End-of-the-month online gambling – how to play smart
We don’t know about you, but for us the end-of-the-month vibe is not giving. The fridge looks sad and empty, there’s about a drop of petrol left in your car, and the only thing filling your wallet is moths. Times are tough out there!
It’s rough for all of us, but even more so if you’re an online casino player. You’ve got your budget, you’ve been playing responsibly, but now it’s month-end and you’re just not sure if your funds are going to last. You’d love a bet here and there, but can you actually afford it?
That’s the question we’re here to answer! Is it possible to enjoy yourself at the casino all month long, without putting extra pressure on your finances? If you’re honest about your budget and if you play smart, then it could be a yes. But let’s break it down step by step first, and take a closer look.
Step 1: The end-of-the-month honesty check
Before we go into how to play when your funds are low, we need you to be honest about your financial situation as it stands. Do you really, actually and truly have enough money to play right now? We love gambling, but we love responsible gambling even more, and that’s what we’re all about.
In order to be as honest and transparent with yourself as possible, take a look at your gambling budget. Do you actually have any money left in it, or would you be playing with funds that have been earmarked for something else? Or (even worse) would you be dipping into your savings to fund your play?
If you do have money left to play with, then great. But if you’ve played through your budget for the month, then the smart (and ONLY) choice is to wait. Gambling with money you don’t have isn’t fun. It’s hugely stressful and anxiety-ridden, and that’s not the kind of energy you want to take into the casino with you.
Instead, take a deep breath, accept the fact that you’ll be taking a break from gambling for a few days, and focus on your financial management for the month ahead. Payday will roll around again soon enough, and once it does, you’ll be able to replenish your gambling budget and place your bets with zero regrets. That’s the attitude we want, and that’s the kind of positivity and responsible behaviour that will take you far.
Step 2: Playing with limited end-of-the-month funds
So, you’ve done your honesty check and you can say with a clear conscience that yes, you do have money to play with at the casino. The problem is, it’s not that much.
Actually, that’s not really a problem, at least not from where we’re standing. The good news is that you can afford to play guilt-free. All we need to do now is get a little creative about how we make your small budget go as far as possible till payday.
So how do we do that? By putting one or more of these strategies into play:
1. Look for low-stakes games
You may not have looked for these before but they’re out there – you just have to find them. Part of the beauty of online casino gambling is how flexible it is, particularly in terms of the range of bet sizes available. So rather than going for the high-stakes games you might be more used to, look for games that take smaller bets instead, with low-stake options to suit your limited budget.
These include:
Penny slots or 10c spins.
Low minimum Blackjack tables.
Roulette games that allow you to place smaller wagers on outside options.
You’ll get more betting opportunities for your money, which means more entertainment and more chances to win as well. Remember – dynamite comes in small packages!
2. Choose games with a longer playtime
Not all online casino games are created equal. Some, like high volatility slots, can go through your bankroll faster, eating up your funds before you’ve had a chance at a big win. That’s the nature of high volatility games – bigger wins, but less frequently. Which is fine if you’ve got funds to spare at the beginning of the month, but not so much towards the end when your balance is looking lean.
What’s the solution? Switching to lower volatility games, where you’ll have the opportunity for smaller wins, more often. Other good choices include games with steady payouts, such as Blackjack or Video Poker.
Remember that you still won’t be guaranteed a win either way – that’s not how luck and random outcomes work. But choosing games with lower volatility or more stable payouts will help you to maximise the time you spend in the casino, and keep the fun going for longer. And that’s what it’s all about, after all!
3. Use your bonuses wisely
Here’s a space where end-of-month timing can actually give you an edge. Many online casinos run promotions at the end of the month, from reload bonuses to free spins, cashback offers and more. Which means if you’re careful with your money and with the promotions you choose, you could turn a small deposit into big rewards!
Before you rush off and start claiming bonuses in a frenzy, however, remember to ALWAYS read the terms and conditions first. A bonus with excessive wagering requirements isn’t the best choice if you’re trying to make a small bankroll last longer.
Rather look for low-wagering or no-wagering bonuses instead, or simple freebies like daily free spins on selected slots. You’ll be surprised at how far your money can go when you use your initiative!
4. Slow your roll
And by that we mean take your time when you play. If money is tight at the end-of-the-month, you’ll need to pay more attention to your pacing than before. In order to ensure that you get the most value. And the most enjoyment from your play. You don’t want to spin through 100 auto-rounds in a few minutes without really experiencing the joy of gaming, right? The entertainment is the whole point!
Take a breath, take your time, and make it a point to:
Play manually instead of using auto-play, just so you can enjoy the thrill of gambling and placing your own bets.
Take breaks between your spins in order to take the experience in, and make your gambling time last longer.
Set yourself small win or loss goals in order to keep your sessions focused and on track.
By slowing down, you won’t just be extending your bankroll, you’ll be giving yourself more time to actually enjoy your gambling experience, and the casino vibe itself. It’s all about having fun, so do what you can to make it last!
5. Set micro limits for yourself
If you’re someone who budgets for your gambling responsibly (and the fact that you’re reading this blog means that you are), you’ll already know that setting limits is the best way to get the most out of your bankroll.
But what about when your bankroll’s down to its last few dollars and cents – how do you set limits for yourself then?
Easy! By taking the remaining funds you have in your budget and dividing them up into micro limits. It’s exactly the same process as before, but now you’re fine tuning it to fit with the funds that you have remaining.
What do we mean?
Let’s say you’ve got $50 left till payday. Rather than spending it all in one go, divide it up into 5 x $10 gambling sessions over the next few days.
Only got $20 left? Then divide it up into 4 x $5 sessions in the same way. Just remember that you’ll need to be strict with yourself about stopping, in order to make sure you stick to your limits as closely as possible.
By dividing your bankroll up into smaller slices, you’ll avoid the trap of burning through all of your funds in a single session, and you’ll give yourself something to look forward to over the days ahead. Which is what we in the business call a win-win!
Step 3: Have fun for free!
Before you lament the fact that you don’t have enough in your budget to gamble the way you’d like. Remember that online casino play doesn’t actually have to cost you money. If you’re all out of funds or you barely have enough for more than two or three bets. Why not switch to free play instead?
Ah, free play – remember that? It’s probably been a while since you last used it, but it’s still there, ready and waiting for you to enjoy. Most reputable online casinos offer free play or demo mode for most of their games. Giving you the option to still enjoy premier gambling entertainment but without risking any of your own funds at the same time.
Sure, you won’t be able to win real money, but that’s not the point here. The idea is to still enjoy the thrill of casino entertainment, which you’ll easily be able to do, at zero cost to yourself or your budget. In fact, you could even discover new games while you’re playing, and develop new skills that could pay off once you’re back to playing for real.
So use your time wisely. Check out the range of games available, try something new, hone your skills, gain valuable experience. And use your free play to help elevate your gambling. Once you and your bankroll are back for real, you could soon find yourself on a winning streak if you’re lucky!
Step 4: Change the way you think about month-end
Let’s face it, no one likes the end-of-the-month feeling. You’re low, your budget’s even lower, and your options for enjoying life are severely limited.
But what if instead of thinking about it as a restriction, you thought about it as a challenge? Rather than focusing on what you don’t have (money), focus on what you do have (time, determination and ingenuity). And set yourself mini missions to help you get more out of your gambling.
For example:
Challenge 1: Make the $20 in your bank account last for a full week at the casino.
Second challenge: Try at least 2 new low stakes games this week.
Challenge 3: Play with your budget for the day and walk away as soon as it’s done.
Try these or come up with your own. The sky’s the limit! Because it’s less about the actual challenge itself, and more about the mindset it’s cultivating. By challenging yourself to work with what you have, try new things and practice discipline, you’ll be able to boost your confidence and your self-control as well. Both valuable tools when it comes to successful online gambling.
Then by the time payday rolls around, you’ll have a new-found assurance in your abilities, and actual proof of your self-reliance too. Both of which will help take you far in gambling and in life.
Step 5: Remember the golden rule
Usually at this point in our blogs we’d be reminding you about the number one rule in gambling, which is to have fun. And that’s still always the rule – never forget it.
But with financial management in mind, there’s one more golden rule we wanted to stress as firmly as possible: NEVER gamble with money you can’t afford to lose.
At its heart, gambling is simply another form of entertainment. There’s reading, there’s watching movies, there’s listening to music, there’s exercise, and there’s online gambling too. That’s the category it falls into, and that’s the way it should be treated – as a fun pastime, nothing more.
Certainly nothing that should impact your real-life end-of-the-month budget. Or compete with the money you set aside for rent, bills, groceries, or savings. It’s entertainment, plain and simple. And if you can’t afford to treat yourself to takeaways, movies or more, you can’t afford to gamble either.
So save it for payday like the champ you are, and stick to your guns and your budget. That’s how you gamble like a winner!