Gambling is Fine

24 March 2020

By Frank Scoblete

[We’ve tackled serious ideas before on these pages but they usually deal with good or bad ways to play or what games are about. But what of the ultimate question for casino players; that’s right, the question of whether one should gamble at all? In this two-part column I have given two writers, Matthew and David, a chance to express their con and pro feelings about gambling and casino playing. As you will see these two differ greatly in their opinions – to say the least! This is Part II.]

From David: Not everyone should gamble. I agree with Matthew that some people are better off staying away from wagering on anything at all. But this does not apply to all people; in fact, it doesn’t apply to most people. For them wagering money on sports, lotteries or on casino games is just a fine form of entertainment.

That’s exactly how I see it, as a form of entertainment, in the same category as other forms of entertainment that you pay money to enjoy. Yes, the house has the edge at the games but that edge goes from quite large to quite small.

If you are a smart gambler you choose your games and strategies with an eye towards keeping the house edge as low as possible. That is not that difficult to do.

There are plenty of books and web sites where you can learn good strategies. Oh yes, there are books and strategies that are not so hot. After a relatively short time you get to know which are good and which are a waste of your time.

Now, I am not a big lottery player because the house edge on those games is immense. If a lottery goes to hundreds of millions I will buy one ticket and fantasize about how I would handle the money. I don’t kid myself into thinking I am going to win.

Frank Scoblete has written about this before but it bears repeating: When you go to a movie or play or sporting event you pay your money to be entertained. Some movies are good and some aren’t but you take your chances. If you have cable television or one of the streaming services (or both as I do) then you are paying to enjoy entertainment in your own home.

If you go to a restaurant, you are paying for the food and service.

Almost all entertainment you pay for. Most people do not complain about that. So people who enjoy the entertainment of wagering are really no different. They have found an activity that they like and they pursue it.

Very few casino gamblers can go to the casinos more than once a month – most go maybe a few times in a year. Matthew wants to stop people from enjoying this activity. I do know that some religions outlaw gambling (and dancing and celebrating birthdays and holidays) and that’s fine. You want to belong to that religion then you can follow those rules. That’s freedom.

So for those of us who enjoy wagering, let us have the freedom to enjoy it. We have intelligence and we can figure out how to handle ourselves.