Gaming Goofs with Jack Putz - Part I

Obviously, screwing-up at your favorite gambling game, be it poker, craps, blackjack, whatever, can be more than merely embarrassing; it can be awfully expensive too, both at an online casino and off! And having "been there; done that," I should know. But lucky for me I managed to learn from my blunders, as well as from other people's errors. So to help you avoid some of the most common faux pas committed by gamblers, I have compiled a list of the Greatest Gambling Goofs ever. Don't say you haven't been warned.

Good luck!

Jack

1. Where Fools Rush In
Players often select the wrong online casino sites to gamble at, not realizing that there are many out in cyberspace that offer players options like being able to adjust a game's speed. Online casino sites offer many additional advantages benefiting players, but - of course - you've got to know they even exist in the first place. For instance, any venue worthy of your attention (and cash) will provide free Play-for-Fun games so that you may familiarize yourself with that particular casino site's games before depositing any money.

2. Sexily Transmitted Distractions (STDs)
What?! Casinos are using sexy women to encourage players to continue gambling? Hey, if this comes as news to you, you've really got to get out more often. Also, everybody knows you don't have to visit a casino to lose money to women.

3. Bogus Bonus Picks
Far too many gamblers jump at the first bonus to come their way. Dumb move! A mere twenty-minute stroll around the cyber gaming block and you will soon realize that bonuses differ from one online casino site to another. Also, the so called bonus Terms & Conditions associated with these supposed freebies aren't always what they appear to be... at least not initially. Having said this, you'd be well advised to familiarize yourself with the range of bonus forms and ultimately go with those that best meet your individual needs. For instance: If you are playing for high stakes, you'll want to pass on a 100% matching bonus that limits you to $100 or less. You'll also want to consider those casinos that award additional bonuses for at least some of your subsequent deposits.

4. Wrong Software, Wrong Casino
The software that powers online casino games ranges from the really basic to the extremely powerful, at times too powerful for those gamblers using older computers. If you own an older system, feature-rich software like CryptoLogic's Global Edition or Microgaming's Viper Software are not going to perform properly. Instead, you may want to look into Flash, Java, or older software downloads which your computer can handle, or upgrade.

5. Boozin' & Losin'
The more alcohol one consumes, the more one's ability to make rational gambling decisions is blunted. If there is one thing drunk gamblers excel very well at, it is screwing-up big time!

6. Great Expectations
That exciting sound you hear of slot machines & cheering spectators would give any normal person the feeling that they too are on the edge of winning a massive jackpot (still). After all, with all those bells ringing, some lucky bastard must be winning and that lucky bastard might as well be you, right? Well get real. True, you may indeed win, but don't be distracted by all the excitement. False hopes can be terribly misleading... and costly.

7. Lights, Cameras, Infinite Action
In case you have never noticed, traditional brick and mortar casinos are not big on clocks. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to even find one in a land casino. Why, you ask? Well, simply put, the more a player plays, the more he or she is bound to lose. Thus, casino companies deliberately strive to create an environment in which players lose track of time and carry on betting.

8. High on Oxygen
It is no secret that many casinos purposely pump oxygen into their gaming rooms so that players are given an extra buzz to keep them playing for longer durations. Again, the longer one plays, the greater their chances are of losing to the casino. If you are gambling "just for the fun of it" and couldn't care less about losing money, take as many deep breaths as you can. However, if you are playing to win, take a break. In fact take regular breaks; Nothing causes more players to lose than plain old fatigue. (Editor's note: We have not yet heard of an online casino pumping oxygen to their players. Until such time, I would not hold my breath.)