Casinos are magical places, especially for gamblers. These vast monuments of excess and entertainment have something to offer everyone. Still, it’s the casino gambler that benefits the most.
Unfortunately, not every aspect of the casino is of maximum advantage to gamblers. Many areas of the casino business hinder the casino guests, even as they are billed as features.
Since the easiest way to avoid a problem is recognizing that it could be an issue, let’s examine these 10 problems every casino gambler faces. If you’ve ever sat in a casino and wondered, “Why me?” let me assure you that you’re not alone in your anguish.
1 – Holding on to Winnings
Winning money in the casino can be one of life’s biggest thrills for gamblers. It’s what most casino guests are striving for regardless of whether they are first-timers or a casino regular.
Casinos are designed to grab your money and not let go, even when you think you’ve got them beat. Most modern slot machines pay guests via a redeemable voucher at the cashier, which leads to problems for many.
They can’t fight the urge to stroll past an endless run of enticing machines. And before they realize what’s happened, it’s all gone.
2 – It’s Easy to Lose Track of Time
If you’ve ever been in a casino without your watch or smartphone, you’ve probably had a tough time telling what the time was. Casinos know that if you can’t keep track of the hour, you’ll be far less likely to take breaks for meals or head up to the room for sleep.
Hence, casinos are entirely void of any clocks or windows. Your internal clock is negated by the amount of fun you’re having and typically gamble for longer than initially intended.
Luckily, you can easily combat the casino’s tricks by setting the alarm on your watch or phone. Doing this will ensure that you never miss your dinner date or hot ticket show.
3 – Too Many Choices
A problem I see facing many casino patrons is the overwhelming abundance of casino games. In most areas of life, we consider variety to be a benefit, and in many instances, that’s true.
However, when it comes to casino gambling, players facing too many options can become borderline confused.
That’s because most players have a limited understanding of casino games. They may be vaguely familiar with one or two games but won’t be able to spot the differences between a game with good rules and bad rules.
For example, many casino gamblers head for the blackjack tables. Blackjack is a straightforward game with a low house edge, so it’s a natural landing spot for novice and advanced gamblers alike.
This slight difference has a tremendous impact on your overall experience. There are plenty of traps players fall into regarding choices, but settling on the most suitable game is among the most critical.
4 – The Inevitable Losses
If you’re a semi-regular or even a casual casino gambler, you’re going to lose. Even the most accomplished sports bettors on the planet lose over 40% of the time; it’s a fact.
Advantage gamblers make a profit by merely winning more than they lose. If only that task were as easy as it sounds.
Recreational gamblers have only a slight chance of walking out of the casino as a winner, but it’s possible because of variance. Variance is the reason advantage gamblers sometimes lose, and it’s the reason some novice players win.
However, over a long enough length of time, the party with the advantage will always come out on top. That means any player that hasn’t found a way to have an advantage over the casino.
It doesn’t matter if you win $1 million. If you’re like most other gamblers who have won large amounts, you’ll probably lose most of it. It’s an ugly truth, but it’s one that affects most gamblers.
5 – The Drinks
Casinos are famous for their free-flowing booze. Players head straight for their favorite game, buy into the game, and eagerly wait for their favorite casino employee, the cocktail server.
There are a few apparent problems when players are essentially given the keys to an open bar. The first is that some gamblers will overdo it, end up intoxicated, and start making poor decisions.
And these are what I would call significant errors in judgment. Brought on by the inhibition lowering effects of alcohol.
Another problem I see when it comes to the complimentary drinks is players trying to justify their losses being offset by the booze. There is some merit to the notion that the comps are helping diminish the losses.
Unfortunately, most players will not be able to handle enough watered-down booze to make it a wash. So, they try to make it up by ordering a beverage any chance they get.
That only leads to the first problem I presented to you.
6 – Casinos Are Far From Sterile
Casinos are far dirtier than you might think. I’m not trying to scare you away with the idea that glasses go unwashed or dealers practice poor hygiene.
You’re not likely to catch anything from the toilet seats in a casino bathroom. Yet, there are many things that you may not think of that slip under the radar.
Let’s start with the chips. Chips are handled by several players on any given day. They shuffle around like cards, and the germs are passed around.
The current climate suggests that you carry hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face.
7 – You’ve Got to Bet a Fortune to Earn Decent Comps
I hear a lot of conversations in the casino revolving around comps. Casino comps are a way of letting the players have something without giving them any of the cash. They’re also a fantastic revenue generator for the casino.
Players often fall into the dangerous habit of chasing these freebies, and it’s a terrible way to throw money down the tube. You should never focus on betting more or extending a session to earn comps; the math isn’t in your favor.
8 – Landing on a Table With Jerks
I’ve spent a lot of time in casinos, and there’s nothing that will take the wind out of my sails faster than sitting at a table with someone who’s a total jerk.
It’s hard to tell whether the players at the table are being belligerent before you sit down. Still, a little bit of recon can help avoid an uncomfortable experience.
I most commonly run into the jerks in the poker room and on the blackjack table, but that’s also where I spend the majority of my time.
You can do your part by behaving yourself when you head to the casino.
9 – The Easy Games Equal Poor Odds
Most casino gamblers lose because the games are meticulously designed to guarantee the casinos make a profit. The reason why many players lose more than they need to is the fact that easier games have worse odds.
A lot of gamblers head into the casino without much of an idea of what the house edge is for any particular game. So, they head for the games that appear to be the easiest and hope for the best.
Some casino slots have a house edge of 12% or higher.
10 – Problem Gambling
I’ve seen estimates that problem gambling affects up to 2.5% of the population in the US. That’s over 10 million Americans that struggle with gambling addiction every year.
Fortunately, there are many wonderful resources available to those who think they may have an issue in regards to gambling.
Conclusion
Don’t let these 10 problems every casino gambler faces scare you away from the casinos. Like any other hobby, you’ll need to be mindful of your behaviors.
Still, remember that casino gambling is a form of entertainment first and foremost. It’s not a viable means of making money or paying the bills. Proceed accordingly, and you’ll have smooth sailing. But treat it as a “get rich quick” scheme or retirement plan, and you’ll have some issues.
