COVER STORY

Do you know the number one reason why we lose at the casino? If you think it’s the house edge, you’re wrong. That’s the second reason. The main reason we lose at the casino is because there’s a little urchin that comes out from time to time, most often uninvited, and he’s the reason we lose.

This urchin, who’s actually more like an imp, enjoys the challenge of going up against the casino. He sees himself as some sort of superhero who can defy all odds. The 24/7 rhythm of the casino doesn’t intimidate him. We humans and our biorhythms, on the other hand, are not equipped to do what the little urchin inside of us can. But we try anyway, to no avail.

The fact of the matter is no human being can match the casino’s rhythm because human beings are creatures of habit. We operate best when we adhere to a schedule. The human body is capable of doing incredible things, but only when treated properly. All of us who participate in gambling for entertainment purposes can point to at least one casino trip where we could have made better choices. We lost because we were our own worst enemy.

We’ve all been guilty of gambling late into the night, way past when our bodies were telling us that it was time to quit. And, how many of us have come home with screaming headaches due to eye strain or not hydrating ourselves enough while at the casino? What about the times we ate everything in sight for dinner at the buffet because we gambled through lunch?

When we neglect our normal routine and we don’t treat our bodies right then bad things usually happen. If we’re leaving

the casino intoxicated, tired, achy, hungry, thirsty, with a sore behind, then we’re probably also leaving broke. What we end up doing to ourselves is not only feeling physically awful but emotionally crappy as well.

What about the classic, “I won, but I gave it all back” nightmare? This hurts more than the worst hangover possible. We finally win something at the casino, something worth bragging about to our friends and family, but we have nothing to show for it. This is usually about the time Cher’s song comes to mind, “If I could turn back time, If I could find a way …”

Well there is no “way” other than preventing it from happening to begin with. The casino is a fun place and there’s a thrill associated with the risk involved with gambling. No one can deny that. But, there needs to be discipline.

Don’t ever allow yourself to be your own worst enemy at the casino. If you find yourself saying, “I wish I would have, could have, or should have …” then you need to take a step back and see how you can modify your behavior for the better.

Get Up And Walk Around

Don’t sit for hours on end at the tables or in front of the slots. Get up, walk around, take a break, use the restroom, get a drink. It’s simply not healthy to sit in one place for extended periods of time.

Stick To Your Bankroll

Determine the amount of money that you can afford to part with before you get to the casino. Always keep in mind that this money is for entertainment purposes. Don’t ever go to a casino with the intention of making money. I swear that the casino games have a way of sensing when a person becomes greedy. If you let greed take over, then you’re doomed.

Know When It’s Time To Go Home

Can’t tell if that card is a three or a five? Are the cute little piggies on screen starting to look more like fat ducks? Are you having a hard time keeping up with the bingo numbers? Maybe your brain has had enough. Your body is tired and you’re yawning every few seconds for a reason. It’s time to go home.

Listen To Your Body

Do you feel thirsty? Order a drink. Is your stomach growling? Eat something. If you don’t eventually do what your body tells you to do, you’re going to regret it. Your body will get pissed off if you decide to smoke too much, don’t hydrate yourself, drink too much, and don’t eat enough.

Celebrate Your Luck

When lady luck has been kind to you, celebrate the occasion and appreciate your winnings! Don’t use that money as an opportunity to chase after more money. And, by the way, telling yourself, “I’m playing with the casino’s money” to make yourself feel better is ridiculous. Once you win it, it’s your money! If you lose those winnings, you’ve lost your money not the casino’s money. It stopped being the casino’s money as soon as it appeared in your credit meter or in front of you at the tables or in your hands. Be smart, put your winnings aside and don’t give it back to the casino.

Make it a New Year’s Resolution for 2022 and say, “I will not be my own worst enemy at the casino.” $