How to be a Fit and Healthy Gambler

Many of you will be familiar with these lyrics from Kenny Rogers song The Gambler, which tells the tale of a man who wasn’t afraid of a smoke or a drink while playing cards. However, while cigarettes and alcohol are often synonymous with old-school casino playing, many professional gamblers adopt much healthier habits, which helps them approach online gaming from afar sharper perspective.

In this article, we provide a few helpful tips for a healthy lifestyle and how that can translate into being successful when it comes to playing online slots, live dealer or any of the other table games that you might find at your favourite casino. We hope that this aids you in your quest for a long-term profit.

How Exercise Helps You to Gamble Better

Going to a bricks-and-mortar casino involves entering a smoky arena where waitresses would bring you something alcoholic regularly in a bid to keep you at the venue for as long as possible. On the other hand, an online casino is an entirely different experience, and that’s even the case when you are playing Live Casino games.

Online casino customers play through their desktop, tablet or mobile device, and they’re able to load up their favourite casino site and play online slots or Live Dealer without having to leave the comfort of their own house. However, we would warn against being a couch potato, considering our experience tells us that effectively playing can tie in with regular exercise.

It might involve running on the treadmill, lifting weights, and even spending some time on the rowing machine, which is a great workout.

Alternatively, we often lace up some trainers and head out for a morning run, something which helps to clear our heads so that when the time comes to enjoy our favourite casino games, we can sit back and relax knowing that we have that pleasant ache in our legs. At the same time, you might also feel more chilled and take a calmer approach.

Eat Healthy Food and Reap the Benefits at the Casino

We can use “The Gambler” to teach us about life and, while ‘throwing away’ might have referred to bad cards, we can also apply this to unhealthy food, which is often best to discard to ensure that you have better living habits in the long run. Binning high-calorie snacks and drinks is something that ties in with an improved lifestyle and keeps you in better shape when it comes to a long casino or poker session.

If you’re planning on playing in a big poker tournament, then it might seem like a good idea to dial in some takeaway food along the way, especially if you’re glued to the screen, and it’s a struggle to get away from the action. However, a smart player might look to bulk up on a healthy and nutritious meal before they get involved, and that will help boost their energy levels for the next few hours.

It’s also super easy to pre-prepare something like a smoothie, which can be backed with:

• fruits
• yogurt
• almond milk
• honey
• porridge oats.

You whizz together all the ingredients and then keep it in the fridge to easily access this delicious treat which can be enjoyed while you’re playing poker or casino at your favourite operator site.

It means that you continue to feel the benefits of downing a bowl of porridge or a smoothie with oats a long way into a casino session, so you don’t feel hungry as quickly.

If You’re Going to Snack, Do it Healthy!

We’re all guilty of a snack attack from time to time. You might be playing the latest online slot game and doing pretty well, but you hear that stomach rumbling and decide to raid the cupboard. Sure enough, there’s nothing wrong with a packet of chips to quell that rumbling. However, it’s even better if you’re able to steer yourself away from empty calorie snacks and eat something more beneficial.

It kinda makes sense – who wants to have a heavy stomach that is bulging and makes you really sleepy when you need to be switched on when playing live dealer blackjack?

So if you feel the need to snack, some excellent healthy choices could see you on to a winner. The fruit is always a good option, and bananas are our go-to piece of fruit from a health point-of-view. Nuts are a good one too, and we’re not even averse to having some salted peanuts in moderation.

Consider also things like soya beans, which can be bought in freezer bags, and it’s a simple case of putting them in a microwave for a few minutes and then tucking in. A squeeze of lime juice and a touch of salt makes them delicious. You can also get high-protein cereal bars that are going to help you snack should you want to remain to play online casino games at that moment in time.

Play Casino Little and Often to Stay Healthy

When you first sign up with an online casino, there is a choice to set yourself some basic limits, and they are always putting in place. Casino play can be tremendously exciting, and you may get swept away from time to time. Putting a deposit limit and even a maximum time limit with your favourite online casino will ensure that you can maximize the fun and know “when to fold them”.

This can be a daily, weekly or monthly amount that can be put into your account. Once you have deposited the maximum amount, you will be restricted when it comes to putting in any further money until that particular period has elapsed.

We understand that a particular poker tournament might call for a player to be online for several hours in one session. However, there is usually a break period with this and tournaments of this nature often require a pre-determined buy-in, so it’s not always the case that you will come towards a deposit limit.

However, the online casino slot games are a different kettle of fish. That means you can be spinning the reels every few seconds, and a losing run can be especially punishing, which leads customers actually to think that they are “due a win”. While there is an RTP with every online casino, it doesn’t mean there are any guarantees.

Run, Walk, Cycle or Swim Your Way to Fitness

As human beings, we are all different shapes and sizes. Most of us are capable of a brisk walk if nothing else, and it’s great to get into the great outdoors and get some air daily. If you’re planning on placing some bets on a particular day, why not use a walk to clear your head and consider setting a time limit on how long you are going to play and how much you are prepared to risk.

For those who have a bike, cycling is an excellent pastime that enables you to cover the ground a lot quicker than you would if you were walking. For those who have problems with their knees or other ailments, getting on the bike can be an excellent alternative to running, while some will prefer to head to their local swimming pool and get a few lengths in as part of a weekly routine.

We’re not sure when jogging becomes running, and we might fall into the former category more often than not. However, whether you’re going around the block, running a 10k or going for an even longer distance, we think there’s nothing better than a tiring run, which leaves you in the mood to place a few bets.

We hope you can enjoy some of this excellent advice and move forward to become healthier. Make sure you also grab plenty of sleep to keep balance, and we would never recommend playing at the online casinos when you’re exhausted like the characters who are mentioned in the famous Kenny Rogers song.

10 Ways to Stay Balanced When You’re Gambling

While we all enjoy placing online bets and enjoying some action at the casino, betting customers should be aware there are pitfalls associated with online wagering because it’s easy to slip into bad habits. There is a slippery slope when it comes to gambling addiction, and placing bets should always be regarded as a healthy recreational pursuit rather than anything more serious.

Thankfully, the operators are now very responsible for making sure that their customers bet sensibly. However, it’s still very much down to individual responsibility to ensure that you stay on the straight and narrow on a long-term basis.

Weigh Up the Pros and Cons of Your Bets

It’s super easy to get carried away when it comes to a certain team winning or a particular strategy that might be deployed when you’re playing casino. However, how many times you went in like a bull in a china shop and then realized the error of your ways.

Many successful companies have done well in business by deploying something called SWOT analysis. This stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It means that punters can take a more rounded approach and look at potential pitfalls with how they are operating.

Ultimately, there is never such a bet that can be described as a bona fide good thing, even if it comes across that way. There are pros and cons to every approach.

Take a Lower-Risk Approach to Your Casino and Sports Plays

When it comes to playing online casino slots, there is always a wide range of options when it comes to spinning the reels. If you’ve not considered this before, check out the RTP for each slot that you’re considering. This stands for Return to Player, and it summarises how much you should expect to get back on average for level stakes.

That is a big difference in average payout, and the same applies when it comes to selecting the stake you are gambling every time you spin the reels. If you’re not sure, be sure to spin for a small amount, to begin with.

Sports bettors can take a similar approach, and it pays to look for low margin betting markets. The Asian Handicap betting market is always the right place to start, and you should start with a modest staking plan.

Don’t Chase Your Losses

Just because the roulette ball has landed on red for the past eight occasions doesn’t mean that it’s due to land on black next. After all, the mathematical probability for every spin is exactly the same, and a losing run does not mean that you’ll then get a winning run following hard on its heels.

Yes, we all want to win when we play online casino or place sports bets, although the bare truth is that this is not always possible. Sometimes we’re going to have a gambling session when Lady Luck is not on our side, and we need to know when to stop and walk away to lick our wounds rather than have salt rubbed into them.

Set a Staking Plan

We know that the vast majority of gamblers don’t have a staking plan, not even a rough one in their head where they know how much they are going to gamble each time they visit an online casino or bookmaker. It means you are already losing a trick against the bookmaker if you don’t have a firm idea of how much you plan to bet each time you visit them.

You should know how much you are going to risk per spin if you’re playing at the casino slots and when you’re going to stop depending on how well you’re faring.

Sports bettors need to know how much you’re going to risk per sports bet and whether you will gamble different amounts depending on the odds for each selection.

Make Notes – Lots of Them!

Whether you enjoy playing at online casinos or online sportsbooks or a combination of both, the bottom line is that you will be more successful when playing certain games / betting on certain sports than others.

For example, an online casino player might find that they’re more likely to win when playing a particular slot game or table game. They should be making a note when they’re successful to make sure that they understand where the best profits are coming from.

After all, you have an absolute myriad of sports on which to bet. There are many events within each sport, and each event has a large volume of available betting markets. Therefore, it stands to reason that each experience is going to be different.

Take a Break From Gambling

With so much live sport taking place around the world and online casinos operating on a 24/7 basis, it’s technically possible for betting customers to log into their account on any given day and at any given time and start wagering. On the one hand, it’s great to enjoy this flexibility, although, on the other, it can be a dangerous thing having such ready access to wagering opportunities.

It might be a couple of days away from your favourite casino app, and there’s nothing wrong with deleting the app from your phone and just taking a breather to get some perspective.

Hang Out With Friends and Family

Online betting and casino aren’t the most sociable of activities for the most part, even if some players enjoy engaging with a live dealer at a casino website. Ultimately, you’re still in an online world where you’re pitting your wits against the house, and it’s nice to remember what life is all about, including friends and family.

It’s even helpful to talk about your online casino play with a friend, and perhaps they’ll recommend playing a little bit less some of the time. Taking a walk in the park, having a fantastic meal, or going out for drinks makes you realize what life is really about.

Take Up a New Hobby Like Golf

Now we realize that golf isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, although one of the big things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic was that many people around the world signed up with their local golf club and started playing this wonderful game. It meant they could go out on the course for hours and finesse their game despite being pretty difficult.

There are lots of options for those who want to try their hand at a new sport depending on where you are based.

Go and See a Therapist

If you’re concerned about your mental health or feel like it could be a lot better, then there’s always the option to seek help. In the same way, when you join a gym to benefit your physical health. There’s nothing scary about seeing a therapist, and it’s a great way of sitting down with someone professional and talking about yourself.

Mental wellbeing should be of paramount importance, and being able to rationalize your thoughts and emotions is always a good thing. You could even talk to someone about your gambling, and it doesn’t have to be a therapist if you feel as though it’s getting out of hand.

Enjoy Life by Laughing, Singing, and Dancing

As the Monty Python song goes:

This important motto says that “life’s a bit of spit when you look at it.” Those people who don’t take life too seriously are generally better off even if it’s not in money terms. It’s important to take a light-hearted approach sometimes and avoid getting bogged down in the minutiae of things.

They say that laughter is the best medicine and when was the last time you enjoyed a good hearty laugh with your friends? The laughing where your sides are splitting, and you’re crying tears of joy?

If laughter isn’t available, how about a good sing to your favourite tunes, whether you’re at home or driving in the car? And if you’re not driving, then how about dancing the night away to your favourite music. Nothing is a better stress reliever than having a good boogie, and any thoughts about gambling will gradually drift away.