Let’s face it. It’s easy to have bet regret.
Almost all of us have been there. Making a bet that you wish you hadn’t made at all. There are so many reasons you could be regretting that bet, from making a bet you can’t really afford to placing a bet on an unlikely outcome on a whim.
And that sinking feeling is never a good thing to have. You don’t have to be addicted to gambling to have bet regret. It really can happen to anyone. So it’s important to know how to avoid it.
The advice we’re going to give you is actually very straightforward and easy to incorporate into any betting session. So read on, take note, and say goodbye to bet regret.
Keep an eye on your budget to avoid bet regret
One of the main causes of bet regret is spending more than you intended to or, indeed, more than you can afford. Working out a gambling budget is crucial to sticking within your means and within the amount you feel comfortable with. Plus many online gambling sites give you the option to set deposit limits, making it that bit easier to stick to your budget.
If you’re betting in real life, you can also simply leave your cards at home and only leave the house with a set amount of money for your in-person betting session.
Never chase your losses
If you lose a bet, it can hurt. Whether it’s financial hurt or pride, it can certainly sting. But the last thing you should do if you lose a bet and feel bad about it is putting on another one straight away to try to make yourself feel better.
This leads to ill thought out bets and bad decisions. If it’s not a bet you planned to make that day, it shouldn’t be a bet you make. It’s a surefire way to get into bet regret.
Don’t gamble if you’re feeling bad to avoid bet regret
Tired, stressed, anxious, angry, sad, even hungry. All of these things can affect your judgement. And all of these things can make you place bets you later regret. So if you’re not feeling great, giving gambling a rest for the day.
Limit your gambling time to avoid bet regret
If you spend a long time on a gambling session, let’s face it, you’re not going to be fresh towards the end. Again, sloppy decisions can be made and that can lead to bets you later regard as mistakes. If you’re betting online, a lot of sites let you set time limits so that you can keep your sessions within a particular time frame.
Another option to limit the days or times of the day that you gamble is by using time outs. These short breaks from gambling can be one-off (say for a holiday) or recurring (say for the working week) and can really help you manage your time better.
Alternatively, if you’re gambling in person, you can set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to walk away.
More responsible gambling information
Now that you’re up to speed on bet regret and how to avoid it, here are some other resources that might interest you. Be Gamble Aware is an excellent UK organisation that educates the public on how and where to get help. It’s a free resource open to anyone and we really rate it.
We’ve also written extensively on responsible gambling in the past. Here are some examples of articles we think you might find useful:
