There’s nothing better for me on a Friday night than to kick off my shoes, order my takeout, and settle down for a night of slots. You’ll find plenty of iGaming apps on my phone, and you’ll often find me spinning reels with a movie on in the background. It’s a great way to relax – unless you forget about your bank account.
Sure, you can indulge in some gaming, but you have to keep your limits in the back of your mind while you play, and don’t get carried away, or you’ll wake up Saturday morning wondering what you did last night. We’ve all been there.
So, how do you have a fun night of spinning and not regret it the next day? I’ve got some tips carefully curated after years of learning how to relax. Read on for all the details.
Set a Strict Budget Before Playing
Don’t go into your favourite online casino with a vague idea of how much you want to spend. I know I do that too much with window shopping. No, we’re not “hoping” to keep it under this rounded up number, we’re picking a rounded down number and sticking to it. It might sound like something Debbie Downer came up with, but it’ll mean you get to keep coming back to your favourite pastime knowing that you’re in control.
Keep in mind that this number is for spending money, not renting or eating or utility-paying money. Don’t try and justify it. I know how that gets you into a hole.
If I’m feeling a little too loose with my change, maybe because it’s finally payday, I go into the responsible gambling tools on the casino website and make use of the deposit limits. GambleAware put out a report in 2020 that said half of players using deposit limits told them it helped them play more responsibly. There are also time limits and self-exclusions to help you keep a grip on your pennies.
I like to set myself a certain amount I can spend on my favourite site every week. It’s not a monthly budget, because that’s too big. I’d be 90% through it in the first weekend. So, instead, I split it into four weekends and pace myself.
Avoid Chasing Losses
Have a limit and stick to it. The second part of that is the important part. I know it’s so tempting to go chasing losses. “Maybe this next spin will undo all the money I’ve spent.”
Stay strong. You’re more likely to just spend more money. Exit the site, put down the phone or PC, and walk away. I distract myself and do something else until the irritation of your lost money subsides, at least a little.
Remember that slot machines work off of RNGs, or Random Number Generators, which guarantee that you win randomly. It’s not the gods or luck cursing you, and you’re just as likely to lose on the next spin as you’re likely to win. Why are you sure this next spin is the one?
Establish Win and Loss Limits
This is more fun, I promise. Set yourself a win limit.
Well, it’s more fun if you win. Once you hit a certain amount, tap out. If you keep going and then lose all those winnings, you’re not going to be celebrating by flashing the cash the next day.
And on the other hand, you guessed it, I set loss limits. I tell myself that I’m willing to lose, but not too much, and set myself a limit on how much I’m willing to spend.
Understand Slot Volatility and Choose Accordingly
The best way to keep a hold of your money while you’re actually playing is to choose your slot wisely. I know I’ve been stung by not looking at the volatility or the RTP of a “fun new venture” and seeing my money disappear into the ether.
Look up some renowned iGaming reviewers like Leanna Madden and see what they have to say. Leanna has lists of reviews that will detail all the latest and greatest games that are worth your money, time, and energy.
Remember that low volatility means more wins for less money and high volatility means large wins but less often. If you’re like me and looking for a relaxing night of steady income, you’ll want to aim for low volatility.
Track Your Play
Just like keeping track of your calorie intake in your fitness app, keep track of your sessions. will make you more aware of your habits.
Keep an eye on what you’ve:
- Lost
- Won
- Spent
- The RTP of what you’ve played
Hopefully, you’ll see some patterns and factors that you can rectify. If I find myself eating too much McDonalds, I adjust, right? Or I should. And I should when I see I’m losing too much over time or putting too much money in one bet.
Conclusion: Know When to Walk Away
Whether I’m up or down, I have to have the discipline to just walk away. It’s important to have the right mindset before you even settle down to start playing. Don’t let any emotion, be it excitement or frustration, drive your hand to keep spending money and getting reckless.
It also means long-term enjoyment. I know if I lose enough I’m going to sulk about it next Friday and not even want to play. As long as I’m thinking of iGaming as a fun treat after a long week, rather than a source of income, it’s still enjoyable, and won’t leave me with empty pockets until next payday.
The post How to Best Manage Your Bankroll While Playing Slots first appeared on From Frugal to Free.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / John Schnobrich.
