When to Stop Gambling (For the Night)

Are you sitting in a casino wondering if you should buy into the next hand or call it quits for the night? The answer might not be as straightforward as you think!

Of course, you should always stop gambling if you are out of money or too drunk to make good decisions, but you should also stop gambling if you find yourself getting angry. Read on to learn more about when to stop gambling.

1. When You Run Out Of Money

First and foremost, though we do love our gaming, it is never a good idea to game on credit. When your money runs out, it is time to call it a night until your next paycheck.

We repeat, never ever gamble on credit, loans, or a lien on your house or car. When the money is gone, it is time to leave the casino, full stop.

2. When You Are Drunk

Gambling drunk is never a good idea. Of course, when you’re gambling for fun on a Friday night, having a drink or two as you play isn’t a problem. However, if your vision starts to swim, or you find yourself artificially happy over a small win, it’s time to call it a night.

Unfortunately, alcohol lowers inhibitions, and you may start making risky decisions you can’t come back from. For that reason, we recommend drinking very little as you play, and if you do find yourself becoming intoxicated, cash out.

3. If You Start Becoming Angry

Just like with alcohol, strong emotions of any type can lead to making poor and rash decisions that you will regret later when you are in a better state of mind. Which means if you find yourself becoming angry or sad, it’s time to walk away from the table.

A walk outside can often help you cool down, or taking a break for some food can help as well. While we generally don’t recommend returning to the tables or machines after you become riled up (even if you calm down) sometimes if you catch yourself soon enough you may find yourself emotionally stable enough to game a few hours later.

4. When You’re Only Losing

One of the major mistakes gamblers make is that they think if they’ve lost 100 spins, they absolutely must win spin number 101. This is never the case. Each spin is an independent event completely separate from the preceding spin. It is entirely possible to lose 500 spins in a row and walk away with nothing.

So, if you’ve lost several spins in a row, walk away.  While you can try a different machine or game, we know that the frustration that comes from a plethora of losing spins can quickly escalate into anger (see number 3), so it may be better to walk away entirely and try again another day.

5. When You Aren’t Having Fun

Above all else, gambling is supposed to be fun. If you ever find yourself not having fun while gambling, it’s time to stop.

Unlike other reasons on this list, this one we don’t see the harm in returning a few hours later. If you aren’t having fun, and you take a break and feel better, it is perfectly fine to return to play again. Of course, if it becomes a cycle of you playing only to quit and then play again only to quit over and over due to not having fun, then it is time to seek professional help.

6. When You’re Winning

We know this is a tough one to hear, but the saying “quit while you’re ahead” really does have some truth to it. If you find yourself on a huge winning streak, don’t be afraid to walk away because you are tired, hungry, or simply done playing.

Some people think that if they’re winning, they possibly can’t walk away because their luck will change. This isn’t true. Luck is luck, and it comes and goes as it pleases. So, if you are winning and having a great night, it isn’t a bad idea to end it before your luck leaves first.

7. When You Have Other Obligations

Again, we love gambling; however, we also love having a house, food to eat, and friends. Gambling should always be something extra in your life, and it should never take the place of any other necessities you need to survive. In fact, we also think it should never take the place of spending time with a person either.

Obviously, if that person wants to head to the casino with you, that’s fine too. Just make sure you take the time to ensure all your obligations are fulfilled before you spend your time gambling.

And if you ever find yourself gambling instead of taking care of your own needs and health, it is definitely time to stop.

8. You’re Considering Doing Something Illegal

You would think this would be obvious, but it’s not. If you ever find yourself considering committing a crime to continue gambling, this is a sign that you have a serious addiction problem and need help.

We believe that anyone can gamble safely; however, sometimes more prolonged breaks or rehabilitation are necessary to ensure you are gambling for the right reasons. If you ever find yourself gambling for the wrong reasons, it is definitely time to seek professional help or consider taking a prolonged break from gaming.

Overall, there are many reasons to stop gambling for the night, and most of them don’t mean you need to stop forever or even for more than a day. Walking away at the right time is an aspect of ensuring you are gambling for the right reasons (which is fun!). If you ever find yourself unable to stop, or, as we mentioned above, doing dire things so you can continue to gamble, it’s best to seek help before it is too late.