Let’s begin with a definition. What is gambling? Gambling is betting on something that may or might not happen down the road. Whenever we gamble, we take a risk, choose an uncertain outcome, and bet on it. Gamblers bet on casino games, horse racing, and sports where the result can’t be predicted with certainty. Some individuals will bet on anything. Remember the Seinfeld episode where Kramer bet on the arrival and departure times of airplanes at a whole new York City airport?
How is gambling distinctive from buying stocks and bonds? Stocks and bonds are considered investments and not gambles because we can reasonably expect to come out ahead in the long run. They can be risky but not in the same sense as gambling.
How is gambling distinctive from buying insurance coverage? As we buy insurance coverage, we are betting on a thing that may or may not happen in the foreseeable future. We do not want to take the risk that it will happen, so we pay someone else (the insurance company) to take the risk for us. As we buy homeowner’s coverage, for example, we have been betting our house will burn down and the insurance coverage company is betting it will not. (Of-course we hope we will not win this bet.) This isn’t gambling because the risk can be calculated. The insurance coverage company uses all kinds of statistics to analyze the probability of our house burning down and fixes the premium we’re going to pay accordingly.
Individuals have gambled since ancient times. However, society never approved of it since it was labeled an attempt to get money without working for it. Society believed that hard work should pave the way to financial success. It was not until the late 1960s that states (except for Nevada which had legalized all forms of gambling earlier) started to run lotteries to raise money for worthwhile causes.
So why do we gamble despite the fact that we are unlikely to win in the long haul? We gamble for the excitement of the uncertain outcome. Some gamble to try to make their financial dreams come true. Some individuals gamble for entertainment or enjoyment, for example a night out with friends at the casino or a bingo game for a charitable organization or perhaps a lottery ticket. Some think also they can beat the odds and earn a living out of gambling. You can find folks who gamble online since they simply love the challenge. They look at gambling as a game of skill or problem-solving and they are sure they may win. Some like the environment or perhaps the thrill of a possible big win, or even the adrenaline rush of going for a chance. Casinos allow us to socialize and pass some time. There are actually no clocks in a casino; we lose track of time; we forget all our troubles. It’s like a therapy session! If we are timid, we will go to a casino and boldly take chances.
Occasional gambling might be a relaxing form of entertainment but be cautious not to get addicted. Addiction may lead to obsession. You might lose control and become so fanatical which you can ruin you life or suffer other catastrophic consequences. So if you gamble, be sure to set limits and keep to the limits you’ve got set.