Most people don't go into the casino with a definite idea on how long they're going to play games. In fact, most players simply go by how long their bankroll lasts. But if you want to avoid losing money because you've played casino games too long, it's very important to put some thought into this matter.

Keeping Focus

Assuming you play skill-based games such as blackjack and video poker, it's really important to only play as long as you can keep focus. The reason why is because you need to be into the game so you can continue making smart decisions hand after hand. If at any point you feel yourself losing concentration and making poor plays, it's time to stop playing.

So just how long before you lose focus in casino games and have to stop? Well this differs for every player since some people have the mental endurance to last for six or seven straight hours while others will get bored or distracted after playing casino games for half an hour. It will take some experience before you know what this limit is, but pay close attention while playing so you can figure it out.

Bankroll Considerations

Another big component to knowing how long you should play casino games involves your bankroll. The cardinal rule of gambling is to never play with money you can't afford to lose, so this is definitely a consideration in the matter. Going beyond this, you should play at a rate that enables you to enjoy gaming for a desired time period.

For example, if you were playing blackjack (0.5% house edge) and betting $1 a hand, you'd be losing $0.50 per 100 hands on average. With a $200 bankroll, you'd theoretically be able to play 200 hours of blackjack by staying on this path (assuming 100 hands/hr).

Obviously blackjack and other casino games don't work out this nicely due to the variance factor, but the math is what's important here. So do some quick calculations using your specific circumstances and try to come up with an idea on how long you can play games. By doing so, you'll have a much better chance of enjoying yourself on the tables.