Disillusioned by on-line gambling & unlucky streaks and spells

[catapultaudio]

Hi everyone, I haven't been playing on-line for long - perhaps 6 months, and back then I was only really playing blackjack, which was my main game in land casinos when I used to frequent those several years ago. My first few sessions seemed to go extremely well - I had a little brushing up to do on my basic strategy and bankroll management after several years of not playing but using a chart and taking my time I sucessfully made a reasonable profit at many casinos, and this run of luck seemed to last for a real long time, perhaps 6-8 weeks!

Fast forward to today and the past 3 weeks or so I have had nothing but bad beats every single time I have played. And I'm now playing video poker and slots as well as blackjack, I'm familiar with most of the major softwares and game variants and able to play any of these games with good strategy from memory. I can come up with a few reasons, when I read these two paragraphs back, that might go some way towards explaining the change in my luck, but I wondered - I'm sure there must be many long term players here at CM, when you experience these unlucky periods, what is your usual response? And, with your experience as a long term on-line gambler, is there a point where you would draw a line and decide just to call it a day?

I do feel confident that the games are fair, and that my experience has been demonstrative of the natural variance of a random game - I have seen amazing streaks of luck, and highly frustrating sequences of sods law at its very best in more or less equal measure! But, nevertheless, after losing maybe my 20th deposit in a row without ever getting close to a cashout, I can't help feeling that my luck ran out a long time ago and I am now simply throwing good money after bad !

So, bearing in mind that to believe I must now be due a winning streak to balance things out is to fall victim to gamblers fallacy, please tell me how you felt/would feel at this point in your online gaming 'career' ?

 

[mrmark21]

Hi everyone, I haven't been playing on-line for long - perhaps 6 months, and back then I was only really playing blackjack, which was my main game in land casinos when I used to frequent those several years ago. My first few sessions seemed to go extremely well - I had a little brushing up to do on my basic strategy and bankroll management after several years of not playing but using a chart and taking my time I sucessfully made a reasonable profit at many casinos, and this run of luck seemed to last for a real long time, perhaps 6-8 weeks!

Fast forward to today and the past 3 weeks or so I have had nothing but bad beats every single time I have played. And I'm now playing video poker and slots as well as blackjack, I'm familiar with most of the major softwares and game variants and able to play any of these games with good strategy from memory. I can come up with a few reasons, when I read these two paragraphs back, that might go some way towards explaining the change in my luck, but I wondered - I'm sure there must be many long term players here at CM, when you experience these unlucky periods, what is your usual response? And, with your experience as a long term on-line gambler, is there a point where you would draw a line and decide just to call it a day?

I do feel confident that the games are fair, and that my experience has been demonstrative of the natural variance of a random game - I have seen amazing streaks of luck, and highly frustrating sequences of sods law at its very best in more or less equal measure! But, nevertheless, after losing maybe my 20th deposit in a row without ever getting close to a cashout, I can't help feeling that my luck ran out a long time ago and I am now simply throwing good money after bad !

So, bearing in mind that to believe I must now be due a winning streak to balance things out is to fall victim to gamblers fallacy, please tell me how you felt/would feel at this point in your online gaming 'career' ?

I'm a slots players. I know how to play Black Jack (with strategy) but find slots more fun. I just dont have to think.

IMO expecting anything would be the wrong choice to make about random odds. What I can say is every time I go through a long loosing streak I play a little less to the point where I now pretty much dont play anymore. Those loosing streaks are incredibly bad and playing just isnt fun. How many features can you get on a $1.20-$1.50 bet that pay under $20? Apparently allot.

Considering my own experience I'd say stop playing until you reach the stage where you have enough enthusiasm to play without rolling youre eyes at the end of every session. You shouldnt play when youre not having fun. Youre paying for the entertainment, great if you win, what happens when you dont?

 

[dunover]

The only certain thing about luck is that it will change.

 

[mathsboy1975]

Hi everyone, I haven't been playing on-line for long - perhaps 6 months, and back then I was only really playing blackjack, which was my main game in land casinos when I used to frequent those several years ago. My first few sessions seemed to go extremely well - I had a little brushing up to do on my basic strategy and bankroll management after several years of not playing but using a chart and taking my time I sucessfully made a reasonable profit at many casinos, and this run of luck seemed to last for a real long time, perhaps 6-8 weeks!

Fast forward to today and the past 3 weeks or so I have had nothing but bad beats every single time I have played. And I'm now playing video poker and slots as well as blackjack, I'm familiar with most of the major softwares and game variants and able to play any of these games with good strategy from memory. I can come up with a few reasons, when I read these two paragraphs back, that might go some way towards explaining the change in my luck, but I wondered - I'm sure there must be many long term players here at CM, when you experience these unlucky periods, what is your usual response? And, with your experience as a long term on-line gambler, is there a point where you would draw a line and decide just to call it a day?

I do feel confident that the games are fair, and that my experience has been demonstrative of the natural variance of a random game - I have seen amazing streaks of luck, and highly frustrating sequences of sods law at its very best in more or less equal measure! But, nevertheless, after losing maybe my 20th deposit in a row without ever getting close to a cashout, I can't help feeling that my luck ran out a long time ago and I am now simply throwing good money after bad !

So, bearing in mind that to believe I must now be due a winning streak to balance things out is to fall victim to gamblers fallacy, please tell me how you felt/would feel at this point in your online gaming 'career' ?

Most of my life I have been a gambler from the perspective of sports betting alone. I have always viewed sports betting as potentially profitable - if I have better knowledge than a bookie and can see a price that is too high on an event then I believe long term that I can make profit if I am careful and disciplined. Slots and casino gambling is another beast entirely and I view this as purely recreational betting that is for entertainment only as I know that I cannot win in the long term. I have hit the point you are at many times with sports betting but I always come back as I know that it can't go in indefinitely. With slots/casino however I have found it good to take a step back when I am in the middle of a trough and stop playing for a while. I do this for no other reason than to stop myself going on tilt at the "unfairness" of it. Crap streaks can and will happen and so will good streaks. It can be hard to take when it seems that you are on a never ending bad run and for me it just helps to get away from the game and do something else until you can come back to the table with a fresher and more positive attitude to it.

 

[dreamguardian1]

Hi everyone, I haven't been playing on-line for long - perhaps 6 months, and back then I was only really playing blackjack, which was my main game in land casinos when I used to frequent those several years ago. My first few sessions seemed to go extremely well - I had a little brushing up to do on my basic strategy and bankroll management after several years of not playing but using a chart and taking my time I sucessfully made a reasonable profit at many casinos, and this run of luck seemed to last for a real long time, perhaps 6-8 weeks!

Fast forward to today and the past 3 weeks or so I have had nothing but bad beats every single time I have played. And I'm now playing video poker and slots as well as blackjack, I'm familiar with most of the major softwares and game variants and able to play any of these games with good strategy from memory. I can come up with a few reasons, when I read these two paragraphs back, that might go some way towards explaining the change in my luck, but I wondered - I'm sure there must be many long term players here at CM, when you experience these unlucky periods, what is your usual response? And, with your experience as a long term on-line gambler, is there a point where you would draw a line and decide just to call it a day?

I do feel confident that the games are fair, and that my experience has been demonstrative of the natural variance of a random game - I have seen amazing streaks of luck, and highly frustrating sequences of sods law at its very best in more or less equal measure! But, nevertheless, after losing maybe my 20th deposit in a row without ever getting close to a cashout, I can't help feeling that my luck ran out a long time ago and I am now simply throwing good money after bad !

So, bearing in mind that to believe I must now be due a winning streak to balance things out is to fall victim to gamblers fallacy, please tell me how you felt/would feel at this point in your online gaming 'career' ?

I just stop playing when i have a bad losing streak. Had huge wins at 3-dice then solid losses constantly so I stopped playing there (at least for a bit). Same goes for the other online casino's when its a long bad losing streak i stop playing period. I occasionally go back to check once a month to see if they have turned around with a low deposit and if not i leave. I have noticed that more and more of the casino's are doing away with the free cash play's with no WR for those who make deposits since when you win the money is yours, so i stopped playing at those. Occasionial wins/losses totally understandable and expected but very long losing streaks is a huge cash pit that i wont fall into.

 

[Jasminebed]

I don't know if you play with bonuses, there aren't many decent ones for BJ anymore.

But I have a weekly budget for entertainment, and most of it goes to slots. I can play more slots if I win a bit, I can buy something big if I win a lot. Occasionally I don't spend any of it on slots, but there's usually a free spin or a tourney I can play, or a holiday chip or something to tide me over.

Don't up your deposits or bets to chase losses. Even though I've only been gambling online for a few years, I've been gambling a long time, and I've learnt that lesson the hard way, and even more than once. I occassionally fall prey to it briefly, but it's usually sinking what should have been cash in my pocket back in.

20 deposits means little without a $$ amount to go with it, and your cashout goals. If you usually deposit $20 and hope to make $500, then realistically you should be hoping to cashout after 28 deposits, and only be about $60 down, but look at all the fun you had!

If you are not having fun, step back and do something else for a bit.

It's unlikely a bad streak lasts forever, but it's way less likely a good streak lasts forever.

If you've had 20 deposits in a row at one casino without a cashout, it can't hurt to email them and ask if you are entitled to some kind of "tough luck" free chip.

 

[gokkie]

Take a break. I have been playing for quite some years and these unlucky streaks happen, RNG's can be brutal at times.
I have taken breaks lasting a few days to a entire year. They work for me to cool off and do other things for enjoyment in life! There are many of those!
When you come back and you are having fun again that's great but if it is still making you unhappy and frustrated maybe then it is time to quit.

 

[SpinUk]

Take a break from t all. I try to cash out early and make sure I keep up with other things eg seeing friends or working towards professional development. If its not fun any more then knock it on the head

 

[catapultaudio]

I would usually start with £50 when I was just playing blackjack, and that was usually sufficient for £1/£2 bets. I also find that is enough to play a little video poker at £1.25 per hand. If I want to play slots I will try and deposit a bit more or stick to minimum bets.

When it comes to cashing out, somebody on here posted a useful system that they were using that I have kind of adopted and was previously working out well for me - I would aim for 4x my deposit, and when I reached that stage I would play on, aiming for 5x deposit - but if I dropped to 3x, I would call it a day and cash out, or if I was successful in reaching 5x, start aiming for 6x, and cash out if I dropped back down to 4x.

I don't think that 4x my deposit is too greedy a level to aim for, but what do other people consider a reasonable profit for a session? Also, in recent weeks I have only once seen my balance ever get above double my deposit, the rest of the time I've been lucky to reach 1.25x ...