Page 28 - February 2014 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Fun Formula at the Casino:
7 Ways to Feel Like a Winner
by Maya Winkler
There are no secrets to having fun at the casino. It’s all about winning! Of course, there’s luck — good luck, that is — and that’s not something you can always count on. But after years of playing in casinos across the country, I found a fun formula at the casino. And it all has to do
with money: how to plan and handle your money at the casino so you are always in control, so even if you don’t go away with a jackpot, you at least feel you had a good time.
It’s important to be aware of how you handle your money before, during and after a visit to the casino. And planning is the key to making your casino visit fun. So, here are few casino tips for before you go to the casino, when you play there, and when you’re ready to leave.
5. Don’t Play Off Credits
The slot machine ticket-in/ticket-out system was partly designed so players would tend to play off their last few credits rather than looking for change or walking to a kiosk or the change cage to collect a small amount of money. Playing off a few dollars here and there can add up over the course of your casino visits. Most slot machines allow you to put tickets from one machine into another. If you’re not winning, cash out and move on.
6. Don’t Borrow or Exceed Your Bankroll
If you lose, don’t expand your bankroll. You went to the casino with a budgeted amount, so stick with it. And above all, don’t borrow money or take cash advances on a credit card at the casino. Credit card fees for a cash advance are usually huge. at’s why I leave my atm and credit cards at home. If you are losing, walk around the casino, have a co ee, or a snack or lunch. You’ll leave having spent your bankroll, but that was the money you chose for your entertainment. If you borrow or exceed your bankroll and lose, you won’t feel good. We’ve all been there, right?
7. Leave with a Win
When you win, make sure you leave with your winnings — or at least some of them. ere is nothing worse than winning at the casino and then playing it all back. I constantly hear players say when they win that they’re playing with the casino’s money. But once you win, it’s your money. Cash out and get your cash. en there’s no question whose money it is. Many players win and then get caught up in the excitement of winning and
play on and end up losing all of their winnings.
Remember, you are in control. You can stop playing and leave with your winnings. e
casino will be there next week, and next month. And tomorrow is another day! Remember how good it feels to leave a winner and let that be your
guide to having fun at the casino.
Maya Winkler is a bi-coastal cultural observer who plays in and writes about Southern California casinos.
1. Plan Your Bankroll
I used to say I would bring money to the casino that I was “willing to lose.” When I said that once to a friend, he replied, “If you know you’re going to lose, why would you go and play?” It was a reality check. I was declaring a self-ful lling prophecy that I would lose. So I changed my thinking and began stating that I would take “money I wanted to spend having fun.” And since gambling is a form of entertainment that does not have a nite price, I began looking at my monthly budget to see what I could a ord for my casino fun. So before you go to a casino, decide how much you want to have fun with and bring only that amount.
2. Set Denomination Limits
Before you play, decide on the denomination of the games you will play. The size of your bankroll will determine the limits you play. If your bankroll is $100, it will be gone before you know it if you bet $5 for one spin on a slot
or one hand at a table game. Make sure you look at the pay table of any slot machine before you play so you know the maximum and minimum bets. Your bankroll is not
big enough for high-limit games. If you decide you want to play $3 a spin, you’ll have
a wide choice of slots, from pennies to a dollar.
3. Use Small Denomination Bills
Take only the money you planned for your casino trip. Leave your atm and credit cards at home. And bring your gambling money in $10 or $20 bills. Assuming your bankroll is $100 and you bring a $100 bill, get change — five $20 bills —and use them one at a time.
If you don’t have any luck with your first few $20s, take a break, walk around and find another machine.
4. Play One Game at a Time
If you’re playing slots, don’t play multiple (side-by- side) games. If you play more than one machine, in the long run, you can lose your money faster. And playing two slot machines at the same time means you have to stand or lean from your chair — not the most comfortable positions, Sit in the chair in front of the slot you choose and relax. Enjoy your play.
PAGE 28
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
FEBRUARY 2014