Let's begin with a definition. What is gambling? Gambling is betting on something that may or might not happen later on. As we gamble, we take a risk, choose an uncertain outcome, and bet on it. Gamblers bet on casino games, horse racing, and sports where the result can't be predicted with certainty. Some individuals will bet on anything. Remember the Seinfeld episode where Kramer bet on the arrival and departure times of airplanes at a new York City airport?
How is gambling distinctive from buying stocks and bonds? Stocks and bonds will be considered investments and not gambles because we can reasonably anticipate to come out ahead in the long haul. They might be risky but not within the same sense as gambling.
How is gambling different from buying coverage? Once we buy insurance, we have been betting on something that may or might not happen in the future. We do not want to take the risk which it will happen, so we pay someone else (the insurance company) to take the risk for us. When we buy homeowner's insurance coverage, for example, we have been betting our house will burn down and the insurance coverage company is betting it won't. (Of course we hope we will not win this bet.) This isn't gambling because the risk may be calculated. The insurance coverage company uses all kinds of statistics to analyze the probability of our house burning down and fixes the premium we are going to pay accordingly.
People have gambled since ancient times. However, society never approved of it because it was labeled an effort to get money without doing work for it. Society considered that serious effort should pave the way to financial success. It wasn't until the late 1960s that states (except for Nevada which had legalized all forms of gambling earlier) started to run lotteries to raise money for worthwhile causes.
So why do we gamble despite the fact that we have been unlikely to win in the long term? We gamble for the excitement of the uncertain outcome. Some gamble to attempt to make their financial dreams come true. A lot of people gamble for entertainment or enjoyment, for example a night out with friends at the casino or a bingo game for a charitable organization or possibly a lottery ticket. Some think they may beat the odds and earn money out of gambling. You will discover individuals that gamble while they simply love the challenge. They look-at gambling as a game of skill or problem-solving and they are sure also they can win. Some like the environment or perhaps the thrill of a possible big win, or the adrenaline rush of going for a chance. Casinos allow us to socialize and Full Content pass some time. You'll find no clocks in a casino; we lose track of time; we forget all our troubles. It's like a therapy session! If we have been timid, we will go to a casino and boldly take chances.
Occasional gambling may be a relaxing type of entertainment but be careful not to get addicted. Addiction may lead to obsession. You may lose control and become so fanatical that one can ruin you life or suffer other catastrophic consequences. So if you gamble, be sure to set limits and keep to the limits you have set.