by Earl Mcgill

Created on: August 29, 2009

Before embarking on this familiar, more-often-than-not futile topic, it may be well to remind the reader that all of those sparkling pleasure palaces called casinos were not built out of someone's philanthropic desire to promote the pursuit of happiness guaranteed by our Declaration of Independence.

It would therefore be disingenuous to even suggest that a casino-any casino-can actually be beaten, especially at their own game. What you have to do is to play your game. I've been doing it for nearly half a century and it has never failed.

The key word is "game." When gambling becomes gaming, the objective is no longer to go home rich, but to enjoy the excitement and unique environment of the pursuit.

Look at it this way: If you paid a hundred bucks for a concert ticket you would not expect to leave the concert with more money than you walked in with, would you? The same applies to gaming. When losses become expenses, the real fun begins. Treat gaming as first class entertainment, which it usually is, and you will never leave a loser.

You could even be the big winner!

I should mention that a long, long time ago I started out as a gambler. In those dark days a trip to a casino often turned out disappointing and depressing. On one occasion, at a Reno crap table, a friend and I were betting equally and at one point were ahead by the same considerable amount. He scooped up his chips, cashed them in, walked down the street, and bought a new Cadillac. I went home broke-albeit in a new Cadillac.

So how does one become a winner?

First, never gamble an amount that might put you in so deep that you won't be able to pay your way out of of debt. This is the old "don't lose more than you can afford" rule, with a slightly different take on the word afford. Although you might not be able to afford a new car, a vacation costing a couple thousand dollars that includes casino gaming is probably not out of the question. And if you need a vacation, you should take it.

Second, establish an amount you will spend on entertainment. Be fairly generous and totally realistic. Telling yourself that you will lose no more than a certain amount almost guarantees that you will lose that amount. Each time you sit down at a table or machine, instead of determining what you can afford to lose, establish a winning goal at that particular table or machine. I usually plan to cash in my chips when I've doubled my original investment. In other words, if I start a round of blackjack with a hundred dollar

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