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Winning (and Losing) All Part of the Game

22 October 2008

Losing your money during a casino outing is maddening, but we've all been through it. There are no guarantees when you take a chance with your money, and that goes for the trading floor as well as the casino floor.

There's a price you must be prepared to pay every time you put your money at risk in quest of financial gain. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but you have to be willing to accept the consequences. That's the nature of taking a gamble.

Everyone has high hopes of hitting a jackpot when they walk through the doors of a casino, but in a vast majority of the visits we make, those hopes are not realized.

The most important factor to take into account is that you must be prepared to lose without having those losses wield a negative impact on your household finances. In other words, you can't play with "scared money".

Scared money, put quite simply, is money you can't afford to spend. It doesn't necessarily have to be on gambling. Many families can't afford tickets to sporting events or amusement parks these days. Leisure time and entertainment pursuits have become luxuries in these difficult economic times.

Money you bring with on a casino outing should be what you've allocated for entertainment, no different than dining out, going to the theater or the movies, taking in a concert, or attending a professional sporting event.

If losing money in a casino makes you mad, that's normal. Nobody likes to lose. But if losing hurts you financially, or gives you feelings of guilt, perhaps you shouldn't gamble. The fun factor has to be part of the equation.

The great attraction for choosing a casino night out is that you have the chance of a positive financial return in addition to having a good time. Throw in the added bonus of taking advantage of the perks of joining player's clubs and even some fringe benefits will factor in.

What are your options when the money you've allocated for your casino outing is gone? You can get a cash advance or borrow from your friends, neither of which is advised. How about sitting idly by and watching every one else play? That's no fun. The best plan is to call it a night and head for the exit or grab something to eat.

Casino entertainment in the Chicago-area gaming market has evolved into the opportunity to enjoy shows, lavish buffets, casual dining and fine dining. There are great lounges to sit back, relax, and enjoy a game on television, listen to some music, or simply enjoy the view.

You can derive tremendous fun and pleasure from many other recreational pursuits, but the money you spend on tickets, parking, food, drink and souvenirs is gone. You don't have the opportunity a casino outing brings to win some cash and make the entire night out pay for itself.

The best advice is to don't lose until it hurts. If winning doesn't happen, it's the price you paid for taking your chances and having some fun, excitement and escapism.

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