Many online poker players who head to Vegas or another live poker room for the first time know everything they need to know about bankroll management.  However, there’s another skill they need to learn if they’re going to make it through that trip and future sojourns –  Bankroll Protection.

Bankroll management refers to the proper level one should play at with regards to the amount of money one has available to play.  Bankroll protection, on the other hand, deals more with self-control and rules that prevent you from essentially robbing your bankroll for other pursuits.

One of the biggest threats to your bankroll in a live poker setting is without a doubt the casino itself.  Walking to the poker room inevitably takes you past row after row of slot machines, blackjack tables and the like.  Online, you might be able to get a quick fix with free play casino games like 777 Slots, just by getting it out of your system, but no such luck at the live casino –  all of their games are for real money.

Casino games aren’t a problem for every poker player, but they are a problem for enough that a general warning is warranted.  The house offers games that you cannot beat, but poker players are somewhat inured to this fact due to the amount of time they spend gambling at poker.  Some players simply believe that the odds do not apply to them, while others think that they are “due” or some other such fate-based nonsense.

If you are prone to this sort of thinking, it is critical that you protect your bankroll.  If necessary, you must physically protect it by storing it in a place that you don’t have easy access to, or even giving control of it to a trusted friend or family member.