Don’t Learn How to Gamble by Gambling

How to Gamble: If you don’t know the rules, don’t play the game

Every gambler on the face of the planet was a novice at some point in time. We all had to learn how to play various games, how to place specific wagers, and how to understand payout schedules. It’s not nearly so easy as they make it out to be in the movies or on television.

If there’s anything at all you need to know about gambling before you do it, it’s that you should never, ever, place a real money bet on anything if you don’t fully comprehend the rules. It’s hard enough to win a bet that you do understand.

Learning How To Gamble First

Most of us learn the most basic principles of gambling at a young age. I’m not saying it’s a good idea to teach children to gamble, but how many of us played five card draw around the kitchen table with a relative growing up? In my family, it was a favorite Friday night pastime. We didn’t gamble for money, though. We went down to the local store and grabbed a few dollars worth of penny candy, split it up, and spent quality family time around the table.

Not everyone grows up in this fashion, though. For many of you, the urge to gamble doesn’t arise until you come of age. This is where lack of knowledge can be very dangerous.

Pick a Game to Learn

The first thing you’ll want to do is a pick a type of game or wager that you find interesting. Maybe you’re a sports fan, or want to learn the rules of poker or blackjack. Perhaps you’d like to take a whirl on the slot machines, or visit the track to bet on the ponies.

Whatever it is that piques your interest, take a little time to learn more about it. Some games are fairly simple to learn, while others can take a great deal of study.

Blackjack, for instance, has an easy objective – achieve a higher total than the dealer without going over 21. But even then, there are many decisions to be made, like doubling, splitting, taking insurance, etc. And just knowing how to play doesn’t mean you’ll be good at it. Blackjack is generally a game of great strategy.

Slot machines may seem like the simplest game of all, but again, there are finer points to be learned. Knowing how to read a paytable, and what it takes to trigger a feature or unleash a progressive jackpot, will help you make better decisions on what games to play and how much to bet.

Sports betting and horse race betting are also much more complicated than they appear. Just understanding how to read the odds on a sportsbook can be a trial, not to mention learning all the different types of wagers and prop bets available. As for horse racing, it operates on a pari-mutuel basis. That’s something you’ll want to research in detail before undertaking.

How To Learn to Gamble For Free

One final tip – don’t lose your money learning to gamble. Online casinos provide all of their games for free in practice mode. There are tons of mobile simulator apps for more difficult games, like sports betting and pari-mutuels. Make use of this free knowledge, and you’ll know how to gamble the right way in no time.