Truth About Casinos
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Some people would have you believe that gambling is one giant
scheme, and that anyone who chooses to gamble is a fool. Others
would have you believe that with the right system you can easily
make a substantial amount of money. These are two extreme views
on gambling, neither of which are even close to being accurate.
There are lots of other misconceptions about gambling too,
many of which are quite commonly held. A lot of people genuinely
believe that it can only lead to addiction and financial ruin or
that it’s an anti-social activity that should be discouraged.
Some people think that all forms of gambling are fixed so that
you can’t possibly win, and some think that they are all based
entirely on luck.
None of these things are true either. There may be a grain of
truth to some of them, but they are ultimately incorrect
nonetheless.The problem is that so many of these mistaken
beliefs are repeated often enough that some people have the
completely wrong idea about gambling.
We would never suggest that gambling is right for everyone,
but it’s ridiculous to make it out to be some kind of evil
activity that should be avoided at all costs. It’s equally
ridiculous, of course, to suggest that gambling is an easy way
to gain wealth and prosperity. The real truth lies somewhere in
between.
If gambling is something you’re interested in, you should
know the truth before deciding whether it’s an activity you want
to try or not. That’s why we’ve written this article. In our
opinion there are a few key facts that you really need to know,
and we discuss each one of these below.
Truth About Online Casinos
Gambling Can Be a Lot of Fun
There’s more to gambling than the money. Every gambler wants
to win money if they can, but it’s not the most important thing
for everyone. For many, gambling is seen as a form of
entertainment where any money they happen to win is a bonus. The
chance of winning money is a big part of what makes gambling so
entertaining of course, but the point is that it can be a lot of
fun regardless of whether you win or lose.
This is something that a lot of people fail to understand.
They assume that losing money at gambling is always a big deal,
when in reality most people view it the same as they would any
other entertainment cost. Is spending a few bucks in exchange
for a couple of hours of fun in the casino really any different
to spending a few bucks to go watch a movie?
Gambling Can Be a Sociable Activity
Contrary to the opinion of some people, gambling can be a
very sociable activity. The idea that all gamblers are ashamed
of what they do and want to keep it a secret is complete
nonsense. A lot of people do choose to gamble on their own for
sure, but not necessarily because they are being secretive. It
may simply be their preference. In any case, there are also a
lot of people that choose to gamble with their friends.
For example, many people enjoy playing poker at home with
their friends or taking a trip with them to spend the weekend at
a nearby casino. Taking a group trip to the horse racing track
is a great way to spend a Saturday or you can even have fun by
placing a small bet against a friend on the outcome of an
upcoming sporting event that you watch together. All of these
examples add a social element to gambling, and there are even
more ways to do so.
Gambling Is Not All Dumb Luck
A very common assumption about gambling is that it’s purely
luck that determines whether or not you win. This is certainly
true of some forms of gambling, such as lottery games for
example, but it’s not always the case. The very nature of
gambling means that there’s always some element of luck
involved, but skill and strategy have their place too.
Poker and sports betting are great examples of this. The best
poker players in the world don’t get to be the best by getting
lucky, it’s because they study the game and learn how to outplay
their opponents. In the same regards, the best sports bettors in
the world don’t make money solely because they are lucky. They
know how to gain an edge against the bookmakers by utilizing
their sports knowledge and betting skills.
There’s strategy involved in some casino games too, even
though they are games of chance. Luck is the overriding factor,
but it’s not the only factor. If you play the right way you can
at least have some effect on your overall chances of winning.
Gambling Can Be Profitable
This is really just an extension of the previous point. Not
all gamblers are doomed to lose money, and indeed there are some
who make a very nice income from their gambling activities.
Technically, it’s possible for anyone to be profitable,
providing they know what they’re doing.
This is only true for some types of gambling though. You
can’t be profitable in the long run when playing casino games
for example (unless you learn how to count cards), as there’s a
house edge which ensures the odds are always against you. You
may win in the short term, but the laws of probability mean you
are almost certain to lose money eventually.
With forms of gambling such as poker and sports betting,
however, you can put the odds in your favor. As we mentioned
earlier, these involve a significant amount of skill and
strategy. If you can master the necessary skills and learn the
right strategies, there’s no reason why you can’t consistently
make money.
Gambling Always Involves Risk
Every time you place a wager, enter a poker tournament, put
your chips down in the casino, or do any kind of gambling,
you’re taking a risk. The very essence of gambling is that
you’re effectively betting on an uncertain outcome, so there’s
always a risk that the outcome isn’t a favorable one.
Even a very skilled poker player won’t win every single hand
they play. Likewise, a skilled sports bettor won’t win every
single bet they place. There is always a risk of things not
going as expected, and it’s very important to remember this.
Most Gamblers Lose
We’ve already explained how it’s perfectly possible to win
money from gambling. However, it’s also important to keep in
mind that most gamblers do lose. Realistically the chances are
that you will too, and you should certainly be prepared for that
possibility. You might have what it takes to become a successful
poker player or a profitable sports bettor, but it’s unlikely
that you’ll start winning from the moment you start.
We’re not saying this to steer you away from gambling. We
just want you to be aware of the fact that losing is a distinct
possibility. If you only ever gamble with money that you are
happy to lose, then losing isn’t a huge ordeal.
Gambling Can Be Addictive
The final fact we want to make you aware of is that gambling
can be addictive. As such, if you happen to have an addictive
personality you should seriously reconsider whether gambling is
the right activity for you. A gambling addiction can be very
destructive, and it’s something you definitely want to avoid.
Again, we’re not saying this to put you off gambling. Most
people are able to enjoy gambling without it becoming a problem,
and the chances are that you can too. With that being said, we
feel very strongly about the importance of responsible gambling
and we believe that everyone should be aware of the potential
pitfalls of gambling before taking it up as a pastime.
If you would like more information about gambling addiction,
including info on how to get help, please
read
this article.
In the late 1980s, I was a newspaper delivery boy for the Bangor Daily Newspaper. My route included Bayside, home of the Northport Yacht Club, the marina, and the cottages that make up this secluded community. One day, a yacht-owning customer bought a paper, then asked me about the hottest topic, Maine was about to adopt a lottery program to “help pay for K-12 education throughout the state.” As a kid of 11, I had no opinion on this topic; I just sold the newspapers. But, the conversation got me thinking, and that following Sunday, I sat down to the editorials and read both sides of the contest. Including a political cartoon that has never left my mind.
As I have aged and experienced, this cartoon returns to mind quite often. As does the premise behind lotteries and casinos, the house always wins. While living in New Mexico, the gaming commission complained that with revenues from lotteries slumping, less money could be paid to the state for K-12 education, causing a cash shortage requiring higher taxes for public education. With their high six-figure salaries, their enormous cash outlays, and income, the gaming commission could not find sufficient money; I am not buying the excuses! But, the house always wins. Believe it or not, the announcement that higher taxes were looming because of a slump in lottery buying led to higher sales of lottery tickets, and the “cash crisis” was obverted.
Worse, casinos saw an increase in gambling attendees, which also helped to avoid a cash crunch causing higher taxes. The increase in sales on lottery tickets and casino gambling also saw an expontential increase in gambling debts, gambling addictions, and gambling-related crimes to feed the people’s gambling obsessions, worsening the public burden on gambling support programs and increasing the costs of these programs. The house always wins!
Richard Brookhiser authored “What would the Founding Fathers Do? (Our Questions Their Answers), and on pages 97-99, discusses President Thomas Jefferson’s debt and his pitch to the Virginia Legislature to hold lotteries arguing both for and against state-sponsored lotteries. In Jefferson’s remarks, we find the trouble and the social consequences of state-sponsored lotteries. Pres. Jefferson stated, “If we consider games of chance immoral, then every pursuit of human industry is immoral; for there is not a single one that is not subject to chance.” Further pointing out that farmers bet on the weather, Captains of ships bet their lives and crew lives, builders bet on market conditions, etc. Jefferson’s second point on state-sponsored lotteries makes two compelling points to today’s discussion, that of the addicted gambler and the responsibility of the state to protect them against their actions, and that building, shipping, trade, farming, etc. all produce or handle real products and services that pay off the debts; but games of chance are pure diversions and thoroughly unproductive.
Brookhiser noted, “Libertarian Jefferson saw chance everywhere; Republican Jefferson saw the damage that pursuing games of chance create, and both Jeffersons dueled to Jefferson’s death.” Worse, both of President Jefferson’s ideas are found in current society and the gambling crisis prevalent in every state in the American Union! We find thoroughly unproductive state lotteries raking in cash through tickets and casinos, balls, and scratch-offs, creating a regular addicted population of gamblers for the government to expand to take care of, protect, and guide. As a conservative, I ask continually, why is it the government’s job to protect and guide the addicted through their own choices, behaviors, and lifestyles? If President Jefferson were here today, I would ask him why he considers it the government’s job to engage in thoroughly unproductive lotteries and games of chance and why the addicted need government intervention?
Since President Jefferson is not here to ask, I put the question to you. With the expense of holding games of chance, casinos, and lotteries, is this money well-spent by the taxpayers? Since these games of chance, lotteries, and casinos breed social problems, creating poor people, and destroying morals, ethics, and values, is the government responsible for the addicted people crushed by gambling? I have worked on Indian Reservations, where gambling is a significant industry, and I witnessed how much casinos create trouble, damage, and chaos. My heart wept at the lives destroyed, the potential wasted, and the land blighted through gambling, and I cannot shake wondering why the state would allow and support the gambling and games of chance.
Why Casinos Are Bad
Brookhiser quoted President Jefferson, “… As in those of insanity, idiocy, and infancy, etc., it is the duty of society to take gambling addicts under its protection; even against their own acts, and to restrain their right of choice of these pursuits, by suppressing them entirely.” I say NO! If you choose to gamble until you are addicted, it is not the responsibility of anyone but yourself. Sure, you will need help to overcome the addiction, but society should not foot the bill! Like every other addiction humans become entangled with; society should not have to foot the bill to help the addict. Helping the addict is the role of the church and non-profit, non-government-supported relief agencies, not the taxpayer! The house always wins.
Using Arizona as an example, the Arizona Lottery gave back to the community $226.14 Million in 2020. In 2019, the Arizona Lottery, using a Multi-State Lottery Association scheme, exceeded $1 Billion in revenue. Speaking of how the house always wins, see the disparity between raised and given back? More than $8000 Million went to overhead, salaries, and other sources, but somehow Arizonans are expected to feel grateful for the $226.14 Million in crumbs returning to Arizona. Why again is the state sponsoring games of chance, creating new and “exciting” games of chance, and helping gambling addicts created through state-sponsored lotteries?
In researching for this topic, I have reviewed resources for and against lottery winners’ ravages, from the lottery’s curse, where people have gone broke and are worse off than before winning to the exact opposite where up to a decade after winning, the winners are better off financially and emotionally. The deciding factor always comes back to the individuals involved’ attitude and choices, just like everything else in life, how you choose, how you evaluate consequences, and what you do with this information determines your destiny. Yet, I return to the same questions, time and time again, why is the state sponsoring games of chance? Where does all the rest of the money go? Why is the state involved in addiction recovery programs when they caused and supported those populations becoming addicted in the first place?
A “Liberty FIRST Culture” needs to be asking more challenging questions and demanding more answers that make sense logically, that open doors for success, not addictions to unproductive behaviors. I learned early that gambling was a tax on stupidity and have avoided the lure of lotteries. The curse of gambling addiction has affected my family, city, state, and country for far too long without accountability from the state for their abhorrent actions and behaviors in supporting lotteries and casinos. We, the citizens of America, need to understand and have clear information to improve choices and government directions. Where casinos and lotteries are concerned since the house always wins, who owns the house?
Truth About Casinos
© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
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