Stay in control of your gambling with these top tips

Playing games that combine strategy and luck can be really beneficial for your health, allowing you to switch off from the stresses of the day, relax and enjoy yourself. For some though, the enjoyment of gambling becomes difficult to control. They begin to spend longer playing than they intended, and start to chase losses by gambling more. Follow these tips to keep your gambling within bounds, so it remains an enjoyable and beneficial pastime.

1. Set time boundaries

If you feel that your gambling is getting out of control, it’s important to set your own boundaries. Decide how long you’re going to play for. Some games and casinos have facilities for you to check how long your session has been. And when the time’s up – stop, whether you’re up or down.

2. Don’t chase losses

If you’ve been losing, don’t imagine that if you play for long enough, you’ll win it all back. The next spin on a slot for example, is not in any way influenced by what happened on previous spins. With games which have a larger strategy element, such as poker, it can be easier to manage a losing streak by following the rules of the game. That means only betting on strong hands, and folding early if you don’t have anything promising, so that you conserve cash.

3. Only play with spare cash

If you play with money that should be put aside for essentials such as your rent, you’ll panic if you lose the money. In any gambling game, losses are inevitable. You have to have enough of a bankroll that you’re only ever using about 5% or 10% in one session. That allows you to ride out a run of bad luck, without spending the rent money. So if you have $100, you should have a session limit of $5 to $10. Follow these rules, and gambling games should remain an enjoyable, relaxing entertainment.