Pro Gambling - Slot Machines

Being a pro gambler doesn't mean winning lots of titanic jackpots - it means making money consistently over the long haul. If you do it well, you can live off it (though it will take time and effort, just like any other job), or just use it to supplement your existing finances.

Remember, hitting a jackpot is a random bit of freak luck (unless you're Ms. Jackpot), and no strategy in the world can alter your probability by even the tiniest little bit of hitting one. You do or you don't, and that's that. Bully for you if it happens, but, if not, here's one method to help you get as much cash out of that big fancy bank called a casino as you can.

Now, there may be better, more profitable strategies than mine. Heaven knows, there are as many "tactics" out there as there are slot machines. All I can say is that I consistently earn (win) about $80 an hour (on penny slots) when I use this technique.

Most video slots are programmed to give a new user a small win, from $1 to $20-ish, shortly after he or she sits down. This is a strategy built into their programming that was designed by psychologists. If you win something right off the bat, you'll be more prone to blowing all your money. It gives you the psychological impression that you really can win, or that the machine is "hot". It is the bait on the hook that is specifically engineered to reel you in.

What I do is take that little win, and cash out. Take the money and run, and it's on to the next machine. You'll probably never win big this way, but you will win.

Now, not every machine will do this, nor will the machines that do give it to you every time. If you sit back down at the same machine, it will very probably eat all your cash. On the other hand, you might win again. That's why they call it gambling.

I've found that machines nearby entrances and exits pay out the most often. This is another trick; people just coming in are supposed to see lots of flashing lights and hear the clink of coins (even though few casinos actually use coins anymore). They are supposed to see lady luck smiling down on them. It's exactly the same trick, in a different form - it is a lure.

You can capitalize on this, too, though. Knowing those machines pay out slightly more often, you can anticipate a slightly higher win:loss ratio in your own endeavor. What this means is that you'll get a bit more bang for your buck by doorways, thouroughfares, and anywhere people are constantly coming and going. The machines have to be more active there because they need to attract the attention of the passers-by. Also, having every seat in sight filled adds to the impression of a winning locale.

Still, not every machine will pay you. Say you put $20 into a machine. If you burn through $5 and haven't seen any action, it's time to abandon ship. Yes, the next person who sits down might win - but, trust me, you wouldn't have. Again, these machines are programmed to react when a new user sits down. And - believe it - they have the technology built-in to tell.

But the most important element to winning money - no matter what game you're playing - is to keep your winnings separate.

Say you're playing with a $20. When you cash out your $5 win, put the $5 in your 'winnings' pocket. It doesn't matter which pocket, just not the one you keep the rest of your cash in. And DO NOT TOUCH IT AGAIN.

Keep your original $20, and approach the next machine with that, and only that, in hand. Use your player's card if you have one (comps are the free lunch of life), but no other money.

Every time you win, put it in the winnings pocket. I don't care if it's only a nickel. Do it every single time.

When that initial $20 is gone - you're done. Pack up your lucky charms, finish off your free drink, and go. Get off the floor. Go outside, go to the bathroom, or go get another drink; it doesn't matter. But don't you dare count your money until you are completely out of sight of the entire gaming area.

Once you're clear, then you can count up. That's what you've won. And good job to you for doing it. If you played right, you've got some decent cash there. If you played right and got lucky, you've got some serious cash there. Either way, well done to you.

The reason you do this is two-fold. First, it helps you keep your money straight. You know you've blown $20, and you know how much you had before you started play. Now, with your winnings separate, you know exactly how well you did, and how much you have.

The second, and far more important, reason is that if you don't keep your winnings tucked away, you'll blow them. I don't care how "strong willed" you are. If you play long enough, you'll dip into your winnings, and you'll lose everything. That's the way the human mind works.

Oh, you'll justify it to yourself, and explain it away in something that bears a great deal of resemblance to rational logic, but the point is that you'll still be broke. And that is exactly the opposite of what you're supposed to be doing.

Winning money is a thrill. It's a fantastic high, and you will get addicted. You'll get angry when a machine won't give you your fix, and you'll feel like having a smoke when you get a respectable payout. And like any other drug, it messes with your thought process.

You're human. It will happen to you, if you play enough. That's another reason to stay out of your winnings. When that $20 is gone, you need to walk away - especially if you really want to stay.

You need to do that to keep your sanity. You need to do it to keep your money. But, most of all, you need to do it so you can keep reaping the benefits of your efforts. If your life becomes all about winning, what's the point?

Winning is fun, but it is winning that opens up other options for you. Say you made $30 bucks - now you can go have dinner without having to spend any of "your" money. See how great that is?

But if you let yourself get addicted, everything else will quickly become hollow and meaningless. So what if you win then? It doesn't matter, because nothing else matters to you.

Take what you can, smile, congratulate yourself, and enjoy it. Being a pro gambler isn't just about winning money, it's about getting the money out, and then finding joy in what you do with it. Just like any other line of work, if you don't love it, don't do it.