How to Become a More Disciplined Gambler
4 minutes
Posted by: Ivan
Every gambler is constantly striving to improve their success and win more money. From learning different strategies to reading guides and tips online, you can do many things that will help you become a better player.
That said, many people overlook the importance discipline can bring to their overall gambling success.
No matter how skilled (or not) you are, discipline is something you can always work on, as it significantly helps improve your winning chances.
With that in mind, we’ll share the top ways you can become a more disciplined gambler.
Develop a Plan
When discussing the most effective tips for building up discipline, having a plan should undoubtedly be at the top of every list.
When you have a plan you can stick to, you’ll always know what the best action is based on the situation you find yourself in. Of course, depending on your experience, gambling skill, and how disciplined you are by nature, this plan can vary in complexity.
Spontaneous and wild gambling might be entertaining, but it certainly isn’t the best way to go if you're in it for the long run.
The essential things every plan should include are your gambling schedule, which games you want to play (slots, blackjack, baccarat, etc.), how high stakes you can afford, and how much you’re winning or losing during each session.
Combine Discipline With Willpower
Gamblers often mix the two, although discipline and willpower have very different meanings. Willpower is the short-term strength to push through adversity to achieve something.
On the other hand, discipline is long-term. It focuses on gaining control of your impulsive actions by enforcing order in your life.
When you combine the two, you can get the best results, effectively manage your gambling urges, and make sure you stick to the plans you’ve set for yourself.
One of the best examples of the direct impact of both willpower and discipline is bankroll management. Discipline makes you create a bankroll management strategy you’ll stick to in the long run.
Strong willpower helps you keep control of how much you bet during each specific session. When you develop strong willpower, you’ll automatically become a more disciplined and successful gambler.
Eliminate the Need for Chasing Losses
Chasing losses is the opposite of being a responsible and disciplined gambler. The emotions that come up after a series of bad losses trigger an impulsive urge that makes you want to recoup your losses right away.
This is often a desperate move that can only be detrimental, as the vast majority of gamblers end up losing money when they try chasing their losses.
If you know you have a tendency to do this, it’s important to focus on the problem and try to reduce it. Perhaps limit your spending with $1 deposit casinos so that you don’t reach the point where you feel like you need to chase.
Set a limit you’re comfortable spending for the session. Regardless of how fast or slow you play through it, make sure to quit after you do.
Don’t put in any more money. Just walk away and come back another day. Every time you do this, you're building up your tolerance to the urge and strengthening your discipline simultaneously.
Have Realistic Expectations
Achieving discipline is easier said and done, mainly because gamblers can often get caught up in the fantasy of success rather than focusing on their real situation.
In other words, if you lower your gambling expectations, you’ll have a much easier task at becoming more disciplined.
While winning shouldn’t be the primary reason why you’re gambling, you should always set realistic expectations that you can attain with some effort.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, as this often leads to struggle and poor decisions.
Moreover, when you can play comfortably and responsibly without any self-made restrictions, you’ll find that it’s not that difficult to maintain discipline.
With low expectations, you can slowly work on your discipline as you improve your gambling skills and enjoy the game while doing so.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Ultimately, if you want to become more disciplined, the best way to do it is through continuous practice.
Discipline is built through repetition, and the only way to do so is to constantly play the casino games you’re interested in.
Of course, this doesn’t mean spending huge amounts of money just so you can get more practice hours in the casino.
You can also put in work outside of the gambling house. Try to set some time off during the day when you’ll read up on different roulette strategies or practice online casino games for free.
You’ll be surprised how much you can build up your discipline just by focusing on some small betting habits.
