Poll: Do you gamble? In person or online

[Car-Guy]

Yeah, I don't even know the rules. I just know it DOES look exciting in the movies. There are always people hanging around the table cheering and some beautiful woman helping some rich old guy lose his money. Sounds like a lot of fun but think I'll pass. I'm glad you've found an enjoyable game.

It's simple. Basically, most everyone bets on the pass line on the come out roll (or the first roll of a new round). "At that time", you want the shooter to roll a 7 or an 11 (for a win) and not a 2, 3 or 12 (for a loss). Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) establishes "the point" for that round. Once a point is established, you want the shooter to roll "the point" again (for a win), before rolling a 7 (for a loss). That's the basics. See it's simple.

Of course there are dozens of ways to place other bets (if you want) during each round but you can learn most of that while playing or reading a book.

 

[Walt34]

"Once in a blue moon" a couple of times a year we'll spring for a lottery ticket or two, but that's nothing more than buying a few days worth of daydreams. No one would be more astonished than us if it were to actually win anything.

On one occasion out of idle curiosity and boredom we went into a casino in Charles Town, WV and we each put a dollar into a "one-armed bandit". Neither one of us won anything, we failed utterly to fathom the attraction, and left.

 

[Montecfo]

I have gambled at the racetrack probably 3-4 times ever. That can be entertaining.

Many years ago in NJ we started wondering what the "jai alai" was. So we stopped and made dinner money in a couple of hours and got entertained.

I do get sad to see so many with no business being there camped out perhaps for the day trying to get rich or so it seems.

I have never bought a lottery ticket. No plans.

 

[NW-Bound]

Does anyone mimic the gambling or non-gambling of parents?

I don't gamble. Never play any card game. Don't buy lottery tickets. Never play in casinos. Don't bet on sports games, in fact never care to watch any. Don't go to race tracks. No, and no.

My parents did not gamble. However, growing up I saw my maternal uncle gamble and constantly take his household things to the pawn shops. Another maternal uncle was an addict and died young. Hence, I never smoked even MJ (but did cigarette and quit in my 40s).

As an active investor, I speculate. There's a difference between totally relying on pure chance vs. making some predictions based on partial facts. And a speculator can also hedge.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

On line gambling is not an intelligent past time. It is designed like social media to lure you in. It has been the downfall of many a retiree. See the AARP magazine this month.

 

[rk911]

Does anyone mimic the gambling or non-gambling of parents?

AFAIK my parents and grandparents never gambled...at least I never saw them gamble. My wife used to like the slots. She won $20-25 at a riverboat in Mississippi one day...and lost it all at a different boat the next day. She hasn't gambled since. While she was pulling the handles at the first boat I was on a balconey looking down at a craps table trying to understand how that game works. Never did figure it out.

 

[OnTheBeach]

We started going to Atlantic City about 20 years ago ( we lived about 2 hours away) with 3 other couples for the weekend. We all had young children at home and it was a way to get away for the weekend - drink, go out to nice dinners and have a little break from reality.
We now go out to Las Vegas every other year for 4-5 days. The kids are now in college but we still need a break from reality. Nice dinners, gambling and going to shows. I will sit and play blackjack at the $25 table for about 2 hours a day but spend the rest of the time going to exhibits, pool and walking around.
Hanging out with lifelong friends is the primary goal - gambling is a minor part of the trip.
I have never done online gambling, sports or race horses (unless we are in Vegas during the NFL playoffs and then I will bet $100-200 on the weekend games.)
I also have a weekly poker game with friends - $20 buy in.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Stock market is the biggest gamble of all. So we are all gamblers. Speculators are gamblers.

 

[razztazz]

Once or twice a year I'll buy some things at the supermarket that handles state lottery tickets and buy one. Back in 1979 and 80 I actually lived in Las Vegas. Played the nickle machines. Won some loss some. Left in the black so never went back to push my luck.

 

[TheWizard]

Stock market is the biggest gamble of all. So we are all gamblers. Speculators are gamblers.

Well, maybe individual stocks are, to a degree.
But the broad (indexed) stock market? Nah...

 

[G-Money]

Other than stocks (but not individuals), and the occasional lottery ticket, no. No other gambling.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Well, maybe individual stocks are, to a degree.
But the broad (indexed) stock market? Nah...

When index (ETFs) can drop 30%, yah, it's a gamble.

 

[disneysteve]

But honestly blackjack becomes boring compared to craps. No other forms of gambling for us.

My typical routine at the casino has pretty much come down to this. I start at blackjack and play until I'm up about $50. Then I go play some fun slots for a while until I've lost $20-30. Then I go back and play blackjack again and repeat the cycle. Blackjack to make money, slots for fun.

Blackjack played with optimal strategy has the best player odds in the casino. The house edge is razor thin, a fraction of 1%. Over the long haul, statistically you're going to lose even with only a 0.5% house edge, but short term if you play well and walk away when you're ahead, it's the best deal in town. It's not exciting. It's pure math. But it's where the money is made.

 

[NW-Bound]

When index (ETFs) can drop 30%, yah, it's a gamble.

While I don't do indexing and hold mostly individual stocks, I beg to differ.

Some people think that if there's risk in any activity, then it's a gamble. Well, going to college is then a gamble. Who's to say you will graduate, and then even with a degree who guarantees you a job? And if you get a good job, who knows if you will not get downsized?

Would it not be safer to get a minimum wage job, because you are nearly guaranteed to find one anytime?

 

[RetiredHappy]

While I don't do indexing and hold mostly individual stocks, I beg to differ.

Some people think that if there's risk in any activity, then it's a gamble. Well, going to college is then a gamble. Who's to say you will graduate, and then even with a degree who guarantees you a job? And if you get a good job, who knows if you will not get downsized?

Would it not be safer to get a minimum wage job, because you are nearly guaranteed to find one anytime?

Going to college is not a gamble because I have always seen it as a way to broaden one's horizon. My son who has ASD went on to graduate with 2 Bachelor degree from state universities at different times and did not make use of them in his jobs, but I am sure it has made him a better person. He is working in minimum wage jobs now. It wasn't a gamble then and it is still not a gamble looking back.

 

[Mulligan]

I love sports betting. Mostly bet season win/point totals and major golf tournaments. Been on a bit of a heater lately. Cashed all my NHL season point totals, and currently 7-0 on playoff series bets. Already laying football season bets starting this weekend. Presently have tickets for Jacksonville Jags 8.5 ovr, Wisconsin Badgers 5.5 and 6.5 ovrs, and Iowa Hawkeyes 6.5 and 7.5 ovrs. Vegas never learns and annually underestimates Ferentz’s Hawks which I appreciate and treat it like an annual tiny annuity payment, ha.

 

[AudiDudi]

We occasionally gamble at a casino - DW likes blackjack and the slots, I'll play a little blackjack, maybe some 3 card poker, craps and a couple poker tournaments. The behind the line bet on craps is the best bet in the house as it actually pays the true odds. At times I sit and watch DW play slots and soak up a couple "free" drinks. I do play small stakes poker a couple nights a week at our winter snowbird resort, but that's much more just a social get together than gambling and you might win/lose $10 in 3 hours. Now, playing stock options and betting Netflix would not get the approval for a merger a month or so ago, that was gambling.

 

[6miths]

This is a great poll. Thank you very much for thinking to put it up. I will read with interest.

No gambling of any kind. I must have a streak of Puritan in me as it annoys me that I have to be subjected to constant sports betting ads and even in game commentary while watching sports.

 

[jazz4cash]

Stock market is the biggest gamble of all. So we are all gamblers. Speculators are gamblers.

Nah. I like the stock market vs casino comparison. With the market your odds improve the longer you play if you are a long term investor, not a speculator. In the casino the odds go up for the house the longer you play

 

[disneysteve]

Stock market is the biggest gamble of all. So we are all gamblers. Speculators are gamblers.

Speculating and investing are two entirely different activities. One is akin to gambling. The other is not.

 

[Koolau]

With Ted Turner's passing , there should be a ranch or two for sale.
Go for it...

I believe our very own "street" has his eye on TTs ranch!

 

[Mulligan]

Speculating and investing are two entirely different activities. One is akin to gambling. The other is not.

I gamble and I invest, but in my terminology, I dont speculate. And I am careful with my gambling monies, because I will not allow my investing accounts to subsidize my gambling.

 

[disneysteve]

I’m a little surprised by how low the in-person casino cohort is. Given that casinos have spread broadly across the country, most people live fairly close to at least one. It’s not like pre-1978 when they were only in Nevada or for many years post-1978 when it was Nevada and AC. Now they are widespread. In my region there are casinos in NY, NJ, PA, DE, and MD, so basically everywhere within a 3-hr drive. The closet is about 15-20 minutes. They are major entertainment and dining destinations as well as gambling facilities.

 

[easysurfer]

Nope.

There is enough bad luck to go around without gambling. No need to add more bad.

 

[Chuckanut]

No. IMO, the definition of a state lottery is “A tax on people who did not study their math”.

However, I do thank the Native Americans who opened up all those casinos near me. Based upon the casino ads I’ve seen they are the business of giving huge amounts of money to the “pale faces” who visit them. How nice of them to do that.