How to Gamble Wisely

Gambling can be a lot of fun if you do it wisely. You need to know your budget and understand that there is only so much money allowed in your budget for it. You can still have a lot of fun gambling on a budget with a limited amount of money.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Write out a budget. Sit down and actually figure how much money you can realistically afford to gamble with. Assume that you are not going to win any money with gambling, because no matter how good you may think you are at it, you are very likely not going to win. If you are going to gamble at a casino, make sure you do not bring any ATM cards, and make sure you do not bring every spare penny with you.

2. Stretch your time out at a casino. Say that your budget allows you to spend forty dollars at a casino. Do not run to a blackjack table and put it all down on one bet. If you lose, you will be frustrated and this will lead you into getting more money to play with. Know your limits. If you have a small amount to spend, resort to playing dollar blackjack, or even the nickel slot machines. Your money will last a lot longer and you will not feel so terrible if you lose it all.

3. Play the lottery in moderation. You may want to consider if you have a small budget to play the lottery only when the jackpot gets to a certain point, or only play once a month. Also, if you must play every drawing, perhaps only buy one ticket. There are thousands of people buying tickets every drawing and your odds are very low. It only takes one set of numbers to win.

4. Set goals to complete before you go gambling. If you have a feeling like you want to keep gambling, set goals to complete things before you gamble again. For instance, you just went to the casino last week and you are already itching to return. Pay down or off a bill before you go again. You will be making a wise decision, and you will not feel as bad if you do go to the casino and not win anything.

5. Seek help if you feel like you have a problem. Admitting that you have a problem can be difficult, but you do not want to run into a situation where you are addicted. Get advice from a friend or family member, and they can get you help to get you back on track in the right direction. Never wait too long to get help or you may fall into debt and get over your head if you do not gamble wisely.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay off debt before you gamble. You will not feel as bad if you do lose money when your debt is paid off.
• Addiction is a serious problem and you need to seek help immediately