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There are many
techniques used to influence the player. Free alcohol, comps, attractive
women, loud music, noisy machines and an atmosphere of excitement are just
a few of the obvious ones.
Casinos are
designed with one purpose in mind, to keep the players within their
clutches. Some of the casinos are virtual mazes trapping you inside and
without a map, you can wander aimlessly searching for the way out.
Casinos rev on
energy unlike any other business or entertainment. The energy churns at a
pace several notches above that found outside of the casino. Again, this
is all by design to manipulate and influence the customers.
Only in Las Vegas
can one experience Venice, Paris, Rome, the Middle East and a Polynesian
paradise all in a two-mile strip. The elaborate plan, all with the
intention of taking you from your comfort zone into the comfort zone of
the casino.
When entering the
arena of play, you are truly out numbered and out-gunned. The casino has
unlimited funds and more gaming tables and machines than the 30,000 plus
players arriving each day can put a dent in.
Your only hope is to
play smarter and not harder. You must be ready to play emotionally,
physically and financially. Your ability to remain in your comfort zone
upon entering the casino is the challenge every player faces. Casinos
control the environment and the games. The player’s only defense is to
control herself or himself.
Critical to being
prepared for play is self-discipline. Having the ability of self control
takes away from the blatant manipulation found in most casinos.
Acknowledging a readiness to play requires the player to be honest with
their feelings and have the discipline to act on the information.
Perhaps one trap is
an anxiousness to get as much playing time in during a three-day trip for
example. Too often the case, most players are eager to get into action
before they are ready. Some can scarcely wait to de-board the plane to
play the “loose” machines at the airport.
You are better off
to act with the discipline of the patient hunter. Here is a checklist to
consider before entering the casino, designed to minimize or eliminate
losing sessions.
Do not play if:
·
You are tired. Traveling
takes a great deal of energy, physically and emotionally. Never play when
you are not physically up for the game.
·
You are not feeling well.
If you are, ill or coming down with a cold it is an indication of
low energy. Never play if
you are unwell.
·
You are emotionally upset.
Emotions are powerful and can influence negative
behavior. If you are angry,
depressed or experiencing other negative emotions
do not play. Negative emotions express
lower energy and will be a determent to
your game.
·
You need money. Playing
with “scared money” or with money that you consciously do not have to risk
is an absolute no-no. This invokes an emotion of lack and desperateness,
not one of abundance and limitlessness. You must play with money that you
are prepared to risk and possibly lose. There must not be any charge of
negative emotion on your bankroll. Detachment is imperative with a
confidence of knowing that you are an expert at your game. Detachment doe
not mean not caring or whimsical. It is the detachment of emotion from
outcomes, losing or winning.
·
You are not ready. This
requires an honest check-in asking yourself if you are ready
to play. It is not the same thing as wanting to play. Perhaps you are
feeling anxious
and behind that is a feeling of
insecurity or fear. Fear to enter the game is valid and
it needs to be honored and looked
at. It is easy to ignore fear as fear is uncomfortable
and thus hard to accept. Never play
if you are not 100% ready to enter the game. Have
the discipline to be honest with
yourself and have the courage to walk away if you are
not truly ready to play.
·
You do not find a game. Do
not jump into the first game that you come to. Examine what is going on in
the whole casino and assess the situation before committing. Perceive the
energy and the action. Is it a winning atmosphere or does it feeling like
a losing or negative atmosphere? Ask questions. What is going on here? Is
there a winning game here for me? Do I like what I feel and see? Do feel
honored? How the unseen energy feels to you is information, use it to your
advantage. The casinos never close. There will always be a game. It is
your job to find it. Be disciplined, some times you will have to walk
away.
·
You perceive a message not
to play. Life is coming at you constantly. It is possible to get a glimpse
of life before experiencing it in real time. The information comes as
metaphors. You notice something that you see or hear and it translates
into information as a feeling or your little voice whispering to you, “not
now, not this game”. I do not present this strategy to cause you paranoia
or make you crazy about everything little thing. You get a subliminal
message. Does it have application for the immediate task at hand? Here is
an example: Once when entering a casino the door would not open when I
pulled on it. My immediate reaction was “oh, no, I am being warned not to
enter”. Enter I did, I played and I lost.
In addition to a
personal check-in, know your way around the casino. It plays to the
intimidation factor if you do not know where you are. Walk around an
unfamiliar casino.
Take your time to
learn the layout. Find the bathrooms, the lounge, restaurants, the cashier
and especially the closest exit. The casino is a place for your enjoyment.
You must feel comfortable and safe in order to play in comfort.
Take your time
before entering a game. You have all the time in the world. Never rush or
push to make something happen. After learning your way around and going
through your check-in, then you should know if you are ready to play.
Casinos control the
show, for the most part. At least you can be in control of you.
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