7 Things New Gamblers Do That Stunt Their Growth

A common problem that many new and inexperienced gamblers face is plateauing before any real progress is made.

The first few experiences with casinos or gambling, in general, are often enjoyable. However, once the novelty wears off, some find that they are in the same position as when they first started gambling.

This is a frustrating situation that can lead some people to decide that gambling isn’t for them. In their mind, progress and improvement should be a given. When they fail to see that progress occur, it’s disheartening.

The fact of the matter is that gambling is all about minor improvements instead of major strides. These minor improvements are a product of patience, diligence, and practice—things some new gamblers have no interest in.

Because of this, some gamblers have a tendency to do several things that severely impact their chances of improving. Here are seven things new gamblers do that stunt their growth.

1 ‒ Gambling With the Same People

Human beings are social creatures and gamblers are no different.


While some people prefer to gamble alone, many enjoy sticking with their pack and gambling as a unit.

New gamblers in particular might find it easier and more comfortable to tag along with friends when they first start gambling in a casino. It’s not usually a bad idea to start gambling with people who have experience, but that person or group of people can easily become a crutch.

By gambling with people who have legitimate experience, new gamblers can learn the ropes faster than someone who doesn’t have a support network.

But those benefits come with their fair share of drawbacks. The problem with gravitating towards one group of people is that new ideas and concepts are hard to come by.

Echo chambers of gambling advice are a common problem around the floors of casinos. In other words, new gamblers might find new and even conflicting thoughts and ideas hard to come by.

You might think your buddy is the foremost authority on all things gambling, but that might not be the case. Always be sure to verify all information you come across, and keep your eyes and ears open while you learn to gamble.

2 ‒ Playing the Same Game Each Time

When inexperienced gamblers ask for advice before their first gambling trip, I typically tell them two things: Be smart with money and stick to one game.

We’ll get to the money side of things at a later point. For now, let’s discuss game selection for new gamblers.

The logic behind sticking to one game is pretty straightforward. If you’re serious about making money, then you should allocate all of your resources efficiently.

Sticking to one casino game is the easiest way to do that. By focusing on one game, you’ll likely improve at a faster rate and won’t spread yourself too thin.

New gamblers might feel compelled to jump from game to game during their first casino trip. Doing so will yield few positive results, monetarily speaking.

But it’s still important to give yourself the opportunity to select a game that’s right for you.

Walking into a casino, sitting down at the first table you see, and staying there for the duration of your gambling trip isn’t a smart move. You might select a game that has terrible odds or is too pricey for your bankroll.

It’s a good idea to focus on one game above all others, but new gamblers need to give themselves the chance to select the best casino game possible.

3 ‒ Fixating on Short-Term Results

Gambling, like many other hobbies, comes with its own set of expectations that are frankly unattainable.

The fact that gambling involves money simply serves to raise these expectations. Losing money at a casino is an unfortunate experience while winning is exhilarating.

Unfortunately, new gamblers will lose a lot more money than they win in the early going. That’s due to the fact that some games aren’t beginner-friendly, and new gamblers often make careless mistakes.

Still, a majority of gamblers walk into a casino expecting to win money, even if the odds are in the house’s favor.

A gambler’s early results can prove to be detrimental to any potential progress. Wins can lead to inflated egos and losses can result in feelings of dejection and frustration.

The truth is that these outcomes are rarely indicative of anything substantial or noteworthy. Sometimes bad gamblers win money, and good gamblers lose money.

Choosing to focus on these results instead of moving forward and continuing to learn isn’t advisable for anyone trying to improve their gambling skills.

4 ‒ Only Playing With Money on the Line

Winning money is one of the best parts of gambling. For some, that pursuit is the only thing that makes trips to the casino worthwhile.

That’s all well and good, but only playing with money on the line doesn’t often lead to tremendous amounts of success.

It might be hard to take card games seriously if you’re playing for fun. Whether these games are online, or with a casual group of friends, there’s less motivation to focus on winning.

But if you refuse to practice like you play, don’t expect to see any significant improvements.

I’m not advocating for you to treat these casual games like the final table at the World Series of Poker. But if you’re investing time into playing these games, you might as well make the most of it.

Sometimes, the lessons you learn during these low-leverage games are more valuable than those you’ll learn when cash is at stake.

5 ‒ Failing to Appreciate Table Etiquette

Table etiquette is a side of gambling that certain new players tend to ignore. Whether that’s because of willful ignorance or not depends on the gambler.

Gambling etiquette is a combination of written and unwritten rules that all gamblers should abide by. Often times, these rules are introduced to gamblers on the fly at the casino.

Other players and casino dealers are charged with informing players of missteps and violations. This may sound uncomfortable, but most violations are minor and easy to rectify.

Others can be more severe.

Refusing to take advice from people with more experience can find gamblers in hot water. These errors may seem relatively harmless to someone without experience, but they can be devastating.

Some of these etiquette violations can impact other gamblers and casino personnel. If that’s the case, you can put yourself in a rather unfortunate position that’s hard to recover from.

6 ‒ Refusing to Learn From Past Mistakes

Speaking from experience, the most important lessons you’ll learn will come from the mistakes you make.

These can be related to the game at hand or a simple courtesy violation. But if they cost you money or make you look foolish, there’s a decent chance you’ll feel motivated to not repeat those mistakes.

As I said earlier, certain games aren’t beginner-friendly and unforced errors are to be expected.

While you shouldn’t stew on these mistakes, it’s important to figure out where you messed up. Doing so will enable you to fail upwards, which is crucial for any fledgling gambler.

But if you fail to reap any positive benefits from losses, you’re bound to repeat careless rookie mistakes.

7 ‒ Inadequate Bankroll Management

The one thing that holds beginners back more than any other factor is bankroll management.

Without an effective and responsible money management system in place, gamblers are bound to fail. Luckily, these systems are relatively easy to comprehend and implement.

A bankroll should be made up of funds that come from a surplus in your budget. If the money you’re using to gamble should be spent on more pressing matters, there’s a good chance you will lose it.

Gambling with an amount of money that makes you uneasy rarely leads to profitable gambling, especially if you lack experience. Feelings of discomfort at the table should be a clear sign that you have no business gambling in the first place.

Conclusion

When it comes to gambling, improvement, and growth come at a slow and steady pace. Despite their best efforts, many new gamblers derail this process and stunt their growth.

Simple things like gambling with the same people over and over again and only learning to play one game are common errors that can put progress on hold.

Other problems are more inherent, including focusing on negative short-term results instead of positive long-term outcomes.

Gambling is typically more intriguing with money on the line, but casual games are often beneficial to inexperienced players.

The most common issue gamblers will encounter is an inability to manage their bankroll responsibly. Without discipline and self-control, gamblers will find it hard to grow as a player and develop skills.