Page 7 - February 2003 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Make Your Casino Visit a Relaxing Experience Sby Bill Burton
everal years ago I read an article that stated computers would change our way of life. It predicted that by the year 2000 everyone would have a four-day work week and much more leisure time. Well, here it is 2003 and we’ve found that the
technology of computers and cell phones has actually changed us into a 24-hour society and most of us have less leisure time that we did before!
5.Hand-feed coins or put in the lowest denomination bill.
Hand-feeding coins takes time and will slow you down a little. If the machine accepts only dollar bills, then put in the lowest denomination. This will slow you down. It will also give you a natural breaking point if you have to keep reaching in for bills to put in the machine, it may be time to take a break.
6.Take a few seconds between spins.
Wait a few seconds between spins instead of trying to set a speed record. This is not a tournament. There is no reason to play at lightning speed.
7.Take a break when you switch machines.
If you want to change machines, take a break before sitting down for your next session. Walk around the casino or get a snack.
These tips are designed to slow you down and help you relax a little while you are playing. They may not help you win money, but slowing down may help you lose less.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever.”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the popular Internet portal About.com. He also writes for several national gaming publications. See his articles at http://casinogamb ling.about.com. He is the author of Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available for $15 postage-paid. Send checks to Bill Burton, P.O. Box 310299, Newington, CT 06131-0299.
We all need a little relaxation in our lives to counter balance our stressful workloads. For most of us, we choose our leisure activities to help us relax. Since you are reading the Southern California Gaming Guide, it probably means that one of your favorite leisure activities is casino gambling.
Our trip to the casino should be a relaxing time; however, some players can turn it into a very stressful experience that is anything but relaxing.
The other day I was in the casino and I was walking past a bank of slot machines. I saw a woman standing up playing a slot machine. While the reels were spinning she was simultaneously playing the two machines on her right and left. This woman was de nitely caught up in what I refer to as the “slot machine frenzy.” I thought to myself, how relaxing can that be?
Playing slot machines (or any casino game) should be a relaxing experience. We can make it so by learning to slow down a little bit. Here are seven tips that will hopefully help make your slot playing a little more relaxing.
1. Take a break before playing.
If you drive to the casino you should take a break before playing. Don’t immediately run to a machine as soon as you get in the door. Sit down and have a snack or something to drink. It will help you unwind from your trip. If you don’t feel like sitting, just walk around for a while.
2. Play only one machine at a time.
Playing more than one machine just exposes you more to the house edge. In the long run you will just lose your money faster. Playing two machines involves standing or leaning out of your chair to reach over to the adjacent machine. This is not very relaxing.
3. Take your time.
Don’t hit the “Maximum Bet” button. Press the “Bet 1” button until you reach maximum coins. This will take longer and expand your playing time.
4. Talk with your friends.
If you are playing with friends seated nearby, stop for a few seconds and chat between spins. You can socialize and play at the same time.
February 2003
Page 7
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Column: Bill Burton About Gambling