Seven Deadly Sins for Video Poker Players: 3. Lust

11 January 2025

By Jerry Stickman

Preamble: While browsing through the offerings on television the other night I came across Se7en. It is a 1995 movie about detectives hunting a serial killer that uses the seven deadly sins as motivation for killing. While I am not much of a fan of the movie, lessons can be learned from it regarding video poker play and gambling in general.

This is the third in a series of seven articles that each cover one of the seven deadly sins – third article, third deadly sin – lust.

Lust is defined in Merriam-Webster as “unusually intense or unbridled sexual desire,” or “an intense longing or craving.” The first definition would be a particularly unusual example of lust playing video poker or playing any casino game. Although the intensity could rival it.
Obviously, as it applies to gambling, it is the second definition, “an intense longing or craving.”
It turns out that when playing video poker (or any game in a casino), lust is a very close relative of greed. It is based on the same human emotion as greed – selfishness. All humans are selfish. We are born that way. As we mature, we try to suppress our selfishness in order to get along better with others.
Playing on a machine in a casino or against a casino dealer does not generally require getting along with others, so many gamblers let their selfishness (lust) show while playing.
But, similar to greed, lust can lead to a player’s downfall.
The intense emotions can cause a breakdown in a player’s self-control. Rather than choosing to call it a session when things start to go south, lust can cause players to continue to play. They bet more and more to the point where they could lose everything they brought with them to play – or even more!

They are called deadly sins for a reason. Lust is no different. Giving in to lust’s beckoning might end up being the death knell for the player.

Do not let that happen to you.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines and 888casino.com. He authored the video poker section of “Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker!” You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com
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