Spoiler answer right at the beginning. The best casino bet is the one you can place, every single time every single bet, the whole time you’re gambling – whether that’s for the night or for a weekend trip in Vegas. Let me explain.
Humble Beginnings
Think back to the first time you went to a casino. It was awesome right? Soaking in the lights, sounds, endless aisles of slots. It was buzzing with excitement. My first ever experience in a casino was during college, in the middle of nowhere Indiana. Now that I have various reference points, this casino was pretty small. Of course, had loads of slots, but no real dealers or tables (not yet allowed in Indiana).
My gambling buddy, Joe and I, scoured the floor for something to give some financial hope to a couple of otherwise broke college kids. The E-Roulette table with a real wheel but a screen for betting quickly became our focus. Our beginning bankroll, you ask? $50. We each brought $25, combined forces, and saw what kind of damage we could do.
Did I mention we were poor college kids? The perfect bet amount for us was $50. It was perfect because it’s the amount we could afford to lose. No, I’m not going to rant about “gamble responsibly”, but rather focus on the amount that gets your heart racing a little bit. That is the fun of gambling, right? Risk & Reward.
Come a Long Way
It has been 15+ years since that first casino visit, and the thought of entering a casino with a $50 budget is simply unrealistic. It wouldn’t get my heart racing. So, how do you find that perfect bet amount? As we get older, we make a little more money as the years pass. You are not longer flipping burgers and walking dogs – instead you’re flipping houses and walking dogs. Dogs are for all.
You earned it. Up your bets and bring more of a bankroll to the casino, but I caution you. Just because you’re making more, doesn’t mean you can go off the rails. Even if it changes, the perfect wager on a hand of blackjack or spin of roulette still applies to you. You are not above the law.
Resist the urge to chase the big payday, every bet, every time. You make more money now, right? Naturally that means you want to win more money. The moment you graduate from a $10 minimum craps table, is the moment you become that much closer to being a high roller. Wrong! That is the exact moment that betting $10 on a roll just became a little less exciting. Your heart beats a little less, you’re a little less nervous, and the thought of winning $10 betting the “Pass Line” has you only slightly more excited than a follow up appointment after your vasectomy.
Keep $10 relevant as long as you can – whatever $10 represents for you. Don’t date outside your league because in the end you’ll just end up hurt and stuck with the bill. When you up your wager and chase the big win, a new bar has been set. Instead of feeling the exciting nervous feeling, you’re just plain nervous.
Like riding a roller coaster at a theme park. You hit that drop and your stomach feels like its floating. Weird yet thrilling feeling. When you up your wagers for the sake of hitting it big, it’s like riding a roller coaster at the county fair. No longer excited and nervous. Just plain nervous.
From Bad to Worse
The slope only gets more slippery from there. Betting outside what your bankroll permits just allows for bigger losses, which naturally opens the door for chasing. Chasing a fly ball? Fun. Chasing a shot of tequila? You’ve done better. Chasing big losses at a casino? Well, you better pick up that second job flipping burgers.
I won’t pretend that I bet the same amount, every time, at every table. Too much of an ask. The goal is to stay in the sweet spot. The perfect bet allows you to care enough if you win or lose, but not care so much that you have to have Uncle Tony spot you. Tony never forgets a debt. Ever.
So I never Get to Bet Big?
“But I don’t trust myself. I know that I’ll bet big”. That is an actual quote from my inner self assuming you’re having the same thought.
If you must bet big, make it a special occurrence. Compartmentalize your big bets. One big spin of roulette. Win or lose, you move on. Don’t follow that big bet up with another to try and win it all back. Go back to grinding.
The perfect bet at the casino is the one that keeps gambling fun. Now time to go grab a burger.
