Online casinos have exploded in popularity in recent years, quickly becoming part of the gambling fabric, so much so that traditional brick-and-mortar establishments are concerned about their future.
It’s easy to see why user numbers are up. Online casinos have a wide range of exciting games, the bonus offers give you a great chance of playing for free and even winning a bit of money, and we’re always dreaming of hitting that big life-changing jackpot.
But to have a truly balanced approach to gaming, there are a few things you should try to keep in mind. Let’s dig in and explore how we can maximize both the fun and your chances of winning, without it becoming unhealthy.
Let Go of the Idea of Control
We think we’re in the driver’s seat, but we’re not. Rather, what is at play here is the illusion of control in gambling. Once you fully embrace that this is the gambler’s reality, you’ll maximize your mathematical chances of winning.
Gambling is often referred to as a game of chance, yet that’s not how many of us approach the game. Humans are ritualistic and superstitious, and this is reflected in our approach to strategy.
Just think about the many YouTube videos and guides on betting and ways to ‘guarantee’ you’ll walk away with a win. Or how we fall into the gambler’s fallacy trap, where we think red is somehow due because black has hit 10x in a row on roulette.
Here’s the truth: with all of these superstitions, the math is against you pretty much every time. Just because you’ve put your right sock on first, the blowing on the dice ritual has been completed, and you haven’t won in an age, it doesn’t mean anything.
Finding the ‘Right’ Casino
There’s not a single casino that will tick all the boxes, but there are ways of at the very least avoiding the duds. Ensuring you stick to the ‘good’ casinos will heavily affect your experience. Here’s how to find them:
• Check that the casino has a government license, which means it has a legal right to operate. This will at the very least ensure that your money is safe and that the casino adheres to regulations (which also cover safety for players).
• Technical security is important. For example, look for the SSL security symbol. Check that payments are taken securely. The casino should not just focus on great games, but it should be balanced with an emphasis on safe gameplay.
• The quality of customer support is often ignored, until there’s a problem and no one is there to help you. That’s a potential issue, so always check that the casino in question has good feedback on its customer service provision. It also generally reflects well on the establishment as a whole.
Video Games (and Setting Ground Rules!)
The video game industry has a lot of overlap with online casinos. In the first instance, they’re super fun. That’s the core of why they are listed among our favorite pastimes, it’s just a good time.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If we can’t focus on fun when we’ve finished work or stopped studying, what’s it all for? But there is a limit, and you should be aware of when things start creeping towards unhealthy.
The thing is, both casinos and video games result in a release of dopamine from the so-called reward center of the brain, which is incredibly pleasurable.
In small doses, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But because our brain will start associating casinos with dopamine, it’s possible that the relationship will become a little unhealthy.
But don’t worry, that does not mean you should be avoiding video games. Or casinos. You just need to set some ground rules before you start playing:
• Set a timer. If you want to play for 1 hour, be strict about it. Some casinos have these measures in place, where they send you notifications if you’ve been playing for a long time. These are super useful, as sometimes we can lose track of time.
• Be balanced about your activities outside of playing, and include time to spend with family, friends, and the outdoors. For example, you could start a 1/1 rule. For every hour that you play, you spend another hour on a hobby or walking in the park.
• Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. And never, ever chase your losses. That’s a one-way ticket to losing even more money.
Remember, casinos are entertainment. They’re not investment vehicles, or a side-hustle for money. Of course, it’s possible you’ll win a huge jackpot, or you may walk away with your wallet a little lighter. Just be aware of this reality, and you’ll never have a bad time at the casino, win or lose.
