The Gamble of Gambling

A brief discussion about the risks in pursuing a pastime involving risk taking.

We all need money in hopes to earning more with it. Nowadays, cutting travel expenses, hotel bookings, even food and amenities—not sure why anyone would stop buying food—lead one in partaking an old pastime, which can be done online, where getting chances to win money couldn't be a better opportunity. Why risk your well-being when you're safe gambling at home with an internet connection? Convenience proves that what was impossible—unavailable—more than 30 years ago has made rounds today: all at the comfort of your couch/room. Whether it's online video poker or sports betting, rest assured your winnings will be readily available on your account—withdrawn when cleared. It's all well and good...up to a point.

"Mo' Money, Mo' No Problem"

Having no self control over something addictive has a good chance of breaking someone. It is our belief that early exposure can help educate, and eliminate, any possible consideration(s) within that child's life choices growing up. This is especially true with myself: having previously mentioned spending time with family in Las Vegas growing up, in other articles, being surrounded by the casino environment most of my life, I'd read and learn about vagaries that come along with casino gambling—every good and bad thing. After approaching my early 20s, earning my own income, I knew better. While this technique is debatable come parenting, this result came true with me: talking about casino gaming is not a problem, though due to my continuous knowledge about casinos overall, there's a reason for sitting back and enjoying the sights and sounds instead, which includes places to eat inside. With casino gaming, even prediction market apps, being readily available, it's time that parent(s)/guardian(s) start doing their jobs, educating their child(ren) about the dangers of gambling; better now than later—actually now, since gambling/prediction games can be accessed via app stores.

Like any other profitable business, the casino's job is to generate revenue. After watching some compilation videos on YouTube of folks losing their money, along with those gambling their rent and life savings, it's like they don't know any better (low impulse control, it seems). Casinos hold no responsibility for losses when playing at their venue. Casino atmosphere is vibrant and aethetically beautiful, yet casinos do not integrate, nor should they, coercive practices in getting customers to play; it's your choice. Having also watched gamblers become violent, resorting to vandalism of casino property, is something we do not advise: you are directly responsible for the results, plus its aftermath, when partaking in gambling. Projecting your anger to property, and/or innocent bystanders, worsens the situation, leaving you at risk for possible felony charges.

"If you can't accept losing, you can't win."
— Vince Lombardi

Losing is expected, and not every button push, lever pull, nor turning of a single card, lest on the first draw/spin, guarantees success. While mathematics isn't required, it helps knowing your odds. All this begs the question: what's your reason for gambling? If you answered, "to make money," then you're putting your shoe on the wrong foot; as it's like refusing to eat as a technique for losing weight—where you'll end up hurting yourself.

No doubt that some people are luckier than others. We all fantastize about that one slot machine pull turning us into instant millionaires without a care about working again. Odds of that happening are insurmountable. Some gamblers bring good luck charms, while others study day and night about games they hope to master, play free mobile apps to practice their skills, watching countless videos in "beating the casino," listening to every expert through podcasts, reading their books, and plenty more. To make a livable wage casino gambling almost sounds like a misnomer, albeit true, where amateur and professionals have attained enough advanced knowledge, and extreme financial care, making such "job" possible. With such a wretched job market, will this mean we will see more casino "gamers," if you will, or "influencers," caving to casinos? Ironically, casinos will be happy to oblige, but how you market, or "influence," will determine yours, and the casino's, conversion rates: if your presentation, or review, increases head count and gaming activity, you're in great hands. Then again, casinos themselves are risking themselves if hiring you in marketing their facility will attract visitors and repeat customers. Oh, yes, there's plenty at stake, and it's not just you, the(ir) customer.

Life's a Gamble, so...

Going out for a drive, or giving birth, are examples of "gambles" one takes to gain. It's within our biology, making such phenomenon older than civilization itself. In this example, what are the odds you won't get into an accident? What are the chances that your pregnancy will be healthy with no complications? These are something we may not often think about, given they are done without second guessing. For the gambler(s): any way of knowing that you'll break even? For the casino(s): what are ways you can attract more customers without sending them into a spiral, ensuring they become repeat visitors? Some would stress about avoiding such venues completely, while others feel at home and not minding being a marketing "extra" for the casino(s). Speaking of which, as reported by both Casino.org, and World Casino News, a Gallup Poll reported that less Americans are gambling. You think social media influencers will help? Due to popularity with reviewing food and doing 'mukbangs,' maybe casinos ought to host more restaurants? Provide venues that are fun and safe for kids, so parents/guardians wouldn't have to worry about leaving them in the car? Have a place for pets? There are plenty of ways to go about this, if you're a casino owner.

One can take away from this article as another "it's up to you" ordeal. Fact of today's matter is gambling has become ubiquitous among the populace: a sort of side hustle one can partake in, alongside their job(s), as if it's not for recreation anymore. Then again, casinos are selling you a "gamified" product you play in order to earn; they're a for-profit business model, only attracting patrons to stop by and enjoy their stay. Adhering to casino rules and conduct are a must. Again, this is something that ought be common knowledge: heck, if you don't enjoy what you do, nor where you go and visit, then that, alone, proves you're not worthy of winning—if gambling isn't involved either. Not everyone has the time, energy, nor interest in setting foot at casinos, let alone downloading an app allowing, by state law, to make wagers and gamble online. Casinos are doing what they do, and to consume their product(s) shouldn't make one regretful nor angry if no return is guaranteed. That's not only reality, but also Life; we can also say it's a revenue-generating tactic made out of our innate biology in ties with taking risks in Life. On the other hand, you can gamble your money off given "it's not that deep, bro." In that case, whatever you decide to do, there's no reason to be happy, nor angry, because what you're getting out of your own doing, "is not that deep," right? Never have we seen such a robotic phrase normalized in our vernacular; and if catering to those types guarantees casino success, then by all means.

Gambling is human: test and strengthn your instincts; it only becomes a problem when mishandled persistently.

SOURCES:

1. [CASINO.ORG]: Is the Gambling Boom Over? Gallup Poll Suggests Fewer Americans Are Gambling

2. [WORLD CASINO NEWS]: Gallup Finds Decline in American Gambling Activity

Kris Caballero

Founder of KCU Network and KCU Plus, Kris has been writing since he started blogging in late 2005. Officially back to doing computer programming, Kris enjoys reading books on Mathematics, Quantum Computing, Philosophy, plus playing old video/MS-DOS games, digital video archiving, listening to sports, public radio and classical music.

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