There’s often a casino within a short drive, most have great sports bars and fine dining as well as so many shiny things to lose your money in.

A hack is possible, most offer rewards and promos to draw in ‘MUG’ punters. Locals can sign up for a basic tier membership free or for just a few dollars. Once signed up they may send you texts and offers to give you reasons to keep coming back to buy beer, eat food and put your money into the pokies or give to a dealer.  Provided you are not triggered by pokie flashing lights or have any kind of gambling problem you can:

• Wait till you (and your partner) get an offer along the lines of:    Hey Jonesy, get $25 (5 x 5) of free chips this weekend
• Swipe in to get your chips and enter any member draws happening
• Head to the roulette table and put the odds in your favour. Cover over 60% of the board. Either place all your chips on splits, middle of 4/7, 11/12, 23/26 etc, or half your chips and cover 2 of 1-12, 13-24, 25-36 (1^st dozen, 2^nd dozen, 3^rd dozen)
• If you don’t win, head to the sports bar or restaurant and enjoy the evening. If you win, cash out and collect real money, head to the sports bar or restaurant and enjoy a free or discounted evening
• If they are running a second or third promo such as, be at the $7777 member draw at 7pm, be there placing your free chips at 7pm for 2 chances to win something and never lose a cent

Note: No partner? Go with friends, pool your free chips, share any winnings