Finding your inner Ka-chi-ng

Playing when you’re well-rested, have eaten well, are sober and relaxed will often bring the most joy. That way you can be certain you won’t go over your budget, and you can keep exact track of your profits.

Once you’ve hit your spending limit, or even when you’ve not hit it, but have made a profit, it’s wise to set a time limit too.

It’s massively tempting to immediately spend your profits and hope for a bigger prize. Casinos rely on that sort of temptation, but with a time limit, you will be able to enjoy any profit you have made at the end of your set time, and not put it immediately back in the machine, where it’ll probably be lost.

That’s what it’s about; if you feel you must keep playing, if it becomes a necessity to bet all the money you’ve set aside for the week in one session, then it’s time to quit playing for a while.

At least take a few days break and have a serious think about whether it’s something you should be doing. That way you kick the compulsive gambler inside you into touch before he gets chance to take hold.

Still, most people will be able to enjoy a few games a day, or relax for a few hours a week inside the virtual casino with no problems at all. It’s just worth examining yourself carefully before any trouble starts.

Especially if you’re regularly going over the budget you’ve allowed, and if you find gambling time eats into the time you’d rather be spending with friends or family.

Remember: What’s the pay-off? What am I sacrificing for this? Be that calm and cool gambler who always knows what the score is. Play the game, but play safe. See you out on the slots…