Whether in the form of casino gambling, purchasing lottery tickets, or a day at the race track,  a high percentage of the population gamble on a regular basis. If you are like most people that visit Las Vegas, you are going to gamble. As long as you do not lose more than you can afford to lose, social gambling is an acceptible form of entertainment.  Here are a few gambling tips to assist you to cut down the casino odds or even turn them in your favor.

Know the game

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you walk into a casino is to play a game that you do not know.  Most casinos offer free lessons for many of the table games including black jack, craps, roulette, and baccarat.  When the lessons are over and you want to play for real, try to pick a table that is less than full. If there is anything that you don't understand about the game you will feel less intimidated to ask the dealer for direction. The dealers are there to make the casino money but they will help you understand the rules so that you enjoy your gaming.  If the dealer is helpful and willing to assist, a tip or placing a side bet for the dealer would be appreciated.

Money Managment

Good money management is going to be one of your best friends in the casino.  Money management will work for you if you stick to the rules that you have put in place.  To devise a money management program for yourself, figure out how much money you can afford to lose for the duration of your trip and divide this by the number of days you will be in Las Vegas. Now divide that number by the number of gambling sessions you expect to have in each day, the result is your bankroll for each session. Place the bankroll for each gambling session into an envelope, and mark the date or session number on the envelope.  When you go to the casino to gamble you will only risk the amount that you have put aside for that session and only play for as long as you have allowed.   Do not use any money that is earmarked for another session through any periods of rough luck. Place your winnings back in the enevelope at the end of each session and do not use this money during a losing streak.  At the end of your trip you should have one envelope for each session, some will contain nothing, but hopefully you will have a few left that still have your orginal amount plus a few dollars.   The key to making this work is self discipline, without it, you will almost always walk away a loser.

Know when to fold them

You are sitting at $5 blackjack and every hand you get seems to be a winner, the logical thing to do is up your bets.  If your unit bet is $5 you increase your bet by one unit, win the hand and maybe increase by one more unit but still playing at a level that you are comfortable with. With each increase you will be winning a unit or two.  If you lose the hand, drop your bet back down to your original unit bet and repeat the process of increases, this will make your gambling session last longer and you will have more fun for a longer period of time.  If the dealer is hot and  wins four consecutive hands it's time to change tables. Luck is somthing that comes and goes, even for dealers, but there is no point in you playing against a dealer waiting for his luck to go.  

Players Cards

Players cards, which resemble a credit card, store and track information about the person that it is assigned to.  These cards allow the casino to store information on computer such as the games you played, how long you played, and your average wager per session.  When you register for the players card at any casino basic information is recorded such as your address and phone number, this information allows the casino to contact you with special offers or comps which often include room discounts or invitations to slot tournaments.  These comps are freebies to you, take advantage and reduce your costs for meals, drinks, shows while you are at the casino. Use of the players cards could also entitle you to cash back and in some cases free rooms. The amount that a casino is willing to comp depends on  the average amount wagered and for how long a player gambles. Ask the clerk at the registration desk for specific details about the casino comp program.  The time limit for using any comps you earn is usually 6 months, it is therefore advised to cash out any comps before you leave for home. In many cases couples are allowed to use one account to track the play of both players(ask for 2 cards) which will earn the comps at double the rate, this is a much better strategy to use especially if you do not anticipate going back to the particular casino within the timeframe permitted before the points expire. The most important thing to remember is to use the players card but do not adjust your play to gain any comps, in the long run it is cheaper to purchase what you want than to try and earn it with comps.

Fun Books

While you are registering for a player card most casinos will give you a fun book with coupons for discounts in their casino restaurants, discounts in their shops and free drinks. Some of these fun books also contain match play coupons which may be used to increase your bet at some of the table games, use them!  If you should happen to win your hand at black jack or the spin at the roulette wheel you are being paid at 3:1 odds with a $5.00 be