Well, wins of 50K haven't changed my behaviour much, although my house looks a bit nicer and I have a new computer
I DO find however that I am less likely to withdraw smaller wins for a while after, instead trying for a higher amount. It's probably due to having so much available in my Neteller.
The antidote is to try to wind down, and move a decent chunk straight out of Neteller as soon as it hits, and then start shopping for things that I could do with, but that are "big ticket" items. An example being the 11K spent on solar PV after one such big win. This is like an annuity as for the next 25 years the government pay me 22p per unit of electricity generated, even if I use it myself! If I don't use it, I get a further 3p on top. The capital is set to be returned in the first 10 years, depending on how sunny it is. In annuity terms, it's around 8% per year for 25 years including return of capital, and in years 26+ after the scheme ends it may still be generating electricity, which can still be sold to the distribution network at market rates (a lot more than 3p per unit).
The next big win meant external solid wall insulation, which means a warmer house in winter and cooler in summer. My very first big hit back in 2009 went on clearing the mortgage early.
Provided some is spent each time I have a big hit (not necessarily an overall win in the longer term), it makes it hard to end up losing it all back.
The most recent hits, one before Christmas and one after, have been raided to set up a SIPP pension plan for when I retire from playing Microgaming
It has, unfortunately, been subject to intense evaporation due to helping out my two nieces. If all goes well, I'll get it all back over time. If things don't go well, it probably means a casino or three lost the chance to win it back off me, but when I am old and frail, I will have two nieces that "owe me one BIG favour".
Now, if I won something MUCH bigger, like £500K or more, I could be in a position to get a much better house. I might then rent out my current property for income.
I think that investing in long term income or money savings is a good strategy. It also converts the money into "stuff", which cannot easily be deposited and frittered away at the casino.
The ultimate win would be one of the big progressives, and it could happen to any one of us at any time we put through a few spins. It will be completely "out of the blue", and could be the most life changing type of win of all. If handled properly, a big progressive should be enough to set someone up securely for the rest of their life. There are, however, those tales of those who have not acted wisely, and have blown the lot in a few years and ended up back to where they were before, but worse off because they have tasted the "high life" and know they will never taste it again.
