Below are eleven of the most common player mistakes made in today's casinos. See how many you make. Then read and follow the simple steps on how to avoid them. The fewer mistakes you make in a casino, the more you're going to get out of your casino-going experience.

#1. Going to a casino with the idea of making money. Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts said, "The only way to make money in a casino is to own one. They don't build these ritzy megaresorts and cruise-to-nowhere riverboats on winners." Think of the casino as a place to get away and maybe have some fun...with winning as just a bonus. Only 4% of a casino's players actually go home winners.

#2. Taking checkbook, credit cards, and ATM cards to the casino. Take and play with only the money you can afford to lose. Tkae only one credit card for out-of-pocket expenses: meals, shows, shopping.

#3. Playing with money you don't have. If you run out of money, stop playing. Go home or do something different until its time to leave. Keep away from the convenient casino ATMs and other cash-advance machines. Playing with plastic will come back to haunt you when the bank statements start coming in.

#4. Forgetting you're playing with real money. Casinos encourage you to play with tokens, credits, vouchers, etc. When you do, you forgety you're playing with real money. And you tend to play faster and make bigger bets than you had planned on.

#5. Having little or no knowledge of the game you're playing. Learn all you can about your favorite game. The more you know about it, the more luck you're going to have. So check with your local bookstore, library, Amazon.com, or casino gift shop for a how-to book on your favorite game. [See also the Gambler's Book Club and this site's How-to-play page--ed.]

#6. Having no plan for spending your time and money. Plan each day's gaming activity. Start by splitting the day into playing sessions--with a set amount of money and time for each session. Two hours is the suggested maximum playing time for a session. If the money you allot for a session is going too fast, slow down, bet less, or take a break until the next session.

#7. Continuing to play when losing. The instant you feel you're on a losing streak, set a firm stop point. When you reach it, quit! Don't think the next spin of the reels or throw of the dice is going to do it. Odds are, it won't! When you're in a hole, stop digging!

#8. Playing off all winnings. Set aside some of each win, no matter how small. Betting down to the last dollar is why 96% of casino players go home broke. Always have something to show for your good fortune.

#9. Not joining the casino's player's club. The points you get for playing make you eligible for cash-back awards, free or discounted rooms, free meals and show tickets, and special mail offers not available to the general public.

#10. Playing a slot machine at lightning speed. The true secret of slot playing is to make your money and playing time last as long as possible. And this means playing s-l-o-w-l-y. Don't spin the reels the moment they stop. Pause between spins. By slowing down, you extend your playing time and the life of your bankroll.

#11. Not knowing when to quit. Don't keep playing when your luck runs out or when tired, upset, hungry, bored, or sleepy. When playing stops being fun, stop playing.

Final tip: During his 1798 expedition to Egypt, Napoleon approached the Great Sphinx and said, "I command thee, O Ancient One, to reveal to me the Wisdom of the Ages." The Sphinx replied, "Don't expect too much." Heed these words of wisdom from the Spinx. Leave your expectations at the casino door. Then no matter what may happen inside the casino, you won't be surprised or disappointed.

THIS ARTICLE WAS REPRINTED FROM THE BOOK:
Secrets of Modern Slot Playing by Larry Mak

To order a copy, send $9.95 to:
L&M Publications
PO Box 743
Paradise, CA 95967
or order here from Barnes and Noble.com

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