Boosting Your Bank Balance with iGaming

iGaming is a huge business and it continues growing year after year. According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), data shows that commercial gaming revenue reached an astonishing $60.42 billion in 2022 alone. 

With that much money splashing around in the industry, it’s easy to see why so many punters are turning to iGaming as a way to boost their bank balance. It’s estimated that the United States alone is home to as many as 700,000 professional gamblers. 

Warning: it’s not a road for the faint-hearted, however, and you’ll need to put in some serious grind. But if you’re serious about making iGaming your side hustle or even your full-time gig, these tips will help make it happen (no guarantees, of course). 

Know the Legal Side 

Our northern neighbours have been seeing the fruits of recently updated legislation, enjoying legal access to online slots in Canada for the last two years. But in the United States, things have been moving at a crawling pace and gambling may not necessarily be possible for you, at least not easily. 

It all depends on where you live. If you’re in Utah, gambling is unlawful. Residents of New Jersey and Michigan, amongst others, have numerous online casinos to choose from these days. It’s all 100% legal. 

You need to be aware of these laws. You can either decide to take a chance and use a VPN to play, or you can cross state borders to ensure you’re completely above the law. The decision is yours, just be fully aware of the legal side before proceeding. 

Approach Gambling Like a Real Job 

There’s a huge difference between winning the occasional poker game with your buddies and making iGaming a true side hustle. This requires high levels of discipline. 

You can’t treat the games like, well, games. Of course, when you’re having a recreational session, it’s open season. But when you’re in earning mode, it’s a job. Make that distinction and you’ll be golden. 

No Booze, Ever 

You can’t drink alcohol when gambling. Repeat: never, ever drink alcohol when gambling. Even just one glass of wine or pint of beer can have an effect on your decision-making and ability to perform at a high level. 

Alcohol can also lead you to make dumb decisions, like betting more than you can afford to lose. Or letting go of your strategy and personal rule book. This can wreak havoc on your bankroll, and it’s possible it’ll take weeks or even months to recover from a single bad day of poor choice-making. 

Set Your Limits and Do Not Negotiate 

Before you start a session, set strict limits. For example, if you lose over $100, call it quits until tomorrow. These limits need to be followed to the letter. If you have lost 10 hands in a row on blackjack and reach $100, don’t convince yourself to continue playing. Walk away. 

Following a pre-set strategy that does not take emotions into account will always work better than changing your mind mid-session. It’s the way our brains work, and how we handle decisions during a crisis. 

The main thing you need to keep in mind is that negotiating with yourself is a terrible idea. Learn how to avoid this practice, both in gambling and in your life in general. 

Leverage Bonuses 

Gambling is often about waiting for the right moment and then choosing to strike. You have to watch companies like a hawk, waiting for the right bonus and freebie opportunities to come up. 

If you’re a new player, companies will offer generous sign-up bonuses. Use these as if they were real cash amounts from your own wallet, not free money you can just waste. You can build a decent starting bankroll just by taking advantage of new player offers.

Non-Gambling Earning Avenues 

Yes, there are ways you can make money in gambling without actually having to gamble. These may be interesting if you’re looking for a full-time gig, or if you’re not quite yet confident with the games on offer. 

Games Tester 

This one is great as it will give you loads of practice and experience. The job is basically playing games over and over until you find a fault or issue. Testers need to be methodical in their approach, which comes very much in handy when gambling. It’s repetitive, but it does teach you a lot about the industry. 

Games Developer 

If you have a talent for programming, becoming a casino games developer isn’t a bad idea. There are plenty of jobs out there, and they’re usually quite lucrative. Just a quick look at job sites will show you that the average developer can easily earn well over six figures per year. 

iGaming Journalism 

Gambling is a huge global industry, which means news is an integral part of proceedings. People like learning about big-name players, different strategies, and developments in the space. 

You don’t need to be a journalism major to make this happen, either. Start small with blogs, for example, or you could even start your own. Once you build a little bit of credibility, approach larger channels. 

Don’t Dive Head First 

No matter which path you choose or whether you want to make iGaming a side hustle or your career, take it slow. They say fortune favours the bold, but when it comes to gambling, diving in head first can cause you a whole world of financial pain. 

Don’t see a lucky streak as a reason to quit your day job. Never bet more than your bankroll allows just because you have a ‘gut feeling’. Be methodical, and ignore emotion. Approach iGaming like a professional from day 1, and there’s a good chance you’ll walk away a winner.