There’s nothing more glamorous than walking into a glittering, classy casino, dressed up to the nines with a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket.

Putting that aside, how much you enjoy a casino also depends on how much you win. It’s unlikely that you’ll walk away with a million dollars, but there are plenty of opportunities to net some money and have loads of fun.

These tips are good to keep in mind:

Take advantage of bonuses and welcome bonuses

If you’re a complete gambling novice, the first thing you need to look for is a generous welcome bonus. Trustworthy sites like Jumba Bet casino always offer welcome bonuses to new players, which allows you to test the waters, as it were, before plunging into the deep end. 

Having this cushion allows you to ease into things without the anxiety of losing money before you even know what you’re doing.

Budget

This is probably the most common piece of advice directed at gamblers: budget, budget, budget. Just as it’s helpful to have a budget for your everyday life, it’s extremely helpful – compulsory, even – to have a budget when you head to the casino.

Knowing how much you’re willing to bet (and how much you can afford) is the first consideration. Sticking to this budget is guaranteed to make your time in the casino more enjoyable and fruitful. 

Ease into it

Once you’ve decided on your budget and found a casino with an attractive welcome bonus, it’s time to have fun. If you’re a total novice, you must – must – start slowly. Ease into things. It’s all very well watching James Bond at the poker table but playing your cards right (in both senses of the word) requires some skill.

It’s best not to approach an outing to the casino – whether brick-and-mortar or online – with the plan to sink or swim. 

Practice with free games

One great bonus of online casinos in particular is the range of free games they offer. That old saying, “practice makes perfect,” isn’t repeated for nothing! Whether you’re learning a language or how to juggle, dedicating time to a skill is the only way to master it. While gambling doesn’t rely solely on skill, many casino games require a degree of learning to stand a chance of winning. If you’re talking about games like baccarat or poker, having some knowledge (the more the better, really) of the game and strategies is a must if you want to capitalize on your bets.

Place smaller bets

This goes hand-in-hand with the above tips: ease into it and put in the hours before diving straight into the deep end. Remember: sink or swim is not a viable option here. 

This tip is also related to budgeting. If you start out small, you don’t need to worry about potential losses as much as if you blew your whole budget as soon as you begin. Netting wins – even small wins – is very encouraging, and you’re more likely to enjoy your time and get the hang of things if you go slowly and don’t risk a big loss.

Beware of “gambler’s fallacy”

Also called the Monte Carlo fallacy or (more elaborately) the fallacy of the maturity of chances, this term refers to the idea that if something has happened many times consecutively, it is more likely NOT to happen the next time. 

If you toss a coin twenty times and get heads throughout, it can be tempting to anticipate that the next throw will give you tails. This seems logical, even – it stands to reason that after a run of twenty you’re well overdue for a change.

This isn’t strictly true, however – hence the term “fallacy”. You can’t rely on the gut feeling that a run of good or bad luck just has to change at some point. 

Take breaks 

Once you get into the swing of things, it’s time to settle down and take the lie of the land, as it were. This isn’t the time to go down a proverbial rabbit hole in pursuit of the biggest jackpot. Whether you start off with a loss, a small win, or a substantial one, it’s advisable to take breaks as frequently as you need them. This depends on how you feel, but it’s far better to take small breaks before you think you need to. Think of this like a sport – rehydrate before you’re thirsty, and fuel up before you’re hungry. There’s no point in spending hours staring at the screen or making your way round slot machines until you burn out.

Taking breaks helps you stay sharp. This is particularly pertinent while you’re mastering a new-ish skill, as your brain just won’t take in the data you need to understand the game.

Don’t gamble your winnings

This piece of advice is up there with sticking to a budget. When you create your budget, you can’t rely on your winnings to carry on playing. Your budget is there to help you get through games safely and with some financial stability. It can, of course, be extremely tempting to bet all your winnings – after all, you might win again, right? And if you take what you’ve won and win again… 

But – while gambling is a great way to have fun, it’s important not to rely on money you don’t have. If you win a thousand dollars and hope to win a thousand more, be mindful of the fact that casino games can be unpredictable (but that’s part of the fun, right?).

Know your odds

Casino terms can be confusing for inexperienced gamblers. House edge, for example, or short odds sound sophisticated, but unless you know how they apply in practical terms, they mean nothing. 

Going for a game with short odds is a good idea, especially for newer players. Starting out with a more modest bet is sensible, and short odds mean that you have a better chance of winning. You cannot rely on the improved possibility for success – so don’t go all out with your cash and expect to win. As we mentioned, easing into the action is best, and small wins can be just as satisfying as big ones when they add up.

The Biggest Jackpot: Have Fun

You don’t have to win big to enjoy your time in a casino! Whether you net a thousand dollars or ten, taking your chances with Lady Luck is a thrilling pastime – the possibility of financial success is just the cherry on top.