Gambling Secrets
15 Secrets Poker Stars Don't Want You To Know. Poker is no longer just “know when to hold them, know when to fold them.” The game of poker has evolved into an international competition where the stakes are the highest, your cash. This is one of the gambling secrets that you will not hear too often, but it will surely help you become better at what you do and likely boost your bankroll. Leave superstitions at the casino door. Gambling addiction is a terrifying beast but what's a gambling addict's life really like? Expect insurance fraud, meditation and lots of showing off. The World’s online gaming authority since 1995. Professional Gambling Secrets One can find literally a bunch of tips, tricks and secrets while browsing the Internet. In order to apply all those tips, one should first choose a proper, legitimate casino to play at. This process requires some minor researching in the form of reading the casino reviews.
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Over the years, I’ve been asked hundreds of questions about gambling. These questions range from common ones about how to be a winning gambler to odd ones about specific games or situations.
It seems like a majority of the questions fall into a small range, and I’ve decided to put together some information on this page to cover many of the questions I hear a lot.
While everything I cover may not be a secret to you, depending on how long you’ve been gambling, you should be able to learn at least a few things that can help you. You also might want to bookmark this page so that you can point people to it if they ask you questions about gambling.
1 – The Worst Game in the Casino
The problem with questions like what’s the best or worst game in the casino is that it depends on what the casino offers. You also need to understand that people judge the worst and best using their own wants and needs, so what’s best for one person may be the worst for another.
A gambler looking for the lowest house edge avoids playing a game like keno at all costs. It usually has the highest house edge in the casino. But a gambler looking for a chance to win $10,000 or more and doesn’t want to risk much every hour to do it can’t pick a better game than keno.
My answer when someone asks me what the worst game in the casino is starts with me asking what their gambling goal is. But I’m not taking the easy way out here by saying it depends.
From a straight house edge viewpoint, keno is terrible. But slot machines combine a high house edge, even though it’s lower than keno, with the possibility of making hundreds of bets per hour.
Even if you’re only betting $1 per spin, you’re taking 600 spins per hour with a high house edge. This can quickly add up to huge losses.
The fact is that there aren’t very many good games offered in the casino. The casino is designed to profit while providing some entertainment in return. This means that if you don’t consciously work toward winning by studying games and strategies, the odds are high that you’re simply giving the casino your money.
2 – The Best Game in the Casino
I covered quite a bit in the last section that directly relates to the best game in the casino. Just like in the last section, I’m not going to take the easy way out and say it depends.
The best games in the casino are usually poker if they have a poker room and blackjack.
The reason why poker and blackjack are the best games in the casino is that you can play each of them in certain ways that allow you to have a realistic chance of winning. Let’s take a look at blackjack first.
Blackjack has a relatively small house edge in comparison to most casino games. But the specific rules each blackjack table uses changes the house edge. This means that not all blackjack games are created equal. This also means that you need to spend some time learning about blackjack rules so you can take advantage of tables with good rules.
Once you learn all the blackjack rules, the next step is to learn how to play perfect blackjack strategy. You can use a strategy chart while you’re learning, but if you play a great deal, you can quickly memorize all of the correct plays. You can play blackjack with a lower house edge than just about any other game in the casino when you play at tables with good rules and use of a proper strategy.
You can even learn how to count cards in blackjack, and if you’re good at it, you can actually play with a small, long-term edge over the casino. This means that it’s possible to beat the casino at their own game.
Poker is a unique game offered in many casinos. It’s so unique because you compete against the other players, not the casino. You pay a small charge, called the rake, on every hand, which is how the casino makes money from offering poker.
When you compete against the other players instead of competing against the casino, it gives you a rare opportunity to play with an advantage. As long as you learn how to play poker better than most of your opponents, you can win in the long run.
An honorable mention for one of the best games in the casino is video poker. Some video poker games with good pay tables offer a house edge as low or lower than blackjack with the correct strategy. But unlike blackjack, you usually can’t push the edge in your favor with video poker.
3 – The Best Gambling System Ever
I’ve been asked about many different gambling systems, and the answer is always the same. Gambling systems don’t work, no matter how good they sound. All gambling systems are scams, so you can stop wondering and asking about them.
While there are probably a few people selling winning picks, the truth is that the majority of pick selling services are scams.
You can develop your own models that can help you be a winning sports bettor, and some people call these systems, but the truth is that you’re not going to be able to buy a winning model. You have to develop your own, and even when you do, you have to constantly test and adjust it to stay ahead of the sportsbooks.
4 – What Comps Really Are
I’m all for accepting comps if the casino where you play offers them and if you were going to play the games anyway. But don’t fall into the trap of believing that the casino is giving you something for free. Comps programs are designed to make the casino more money, not to give back to players.
All of your compensation through a comps program is based on your play. The more you risk, the higher your comps. The casinos know that if they can get you to risk more, then they can keep some of what you risk as profit.
Every time I see an article about chasing comps, I cringe. Chasing comps leads to players gambling more than they originally planned, which falls right into the casino’s plans. Sign up for the comps program anywhere you play and accept what they give you, but never play more than you planned or risk more than you’re comfortable with just to earn some comps.
5 – Can You Really Win?
Yes, you can win, but it takes a lot of work. The two places to focus on are blackjack and poker, as I’ve already mentioned. You can learn how to win playing either game, but your best chance is to focus on one or the other.
I prefer poker because I’ve played it more than blackjack and you don’t have to deal with casino heat when you win, but either choice gives you a real chance to win.
If you’re playing anything else offered by the casino, you can’t win in the long run without being extremely lucky.
6 – Side Bets
While there are a few side bets that aren’t awful, the truth is that most side bets offered by the casino are terrible. Side bets usually have a much higher house edge than the games they’re attached to. The safest thing to do unless you’ve studied the house edge for the side bet is to simply never make a side bet in the casino.
Casinos are sneaky, and some side bets are disguised as part of the base game. The biggest example of this is the insurance bet in blackjack. It’s a bad bet, and you should always decline insurance.
Casino Gambling Secrets
7 – Slot Machines or Table Games
Should you play slot machines or table games? I already mentioned that slot machines are some of the worst games in the casino, but most table games are bad too. If you don’t know how to win by playing blackjack or poker at a high level, you should pretty much avoid gambling.
I realize that this is not what you want to hear, so here’s a more in-depth answer.
Outside of blackjack and poker, the best games in the casino are:
- Video poker machines with good pay tables.
- Baccarat.
- Craps.
The banker bet in baccarat has a low house edge, and the don’t pass line backed by full odds in craps has a low house edge. Neither of these wagers is as good as most blackjack games, but they’re both better than almost every other table game and slot machine.
Conclusion
These seven gambling secrets cover most questions players have about casinos. If you simply learn from these and start using them, the odds are good that your results are going to start improving. With the right mix of work and dedication, you might even be able to turn the tables on the casinos and start regularly winning.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Are you or a loved one dealing with a gambling problem? Explore the warning signs and symptoms and learn how to stop.
What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?
Gambling problems can happen to anyone from any walk of life. Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the track, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. You may even do things you never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.
Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. You’ll gamble whether you’re up or down, broke or flush, and you’ll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you can’t afford to lose.
Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.
A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you’ll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well.
Although it may feel like you’re powerless to stop gambling, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems:
| Myths and Facts about Gambling Problems |
Myth: You have to gamble every day to be a problem gambler. Fact: A problem gambler may gamble frequently or infrequently. Gambling is a problem if it causes problems. |
Myth: Problem gambling is not really a problem if the gambler can afford it. Fact: Problems caused by excessive gambling are not just financial. Too much time spent on gambling can also lead to relationship and legal problems, job loss, mental health problems including depression and anxiety, and even suicide. |
Myth: Having a gambling problem is just a case of being weak-willed, irresponsible, or unintelligent. Fact: Gambling problems affect people of all levels of intelligence and all backgrounds. Previously responsible and strong-willed people are just as likely to develop a gambling problem as anyone else. |
Myth: Partners of problem gamblers often drive their loved ones to gamble. Fact: Problem gamblers often try to rationalize their behavior. Blaming others is one way to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, including what is needed to overcome the problem. |
Myth: If a problem gambler builds up a debt, you should help them take care of it. Fact: Quick fix solutions may appear to be the right thing to do. However, bailing the gambler out of debt may actually make matters worse by enabling their gambling problems to continue. |
Gambling addiction signs and symptoms
Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you:
Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won’t understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.
Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?
Gamble even when you don’t have the money. You may gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don’t have—money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.
Have family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they’ve gambled away their inheritance, but it’s never too late to make changes for the better.
Self-help for gambling problems
The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don’t despair, and don’t try to go it alone. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.
Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Do you gamble when you’re lonely or bored? Or after a stressful day at work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. But there are healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.
Strengthen your support network. It’s tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.
Join a peer support group. Gamblers Anonymous, for example, is a 12-step recovery program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. A key part of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining free from addiction and can provide you invaluable guidance and support.
Seek help for underlying mood disorders.Depression, stress, substance abuse, or anxiety can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse by compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a part of your life, these problems will still remain, so it’s important to address them.
How to stop gambling for good
For many problem gamblers, it’s not quitting gambling that’s the biggest challenge, but rather staying in recovery—making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online casinos and bookmakers are open all day, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a computer. But maintaining recovery from gambling addiction or problem gambling is still possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you’re accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, give up control of your finances (at least at first), and find healthier activities to replace gambling in your life.
Making healthier choices
One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for gambling to continue are:
A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to gamble. If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.
Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, close online betting accounts, and keep only a limited amount of cash on you.
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Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if you don’t have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling. If you’re gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the quiet moments during your day.
A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don’t put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from entering. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer.
Finding alternatives to gambling
Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors you can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:
| Reason for gambling | Sample substitute behaviors |
| To provide excitement, get a rush of adrenaline | Sport or a challenging hobby, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, or Go Kart racing |
| To be more social, overcome shyness or isolation | Counseling, enroll in a public speaking class, join a social group, connect with family and friends, volunteer, find new friends |
| To numb unpleasant feelings, not think about problems | Try therapy or use HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence toolkit |
| Boredom or loneliness | Find something you’re passionate about such as art, music, sports, or books and then find others with the same interests |
| To relax after a stressful day | As little as 15 minutes of daily exercise can relieve stress. Or deep breathing, meditation, or massage |
| To solve money problems | The odds are always stacked against you so it’s far better to seek help with debts from a credit counselor |
Dealing with gambling cravings
Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:
Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.
Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you’ll wait 5 minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour. As you wait, the urge to gamble may pass or become weak enough to resist.
Visualize what will happen if you give in to the urge to gamble. Think about how you’ll feel after all your money is gone and you’ve disappointed yourself and your family again.
Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.
Coping with lapses
If you aren’t able to resist the gambling craving, don’t be too hard on yourself or use it as an excuse to give up. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.
Gambling addiction treatment
Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy and seeking professional treatment doesn’t mean that you’re weak in some way or can’t handle your problems. But it’s important to remember that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:
Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support.
Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. It can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime.
Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.
How to help someone stop gambling
If your loved one has a gambling problem, you likely have many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. Your loved one may have borrowed or even stolen money with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards.
While compulsive and problem gamblers need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. However, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and take any talk of suicide seriously.
Preventing suicide in problem gamblers
Gambling Secrets
When faced with the consequences of their actions, problem gamblers can suffer a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a high rate of suicide among compulsive gamblers. If you suspect your loved one is feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at 1-800-273-8255 or visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a suicide helpline in your country.
Four tips for family members:
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- Start by helping yourself. You have a right to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don’t blame yourself for the gambler’s problems or let his or her addiction dominate your life. Ignoring your own needs can be a recipe for burnout.
- Don’t go it alone. It can feel so overwhelming coping with a loved one’s gambling addiction that it may seem easier to rationalize their requests “this one last time.” Or you might feel ashamed, feeling like you are the only one who has problems like this. Reaching out for support will make you realize that many families have struggled with this problem.
- Set boundaries in managing money. To ensure the gambler stays accountable and to prevent relapse, consider taking over the family finances. However, this does not mean you are responsible for micromanaging the problem gambler’s impulses to gamble. Your first responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are not at risk.
- Consider how you will handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very good at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may use pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get it. It takes practice to ensure you are not enabling your loved one’s gambling addiction.
Video Gambling Secrets
| Do’s and Don’ts for Partners of Problem Gamblers |
| Do… |
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| Don’t… |
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