Every casino and gambling establishment has its own set of rules, tactics, and strategies that need to be considered, but they are only part of the recipe for success. A great player not only needs to have the right tricks and the right amount of practice and experience but also needs a very specific sort of mindset that pushes the boundaries of what’s considered normal play.
Many movies have depicted the successful high-roller mentality that often ends in greatness and riches, but what exactly is it that separates these people from normal gamblers? Here’s a quick rundown on the kind of psychology that is necessary to become a true high-roller.
Learn to Love Risk, Thrill, and Danger
Though this might be the most cliche sounding point of them all, it is true – high-rollers become high-rollers simply because they love the nature of the game, risks and all.
Obviously, this mindset is not for everyone, and it’s a good thing that not all gamblers think alike. But there is something deeper that separates casual fans from the high-spending patrons who take big risks, something that goes beyond practice or math or analyzing data. It’s learning to make the thrill and high risk your comfort zone.
High-rollers play for the thrill of making huge bets and hoping they pay off. They are often genuinely bored by playing under normal circumstances, which is why they tend to spend time at high-stakes games. This includes poker, slots, blackjack, and especially roulette. For any aspiring high-roller looking for high-stakes games, my advice would be to check out resources like AskGamblers before getting your journey started. It’s an excellent resource for high-rollers and regular players .
Adopt a New Perspective on Defeat
If you want to spend any extended period of time gambling, you are going to have to accept the fact that you will have more losses than victories. This fact is also true in the lifestyle of a high-roller.
Veterans don’t view a loss in a round as a loss of money. This only leads to demoralizing. High-rollers don’t think about the money they’ve lost. Some of them see a loss as an opportunity to gather new data about the deck, the competing players, or any other relevant factor depending on the game. Some don’t even see the loss at all and have already moved on to the next stage.
Similarly to this, high-rollers have a unique perspective on uncertainty. They understand that nothing is completely guaranteed, especially in gambling, and that the psychology of uncertainty helps the most dedicated of high-rollers stay grounded and pragmatic. Because of their relationship with uncertainty, high-rollers are not uncomfortable during a loss. This is what helps give them their motivation and their edge.
Think About Games and Stakes More Often, Even When Only Spectating
High-rollers don’t just care about playing the game, they deeply care about thinking about it from as many angles as possible. This is true when playing or merely observing.
Take the famous Martin Scorsese masterpiece “Casino,” for example. Though the film is about the owners of a casino and not the players, the main characters are experts at observation. They are constantly looking at facial expressions and hand movements, memorising the cards, examining the dice – everything! They accurately depict what a high-roller’s mind is going through when he or she is not in the middle of a game.
High-rollers see any kind of game as an opportunity to collect more information and hone their skills. Gambling is less a hobby to them and more of a lifestyle choice. If you want to become more like them, observe a game of your choice and try to project yourself into the game. Imagine what moves you would make if you were a participant. Even this can be seen as a form of practice.
When It’s Time to Get Aggressive, Don’t Hold Back
Another trait that high-rollers tend to have is that they will play extremely aggressively when they feel it is their time to shine. Everyone puffs up with confidence a little bit when they feel that Lady Luck is on their side, but high-rollers will really go at it. This is arguably one of their defining traits.
What makes this special to high rollers is that they see these opportunities to capitalize on all of their hard work. The moment they see an opening, they go all in, either figuratively or literally. It’s an unmeasurable level of confidence and dedication that can be unnerving to be pitted against.
Some high-rollers often express little emotion under normal circumstances, but they can turn on that aggression as if someone just flipped a light switch. Like other traits that high-rollers tend to have, this one is not particularly popular and will not be well-suited to most gamblers. But when someone loves the thrill and the risk, these are the tactics and emotions that tend to surface.
Have Impeccable Emotional Control
Though some Hollywood movies might vary in their portrayals, real-life high-rollers tend to be extremely good at keeping their cool and composure in high-octane situations. Not all of them resort to aggressive strategies all the time, some prefer a balance of gradual and cautious moves. Though this does make them look suave, there are more practical benefits that explain why so many of them share this trait.
In the event of a major loss, strong emotional regulation will prevent them from playing moves that are too risky, like a double-or-nothing, which can quickly lead to a vicious cycle.
Even in the event of a huge win, high-rollers tend to keep their celebratory feelings to themselves. Not exposing how they really feel inside, even after the game is over. Any display of these moods could compromise them in later games that rely on reading faces during bluffs, such as poker.
