For those of you in the USA, Labor Day is just about finished, and you’re getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. The passing of Labor also signifies, for the most part, the end of summer. Sure, you might have a few more backyard BBQ’s, beach trips, or hikes in the forest, but now the push for getting things done in time for the holidays is on. It also means people retreat to their homes and look for entertainment online or behind their TV screens, bedraggled after long days at the office but not tired enough to go to bed early.

If you’re a betting person, you’ve essentially got three choices: 1) Football Betting or 2) Online Casino or 3) Both. Online casinos are very in tune with seasonal changes around the world, and therefore tend to bait players more as the USA winter approaches, knowing that more people will be inclined to gamble online opposed to flying out to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, online sportsbooks LIVE for USA sport seasonal changes, and rely predominantly on American NFL betting and College football betting as their bread and butter for the year. This rush for football betting runs through the annual Super Bowl in February, after which things slow down again until March Madness.

In light of tough economic times, you have to parse out your bankroll carefully, bearing in mind the online casinos operate year round, while football betting is just a 6 month stint. Here are our basic thoughts on how to enjoy both online casinos and football betting during this crazy time of year for gambling:

Sports Betting Only

If you only know sports, stick to sports. This is not the time of year to experiment with big bets in the online casinos, unless you’re prepared to lose money. Instead, save your cash for football: it’s something you understand and follow regularly, and therefore it makes sense that if you’re gambler, sports betting is your priority.

Also, it may be tempting to play in your sportsbook’s casino. Most top online sportsbooks all offer a full casino, with blackjack, craps, slots, roulette, baccarat, and more. This is where many sportsbooks make up for losses on a bad weekend. While they lick their wounds after a big upset, they push their players towards the casino for a few hands of blackjack, hoping the players will lose their winnings back to the house. If you don’t know how to play casino games, don’t push your luck. Instead, “Know when to fold ‘em” and keep your sportsbook winnings. Further, you should maybe request a payout so you can pump up your withering bank account in time for the holiday shopping rush.

There are a couple exceptions to this “sports betting only” policy: complimentary tournament entries and poker. A few sportsbooks like to offer new players entries to blackjack or poker tournaments. If it’s free then participate by all means. Otherwise, pass and save your cash for next weekend’s football games.

Online Casinos Only

If you’re more a casino guy or gal, then stay with the casinos: sports betting is an entirely different beast, and can often be confusing unless you’re very knowledgeable about lines and odds. Also, while it may be possible to enjoy better overall odds on a sports bet compared to the house edge in casino games, the trick is know which sports bet to make. There are a lot a subtleties to sports betting that require time to master, just as it takes time to learn blackjack basic strategy or video poker decisions.

In most cases, you won’t get cross-marketed by your casino to play at a sportsbook, unless you’re playing in a casino that is part of a online bookmaking operation. If so, you’ll get plenty of reminders about NFL season, upcoming college bowl games, NFL play-off betting, and Super Bowl betting promotions. Just toss these emails aside and play as usual in the casino, no matter how tempting the wagers seem. Be especially weary of any overly generous bonus offers: these always come with nearly unbeatable conditions that essentially mean you might as well drop your hard earned cash off at the sportsbook’s door, and not even bother wagering.

Are there any exceptions? Yes, so called “free sports wagers” are fine to try, as long as they don’t require a cash deposit up front or later on. If you get a free chip for the sportsbook, ask a friend who is knowledgeable about sports how you should wager. For the time being, trying the learn the ins and outs of sports betting would be overly complicated and time consuming.

Both Online Casino and Sports Betting

If you’re going both ways, be sure to get a round trip ticket: playing in the casinos and hitting sportsbooks is a delicate balancing act, meant for the most seasoned of online gamblers. Money management is the key ingredient of this mix, and you’ll have to be very restrained about how you gamble, especially after losing money.

Like we mentioned above in the “Sports Betting Only” section, you have to “Know when to fold’em”. The key to being winning gambler in both sports and casino is to leave once you’ve made a respectable win. For example, if you’ve plunked down $100 for blackjack, and now are sitting behind a stack of $200 worth of chips, it might be time to head towards the cashier’s window.

Likewise with sports: if you eked out a big win because the opposing team didn’t cover the spread, put those winnings in the bank where they belong. The key to successful gambling is discipline above all else. Otherwise, you’re just recreating, and recreational gamblers tend to lose in the long run.

Play it smart: know your limits, take your lumps, but above all else pocket your winnings. If the push the envelope or play fast and loose, you just might get caught with your pants down.

So as you can see, there’s no real secret to gambling sports or casino games. It’s just self control and basic knowledge of the games or bets your playing. Have fun this football season if you’re a sports bettor, or enjoy blackjack if you’re casino player. If you’re both, play smart and safe, and you might just come out on top in time for next spring, when your hard won cash can pay for a great summer vacation.

Good Luck from Jaxcasinos.com!