The Things You Should Do After a Big Gambling Win

Updated: Dec 29, 2023, 5:53 AM ET | First published: Jul 20, 2023, 12:16 AM ET

Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities

The Things You Should Do After a Big Gambling Win

On Sunday night I did something cool: I hit a huge bet, and that was a big deal for me. While that may sound a little weird considering I work at Dimers.com as a content creator and we hit a lot of big bets on the regular, as a recreational sports bettor with three kids and a wife to provide for, I can’t exactly go crazy with the amount of bets I make. So when I turn $10 into over $1100 (on Ohtani, Bregman and Tucker all hitting home runs in the 9th inning of Sunday Night Baseball, just in case you were wondering), that’s about as good as it gets for me.

But with great power comes great responsibility.

Even though I don’t bet as frequently as what I did when I was an about-town single man, I have definitely been down this road before of hitting big and making careless mistakes that leads me to drain my accrued bankroll little by little, leaving me with an overriding feeling of regret.

I’m determined that this time it’ll be different.

So, what will I do after my huge win? And what should you do if you’re also lucky enough for a defining payday?

Let my past errors guide you to success.

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What Should You Do After a Big Gambling Win?

Withdraw Something. Anything

For some people (definitely me), winning a huge sum of money all at once on a bet generally means that they have more money to gamble with. Then, one thing leads to another and they end up getting greedy and making bad decisions, leading their balance to dwindle, eventually ending up exactly where you started - with nothing.

The best result from having a good gambling win is to have something to show for it outside of your sportsbook account. Taking some money out immediately to use on something else - whether it be something to treat yourself or your family - gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Having some fun away from gambling because of gambling is pretty sweet.

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Reassess Your Bankroll

Bankroll management is one of the key preachings of any of the top gamblers in the world, but it’s always one of the hardest things to master - especially when you’ve just cashed in big. This is a necessary conversation you need to have with yourself, and also a time for reflection. Gambling should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to get rich.

While you can find a whole bunch of scientific bankroll management strategies like “use 1% of your bankroll as a unit size”, most of them feel a little sterile.

Here’s what I ask myself: how long do I want the money in my sportsbook account to last?

I then take my balance and divide it by the number of days that I am comfortable with lasting before putting more money into my account. The end result is what I set myself as a daily limit for gambling.

Stick To What You Know

Even if you’re staying within your daily bankroll limit guidelines, it can still get easy to get carried away when you have a fat bankroll by betting on things that you have no idea about.

In the past I’ve made this mistake - I made bank and I wanted to keep the good times rolling, so I was betting on anything from NASCAR to Norwegian Soccer. I know nothing about those sports and I had no place betting on them. Don’t risk losing money on trash - it’ll hurt your soul. Stick to the sports you know, the sports that you’re an expert in. If you lose, then that’s gambling. At least you can at least in some part feel validated that you made the right calls based upon your knowledge.

Have Fun With It

Just because you just won a stack, it doesn’t mean that you’re now a professional gambler. Don’t lose sight of what gambling is for the vast majority of us: fun. A common mistake bettors can make after a sizeable win at big odds is the misconception that they can do that every single day. Sports betting just doesn’t work that way and the chances are that you’re going to have a lot of bad days, mixed in with the good. Don’t force yourself to be something you’re not. Just have fun.

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Remember to please gamble responsibly. If you sense that you're taking your luck too far, know when to call it quits and don't be afraid to seek assistance. Keep in mind that gambling is all about having a fantastic experience! If you or someone you know is grappling with gambling issues, reach out to 1-800-GAMBLER for crisis counseling and support.

Written by

Jason Bevilacqua

Head of Content and Communities

Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.

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