Even the most experienced gamblers can get drawn into emotional betting after a shocking upset, attempting to recover losses by continuing playing. Chasing losses is a very common habit, but players who can break this habit are more likely to have long-term successes.
Gambling when you are feeling frustrated or angry often leads to further losses, as decision-making is more irrational and less controlled. Players are often tempted to place larger stakes than they usually would as they chase their losses.
If you are playing high games with big stakes, learning how to avoid emotional betting will be an important strategy to develop to ensure you stick to your budget. With slot and table game wins all relying mostly on luck, losses are inevitable but having a long-term mindset and applying control will help prevent losses from emotional betting.
These are some of the methods that players use to avoid emotional betting:
Set a loss limit
Set yourself a maximum loss amount for your session, and when you reach the limit, stop playing. Some players set daily or weekly loss limits to help ensure that they don’t go over their gambling budget. Many platforms allow you to set spending limits or loss limits and players are unable to play again until the time is reset.
Take a break immediately after a loss
The period immediately after a major loss is the most risky time to play because your mind is distracted by your frustration. You’re more likely to make poor decisions during this time, so taking a break will prevent you from getting into an emotional loop trying to chase your losses. It can help to go for a walk or do something away from your device to clear your mind before you play again.
Consider your motivation for playing
Gambling is a fun hobby but if you are getting upset or angry while playing, you’re not getting the fun that you are looking for. If you find that you are more focused on trying to recover losses than you are on enjoying the game, it is probably time to assess your reasons for playing. You might want to try a different type of game or hobby that gives you more enjoyment or at least mix your playing up a bit with games where you don’t play for money.
Play low risk games
You can minimize the risk of significant losses by playing lower risk games. For example, playing slots with a high RTP (Return to Player) and low volatility will help you to balance out any losses with smaller wins.
If you are playing large stake games with bigger risk, such as progressive jackpot games, there is more chance of losing bigger amounts. You can check out the Impressario Casino website to find slot games that have high RTP and low volatility to find games that are more likely to provide consistent returns. Games such as blackjack have better winning odds than many other games, with a 99.69% RTP on some variations.
You can also find games that allow you to put smaller stakes on the games, so that any losses are kept to a minimum.
Keep a long-term mindset
Remember that your gambling wins and losses should be measured over the long-term rather than focusing on the current session. Experienced gamblers often treat their gambling finances like a business. They track how much they spend and which games they are gaining more success with and to look for patterns that will help them to adjust their gaming strategies.
You can even monitor how long you are playing each session and whether you are experiencing poorer results when you are tired or when you have been playing for a prolonged amount of time. Some players set up spreadsheets to capture their betting performance and review the data on a regular basis to see if there are any patterns that have formed, such as increasing your stake after losses.
You can also make a note of your mood when you are playing and whether you are frustrated because you are chasing a loss. Playing late at night might be having a negative effect on your outcomes, so that is another pattern to look out for and avoid going forward.
While it can take a lot of self-control to embed these principles into your iGaming, once you have a system in place to protect you from the pitfalls of emotional betting after a shocking upset, it becomes easier to maintain. Responsible gambling can be a very fun hobby but if you’re not feeling the fun anymore, you should probably take a break or play free bet games to allow you to carry on playing without the risk of big losses.
