Page 6 - September 2007 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
HIey, Big Spender!
don’t watch a lot television, but there are a few shows I enjoy and nd interesting. One is called Big Spender and it is hosted by Larry Winget, one of my favorite business authors. e show deals with people who get themselves into nancial trouble because of overspending,
hence the title Big Spender. During each episode, Winget stages an intervention with nancially struggling people, showing them how they got into their nancial mess. He then works with them to develop a plan to get their nances back on track.
After watching a few episodes of Big Spender, it didn’t take long to realize the common reason for the
overspending that all the
do. ey don’t have or
don’t follow any type of
budget. In fact, the rst
thing Winget does when
he starts helping these
people is to list all their
expenses and income on
a sheet of paper, and he
sets a budget for them
to follow. He then o ers
them some suggestions
and alternatives for
living within the budget.
In one instance, a
couple was spending
$1,200 a month eating
out because they didn’t
know how to cook.
Winget suggested that
they enroll in a cooking
class so they could eat at
home. e main premise of Big Spender is to show that in order to avoid or get out of a nancial problem you need a budget and a plan.
Ultimate Entertainment Experience
Many players tend to overspend when they visit the casino. ey sit down and start playing their favorite games as soon as they arrive. e next thing they know, it’s a few hours later and they have spent much more money than they had planned. e reason for this is
they did not have a budget or an alternative plan for other casino activities before they left home.
e expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees,” is used to describe
someone who only focuses on one small detail instead of looking at the big picture. Many of us are guilty of this when we go to the casino for entertainment. We focus only on the gambling.
Most casinos o er an ultimate entertainment experience with a variety of activities to ll leisure time away from the gaming oor. ere is something for everyone regardless of personal preferences. Some activities may be reserved for people staying in the casino hotel, but you can participate in the majority
people pro led on the show
“Most casinos offer an ultimate entertainment experience with a variety of activities to fill leisure time away from the gaming floor. There is something for everyone regardless of your personal preferences. Some of the activities may be reserved for people staying in the casino hotel, but you can participate in themajorityofthemevenifyouare
dancing or even take in the latest show a casino may be offering.
Make a Plan
Ideally, plan to enjoy some of these activities along with your gambling to get the full entertainment value from your casino visit. Most of these activities have a xed expense so you can add that into your daily budget that you should have made before you left for your casino visit. It will help to break up your day so you are not spending all of your time gambling. And knowing that you have other activities planned can help you from overspending by getting you away from the tables or the slots.
Plan some back-up activities that you can ll into your time if things don’t go right gambling, and avoid depleting your gambling budget faster than you planned.
A simple budget and a plan to join in other activities can make your casino visit a wonderful experience. It’s ok to be a “Big Spender” if it is in your budget, but you don’t want to end up being an “Over Spender” by not having a plan.
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, located at http://casinogambling.about.com. He is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at www.billburton.com. He is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps, http://www.thecrapsclub.com.
thereonlyfortheday.”
of them even if you are there only for the day.
Some casinos have a golf course for those who like to hit the links and enjoy some outdoor activity for a few hours. Those who prefer to be pampered can spend some time at a spa that may be part of a casino resort. Of course, there are numerous dining options that can be found at every casino to fit the tastes and budgets of all players—from the buffet to high-end gourmet restaurants. In the evening you can head to the lounge or a bar for drinks or
Page 6
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
September 2007
About Gambling With Bill Burton