Types of Tilt

Previously, I have written a bit about the phenomenon of “going on tilt” in gambling.  Going on tilt is what happens when you lose control over your emotions and start betting wildly and sabotaging your own success.  Oftentimes it is hard to notice you are going on tilt at all, until it is too late and you have lost a ton of money.  This is why it is so important to learn to recognize the signs you are going on tilt. 

There are many different forms that tilt can take.  Here are a few common ones to look out for:

• Aggressive, angry tilting.  Sometimes gamblers go on tilt because they are angry at losses or even at other players.  In poker, this typically manifests in rampant betting and raising.

• Scared tilting.  This is what happens when gamblers allow fear to spiral out of control.  Sometimes scared gamblers hold tight to their cards and play way too conservatively—this is actually a kind of tilt, even though it does not seem like one.  Other times, they play hand after hand or keep pulling the lever on the slot machine, praying for a change in their luck.

• Winning tilting.  This happens either when players become conceited about their success or believe they are on a lucky streak.  Either way, they play as if the fates are on their side—until of course they lose big.  At this point, it is very easy for winning tilting to turn into aggressive, scared, or desperate tilting. 

• Bored or frustrated tilting.  Players sometimes get bored if there is not enough action, especially in games like poker.  They get tired of waiting around and feel like they are losing out on an opportunity, so they jump in with whatever they have, whether it makes sense or not.

• Desperate tilting.  This is that form of tilting that happens when you have lost again and again, and you suddenly feel a self-destructive urge to just obliterate your bankroll and head home.  This is particularly dangerous online, since it is far too easy to keep funneling funds into your casino account. 

If you find yourself engaging in any of these patterns, the wise thing to do is to stop playing.  However tempted you feel to pull the lever on the slot machine again or play another round of poker, just close out of the program and walk away from your computer for a few hours.  Give yourself time to cool down and get back to a level, stable mood before you start playing again. 

You will be glad that you did—you will curb your losses and then you might even get back on the path to winning.  Once your head is clear, you can see the mistakes you have been making.  You can also be alert for signs of tilting in other players.  Let them be the ones the lose money, not you!