Addicted to Gambling – or Something Else?

Well, this is a good question and maybe something we should all ask ourselves before heading to the casino floor again. Are we addicted to gambling? I mean, we check a lot of the boxes for a true slot machine addict, right?

Addicted to Gambling?

Do we go to the casino often? Check. Do we lose money? Check. Are we seeing slot machines when we close our eyes before falling asleep? Oh wow, maybe we are a little addicted.  However, I think we can summarize our “addiction” in a different way. We do not go to the casino to get rich, nor do we have illusions that we will leave millionaires.

We go for one primary reason – to have FUN. Of course, this could just be denial but it’s our story and we are sticking to it.

We KNOW well that huge hit of dopamine that happens when you hit a bonus round. It’s beautiful and it’s REAL. BUT: listen to us very carefully. We do not care how many videos you have watched of slot machines paying off huge jackpots, even life-changing windfalls. There is no way to win against the casinos over the long haul.

Stop it, stop focusing on the wrong prize. If your focus for every visit (even your goal) is to have a very fun experience, it is possible to WIN every time. Reset your expectations to laugh a little (or a lot), share a few cocktails, take in some shows, see some attractions, fill your phone with photos, and eat some amazing food.

So, let’s all ask ourselves the question again. Are we addicted to gambling? If you answered, “Yes” or “Maybe”, it’s time to find a new hobby and maybe even find someone who can help you navigate your gaming addiction. However, if you can honestly answer that question with, “No, but I am addicted to FUN”, then you can relate to us.

Being addicted to slot machine fun can come at an expensive price if we do not establish some rules before our casino visit.  

Rules of a Slot Machine Fun Addict

Set a budget for EVERY casino visit. This budget should include how much you will spend on travel, how much you will spend on accommodations, how much you will spend on gaming, how much you will spend of food, and how much you will spend on other entertainment.

• Do not drink too much. There is a proven method of losing control and flushing a plan right down toilet – drinking too many cocktails. We have all been there. Waking up after a night that got a little carried away only to find an empty wallet and a new tattoo. Okay, hopefully not too many new tattoos but you get our point. A casino is that last place you want to lose control of your senses.
• Balance your gambling with regular breaks. We call this “reading the energy”. When you are winning, energy is high. When you are losing, the energy usually seems to be a little lower. Pay attention to the vibe at any slot machine and listen to you instincts. There are a few ways to quickly restore energy in a casino, take a walk, grab a coffee, go eat some food, or just step outside and breath in some fresh air (for some casinos this is a health tip as well).

Let’s all admit we are addicted. We are addicted to the entire experience that can come with a fun and exciting casino adventure. That first sighting of your favorite slot machine. Like a long lost friend. The feelings that casinos create for us is why we keep coming back, right?

Our best tip: make sure you keep energy high and expectations low and every trip to the casino will be a net WINNER.