Gambling Goofs with Jack Potz - Part 1

Of course, screwing up at your favorite betting game, be it poker, blackjack, roulette, whatever, can be more than just embarrassing; it can be terribly expensive too, at both online casinos and off! I should know because I've been there and done that. But luckily for me, I've learned from my mistakes, and even more from others' mistakes. So to help you avoid some of the most common errors committed by gamblers, I've compiled the following list of the Greatest Gambling Goofs ever. Don't say I didn't warn you.

1. Bogus Bonus Selection
Too many players jump at the first bonus to come their way. Bad move! A mere 20-minute stroll around the cyber gambling block and you'll soon pick up on the fact that bonuses vary from online casino to online casino. Additionally, the so-called bonus Terms & Conditions attached to these alleged "freebies" are not always what they appear to be... at least not at first glance. Having said this, you're best off familiarizing yourself with the various types of bonuses and ultimately going with the ones that best meet your particular needs. Case in point: If you're playing for high stakes, avoid a 100% matching bonus in which you're limited up to $100. Also, remember to take into consideration those bonuses allotted beyond your initial deposit. A number of online casinos now award bonuses for all your subsequent deposits as well.

2. Wrong Software, Wrong Casino
The software that drives online casino games ranges from the very basic to the extraordinarily powerful, sometimes too powerful for those players equipped with inadequate computers. If you've got an older computer, feature-rich platforms like Microgaming's Viper software or Cryptologic's Global Edition aren't going to function well, if at all. Instead, you may want to check out the Java, Flash or older software downloads that your system can handle, or upgrade your computer.

3. Where Fools Rush In
The gaming action at online casinos tends to be significantly faster than that at land-based venues. However, many gaming sites enable you, among other things, to adjust the game speed. Online casinos offer a number of other advantages too, including free game-play so that you can familiarize yourself with that particular casino's games prior to depositing any funds.

4. Boozing & Losing
The more you drink, the more your ability to make reasonable gambling decisions is dulled. If there's one thing drunk gamblers excel at, it's screwing up big time!

5. Sexually Transmitted Distractions (STDs)
Surprise! Casinos are using attractive women to distract players so that they'll keep on gambling until they lose. Okay, if this is news to you, you really have to get out more often. Also, everyone knows you don't have to visit a casino to lose money to women.

6. Gray Expectations
That ringing sound you hear of the slot machines and the cheering of the crowds would give anyone the feeling that they too are on the verge of bagging a massive jackpot. After all, if all of those bells are ringing, someone must be winning and that person might as well be you, right? Wrong! Get real; although you may indeed win, don't be fooled or distracted by all the bells and whistles. False hopes can be devastating.

7. Lights, Cameras, Endless Action
In case you've never noticed, land casinos are not big on clocks. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to even find one in a brick and mortar casino. Casino operators intentionally create an atmosphere in which players lose track of time and continue wagering.

8. Too Much Oxygen
It's a known fact that a number of casinos have oxygen pumped inside in order to give players a bit of a buzz so that they play for longer periods of time and, hence, lose more money. If you're playing just for the fun of it, take as many deep breaths as you like. If you're gambling to win, on the other hand, take a break. Nothing causes more people to lose than fatigue. We haven't heard of any online casinos pumping oxygen to their players yet. Until they do, I wouldn't hold my breath.

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