Page 16 - September 2003 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
EMOTIONAL BANKROLL
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ten-dollar table and eventually a twenty- ve dollar one.
Quarter slot players may move to the fty-cent machines and then onto the dollar slots. If you get to a point where the risk factor bothers you, then go back down to the previous level. This is a very personal decision.
I heard a story about a ceo of one of the world’s biggest companies who was spotted in a Las Vegas poker room playing in a low-limit game. This man is worth millions and could easily afford to play at the highest- level tables. Some players at a nearby higher limit table tried to entice him to come and play at their table. But he declined saying he was perfectly comfortable playing where he was.
Only you can determine your own emotional bankroll. When you know what it is, stick to it. Just as you have to properly manage your money bankroll, you need to
manage your emotional bankroll as well. It will make your playing experience an enjoyable one. Have Fun!
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever!”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet portal About.com. He also writes for several national gambling publications. He is the author of Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available for $15 postage paid, at Bill Burton, P.O. Box 310299, Newington, CT 06131-0299 or online at: http://www.BillBurton.com. Bill Burton’s website is located at: http://casinogambling.about.com.
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players earn. Some casinos cut the comp rate on multi-line video poker and many base comps on the player’s theoretical loss assigned to each machine.
• Match your comp expectations to the property and its location. An isolated casino that enjoys a monopoly can be less generous than one that’s sitting in the middle of umpteen competing ones. (This is more applicable to Las Vegas casinos than to Southern California casinos).
• Don’t expect too much too soon. Some people read about how Brad and I have stayed in casino rooms for more than half a year for free, and they want to get free rooms their rst trip to a casino resort. Although a high roller can often get his room comped the rst time he visits a particular casino, the typical recreational player or rst-timer goes the low-roller route and builds up comps over a period of many visits. It took us many years to build up our relationship with many Las Vegas casinos so we could stay long periods of time.
• Don’t expect everything to be comped. We charge everything to our room, hoping that all the charges will be “forgiven” at the end of the stay. But we do not expect our bill to always be zero. For one thing, casinos won’t pick up such expenses as tips, room movies, or phone calls, even if your room and food is fully comped. But whatever we do get comped, we are grateful for the money that this has saved us.
• And finally — watch your attitude in a casino. We always remember that we are their guests. I want to be as easy to get along with as I would be when I visit anyone’s home. I certainly don’t want to be demanding, rude, or take hospitality for granted. After all, I always want to be invited back.
Jean Scott is the author of the best-selling book The Frugal Gambler, a casino guide for thrifty low rollers, plus a sequel, More Frugal Gambling, coming out soon. She stresses sensible, responsible gambling and shows how to stretch out casino fun time whatever your gambling bankroll.
Page 16 September 2003