strange how we can elect to shop at a particular supermarket one week because we'll save twenty-five cents on a pound of ground beef, but when we go to a casino for an evening of entertainment our twenty-dollar bill can be sucked into a slot machine in a matter of minutes and we get nothing in return except for some battered hopes and the "fun" we had playing?

Such is the strange phenomenon of working hard for your money, yet at the same time being willing to gamble a portion of it on the spin of a slot machine, the turn of a card, or the roll of dice. The value we put on our money in everyday life can take on an entirely different perspective once we set foot in a casino.

Casino owners and operators are well aware of this frailty of human nature, and more often than not are willing to take advantage of it. That's why every casino you attend has readily available cash station machines, check cashing service, and even privately owned credit card terminals that will permit you to draw cash against your account for a hefty fee.

How easy it is to be ahead fifty or one hundred dollars on a particular gaming session, then wind up betting it all back or even going in the hole. That same fifty or one hundred dollars is very hard to earn in the work place. And just think of what you could buy with that money at a grocery or department store.

If you want to be a true recreational gambler and keep the fun in your gaming ventures, you must exercise sound budget principles and wise money management.

First off, you never ever bet money that you can't afford to lose. There's an old saying around the race track that goes: "Eat your bettin' money but never bet your eatin' money". Bringing "scared money" to the casino is a sure way to take all the fun out of your gaming session.

If you've budgeted a portion of your entertainment dollar for a night of gambling, limit yourself to that money and no more. To avoid temptation, take the credit cards out of your wallet if you have to. The important thing is to use good common sense and to keep a level head about the value of your money.

The saddest sights in casinos are to see winners "bet it all back" or to see people wager far beyond their means. The casinos lure us with cash-back vouchers and other incentives in return for our play, but all those bonuses are meaningless if you're betting more than you can afford to lose.

Be as prudent about your finances as the casino operators are and you'll have a lot more fun when you do beat 'em at their own games!

John G. Brokopp

John G. Brokopp's gaming column appears in Chicago Sun Times (Chicago, Illinois), The Times (Northwest Indiana), The Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa), The Courier News (Elgin, Illinois), The Gazette (Southwest Suburban Chicago) and Senior Wire (Denver, CO). He's also a regular contributor to The Colorado Gambler, Midwest Gaming & Travel, Casino Player and Strictly Slots. John possesses 28 years of experience as a professional handicapper, publicist, freelance writer, and casino gaming correspondent. He is also the author of two very popular books, The Insider’s Guide to Internet Gambling and Thrifty Gambling.

Books by John G. Brokopp:

> More Books By John G. Brokopp

John G. Brokopp
John G. Brokopp's gaming column appears in Chicago Sun Times (Chicago, Illinois), The Times (Northwest Indiana), The Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa), The Courier News (Elgin, Illinois), The Gazette (Southwest Suburban Chicago) and Senior Wire (Denver, CO). He's also a regular contributor to The Colorado Gambler, Midwest Gaming & Travel, Casino Player and Strictly Slots. John possesses 28 years of experience as a professional handicapper, publicist, freelance writer, and casino gaming correspondent. He is also the author of two very popular books, The Insider’s Guide to Internet Gambling and Thrifty Gambling.

Books by John G. Brokopp:

> More Books By John G. Brokopp