Here at Go Spin, we regularly offer gambling tips for beginners, most of which focus on how to improve their odds and win. This time, we’ll do something different. Today, we’ll look at common online casino mistakes. If you’re signing up for an online casino for the first time, there are ten critical things you should avoid.
#1 Not Using Responsible Gambling Tools
You’d be surprised how many players (even experienced ones) make this mistake. Not making use of deposit, wager and loss limiting tools or setting reality checks is a big mistake. These tools ensure safe, secure gameplay by preventing you from indulging in habits that lead to problem gambling. Always make full use of any responsible gambling tools supported at a casino. Avoiding these tools is one of the classic online casino mistakes.
#2 Ignoring Basic Bankroll Rules
Another classic online casino mistake is to ignore basic bankroll rules. Many newbies mistakenly believe they can wing it and monitor their finances on the fly. Don’t do that. Set a budget, decide what your stakes are, and stick to them throughout your gaming experience. Having good bankroll habits is essential to safe, fun gameplay.
#3 Failing to Check Licensing and Regulation
Admittedly, players in countries where no national licensing authorities are present may sign up at any casino that will take them. However, if you reside in a country where a gambling authority is active, choosing a casino with a national license is a must. It is 100% legal to play at these sites, and you’ll receive all sorts of player protections. If your country doesn’t have such a body, then you should certainly check the licenses and regulations of a new casino to ensure they have high standards. Not doing so is one of the most dangerous online casino mistakes.
#4 Chasing Losses
Learning how to avoid losses should be one of the first things you do, even before you make your first bet. With responsible gambling tools in place, you aren’t likely to fall into this trap. Even so, you should never chase your losses. You won’t win every time, and if you come out losing money, call it quits. Pack it up for the day, and take some time to clear your head and accept your loss. Come back stronger another day by all means, but don’t dwell on losses. It will consume you and is a slippery slope.
#5 Playing Games Without Understanding Them
You might think you know how to play a casino game, but do you really? After all, there are numerous variants out there with slight tweaks and variations on the rules. Because almost every game (live dealer games excluded) is available for free as a demo, there’s no excuse for not having a look at titles before you wager real money on them. Failing to do so is a common online casino mistake that can easily be avoided.
#6 Claiming Bonuses Without Reading the T&Cs
This is one of those “if we had a penny for every time” things. All too often, newbies dive in headfirst and claim the biggest bonus they can find without reading the terms and conditions associated with it. They’ll then complain (erroneously)about being scammed. It isn’t always the biggest value bonus that you should opt for. Always explore T&Cs such as wagering requirements, deposit-to-withdraw terms, maximum win/withdrawal limits, game eligibility and others. Never assume you can claim a sizable bonus and simply withdraw it with no questions asked. Unless we’re talking about wager-free bonuses, that’s not how things work.
#7 Selecting Games Based on the Prizes Available
Many players dream of epic, life-changing wins. For that reason, they’ll tend to play the games with the highest value prizes. However, these games may not be ideal for everyone. The biggest prizes tend to exist in highly volatile games, and these are best suited to players with large budgets to sustain losing streaks. Instead, we’d encourage you to pick games based on volatility, RTP rates and house edges rather than the prizes on show. Sometimes, a series of small but regular wins promote a healthier balance than trying to hang it out for a once-in-a-lifetime prize.
#8 Trusting Popular Opinion
Everybody has a motive. Casinos may try to promote games that they want you to play by advertising them as “hot” or “popular”. They aren’t likely to be the best-paying games but titles that are tailored in some way, shape, or form to benefit the house. Similarly, there are lots of reviewers who overhype games. We encourage you to test drive slots and games for free. By all means, see what the public thinks about specific titles, but don’t take anyone at their word – try, test, play for free and find out for yourself. That’s a lot safer than being misled by popular opinion and ploughing hundreds or thousands of dollars into a game that, ultimately, you end up not liking.
#9 Believing That Hot and Cold Is a Thing
Lots of casino games feature “Hot” and “Cold” mechanics. These really do tell you which prizes or bets have gone a long time without cropping up (cold) or that have recently featured in a game (hot). However, proper casino games are unpredictable, and each bet is supposed to deliver a random outcome – this makes the whole hot and cold concept rather pointless. By all means, you can look at hot and cold options for inspiration but don’t take them as a fact. Never assume a game is going to pay or a bet isn’t going to come up because it either hasn’t done so for a while or did so recently.
#10 Ignoring Payment Rules, Especially for Withdrawals
Sometimes, everything you need to know is there in the small print. It isn’t just the bonus T&Cs you should consider. It’s worth looking at the rules surrounding payments, specifically withdrawals. In many cases, when players complain about a site in public, it’s often because they haven’t read the withdrawal terms and conditions, where they’ll find information on pending periods, transaction times, withdrawal limits and KYC processes.
