How to Stretch Your Bankroll Longer
Whether you are headed to the casino with your friends or maybe just sitting down to gamble at your computer at home, you want to make your bankroll last as long as possible. So how can you make it last longer?
Choosing games with a low minimum bet, playing longer games, and taking advantage of casino bonuses are a few of the ways to make your bankroll last longer. Read on to learn more tips for stretching your casino bankroll.
1. Choose Games With a Low Bet/Buy-In
One of the easiest tips in casino bankroll management is to choose games with a low buy-in or bet minimum. This automatically means you will get to play more rounds with what is in your pocket. A general rule of thumb is to only bet at tables where the minimum bet is 3-5% of your total bankroll.
You can take this even further with poker by choosing to play a tournament. Tournaments usually have flat buy-ins anywhere from $50-$200 (and some are more expensive). Choosing to play a tournament can give you an entire afternoon of fun for one buy-in. Of course, the opposite is also true and you could be out everything in an instant if you go all in too early.
2. Play Longer Games
Casinos have a variety of games, and some take longer than others to play. For example, blackjack is a much shorter game than poker. Just by choosing to play poker, you may extend the number of hours you can play on your bankroll, just because the game takes longer. Even among poker, Pai-Gow poker is known to take the longest of all the different games.
The same is true for slots. While most slot games are quick, you can choose certain games that have longer bonuses or play in general. One example includes video poker, which has 2 rounds per hand, a process that often takes longer than a single spin on a slot machine.
3. Take Gambling Lessons Before You Play
One method of extending your bankroll that is effective (but isn’t free) is by taking some lessons before you let loose. Gambling lessons can not only teach you about how to play the games more effectively, but if you take slot lessons, you might learn which machines have the longest game play/most bonuses.
While gambling is still mostly based on chance, a few lessons can help you win more, so you don’t lose as much of your bankroll as you play!
4. Choose Sports Betting
We know this sounds odd, but it’s true. Oftentimes, when you bet on sports, part of playing is watching the game to see if you win. So, for those who have an especially low bankroll, heading to the sportsbook to bet on horse races is actually your best bet.
Look at it this way, the minimum bet for a horse is usually $2 per race. So even if you only have $50, you can bet on 25 races. Each one is several minutes long. This means you can spend your whole afternoon in the casino gambling on just the initial $50—and this is if you win nothing more!
5. Take Advantage of Casino Promotions
That leads us to the next tip—you should do what you can to take advantage of casino promotions. Now, a lot of promotions aren’t out in the open, so you’ll have to do some research, but the majority of casinos do offer some sort of promotion for gaming.
Most of the best promotions are first-time player promotions, offering you a match for your first $100 in losses or more. Of course, these are only for first-time players, so if you’ve been to the casino before, you might be out of luck. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t promotions for you.
Many casinos have special nights on their calendar when you can get freebies, like food and drinks, for playing. Even if the casino doesn’t have anything like this, taking a break from playing to enjoy a drink at the bar and chat with the bartender can go a long way toward making your bankroll last longer!
Playing online? Most online casinos have some sort of bonus for new or returning players. On MintDice.com, we reward individuals for participating in the chat, so don’t hesitate to jump in there when you need a break from spinning!
6. Play At Less Popular or Online Casinos
The rumors are, unfortunately, true. The more popular/famous a casino is, the more likely it is to have a lower RTP (return to player). Just by choosing a casino that is less popular, or choosing an online casino, you can make your bankroll stretch longer than it would at a popular casino.
This is especially true with online casinos. Since these casinos don’t have as much overhead, they are typically able to return far more money to players than other casinos. In fact, many online casinos have an RTP of over 95%.
7. Don’t “Follow Your Heart”
Unfortunately, humans tend to see patterns even where patterns don’t exist. As such, they can make decisions that defy all reason while gambling—such as doubling their bet after losing two rolls in a row. No matter what you may think is happening, or any “luck” you feel, playing with your head, not your heart, will make your bankroll last far longer.
Basically, pick a low bet amount and stick to it—even when you feel like the next roll might be the one, because let’s face it, it’s probably not.
Overall, there are many ways to stretch your casino bankroll and make it last longer. Our best advice is to choose machines/tables with low bets, play games that allow you to play slowly, and take breaks to enjoy the casino. No matter what you choose to do, just ensure you remember the purpose of gambling—to have fun!
