Staying in Control: Responsible Gambling Practices for Pokies Players

Playing your favorite online casino games can start as a light hearted indulgence, but much like anything, it can become an addiction. You can always have too much of a good thing, and similarly to how too much wine or too much cake can result in problems, betting too much money can result in negative consequences many of us don't want to face. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a healthy way to play pokies!

The best thing about pokies is they're an excellent way to remain in control of your budget because of how little you can bet on them. You can literally spin for mere pennies if you choose! However, it's still important to place restrictions on yourself even when indulging in your favorite slots. This article will go over some tips for responsible pokie playing.

Money Limits Are Key

When budgeting your cash, never bet more than you can afford to lose. Keep in mind, gambling is paid entertainment, no different from purchasing a movie, or a concert ticket. Don't expect to receive money back regardless of the odds of a game, or how certain you feel. Even if you're on a lucky streak, once you go over your daily or weekly budget, you should always stop. You can play later when you have money within your budget to try again! Wins are great, but they're never promised. I'd even go so far as to deposit exactly the amount of money you plan to spend for the day or the week into your online casino account, and don't go over your predetermined amount. Once your balance reaches zero, stop and try again when you can afford it.

Time Limits Help, Too!

Remember when I mentioned your winning streak? Let's say you are placing on a slot and manage to trigger a major jackpot worth $100! Good for you! but you've been playing for five hours. You should definitely take a break and recalibrate, and do something else to refresh yourself. Gambling is an indulgence and there is always such thing as too much of a good thing.

Do Not Chase Losses

Not every day will be a lucky day for you. Let me explain using a scenario! Let's say you have a strict bedtime routine of playing slots for two hours as you unwind, and you're used to winning at least a little money. However, tonight you didn't end up winning anything. You should only continue to play if it's within your gambling budget. If you have gone over your budget, you might just continue to dig yourself into a deeper hole. Gambling is fun, but it's not fun when it becomes destructive to your wallet! Avoid thinking too superstitiously about luck, rather than odds. The outcome of every game is based on random numbers, and nothing will change that. The outcome of each spin is completely unrelated to the last spin as well. So let's say you've been spinning a while and haven't received any matching combinations, and you're about to go over your gambling budget. Just because there haven't been any payouts for a while, doesn't mean there will be a win next. This is what's known as gambler's fallacy. The results of every spin will not change based on the prior results.

Learn The Odds

Every game comes with its own stats. You might really like the theme of a particular game, but if the hit rate, RTP percentage or volatility doesn't align with you and your budget, you shouldn't play that. It's important to learn that bonus features don't necessarily increase your odds of winning a game either, though they can make any given game more fun and exciting. Since every game is different, it's important to try out each game in demo mode first so you know exactly what you're getting into. The menu of the game will often provide a lot of important information too, like the maximum win potential, the pay table and more.