Blackjack has the reputation for being an expensive game. This perception is only furthered by $25 minimum bets featured at many land-based casinos. However, you can actually play blackjack rather cheaply. In fact, you can enjoy this casino classic for as little as $10. And no, I’m not talking about betting the entire $10 on a single hand. Let’s say that you have a bankroll of $500 and you’re an aggressive bettor with a maximum bet of $25 (5%). Let’s say that you win a bet for $100 and you now have a bankroll of $600. Technically, 5% of $600 is now $30. So, should you up your bet amount? If you lose a $25 bet and your bankroll.

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Some players follow perfect basic strategy each time they take a seat at the blackjack table but still end up being long-term losers. They have taken the time to study the game in depth and learn all optimal plays. Yet they still lose while fellow players seem to win consistently.

This is what normally happens when you do not manage your money adequately. Money management is one of the most important ingredients in the recipe for success at the blackjack tables. If you lack the necessary discipline and self-control to exercise proper money management, you are doomed to failure no matter how skilled and competent you are.

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In the context of gambling, managing your bankroll means keeping a close track of the money you spend while playing your favorite casino games. Its absence, along with the lack of knowledge about the game, is what causes many recreational blackjack players to go broke at the tables. In this article, we lay the foundations of adequate money management in blackjack to help you become a smarter gambler.

Set Up a Blackjack Bankroll

In order to play blackjack, you need to have a blackjack bankroll. Under no circumstances should you gamble with money you need for your everyday or monthly expenses like your mortgage, car loan, electricity bill, or your daughter’s ballet lessons. You need to set aside a bankroll that consists of money reserved solely for playing blackjack.

It is up to you to decide on the exact amount. The bottom line is you should play with money that you can afford to lose financially and emotionally. This way, if the worst comes to the worst and you end up depleting your entire bankroll, this loss is not going to lead to a financial crisis in your life.

You should also divide your bankroll into smaller increments instead of taking it all to the casino. You can even open up a separate account reserved exclusively for blackjack. When you feel like visiting the casino, take out a certain sum to use at the tables. It is not advisable to take your entire blackjack bankroll to the casino because if you experience a losing streak, you might get tempted to chase your losses and blow all your money away.

Make Sure You Do Not Overbet Your Bankroll

The second rule of thumb is not to overbet your bankroll. Suppose you can afford to set aside only $150 for a single session. There is a good chance you will get wiped out quickly if you decide to join a table where the minimum bet is $25. A succession of six losing hands and you are done.

It is of utmost importance for any smart blackjack player to bet in proportion to their bankroll. If you have a smaller amount at your disposal, you should scout for tables with lower limits you can afford to play at. The recommended amount you need to take to the casino is at least fifty times the table minimum.

Provided that there are no landbased tables with low enough limits where you live, you can always take your action online. Betting in some of the virtual games starts at as little as $0.10. A smart blackjack player never stretches their arm further than their sleeve will reach, so to speak.

Know Your Limits

Self-control is of utmost importance in all aspects of life but even more so when it comes to gambling. Setting limits for yourself is the best way to preserve your blackjack bankroll. Too many players end up giving whatever profit they have turned back to the casino because of greed.

On the other side of the spectrum are those who experience devastating losing streaks. Instead of quitting, they stubbornly chase their losses until they deplete their entire bankrolls. Neither approach is adequate, obviously.

Many professional players describe the game of blackjack as a marathon, not as a sprint. This basically means you cannot expect to amass a fortune during a betting session or two. It takes discipline and persistence to become a long-term blackjack winner.

You should choose a win goal for each betting session and quit playing as soon as you reach it, as difficult as this may sound. If you feel like the table is too hot to leave, you can split your net profits into halves. Use one half to continue playing and keep the rest.

Know Your Limits – Additional TipsYou determine your own win goal in proportion to your session bankroll but make sure you are not shooting for the starts. It is best to settle for small but consistent profits. Your win goal should be reasonable at around 20% of your session’s starting bankroll. Quit as soon as you reach it, or as soon as you reach your loss limit.

You should never continue playing until you are down to your very last dollar. Suppose you are sitting at a table with a minimum bet of $5. You have experienced a very bad streak of losses and are down to your final red chip. You stubbornly toss it into the betting circle and are dealt a pair of Aces against the dealer’s 6. And this is where you hit a snag – you are no longer able to follow basic strategy because you do not have enough money to split your Aces.

As you can see, chasing your losses not only leads to the complete depletion of your bankroll but it also prevents you from playing optimally in certain cases. To prevent this from happening, you should choose a loss limit as well as a win goal. Choose a percentage you are comfortable with but generally, it should not exceed 40%. So if you start a session with $200, for example, you should get up and leave when you lose $80 of this amount.

Stay Away from Progressive Betting Strategies

Many inexperienced players lose their entire blackjack bankrolls by using the so-called progressive betting strategies. Some of these are based on negative progressions and require you to increase your wager after each loss. Others rely on positive progressions so you are expected to raise your bets after a win.

Both “strategies” are bogus because they attempt to take advantage of losing and winning streaks. Streaks are inherent to gambling, but unfortunately, there is no way for us to tell precisely when they will occur.

These strategies do not affect your odds of winning a hand. Whether or not you have won or lost the previous hand has no bearing on your chances of winning the next one. These systems are also powerless when it comes to reducing the house edge of the game.

Stay Away from Progressive Betting Strategies – Additional TipsAnother reason why they fail to work is because they do not take into account your bankroll size and the table limits. Let’s take the infamous Martingale as an example. This is a very steep negative-progression “strategy” which requires you to double your bet after every single loss and drop back to your base betting unit when you register a win.

If you start with a $200 bankroll, your bets will progress in the following way should you suffer five consecutive losses: $10, $20, $40, $80, $160. Obviously, you need to bet $320 after the fifth loss. Ah, but we forgot! You are unable to do it because you started with a bankroll of $200 only. You will be unable to recover from your previous losses if you deviate from the progression and reduce your bet before you register a win.

Even if you did have more money on you, there is still the possibility of reaching the table maximum before you win and drop back to your starting bet of $10. But this also upsets the betting progression and renders it ineffective.

The only strategy you need at the blackjack table is basic strategy. If you are looking to further increase your profits, you can do so by learning how to count cards where you vary your bet size depending on your advantage and not on the basis of previous wins and losses.

Avoid Spending Money on Side Bets

At most blackjack tables, players have the opportunity to experiment with different side bets. There is a huge variety of those to choose from, with some of the most popular options being Lucky Ladies and King’s Bounty.

On the surface, it may seem these were introduced to increase the excitement and the entertainment value of the game. This could not be further from the truth. The only thing side bets are guaranteed to increase is the casinos’ revenue.

Some of them offer very appetizing payouts so you might be tempted to give them a go. This is a bad idea. Most side bets give the house such a monstrous edge over players that they will inevitably grind down your entire bankroll if you make them consistently. The only way for you to exploit side bets successfully is to use a card counting system.

Play Rated if You Use Only Basic Strategy

Playing rated is a great way for basic strategy players to increase the overall value they generate at the blackjack tables. First, you need to get a free player card. When you take a seat at the table, you give this card either to the dealer or to the floor supervisor so that they can rate your play. This enables the casino personnel to track your action, including how long you play and what your average bet size is.

All this information is then saved in a computer and proves useful when you decide to ask for valuable comps like free show tickets, free rooms, or free meals. Comps are valuable because they help reduce the overall house edge you are fighting. However, if you plan on counting cards, it would be best not to have your play rated.

Forget about Complimentary Drinks

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Casinos certainly have a way of enticing customers. In fact, everything on the floor aims at enticing you, from the dimmed lights and soothing music to the scantily-clad cocktail waitresses serving free beverages.

Many casual players indeed enjoy the complimentary drinks they are served and there is nothing wrong with that. After all, some people gamble purely for entertainment reasons and are not there to generate consistent profits. At the end of the day, it all depends on how you approach the game.

If you are serious about blackjack, however, we suggest you consume only non-alcoholic beverages while you play. Few people, if any, are able to win at blackjack while inebriated. Alcohol, especially in excessive quantities, will inevitably cloud your judgment and cause you to make basic strategy mistakes. Often it causes you to loosen your purse strings which is just as bad. You need a clear head while at the blackjack table so if you insist on drinking, be sure to do it in moderation.

Proper bankroll management is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of blackjack. It’s unfortunate because almost all casino blackjack players could greatly benefit from some basic bankroll management.

Let’s look at how to build and maintain a healthy blackjack bankroll.

What Is a Blackjack Bankroll?

So, what is a blackjack bankroll?

Your blackjack bankroll or gambling bankroll is money that you have specifically set aside for the purposes of gambling. In this instance, it’s specifically for playing real money blackjack.

It’s important to eliminate any notion that extra cash sitting in your bank account for incidentals or any funds that aren’t expressly set aside for playing blackjack are part of your blackjack bankroll.

Your bankroll needs to be set aside completely. Many gamblers will open a separate bank account that is only for their gambling bankroll.

Others put the money in a jar or bank bag and stuff it in a closet or bury it in their yard. I’m not sure where they put it, but it’s probably best off in the bank.

Having your gambling bankroll in a bank will make it much easier to view from your mobile app and quickly transfer funds into the bankroll on whatever schedule you set.

This also eliminates the urge to grab $50 out of your bankroll when you want to enjoy a round of golf or go out for drinks with friends. You may think never, but it can be rather easy to slowly dip into your blackjack bankroll when Amazon blasts you with Facebook ads about whatever you happen to be thinking about. Cue The X-Files music.

It’s also important not to go the other direction. If you have $1000 in your bank account and $975 in bills coming due, you don’t have a blackjack bankroll.

I’ve seen too many gamblers push rent back a week or shuffle their bills to accommodate their gambling. If it’s not a problem immediately, it’s not far from being there.

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To reiterate, a blackjack bankroll is money that is expressly and unequivocally set aside for gambling purposes.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t dip into it if there’s an emergency. Like your power being turned off or no groceries in the house, but you should absolutely never go the other direction.

Useful Tips for Building a Blackjack Bankroll

Building a healthy blackjack bankroll takes time and careful consideration. The most disciplined gamblers take the proper steps in finding exactly how they can add money to their bankroll.

One of the best ways to quickly build a blackjack bankroll is to set up a deposit schedule for yourself. This schedule will be completely unique to you and your financial situation.

Most people are paid on a twice a month schedule. Hence, many gamblers will commit to adding to their bankroll every 2 weeks or 15 days.

Setting up your bankroll deposit schedule on your paydays is a great way to increase your blackjack bankroll steadily.

However, you may have significantly more bills coming up near the 1st of the month. In this case, it’ll be better to set up a once a month deposit schedule.

The important thing is to only put money into your bankroll that you can afford to lose on the casino floor.

Some players may not have extra money for varying reasons after all bills and living expenses are paid. It’s a common issue facing many Americans and isn’t unique to casino gamblers at all.

If you fall into this category or simply want to add more to your bankroll than your current salary allows, don’t fret. Getting a part-time job is perfect for earning extra cash.

I have a friend who’s still in school and was having a difficult time-saving money for an upcoming gambling trip.

He started working a few nights a week for one of the food delivery services, and in less than 2 months, he was able to save over $1500.

It wasn’t the massive wad of cash he had hoped to take with him, but he was able to bring almost all of it home.

He’s continued to grow on that initial nest egg, and it’s primed for his next casino adventure.

Why Many Players Lose

Most blackjack players lose because they aren’t playing the game correctly. They either refuse to play basic strategy or don’t know it exists.

Either way, learning to play blackjack with the proper strategy will be vital for maintaining a blackjack bankroll.

Players will often fall into a trap of playing way too many hands. On a typical blackjack table with 3 other players, you’ll be playing 40 hands per hour.

If you’re at a table with only 2 players, that number jumps to nearly double. When you’re playing twice as many hands per hour, you’re going to be losing faster.

For obvious reasons, this can have devastating effects on your blackjack bankroll.

You won’t be allowed to slow play the table in any respectable casino, nor will you necessarily be rushed. Still, take your time on each hand. You shouldn’t be in any hurry to get the game moving.

Try to find nearly full tables; you’ll be playing much fewer hands per hour, which will greatly extend your blackjack bankroll.

Setting alarms on your phone or smartwatch can be a brilliant way to remember to take breaks. These breaks will give you chances to take a breath away from the table.

Use this time to clear your head, use the restroom, grab a snack, or check your e-mail. It really doesn’t matter; it only matters that you don’t mindlessly play hand after hand.

Why Bankroll Management Is Vital

Bankroll management is vital because this is the single biggest factor in how much time you’ll be able to spend on the casino floor.

After you’ve built a solid gambling bankroll, you need to decide what denomination you will be playing in the casino. Let’s use my friend’s $1500 as an example.

For a 3-day trip, he had $1500, or $500 per day. Let’s say he wants to play for $25 per hand. We can assume he’ll be playing 40 hands per hour and, although he’s a basic strategy player, we’ll give him the standard 1%.

So, 40 hands at $25 per hand, he’s putting $1000 per hour in play. The house edge is going to take 1% or $10.

It’s clear to see that he’ll have no problems playing blackjack to his heart’s content. Even if he encounters an extended negative swing, his bankroll will carry him.

Knowing how much you can afford to play is probably one of the biggest keys to becoming a successful casino gambler. When you drain the bankroll to zero, you’re out of the game and forced to the sidelines until you build your blackjack bankroll back up.

You may have noticed that I immediately split his $1500 into 3 equal amounts, one for each day of his trip if you walk through the casino doors with a total of $500 for 3 days and decide to play for $50 per hand. You’ll likely be broke in under 4 hours and forced to spend 2 days at the pool.

Become a master of managing every aspect of your blackjack bankroll, and you’ll become a much more successful casino gambler.

Keys to Maintaining a Healthy Blackjack Bankroll

Now that I’ve walked you through the building and protecting your blackjack bankroll let’s look at some keys to take with you to the table.

After all, nothing will do your blackjack bankroll more good than actually winning on the tables.

The best way to do that in blackjack is by playing the basic blackjack strategy on every single hand. When you play the game this way, you actually cut the house edge to only about 0.5%.

Basic strategy can be touted and promoted on and on, but I’ll leave it at the following. If you aren’t playing basic strategy, you’re leaving money on the table.

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Paying close attention to the table rules can also be vital for your blackjack bankroll. Not all casinos are created equal, and neither are blackjack tables.

Some games will only pay 6:5 for a blackjack instead of the more standard 3:2. Anytime you see 6:5, you should run, not walk in your search for a different table.

The 6:5 blackjack is so bad that you’re better off playing craps, baccarat, roulette, or Pai Gow Poker than blackjack.

This is non-negotiable. It’s better to simply find another casino with better rules than playing on a table that pays 6:5 for a blackjack.

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Conclusion

You must learn how to build and maintain a healthy blackjack bankroll. Taking the proper time and care in this initial step can put you on a lifelong success course.

Keep in mind that your blackjack bankroll will determine how much you can play in the casino and, ultimately, how much you can win.

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