Page 6 - April 2010 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
FOollowing Franklin: Using Good Sense
ne of my favorite historical gures is Ben Franklin. How can you not love the man whose face adorns the hundred-dollar bill? But seriously, Franklin was one of our founding fathers as well as a statesman,
Postmaster General, printer and great inventor.
While he is probably best remembered for ying a kite in the rain, he
is equally famous for his witty words of wisdom published in Poor Richard’s Almanack from 1734–1747. e book contains hundreds of proverbs, quotes
and anecdotes that advise his readers how to live a better life. e rst Ben Franklin quote I ever heard was“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a many healthy, wealthy and wise.”
I understand that getting a good night’s sleep can be healthy. However, I am sure
that becoming wealthy and wise will depend on what you do during your waking hours. For instance, what if you planned to take a trip to the casino? Could this help you become healthy, wealthy and wise? I looked through my book, 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets, and selected a few tips that may help you achieve this goal, as well as a few more quotes from Poor Richard’s
Almanack.
Healthy
Franklin said,”Eat to live, not live to eat.” Ben was trying to stress the importance of good nutrition and a healthy balanced diet.
Unfortunately, when we visit the casino we may not always eat properly. We either overeat at the bu et and restaurants or we
spend too much time
Wealthy
Franklin said, “He who waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner.” Ben was trying to warn us that we can’t rely on winning a large sum of money. is is especially true when we go to the casino. Playing casino games is gambling, and should be considered
a form of entertainment. Never bring money to the casino that you can’t a ord to lose.
Don’t be greedy. If you win and lose back all your winnings, you are, indeed, greedy. e one advantage the player has over the casino is he or she can quit playing anytime they want.
short losing streak will wipe you out if you don’t have a su cient bankroll. ere is no shame playing lower limit games.
Make sure to join all players clubs and always use your players card when you play. is is the only way you can earn comps and be eligible for the freebies and promotions that the casinos give away. If you don’t use your player’s card, it is like refusing free money.
Wise
Franklin said,“Good sense is a thing we all need, few have, and none think they want.”
Unfortunately many of us check our common sense at the door when we enter the casino. Many players go to the casino with a pocketful of money and jump from game to game until all their money is gone. You can have a much better time if you just spend a few minutes to make a plan for your next casino visit.
Don’t play a game you don’t understand. Many recreational casino players do not take the time to learn correct playing strategies, or they chose to ignore them and play by intuition. e casino does not rely on luck or hunches to achieve their edge over the player.
If you play slot machines, make sure to read the help screen so you fully understand the game before you start playing. Most importantly, you need to remember that you are playing a game. You should be having fun! You visit the casino for entertainment and to have a good time. If for any reason you nd that you are not having fun, then leave. e casino will always be there and you can come back another day.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes.. Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at
playing the games without taking a break to eat properly. Try to schedule set times to eat a healthy meal.
If you go to the casino with friends, plan on meeting at a speci c time for lunch or dinner, or just to take a break. is will insure you a break-o point to get away from the slots or tables.
Break up your playing session and quit if you get tired.
We all want to have a good time when we visit the casino, but it is not enjoyable when we come home exhausted from playing marathon sessions.
“Don’t be greedy. If you win and lose back all your winnings, you are, indeed, greedy. The one advantage the player has over the
casino is he or she can quit Winners know enough to quit and take a pro t
playing anytime they want. Winners know enough to quit and take a profit after they win. When you win, make sure to lock up a portion of your winnings.”
after they win. When you win, make sure to lock up a portion of your winnings.
Set a stop loss of half your session bankroll. If you reach it, take a break or try playing a di erent game. When things go bad, they usually get worse before they get better. Don’t go past your
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
April 2010
e most important way to be healthy in the casino is to make a practice to be conscious of your own safety. As simple as it may sound, the best way to remain safe is to be aware of where you are and the people around you. Staying focused and staying alert is the best way to stay safe. And be sure to carry some form of identi cation with an emergency contact number.
stop loss during any of your playing sessions.
Franklin also said,“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
I say, “A penny not lost, is a penny won.” You may not win, but if you play within your budget you can avoid being a big loser.
Don’t play limits you can’t a ord. If you have only $100, don’t play at a $25 dollar table or dollar slot machine. Your goal is to make your money last. One
About Gambling with Bill Burton