Betting Friend

What Are The Good Things About Gambling? by Steve Carter

In this article you are going to learn my take on the world of gambling and what I consider to be the good things about gambling.

I was asked the other week by a friend of mine, over a friendly game of Texas hold'em poker, what I thought the good things about gambling were. I think it was an intentional distraction so that I would forget about the pair of Kings I was holding but I decided to have a pop at it nevertheless.

"Weeeell.." I said as I raised his bet by half the pot, "That depends on what your idea of gambling is"

If you say the word 'gambling' to anyone then almost immediately ideas of casinos, chips, slot machines and cards will spring into their uninitiated minds. That is just one side, the definition of gambling is, "wagering money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods".

Well that could apply to lots of things! Take insurance for example, you are betting that an event will happen while the insurance company is betting that it won't.... Or take trading stocks and shares, if you sell you are betting that it won't rise any further in price, the person buying thinks it is. You can see how this can apply to so many things in life!

So what are the good things about gambling? Well in the stereotypical sense of the word then although there are a wide range of benefits to counter the bad side. The main purpose of it, let's face it, is enterntainment. I know people play to win money (in casinos) but it is entertainment that they seek and winning money is the form it takes.

Another one of the good things about gambling is that it gives you a buzz to play for real money, risking all your chips on one number on Roulette or one more card in Blackjack is an exhilirating experience.

Now I want to say at this point for anyone shaking their head as they read this that I am not an condoning gambling just like I would not condone drink, both are dangerous in the wrong hands and both liable to wreck lives through addiction and related problems. That said, then the majority of people can enjoy these things sensibly.

Casinos, especially the kind in Las Vegas, create thousands of jobs as well. That has to be one of the good things about gambling surely? The new super casino that is being built is costing billions, think of all the work that gives the construction industry, and then the staff to run it, the taxes that the government collect and redistribute - all these can be counted as good things about gambling.

So in conclusion then it is a double-edged sword, just like many things in life. I agree that it should be better regulated to stop people betting their life savings, but there are many good things about gambling that we would be losing if it ever disappeared, let's get rid of drink instead...
About the Author

Steve Carter is an online poker player with years of experience.

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