Time and patience when gambling online...

[sticks1977]

I am interested to hear everyone's viewpoint when it comes to the amount of time and especially patience when gambling online.

Do you play for a set amount of time or exact times each day or every few days? Do you stick to particular games (Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, etc.) or have favourite slot machines that you play online?

Over the last 2 months I have changed my mindset in regards to playing. Often I would play with a set goal in mind and to get there as quickly as possible and attempting to do this by playing a European Roulette wheel and often attempting to win with 1 or 2 spins of the wheel to get to a daily goal. This would ultimately fail as I was using a martingale type of betting system and when on a losing run of 4+ spins would find myself - and my account balance - on the wrong side of the ledger.

Where as when I am playing now, I am sticking mainly to Blackjack and using a 'labouchere' method of betting. I split my playing sessions up to 3 times per day (instead of whenever I felt like playing) and attempt to win a small amount each time. Once I get to that goal I exit my account and come back the next day.

It seems to be the only way that things have been working for me - my urge and desire to gamble is not as evident as it was several months ago and I find that by playing in this slow, patient method that it seems to be rewarding as my balance is slowly growing each day by controlling the amount of time I gamble and when hitting a certain target to leave the casino program - even though at times there is that temptation to keep going!

I hope to hear back from others here in the forums to see whether this is a good way of approaching my online play and to also hear other experiences of how you manage to gamble, how much time you spend and what you play and importantly - whether you come out in front compared to what you started with. If this thread happens to take off I may even keep it as a personal diary of my experience and progress.

Regards, Shaun (sticks1977)

[Nifty29]

I am interested to hear everyone's viewpoint when it comes to the amount of time and especially patience when gambling online.

Do you play for a set amount of time or exact times each day or every few days? Do you stick to particular games (Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, etc.) or have favourite slot machines that you play online?

Over the last 2 months I have changed my mindset in regards to playing. Often I would play with a set goal in mind and to get there as quickly as possible and attempting to do this by playing a European Roulette wheel and often attempting to win with 1 or 2 spins of the wheel to get to a daily goal. This would ultimately fail as I was using a martingale type of betting system and when on a losing run of 4+ spins would find myself - and my account balance - on the wrong side of the ledger.

Where as when I am playing now, I am sticking mainly to Blackjack and using a 'labouchere' method of betting. I split my playing sessions up to 3 times per day (instead of whenever I felt like playing) and attempt to win a small amount each time. Once I get to that goal I exit my account and come back the next day.

It seems to be the only way that things have been working for me - my urge and desire to gamble is not as evident as it was several months ago and I find that by playing in this slow, patient method that it seems to be rewarding as my balance is slowly growing each day by controlling the amount of time I gamble and when hitting a certain target to leave the casino program - even though at times there is that temptation to keep going!

I hope to hear back from others here in the forums to see whether this is a good way of approaching my online play and to also hear other experiences of how you manage to gamble, how much time you spend and what you play and importantly - whether you come out in front compared to what you started with. If this thread happens to take off I may even keep it as a personal diary of my experience and progress.

Regards, Shaun (sticks1977)

First you tell us all about how you have a serious gambling problem, and then you want us all to give you advice on how to gamble?

I'll tell you one thing for free....this 'labouchere' system, or any other system, will never beat the house in the long run and you will most definitely lose. No system in the world can predict the result of a random event. Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of shite...if there WAS such a system that gave you an edge on the casinos, the person who invented it would never tell another soul, because if it got out and everyone used it, the casinos would close or stop offering blackjack.

You are suffering from the age old gambler's delusion. Get out now before it's too late Shaun.

[sticks1977]

First you tell us all about how you have a serious gambling problem, and then you want us all to give you advice on how to gamble?

I am the first one to admit that I have had, and probably continue to have a gambling problem - I am well aware of it and have taken steps as outlined in my first post here to control it. A lot of people will probably say to walk away and forget it, move on, etc. but I still get some enjoyment out of playing and have cut down the amount of time I spend on the online casino greatly.

Currently I am repaying my debts and so far have managed to pay off and close 2 credit cards that I was using for gambling purposes and recently have been able to afford and pay for car repairs that have unexpectedly come up. I have a reasonable balance in my casino account currently (just over $1,000) and have a cut-off point to walk away if it gets down to $500.

I'll tell you one thing for free....this 'labouchere' system, or any other system, will never beat the house in the long run and you will most definitely lose. No system in the world can predict the result of a random event.

I am not looking to predict events, I play for a short amount of time and if I happen to be in front I walk away. As I mentioned the urge has been there to stay and attempt to win more but I have ignored these impulses every time. I am only betting small amounts ($3 per hand) and the bankroll that I have had when playing has been $300 which I have yet to lose.

Perhaps it's luck, fate, or a combination of both - but currently things are going well. I understand luck will not last forever but I have specific goals in mind and with controlling the amount of time I am spending on the online casino - I am preparing myself to walk away at some point in time. In regards to beating the house... I have been playing this method since mid-August and am yet to be behind on what I started with each day - luck... perhaps...

You are suffering from the age old gambler's delusion. Get out now before it's too late Shaun.

I plan on getting out at some point in time - I have learnt many hard lessons so far and no doubt will experience some more in the future (not specifically related to gambling either). I thank you for your advice and feedback but the main reason for me posting this thread is to let people know of my experience, and to also receive replies such as yours - I know full well the labouchere system is not fool proof and well aware of the risks involved.

[felicie]

In the early days, every spare minute I had and dollar too. Plan? to win. Played till my time or money ran out and back then it was usually my time that ran out first.

[KasinoKing]

Perhaps it's luck, fate, or a combination of both - but currently things are going well. I understand luck will not last forever but I have specific goals in mind and with controlling the amount of time I am spending on the online casino - I am preparing myself to walk away at some point in time. In regards to beating the house... I have been playing this method since mid-August and am yet to be behind on what I started with each day - luck... perhaps...

Luck... definitely.
I think you already know that you will lose in the long run - the only way to win in the longer term is use a +EV bonus strategy, and those opportunities are shrinking every day. Even with those bonuses, the potential gains are pretty tiny compared to the amount of time & risk involved and would probably not be enough to satisfy anyone with a strong gambling urge.

Sounds like you are pretty well controlled at the moment though and I applaud you for that. I just hope that you really can walk away if you lose that self-control and everything goes tits-up!
Setting a gambling target is extremely easy... sticking to it is extremely hard!

Take care & good luck!
KK

[Cleveland]

Currently I am repaying my debts and so far have managed to pay off and close 2 credit cards that I was using for gambling purposes and recently have been able to afford and pay for car repairs that have unexpectedly come up. I have a reasonable balance in my casino account currently (just over $1,000) and have a cut-off point to walk away if it gets down to $500.

I know you don't want to hear this but sounds like you're at a good point to walk away and come back later once all debt is under control. Since you admit to having a gambling problem and know you have some debt remaining, it would be wise to use that 1K casino balance to setup a nice emergency fund in a bank account. Then slowly work on paying off the remaining of your debts. You've done great so far, and it would be wise to use this awesome chance you have to set yourself up financially. Come back to gambling once your debt is no longer a concern (not saying you have to be debt free but try to knock out as much as possible).

So recap: Take the 1,000 (maybe leave yourself 100.00 to play with) and place it in a bank account setup as your emergency fund. Continue to apply money to your remaining debts. Once things are under control, come back to gambling. Don't continue gambling if you know you have a gambling problem and at one point started using credit cards to finance it. WALK AWAY WALK AWAY. The casinos will be there when you get ready to come back....hopefully...