Page 9 - Southern California Gaming Guide • July 2021

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 expect. But after years of playing in casinos across the country, I found a fun formula at the casino. And it’s
all about money: how to plan and handle your money at the casino so you are always in control. And if you don’t leave with a jackpot, you feel like you had a winning good time.
It’s important to be aware of how you consider your money before, during and after a visit to the casino. And planning is the key to making your casino visit fun. Check out a few tips for before you go to the casino, when you play, and when you win or lose.
the casino. Credit card fees for a cash advance are usually huge. That’s why I leave my atm and credit cards at home. If you are losing, walk around the casino, have a coffee — or a snack or lunch. So 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.
7Leave with a Win
When you win, make sure you leave with your winnings. Or at least take some of your
winnings and set them aside. There 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. Then 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. You are in control. You can stop playing
and leave with your winnings. 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 says she’s looking forward to playing in
Southern California casinos and likes to keep
herwinnings.
1Plan 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-fulfilling 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 finite price, I began looking at my monthly budget to see what I could afford for casino fun. So before you go to a casino, decide how much you want to spend and bring only that amount with you.
2Set Denomination Limits
Before you play, decide on the denomination of the games you will play. The size of your bankroll will
determine your limits. 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. If you decide you want to play $3 a spin, you’ll have a wide choice of slots, from pennies to a dollar.
3Use 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 $20 bills. Assuming your bankroll is $200–$300 and you bring $100 bills, get change —$20 bills — and use them one at a time. If you don’thaveanyluckwithyourfirstfew$20s,takeabreak, walk around and find another game.
4Play One Game at a Time
If you’re playing slots, don’t play multiple (side- by-side) games. (Yes, it’s been a while because of covid-19 safety requirements, but don’t be tempted.) 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 front of the slot you choose and relax. Enjoy your play.
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JULY 2021
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
PAGE 9
Don’t Play Off Credits
Slot machine’s ticket-in/ticket-out system was partly designed so players would be inclined 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 visit. Most slot machines
allow you to put tickets from
one machine into another. So,
if you’re not winning, cash out
and move on.
6Don’t 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