Difference Between a Real Trader and a Gambler in Forex

Forex trading has been associated with roulette and other gambling games because of the high risks involved. However, forex trading should be about market analysis than a mere gamble. Making profits through this industry is not just a matter of chance, but instead, involves risk bearing and anticipatory skills. With this, newbies normally seek the help of the best forex broker that they believe can help them, in order to make wise trading decisions.

If you are a new forex trader, here are the main differences between gambling and trading in forex.

1.     Strategy

A gambler simply jumps into the foreign exchange market just for the sake of making a trade. In forex, trading without planning and implementing a strategy more likely result in bigger losses and minimal gains. A real forex trader devises a sound trading plan and strategizes proper entry point before jumping into the market.

2.     Proper Management of Risks

Although forex trading and gambling both involve chance, they are still very different. While a gambler is not aware of different tools for managing risks like stop losses and pegs, a professional forex trader utilizes these for his advantage. Moreover, gamblers take risks based on chance, while experienced traders employ various ways to minimize risks and maximize gains for every trade. The foreign exchange market is highly fluctuating, thus, experienced traders perform certain measures to make sure that their money will not be lost in vain.

3.     Holding Trades

In a highly fluctuating market such as this, it is highly necessary to know when to sell a losing trade and when to hold on to it in anticipation of great profits. Normally, new traders tend to gamble their way to success by holding on to trades that they feel might bring them great profits. In order to correctly anticipate the rise and fall of prices, years of forex trading experience is necessary. It is also important to note that even after years of experience in the industry, losses may still be experienced.

4.     Leverage

Leverage is one of the good features in forex, but gambling can make it a common cause of additional losses. Basically, leverage is the amount of money that a trader can borrow from the market just in case he has exhausted all his personal funds. Nonetheless, leverage also puts a greater amount of funds at risk because the trader uses the capital borrowed from the market. Gambling in the forex market with leverage may only lead to the creation of debt and huge losses.

Initially, it is difficult to differentiate gambling and trading in the foreign exchange market. It is also common for new traders to get confused between the two. The points discussed in this article are just some of the major differences between trading and gambling in the forex market, but may also serve as guidelines on what to avoid when trading in the market.