What to Expect on Your First Trip to the Casino

Ah, your first trip to a casino, it seems like it was only yesterday when you went to your first bar. Oh, how time just slips right on by. Ok, enough with the nostalgia. The first trip to a casino can be an exciting idea. The millions you can make at a casino will dance through your head all the way there. But, easy killer, making millions at a casino is about as possible as finding a million dollar bill in your jeans pocket. It's either not going to happen or if it does you will have a lot of explaining to do. Going to a casino can be fun for many people.

You will know whether or not you are going to like going to casinos in the first 5 to 10 minutes you are there. There really isn't much of a grey area for your approval of casinos as a fun place to be. Below I will give you a sampling of what you will find at the casinos.

Before you go the very first thing you want to know is how much money you are willing to spend at the casino-not how much money you have. For many people it is very easy to spend every last penny they have at a casino without realizing it until it is too late. You may want to consider only bringing a certain amount of cash into the casino and leaving your credit cards in the car or at home.

If you don't like being around smoke you probably won't like a casino. Unless the casino is 100% smoke free you will be around smoke. Many casinos have smoking sections that allow smokers. Often times you will have to walk through this part of the casino to get to the non-smoking gaming section. And, if you are a person that is sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke you will be able to smell it whether you are in the smoking section or not. Don't be surprised if you see old ladies smoking cigarettes and having a portable oxygen tank sitting right next to them. You can usually find this spectacle at the penny slots.

If you don't enjoy being in loud crowded places then a casino is probably not right for you either. Casinos are loud. Every time someone puts money in a slot machine you will hear dinging, ding-a-linging, and a host of other annoying sounds. When the person wins anything the sounds are that much more annoying. Unless you are the one winning, in this case the sound is music to your ears. You should also prepare yourself to be elbow-to-elbow with other gamblers. This is especially true at the slots. You will usually have someone on either side of you while you play the slot machines at the casino. If you truly value your personal space, then playing the slots at a casino may not be in your best interest.

If you walk into a casino planning to walk out rich-do not go. The old saying "the house always wins" is true. Will you walk out with more money than you came in with? Possibly. But, that is generally only possible if you go into the casino with your own personal set of rules. The number one rule to follow is to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. This rule applies to the slot machines at the casino too. Once you have broken even you should pocket that cash and play with whatever winnings you had. This will help ensure you walk out of the casino with cash in your pocket. Or, set a limit for yourself. Once you have doubled the amount of cash you started with-stop. That is so easy to say and so hard to do.

Your first trip to the casino can be a very fun experience. I personally enjoyed my first trip. I liked the chain smoking grannies. We rubbed elbows and talked over the load ding-a-linging slots. They told me of the fortunes they almost made. If only they had bet 10 per line they would have been rich, etc. I listened to their ramblings with joy as I made $20 off a $1 bet. My husband on the other hand was miserable. My husband hates casinos and he knew he hated them in the first 5 minutes he was there. The smells, sounds, and crowds annoyed him and the fact that he didn't win a dime while he was there didn't help much either. Worse than losing all of your money at the casino is going with someone that detests casinos. Never go to a casino with someone that does not like casinos, trust me, you will not enjoy yourself. As soon as you are up they will be ready to leave.

Before you go to a casino go online and read any reviews available about it. Take some of the reviews with a grain of salt. Many gamblers judge a casino by the amount of money they won or did not win. Look at the reviews about the wait staff, the cleanliness of the facility, etc. Most all casinos are mandated by law and have to pay out a certain percentage. This does not mean that if they have to pay out 80% that you will win back at least 80% of what you put in. That just means that overall they have to pay out that much. The casino may spread out that 80% over hundreds of players or give the majority of the 80% to one lucky winner.

Go to a casino to have fun, not to get rich. You will have a lot more fun and be more likely to win if you don't walk into the casino expecting miracles. Good things come when you least expect it.