Set a money limit and stick to it
Decide before you go not only what you can afford to lose, but how much you want to spend. Do not change your mind after losing.
Set a time limit and stick to it
Decide how much of your time you want to allow for gambling. Leave when you reach the time limit, whether you are winning or losing.
Make it a rule not to gamble on credit
Do not borrow to gamble, including getting cash advances on your credit card. Consider any losses the cost of recreation. Expect to lose and treat any winnings as a bonus.
Don’t gamble as a way to cope with emotional or physical pain
Gambling is meant to be entertainment and should not replace coping skills. Create balance in your life. Gambling should not interfere with or substitute for friends, family, work or other worthwhile activities.
Avoid trying to win back lost money
Chances are, the more you try to recoup your losses, the larger your losses will be. If gambling no longer is “fun,” ask yourself why you still are “playing.”
Source: Nebraska Council on Compulsive Gambling
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