A comedian might say that the worst habit of most slot players is playing slots. Of course, anyone who believes that will never win a life-changing jackpot, whereas you might, and we’ll see who’s laughing then, right?
All joking aside, there are some seriously bad habits that many slot players fall into. These will cost you money, time and time again. As you read through this post, ask yourself whether you have developed any of these habits. If you have, stamp them out as quickly as possible. They’re likely killing your bankroll slowly but surely.
Being Superstitious
Have you ever seen the inside of a slot machine? How about the source code for online slot games? There’s nothing magical, mystical, or otherworldly about either. It’s cold-hearted hardware and software that runs on math.
Praying to the gods of the odds, thinking that a slot will pay you because the game has your lucky symbol in it, or otherwise engaging in superstitious behavior will get you nowhere. In fact, it may actually cost you money by making you bet more on a bad slot game than you should.
Superstition is common in gamblers of all kinds, but it has no place in the modern casino player’s mental arsenal. Study the odds, RTP, features, and facts of the game you’re playing. Base your betting decisions on this verifiable information alone, and you’ll be streets ahead of most other players.
Betting Too Big
We’re all guilty of getting carried away from time to time. There’s nothing like a rush of blood to the head to throw us off balance and cloud our judgment. After one big win, we can start to feel invincible, but in reality, that’s just the adrenaline pumping through our veins.
If you habitually increase your bets after a big win, consider changing this habit now. Take at least the value of your original bankroll off the table and just increase your bets by a small amount, such as 10%. Most players believe that lady luck is in the room, and they need to capitalize, but that’s just desire deluding you.
In fact, it might be a good idea to simply stop playing after a big win. Even if it’s just a few hundred bucks, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!
Randomly Selecting Games
Do you give any real thought to the slots you play at online casinos? For the vast majority of players, that will be a no. People select slots for the most random reasons. It’s usually as simple as a particular game catching your attention.
This is a bad habit, and like all bad habits, you can change it by replacing it with a good one. Start studying the paytables of the slots you play, and give them a try in demo mode before you play for real money.
Learn about the features, the RTP, volatility, and as much other information as you can gather. Try to form some sort of basic slots strategy and pick games based on your goals. For example, if you’re hoping for explosive wins, low volatility slots are not the way to go. If you’re trying to build your bankroll, low volatility games like Starburst are the best option.
You can’t control the outcome of slot games, but you can control what games you’ll play. That’s a start.
Allowing Slots Hypnosis
Experienced players know that slots are seductive machines. You tell yourself you’ll just start with a few spins, and before you know it, hours have passed by. Guess what; slot machines are designed to be this way!
Slots manufacturers are savvy businesspeople. They create games which lull you into a sort of trance, causing you to lose track of time and yourself and focus only on the reels.
You can snap out of this mental state by setting alarms or reality checks as they are called in online casinos. Make yourself take a 10-minute break when these reminders go off. This should be enough time to rationally consider whether you really want to keep playing.
Gambling Away Winnings
We hinted at this earlier in the betting too big section. However, this is a more destructive habit that involves losing everything you have won in the quest to win more.
Don’t feel bad about it. It’s human nature to get greedy sometimes. Grabbing every calorie-rich food insight is how we survived through millennia of hunting and gathering. That same brain circuitry is at work when you feel the urge to double up and risk your winnings.
If you struggle to control this urge, consider playing at casinos with manual flushing. These casinos will not allow you to reverse a withdrawal request. The money has to land in your bank account or digital wallet before you can risk it again.
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