What women over 50 should know before playing games online

Collaborative Post | Charm, experience, wits, and beauty are just some of the finest qualities related to any woman in her silver years. By now, you've seen or heard about any topic, and there's plenty of insight you can share. Those rare topics that fell through the cracks are not a problem but an opportunity to grow even further. Keeping your mind open will keep it healthy, and a few pointers can set you in the right direction.

Photo by Mike Cox on Unsplash

1. Understanding the basics

The younger crowd may think they are ahead of everyone due to them being glued to their phones and PCs, but even they were beginners at one point. Any online game can come off as complicated, flashy, and difficult when you're viewing it for the first time, but the truth is far from it. Games like poker, blackjack, keno, bingo, lottery, and many others, can be played the same online and offline.

Let's take blackjack as an example. The ideal goal of the game is to hit 21 in card scores or to get a better score than your dealer while staying below 21. There you have it, you can now start playing blackjack. In roulette, you can bet on red and if the ball stops at any red number, you win. Most of the games can be distilled to such simple mechanics, where slots are the most beginner-friendly.

Going through the King Hills Casino review by Mandy Hamer lets you find, practice, and play the games mentioned, and much more. Everyone was a beginner once, and with the online entertainment industry being incredibly big, you'll surely find the right game for you and become better at it after each try.

2. Protecting personal information

Ok, now you know where and what to play, but the learning curve does not stop there. Overly complex gaming mechanics or high-skill games are not your enemy when you play online. It's the malicious users and shady places that can cause the most damage, lead to you permanently resenting online space and make your life difficult.

What they don't know is that you're an experienced woman, and your woman intuition is rarely wrong. You've come this far, so you're doing something right. When playing online, you should apply the same logic as in real life. Would you go to a shady bar in a troubled neighbourhood alone and at night? Would you completely trust a stranger with your personal information?

If someone asked for all of your money, would you hand it over? Since the answer to all of these is obviously "No!", then apply the same logic when you play online. Trust your gut feeling, keep your info to yourself and don't play at places you don't feel confident.

3. Set boundaries

We've all seen youngsters being online 24/7. If it's not their phones, then it's their PCs, consoles, iPads or whatnot. And we can talk till our tongues fall out, and they still won't listen or reduce their digital intake until we set some boundaries. And just like that, you have what it takes to improve your online gaming. Balance your intake of information in this digital age. Set the same boundaries for you. You can set a fixed number of games per day.

You can play 10 slot spins, or 3 poker dealings or whatever number you are comfortable with. Or, you can set your daily spending limit, like an allowance. Spend only the money you've set aside, and your experience will improve. ​

4. Interact online, but safely

Plenty of online games are a social experience. In games like poker, it's inevitable you'll run into other people, often from around the world. You can talk, joke, compete and trash talk online with anyone, which is to be expected. Yes, most of the time you'll run into jerks and uncultured players, but luckily, you can always mute them. If someone crosses any lines, you can report them.

Just like in real life, you can pick and choose who you wish to include or exclude from your time. Always remember that you have the power to customise your play area and any settings related to it. Also, at first, you'll probably talk to other users about the game you're playing. But it can go beyond that. Usual talking points are about the weather, local culture, cooking tips, life hacks, tips when shopping for a used car, pet names or life anecdotes.
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It can be tempting to overshare, as the guise of anonymity is enticing. But never, under any circumstances, don't reveal any personal information online. Your name, banking accounts, confidential data, address, and those of your friends and neighbours, because that's simply a risk and a red flag. Keep it casual, and you'll be safe.

Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

5. Finding welcoming communities for mature players

Riding on the previous topic, you can tailor-make the community you interact with. Online gaming is diverse, and the industry covers everything you can think of. You're not alone in your desire to game, and there are online communities made especially for you. It can be comforting to know that you are not alone in your quest and that there are helping hands.

You can take a look at Skyrim Grandma to see that you can be over 50, play, stream and interact with people. You can also search for older poker communities, or lottery, keno, bingo and any game you can think of. People of all ages play online, and you are now part of that growing trend.

6. Enjoy the experience without pressure

Lastly, it's ok to change or quit. Try a game. If it's not up to your liking, or you see it's not going anywhere and it brings you no joy in playing, quit. Then find a new one. There are endless games out there, and one will surely be for you. What that game maybe is not something we can guarantee, but we can promise it's waiting for you to find it.

Gaming is evolving, and its evolution is bringing everyone for the ride. Young and old, pros and first-timers, all can find their place under the gaming umbrella. With some time and patience, both of which you have in abundance now, anything is possible. Even having fun online.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.