Managing Your Casino Bankroll

Why Bankroll Management is Important

• You could lose everything before you even get started
• A winning streak could be unattainable
• Long term bankroll mishaps could leave you between a rock and hard place

Managing your bankroll is not difficult, take a few of our tips with you and get started playing at some of the leading casinos online.

Control Your Excitement

Nearly all of us gamblers set foot on the floor with very good intentions for our budget. We have a plan in place and are determined to stick to it. Then temptations out of nowhere strike. Although not as common online, this can happen. The excitement, the sounds and the big wins get the adrenaline going. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s important to not let yourself get too carried away by these emotions and start to let them and money control you!

Bet what you can afford to lose. Deposit only what you can afford to lose. Once your money is in the casino account, you can go ahead and consider it spent money. This saves you from potential upsets or disappoint if you happen to win nothing. This is not to discourage you, but rather help you to understand that like ying and yang, there is a balance at casinos. You will win and you will lose.

The Fundamentals of Bankroll Management

Before you can understand bankroll management, you have to understand what the house edge is. When you play for short bursts, you will have wins. Over time, your luck can diminish and return to the average house edge. What this means is that you will lose more than you will win when you play for long periods of time. To top this off, when players make mistakes, the house naturally will get more money. With that mindset, you can choose games which will maximize the time you spend at a casino. Blackjack, craps and high slot denominations all have low house edges. Penny slots, keno and lottery games tend to favour the house. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play these games, but just be aware that you have more to lose.

Let’s now take variance into the equation. Variance is also known as odds or probability. It describes the chance of landing on your chosen roulette slot or roll of the dice. Sometimes you win and sometimes the dealer wins.

Between variance and house edge, you face a very real chance of going broke it you don’t know how to manage your bankroll.

Figuring Out Your Betting Limits

We suggest that you set a betting limit to manage the amount of money that you are willing to bet on any given game. It is important that you do not get carried away when engaging in online gambling. Although the games might be fun and exciting, do not make the mistake of treating online gambling as more than merely entertainment.

To figure out your own betting limits, we suggest you set a limit on how much you can afford to bet. No matter how much you lose or win in that particular game, we highly recommend you stick to these betting limits. When setting these betting limits, make sure you never gamble with money that you need for your day-to-day life. Always gamble responsibly and never fork out more than you can afford.

Stop Lost Casino Strategy

Many gamblers will develop their own strategies to help them manage their bankroll. There are two ways to approach the stop loss system. The first involves you moving down in wagers. The second is when you stop all together, after you have lost so much money. If you’re going to use the first way you will have to factor the number of bets. For example, if you have 20 bets for $10 on blackjack and you start to lose. Set a loss limit and be ready to move to a lower stakes game such as 20 bets for $5. Likewise, is you’re on a winning streak, you can move up to $15 games.

Alternatively, you can set a certain amount of money and if you lose everything, you stop and step away from the screen. It’s a good system that works for many. If you are a person who chasses losses, you may be better suited to moving your bets up or down depending on where your bankroll is at. That being said, we highly recommend to never chase your losses.

Many casino enthusiasts believe you should only play with at least 20 to 30 times the minimum bet at any table game or max bet at a slot machine. This maximizes your overall chances of winning as well as play time.

Casinos Are Supposed to Be Fun

All too often people go to a casino with the intention of winning money. They forget that these websites and establishments are there to provide fun and entertainment. Winning of any money is like a bonus. It's similar to you going out for a night on the town. You will pay for that fun and maybe win some sort of nightly contest.

Final Thoughts

Here are a few reminders before you head to the casino to better help you manage your bankroll:

• Set daily, weekly and monthly limits of how much you’re willing to lose.
• Don’t get caught up in the idea of playing at casinos to afford your rent or other important items.
• Use the self-exclusion option by contacting the casino support if you are developing a gambling problem.
• Stretch your bankroll and have more fun by avoiding the auto-play.

Finally, always play at licensed and regulated sites in quality jurisdictions. Through taking these measures into consideration, you will have a balanced bankroll and hopefully with some luck, be on a nice winning streak without having any regrets.