Back to Encyclopedia
Tilt
generalAn emotional state where frustration or anger causes a bettor to make irrational decisions, often after a bad beat or losing streak.
Key Takeaways
- 1Tilt is emotional decision-making after frustration
- 2One of the biggest bankroll killers in gambling
- 3Set rules in advance: loss limits and cool-down periods
- 4Walk away immediately if you feel emotional
What is Tilt?
Tilt is an emotional state — borrowed from poker — where frustration, anger, or desperation causes a bettor to abandon their strategy and make irrational decisions. It's one of the biggest bankroll killers in gambling.
Common Tilt Triggers
- Bad beats — Losing a bet in an improbable way
- Losing streaks — Multiple consecutive losses
- Chasing losses — Trying to win back money quickly
- Overconfidence — A winning streak leading to oversized bets
- External stress — Life problems bleeding into gambling decisions
Signs You're on Tilt
- Increasing bet sizes to "get even"
- Betting on games you haven't researched
- Placing bets immediately after a loss
- Ignoring your bankroll management rules
- Feeling angry or desperate while betting
How to Combat Tilt
- Set rules in advance — Maximum daily loss limit, mandatory cool-down periods
- Walk away — If you feel emotional, stop betting immediately
- Review your process — Were your decisions sound? If yes, the results are just variance
- Separate sessions — Don't let one bad bet infect the next one
- Keep a journal — Track your emotional state alongside your bets
The Math of Tilt
A bettor with a 3% edge who tilts and makes one 10-unit bet instead of their standard 1-unit bet can wipe out weeks of grinding in a single wager. Discipline is your edge.