Chasing Losses

Chasing losses is the act of continuing to gamble, increasing bets, or making additional deposits in an attempt to win back money you've already lost. It's driven by the belief that you're "due" for a win, that you need to get back to even, or that stopping now means accepting the loss. It's the single most dangerous pattern in gambling.

The math doesn't care about your previous results. Each spin, each hand, each bet is independent. The slot has no memory of the $200 it just took from you. The roulette wheel doesn't know red hasn't hit in seven spins. Your chances on the next round are exactly the same as they were on the first, house edge included. There is no "due."

Chasing losses is a recognised warning sign of problem gambling. If you find yourself regularly depositing more money after reaching your limit, or if you feel a compulsion to "get even" before you log off, that's worth paying attention to. Set hard limits, use deposit caps, and remind yourself that the money is already gone. The only thing chasing does is make the hole deeper.