Poll: Do you gamble? In person or online

[ferbm]

I used to buy lottery tickets fairly regularly (for me). Now that I realize that DW and my saving habits have already won the lottery, I now only buy tickets when it's insanely high. We don't get in to win, we get in to participate in the fun with co-workers, family, or just for the excitement.

The most regular gambling that I do presently is pull-tabs on Sunday-Funday beers with a few very close couples. The girls chit-chat and the guys buy tabs... It's very low input for relatively low return, but passes the time and can generate some action/excitement. We forget our losses, but routinely bring up our "big wins!"

 

[68bucks]

When to lottery is in the high 9 digit range I'll break down and buy a ticket. I used to get in the pool at w#*k because I didn't want to be the only one there if they won.

 

[disneysteve]

We’ve spent the last 3 nights at the Borgata in Atlantic City. We’ll leave in the morning. I’m up $42. DW is up $47. I’m good with that. A win is a win.

 

[COcheesehead]

We’ll be in Vegas Thursday night on our way west. We’ll eat, walk the dogs and go to sleep. The biggest gamble will be driving in and out on I 15.

 

[Wishing]

My husband is a compulsive gambler with 20 years in GA. I generally don’t gamble out of respect for him. Note that I also abstained from imbibing out of respect for my first husband, an alcoholic, which was all for naught.

 

[Argus]

I only bet on the horses and only in person. I bring $100, bet $10 per race and $20 in the 9th. If I win on any race I keep the winning ticket(s) in my pocket until the day is over then cash out. It keeps the winnings separate and eliminates the "well I won last race, I'll bet more this race..." situation.

And it's easier to do the math how the day turned out.

We go to the track (Saratoga) maybe once a year.

 

[Tracer]

I believe it was Dave Ramsey who once said that people who buy lottery tickets don't understand math.

 

[Montecfo]

I am very firmly against gambling. Sorrow seems to follow where it is legalized. There is a move afoot (opposed by residents supported by some politicians) to bring a casino to the next county. That might end my residence here.

Lottery tickets are just sad. You see the people buying them. When we had big lottery balances nearby people from work would pool their money to play. I always declined.Theg won nothing They are all still working. Read up on people who win..Sad.

And all the focus on sports gambling has ruined a lot of programming and is damaging sports.

Sadly, it seems more and more we are in Biff's America.

 

[COcheesehead]

I believe it was Dave Ramsey who once said that people who buy lottery tickets don't understand math.

Where I live the lottery funds support public land purchases through an organization called GOCO - Great Outdoors Colorado. The funds build parks, trails, preserve wetlands, basically give back to the greater population and may even enhance a micro economy. I don’t think the lottery is a source of personal degradation as long as you use it as a source of cheap fun.

Great Outdoors Colorado

GOCO invests Colorado Lottery proceeds in parks, trails, wildlife, and open space projects, enhancing outdoor access, conservation, and local economies statewide.

www.goco.org

 

[Montecfo]

Where I live the lottery funds support public land purchases through an organization called GOCO - Great Outdoors Colorado. The funds build parks, trails, preserve wetlands, basically give back to the greater population and may even enhance a micro economy. I don’t think the lottery is a source of personal degradation as long as you use it as a source of cheap fun.

Yeah. I agree with you there. And no, it is not personal degradation. Folks like us can do it with heads on straight (well, many of us). But the societal degradation to me is a much larger concern.

And getting our youngs "hooked" early on what can be very addictive behavior for some.

 

[COcheesehead]

This is what the lottery just paid for near me.

 

[Walt34]

It kind of looks like a path to nowhere out in the middle of nowhere.

What's the value in that?

Granted the photo doesn't show the surrounding area - perhaps there are houses nearby so maybe people will use if for something. But the photo doesn't show that.

 

[disneysteve]

I am very firmly against gambling. Sorrow seems to follow where it is legalized.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but legal gaming is at least a $125 billion business in the US alone and generates upwards of $33 billion in tax revenue. It supports nearly 2 million American jobs. It gaming suddenly went away, I think there would be far more sorrow.

 

[disneysteve]

It kind of looks like a path to nowhere out in the middle of nowhere.

It looks like a beautiful and safe biking and walking path through gorgeous surroundings. Looks great to me.

 

[COcheesehead]

It kind of looks like a path to nowhere out in the middle of nowhere.

What's the value in that?

Granted the photo doesn't show the surrounding area - perhaps there are houses nearby so maybe people will use if for something. But the photo doesn't show that.

It’s hard to capture a 24 mile bike path near my house in one photo.
Crouch post of the day.

 

[AudiDudi]

It’s hard to capture a 24 mile bike path near my house in one photo.
Crouch post of the day.

Who wants to ride thru a neighborhood with people backing out of driveways and kids chasing balls into the street

 

[disneysteve]

Who wants to ride thru a neighborhood with people backing out of driveways and kids chasing balls into the street

Well this thread is about gambling after all.

 

[Turbo29]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but legal gaming is at least a $125 billion business in the US alone and generates upwards of $33 billion in tax revenue. It supports nearly 2 million American jobs. It gaming suddenly went away, I think there would be far more sorrow.

Gambling is a regressive tax. More of this revenue comes from lower income people than from the better off. Sure the wealthy gamble more per capita, when they gamble, but in aggregate the less well off contribute the lion's share of revenues.

 

[COcheesehead]

Who wants to ride thru a neighborhood with people backing out of driveways and kids chasing balls into the street

Some just don’t appreciate what that photo actually represents. Peace, safety, beauty…an amenity others would love to have.