If you like to take a drink every now and then, leave your money at home if you plan to do your drinking in a casino. I'm serious. Empty your pocketbook, your wallet, and leave all cash, credit cards and chequebooks at home. Take whatever money you intend to spend on drinks, tipping and whatever pocket change you intend to lose and leave the rest behind.

Pessimistic? Not at all. Realistic more like. You may well experience a win after a boozy night out with your friends and be lucky enough to catch a 25 minute roll at a hot craps table. Hang on to that story because it is as short-lived as it gets if you continually drink and gamble. The two simply do not mix.

Leaving your cash at home is a bit drastic, but preventative measures for drastic behaviour is relative and necessary. If you play to win, then don't drink and play. If you can afford to throw away your money without a worry, then drink all the free booze your stomach can handle, but don't take credit cards and chequebooks to throw into the mix of chasing losses after your drunken brain loses everything!

Let me take this one step further. Don't drink and then jump online to play in your favourite casino either. I love to drink from the comfort of my home, but because I'm linked up through Neteller, Firepay and have credit cards at my fingertips, I can not drink and gamble.

Why? Even though I don't drink a lot, when I drink, it's definitely enough to cloud my better judgment. I gamble, so I don't drink when gambling. If you are more of a drinker, don't gamble at the same time. The two mix up for a ferocious, and costly, cocktail.