Is day trading a gamble?

Day trading is probably one of the most popular ways to trade. Its appeal lies in its apparent potential for quick profits, despite the significant risks that come with trading in this way. For beginners with little to no experience and limited knowledge, the rapid pace at which decisions must be made to capitalise from sometimes unanticipated short-term price fluctuations may come off as rather daunting, and highly stressful. It’s no surprise then that the question often arises, is day trading a gamble?

In all seriousness though, there are fundamental distinctions between gambling and trading, which we’ll break down in this blog.

What defines day trading exactly?

Day trading is a short-term trading approach. Multiple positions are entered into and exited within the same day. The range of instruments varies, from currency pairs, metals and commodities, to indices and futures, and more.

The reason that day traders exit positions before the trading day ends is to avoid overnight risks. This is unlike more longer term approaches, like position trading or trend trading, where positions are held onto for several weeks, months, and even years.

Day trading does however come with high risk because of the speed at which prices can move, and the use of leverage that has the ability to magnify not only the wins, but losses too.

In order to mitigate risk, day traders will actively engage in some form of technical analysis to make informed decisions. They’ll monitor the markets consistently throughout the day, and follow the news to ensure they can quickly react to market moving events.

Gambling, a game of chance

In contrast to trading, gambling relies more on luck than it does on skill or expertise.  A gambler will bet money on a certain event or game, with no true foresight of potential outcome. In other words, the win or the loss is relatively random, rather than being based on informed analysis.

But if we really have to break down the differences; i.e. identify those characteristics that make gambling distinct from trading, what would they be?

Distinguishing gambling from day trading

1. Long term perspective vs immediate gratification

Although day trading is a short term trading strategy, the trader thinks beyond a single trade. They understand that losses are part of the process but work the strategy with a long term perspective. They measure outcomes by looking at trade performance over days, weeks, months or years – rather than a lone event.

Gambling on the other hand is frequently narrowed to a singular loss, offering little motivation to consider anything beyond the next wager. There is no long term perspective, as each bet is driven by immediate gratification rather than strategic planning.

2. Expertise vs luck

Day trading is comprised of several key components, namely technical analysis, continuous learning, and experience. Day traders study charts. They also follow news and events, and monitor market trends. They make use of indicadores econômicos, and actively seek to enhance their trading related education.

Combined, these factors form the underlying basis of trading decisions, be this to enter a position or exit a trade. Some may argue that luck plays a role, and this is true to some extent. But by and large, day trading is a skills-based activity that requires knowledge and expertise to get it right.

In contrast, gambling is primarily a game of luck, especially if one likes playing games like slot machines, roulette, and other similar activities. Skill has very little to do with outcomes, with the odds only very slightly impacted by basic strategies.

3. Managing risk

Day traders understand the importance of effective risk management and implement measures to mitigate this risk. They will likely make use of stop-loss or take profit orders to reduce loss or to secure profits.  Day traders are also mindful of position sizing to mitigate the risk of large losses on a single trade, thereby safeguarding their funds.  In comparison, a gambler will likely pin all their hopes on a single bet. As we’ve already said however, outcomes are usually random and the risk of loss is high, irrespective of how effectively you handle your bets.

4. Probability and maintaining a strategic advantage

In day trading, factors like knowledge, expertise and análise técnica may give you the strategic advantage you need to maximise potential gains. In gambling, the odds are typically stacked against the player as the house almost always has the edge.

When day trading gets treated like gambling

Although day trading is fundamentally different from gambling, there are instances when a trader might approach it with a gambler’s mindset. But how?

• Executing trades driven by emotions like anxiety, fear, stress or greed, rather than proper analysis. Impulsive trading of this sort doesn’t consider potential outcomes. Instead, it is a knee-jerk reaction to market moving events that aren’t properly planned for.
• Mismanagement of Alavancagem, to the extent that the trader incurs exponential losses on a single bad trade.
• Executing random trades due to the absence of a trading plan. A trading plan is vital for staying focused and disciplined. It typically includes one’s trading goals, the rules by which they will trade, the risk they’re willing to incur, and budget.
• Trying to make up for losses by executing unnecessary trades, rather than going back to the drawing board to adjust your strategy, or taking a break from trading to clear your head.  

Becoming a smart day trader

To ensure that your day trading doesn’t turn into a gamble, it’s important to up the ante by way of education.

As far as ongoing learning is concerned, ensure you dedicate some time to acquiring a continuous trading related education. This may include studying blogs, videos, podcasts, seminars, webinars, and other useful resources to gain valuable trading insights, tips, ideas, and strategies.

Complement this learning by signing up for a demo trading account to gain practical trading experience. A demo account offers a trader access to a simulated trading environment in which to practice trading. They can use virtual funds to execute trades and assess outcomes, all without putting their own money at risk. Additionally, the trader will gain access to a trading platform, which through IronFX will be the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform, which is probably one of the most well-known worldwide. In this way, you can better learn how to use the platform, and its many innovative features that it offers, like advanced technical analysis, charting tools, alerts, backtesting, and automated trading. Through consistent practice, you’ll eventually become better skilled and more informed, to be able to make trading decisions based on actual data, rather than relying on chance.

Aside from a trading related education, there are other ways for a day trader to become more strategic. These include:

1. Building a trading plan that will include the types of trades you wish to execute, the instruments you wish to trade, the type of analysis you will perform, and the trading rules by which you’ll abide to mitigate risk.
2. Strengthening your trading psychology to the point that you’re able to maintain emotional control. It’s only by getting a good handle over your emotions that you’ll trade less like a gamble, and more like a trader focused on longer-term success.
3. Using proper risk management to safeguard your funds but understand that losses are part of trading. It’s only in this way that you’ll maintain a more realistic and objective mindset.

Negociar com o IronFX

Tornar-se um operador IronFX significa ter acesso a uma experiência de negociação flexível e de alta qualidade, a múltiplas classes de activos, a uma vasta gama de tipos de contas e a uma rápida execução de transacções. Através deste corretor internacional com clientes em todo o mundo, também poderá desfrutar de levantamentos e depósitos sem problemas, e acesso ao mercado através da plataforma de negociação MetaTrader 4 (MT4), indiscutivelmente um dos sistemas de negociação mais populares do mundo entre os operadores globais. A Academia IronFX também oferece uma fonte abundante de recursos educativos para melhorar as suas competências e adquirir conhecimentos fundamentais de negociação.

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Esta informação não deverá ser considerada como aconselhamento ou recomendação ao investimento, mas apenas como comunicação de marketing.