Free Drinks at the Casino? No, Thanks.

Perhaps the easiest perk one could get in a casino is a free drink. One only needs to begin playing at a machine or start betting at a table and the cocktails will just come. Most players think that they should maximize this opportunity: since one could lose so much cash in a single night, why not make up for it by abusing this free service?

The sad truth, of course, is that the drinks do come at a price, and a hefty one at that: alcohol can easily cloud one's judgment and can loosen one's inhibition. Happy consumers of the free drinks offered at a casino would play more impulsively and with less strategy, making them lose more money in the process.

The effect of too much alcohol is more pronounced on casino games that require certain strategic decisions. A player at a blackjack table, for example, could hastily double down on weak cards. A player at a poker table could easily fall for a slow play, and would have a difficult time maintaining a poker face.

Alcohol drinking at the casino would also affect even those who play at chance machines. Even though it seems that one only needs to keep on pushing the play button, you actually need to pay attention as to how much you are losing or earning in slots. Since modern slot machines are reliant on virtual credit and not on tokens, a drowsy player could easily throw away whatever one has earned through making incorrect decisions.

But perhaps the worst blend would be alcohol and a beginning player. Since impulsive tendencies are a given for beginning casino players, alcohol multiplies these money-losing drives to the umpteenth level. Add to this mix the relatively little knowledge about the games that beginning players have, and one could only hope for a lucky break or expect disaster.

If you are planning a trip to a casino, lay off the drinks before and while playing. Try to keep your attention only on the games and on winning. Aside from drinks, the casino serves up other forms of distractions, so always keep your eyes on the cards or on the machine.

If you want to enjoy a few drinks, do it at the end of your gambling session, after you have played all of your games. If you went on a winning streak, think of it as your little celebration. If you lose, then the drinks could release you from a possible stressful condition.

Just keep in mind, when at a casino, your aim should be to be in control. The free drinks are a trap to make you fail miserably.