Whether you like it or not, casinos use psychology to turn regular people into more productive gaming guests. Unfortunately, a more productive player for the casino is someone that plays longer at higher limits and loses more money. But did you know that you can use psychology of your own to play a better game, whether you are into slots and video poker, live poker, or table games? It's true, and you can start learning how to turn the tables on the casinos right now!

Slot Machines and Video Poker

When it come to slots, casinos have enjoyed unparalleled growth in income the past ten years, and the psychological manipulation is extreme. Today's most popular machines are called penny slots. That's the first problem. The casino want's you to think it's offering a harmless game that just costs a few pennies to play. Hah! You can't get to the bonus screen without playing either multiple lines (sometimes as many as 50), or multiple coins per line. Unfortunately, most players do both, and find that a single pull of the handle or a simple push of a button costs $1.50 to $5. Twenty years ago the biggest slot players were on the $1, single-coin machines. Does a penny slot or a dollar slot sound more expensive to play?

In addition, new slot machines are fast! You can play dozens of times per minute, instead of what used to take about 10-seconds per pull. The other insidious change on the new slots is their ability to flash WINNER when you get back 72-cents from your $5 wager.

Think about that. What can you do to combat the psychology? Firstly, don't fall into the trap of playing machines just as a way to get away from your everyday life. Studies show that many people play as an escape. Instead, force yourself to play as fun entertainment, and put a time limit on your play!

If you play slots, find the one you like best, not the one with the biggest jackpot, or the most bells and whistles. And, you don't have to play maximum credits every spin. Make sure you know how many lines and credits to be included in a bonus, but would it be so bad if you played 50-cents and got a bonus based on that as opposed to playing $5 and getting your bonus based on the larger bet? Sure, it's fun to win more on the bonus, but what about the cost of getting to that screen in the first place, or going broke before you even make it there?

Keep the same thinking going for your video poker play. Playing nickles is fun. Do you need to play a higher denomination? That's up to you and your bankroll, but what about multiple lines? Triple-Play is great fun, but it's also three-times more expensive. Are you a video junkie? Do you need Five-Play or Ten-Play? Why? Just keep in mind that to combat those multiple hands you better play perfect strategy. Any minor errors are multiplied by the number of lines you play!

Keno

Sure, Keno is Old School. So what? The game is not a big money maker for the casino even though the house edge is high, but you can use some positive psychology here by playing it as a diversion, a way to enjoy the surroundings, the chance to win big, and a chance to play a game for a buck or two! It can also be played at meal time, which can help get yourself and your friends out of the casino for a while. If you still need the fix, play a game or two of Keno while you dine.

Table Games

If you love to play table games, don't be intimidated about asking for help understanding how a new game is played. If you don't know the rules and play poorly, the casino beats you with psychology and with a new game. If you play blackjack, basic strategy is a must! Learn the rules before you play for real money and you will not only feel more comfortable, you'll do better because a confident mind makes better decisions - and that includes how much to bet and when to quit. Casinos may not have clocks, and the light may never dim, but you are smart enough to know time is passing. Leave when you are tired or not playing well.

Another thing about making good decisions is your overall happiness. Don't gamble when you are depressed because you will be numbed to the bad hands and your losses. Gamble when you are in a good mood so you can enjoy the fun and the other players. That said, casinos stress customer service and try to hire personable dealers, so enjoy their company, but don't keep playing when you are losing and exceeding your bankroll because you like the dealer. Your gambling is about you and your money, not your social interaction. The dealer may be pulling for you, but they can't affect the cards, no matter how nice they are. Don't be manipulated. Quit at a sensible time.

Poker

You really need your game face on when playing poker, no doubt about it, but consider what your fellow players are thinking. Not just about themselves, but about you! You will eventually put each player into a category of loose/tight, good/bad, and tricky/unreadable, but you might as well use some psychology on them also.To start with, a happy player is often read as either a poor player who doesn't know any better, or a good player who is confident. So, you might as well be happy, smile, and feel good about yourself. You'll make better decisions and be more intimidating. That's a plus.

If you appear confident at the table, players will be a bit wary, and they'll be less apt to try and bluff you. They won't be nearly as aggressive. On the other hand, if they think you don't know what you are doing, that's actually a plus, because they will make mistakes, and you won't. Enjoy it while you can, because before they know it, you'll have a bunch of chips that used to be theirs!