How do you view a "break even" trip?

To answer the specific questions:

1: I do not have a "win goal". I play poker, and if I am in a good game I continue. If not, I stop and find another. When I am in a casino, I do not have a win goal either. I constantly readjust.

2: A person will never "win enough". Human nature and greed will easily trump "enough".

3: I fear losing the moment I walk through the casino or poker room doors.

4: If playing a -EV game, the more you play, the more you will lose.

5: Of course, you might win big on the next spin. What are the odds?

When I "gamble", and I sometimes will play -EV casino games after a poker session, I will begin by determining my "budget". Whether $10.00 -$20.00 (rarely more for -EV games).

I will run my money through once, than "adjust".
If down, I may quit. :::shrug:::
If up, I may decide to run it (origin, not profit) through again once.
If I have a big win, I reevaluate. Perhaps I've just won $300.00 on my origin of $10.00-$20.00. I "cash out", or TITO out. When I reevaluate, I will say to myself, "I am above origin by $300. I will allow myself to continue to play, and put 10% at risk. I may choose 20%, or some other amount."

I than start of with my "new" amount of xx%, and run it through once. Than readjust. I constantly readjust, and consider my "origin". I take this approach on machines and table games. Table games I put whatever I receive into a different stack of chips, and readjust when my original stack is "done".

I will never quit at the high point, if I'm winning, I will continue to try to win more. But by constantly evaluating, and adjusting my "origin", it is almost impossible for me to lose back a significant win.

If I only get to play a short while, so be it. If I want to play for a long time, I can play pennies instead of dollars. After all, I am playing, and gambling "For Recreation".

Hmmm.... for $3,700.00 I could......

Buy a new game system, and games including DDB, etc.
Hire a scantily clad hot female to serve me.
Hire a personal chef to feed me.
Hire a bartender to get me drunk.
Hire a "hostess" to kiss my ass and pretend to really like me.
Stay home and not run any risk of injury, etc.
And have "fun" in a cleaner, safer environment.

Oh, and have money left over!

When I find myself stuck a bunch and hit a big jackpot to get me even or ahead a little, I find that very rewarding. I like to go back to the bank as quickly as possible to return the money I had taken out to get started playing.

I've felt break even trips are always good trips. We all want to win, but let's face it, that's not in the cards. From time to time someone will talk to me about they win most of the time and it's at that point that I learn to be wary of other statements they make in the future! As has been said a million times, they didn't build these joints on losers.

These days I pay for most everything including rooms due to lower activity. However, when I can come to town for a week, stay in a nice room, eat good, play golf on great courses (thanx Bob) and go home for less than a grand, life is good. This includes gambling. Win some, lose some and have a great time.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

I know plenty of Advantage Players who will win the majority of their trips. Its not that hard if you play the right games and exploit the right promos. The vast majority of casino players wouldn't know an advantage play if they saw one.

I agree completely! What a trip for only a grand. Go to Disney, Hawaii- anything else, and you do not have the "Chance" of coming home with some of the money you would have never gotten back from another vacation- yet you still stay in a nice hotel, eat well and get entertained.

Always would like to win

BUT that said, I think the same way as Snidely...It's a win in my book!

As an "advantage player, I find it is not too difficult to have a "winning" casino visit.

My daily log supports my conclusion that I have many more winning visits than losing visits to "casino's". (NOT including poker room actions) But the "casino" portion of my visit may be for as few as one play for a promo, or longer. IF I do not believe/know I have an advantage, I'm most likely not playing anything, just looking for an opportunity to play. Maybe an STP bonus, or other banking machine, etc.

However, it is far more difficult to have a trip where the "win" (or +EV) exceeds the costs of making that visit.

1) I consider it a break even trip when I bring home all the gambling money I took....I'm only out hotel, food, car, shows and flights but that is a given.
2) I consider it a winning trip when I pay for the whole trip with winnings and still bring home my gambling money. (has happened 3 times in last 10 years)
3) I consider it a losing trip if I don't enjoy myself. So far, that hasn't happened....

and yes, a break even trip is a very good trip!!!

Remember, only spend what you can afford.

I didn't say no one can consistantly win. A true advantage player can certainly win more than lose. The vast majority that participates in this forum is much closer to recreational than advantage though. Kinda like a line from a Danny O'Keefe song that jackson Browne did on his live album. "They forget about the losses and exagerate the wins." I come close to breaking even on most trips, but not because I'm good enough to be an advantage player. I just bet conservatively on craps. On the flipside, I don't end up winning a ton when I win because of that strategy.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

When I travel w/ my wife, 'Breaking Even' means I got to win a lot. Usually, when we go out to Vegas, I am there for a conference and she is tagging along. She got hooked on cabana rentals a few years back. So, I work during the day, and we meet up about 5 or so to go out at night. Plus, she likes the spa too. Between the Spa & the pool, in theory, I'd have to win $500 a day just to cover here costs. To add to that dilemna if I have a really, really good day like I had last year (won $40 bet a 22:1 on Nascar & won about $500 playing poker), she wants to go spend that money right then which we tried to walking from Paris to the Bellagio for dinner at Le Cirque.

Honestly, I am happy if I am putting $1000 back in the checking account when I get back home. Anymore than that is gravy.