Making the jump from land-based to online casinos (Part 1) - Setting the Stage

by Spearmaster - Online gambling can be described as having the Las Vegas Strip in your own home, at your own convenience 24/7 like the local 7-Eleven. You can play where you want, anytime you want, simply by turning on the computer, logging on to the Internet, and selecting which casino you wish to play at.

There's no worry about how much time you have left before your flight leaves, how much the hotel bill is, and rushing to buy last-minute souvenirs for your family and friends. You simply make your cup of french vanilla cappuccino, prepare some snacks and settle into your chair for a few hours of work.

No, that's not a mistake. Sure, gambling is entertainment as well, but unlike being in Vegas, you are spending regular time at the casinos, and your object is to win - if you knew you were going to lose you certainly wouldn't be gambling. Perhaps 5-10% of gamblers - and that's probably a liberal estimate - treat a trip to Vegas as work - but if you are going to gamble from home EVERYONE must treat gambling as work.

When choosing a casino, spend a little time doing research online about various casinos - there are a number of good website and message boards which have a lot of information on both good and bad places to play.

So you start up your favorite casino, log in, and presto! It's time for work. Now what do you feel like playing?

At most casinos, the best bet is to play blackjack, roulette, craps and concentrate on near 50-50 bets at the tables - or perhaps you prefer video poker, which with good play is also nearly a 50-50 proposition. Of course, if you really like to GAMBLE, you can always take a shot at the progressive slot machines. Or keno for a high return on a small bet, though this is typically the worst bet in the casino.

Whatever game you choose, make sure you know the rules, and the strategy, before you start - one great advantage of being at home is that you can refer to your printed copy of a strategy card without feeling embarrassed.

When making a deposit at the casino, make sure you have read the rules for cashing out - these are usually located on the website under "Cashier" or "Banking". Also make sure that the amount you deposit will not cause you any distress later should for some reason you lose the entire amount - it is much more comforting to play with pocket money than grocery money. One very good reason for this will be covered in a later part of this series - controlling your emotions. Also, don't deposit more than you intend to play with for this session - there are no charges for making deposits - the only exception is when a deposit earns a matching bonus - Part 2 of this series will cover bonus types.

Once you've made this deposit, set your plan for the session. Let's say you've deposited $100, and your goal is to double that deposit to $200. Once you 've reached that goal, LOCK that money in your mind. If there's any excess left, try to turn that into another $100 - but DON'T dig back into the $200 if you run out. If you reach $300, do the same thing with any excess - set a new goal and try to reach that, but lock the $300 away. REMEMBER - you are WORKING, not PLAYING.

Following this method, once you've run out of money or any excess portion, QUIT for the day. Whether you cash out or not is up to you, but treat those winnings as if they are no longer winnings, but YOUR MONEY. Take the family out to dinner, go see a movie, do some shopping, whatever. Enjoy the fruits of your work for the day.

If you have lost, don't despair - but DON'T put any more money in. Treat it just like you would your workday - quit and start afresh tomorrow. There is no such thing as "My luck must surely change now" - this is what casinos would love you to think. Frankly, most people who gamble for a living know that skill is essential in making money, and luck is just a figment of your imagination.

Part 2 - Bonuses - How to Maximize your Working Capital.