ETTM: gambling

[Deleted]

Explain the allure of gambling to me. Is it that you might win big? Something to pass the time? An impulse buy at the grocery store?

If I'm giving someone my money I want something in return for it and I really don't get the appeal of gambling.

[emyinpink]

I really don't understand it either....

[picksthemusic]

When we go to Vegas next month, we're going to gamble, but just a little bit. I want to say that I've gambled in Vegas at least once in my life, haha.

I think for most people it's the allure that they'll get a lot of money for just putting down a little and taking a chance. It's the thrill of the waiting to see if they won. And if they win, it's a big adrenaline rush.

I think, also, for some other types of gambling (like Bingo halls and slots), it can be a social thing or something to do or a hobby.

Our intention in Vegas is to know we're going to blow $50 or so on a few games and if we win, cool, if not, that's okay - that money was set aside to be burned, essentially. If we do win anything, it's going to our VitaMix fund.

[llh0211]

I'll preface it by saying I'm not a big gambler, by any means. I'll go, and spend $20, maybe $40 tops. But, for me, it's kind of a combination of the allure of possibly winning big, and something to pass the time. I went to the casino Friday night with a couple girlfriends. One of my friends put $20 in, played only penny slot machines, and cashed out $520. So, she won $500. It can happen, and I do hope that it will, but I won't drop a ton of money to continue to try.

[jennlin]

for me, it's definitely something to do to "pass the time"..and by "pass the time" i mean "i got dragged to the casino for one reason or another, so here, i'll burn some money".

some casinos have good happy hours, a dance club, good restaurant...some thing..the allure to get you there. once you're there..we generally have to wait for some one for some reason or another, so we might go burn money. we never expect to win, but if we do, that's a bonus.

as for lotto tickets, when i buy lotto tickets, it's because it's a small expense that "just might" make it big.....i buy lottery tickets like once or twice a year.

[mkate710]

I've only gone to a casino a couple times, and each time played $5 in the penny slots. It's entertaining for an evening. It isn't something I'd do regularly. We will be making our (at least my) first trip to Vegas for H's 30th and will probably do something similar to Picks - set a limit, gamble in Vegas to say we did it, then do other stuff the rest of the trip.

My grandma furnished her whole house in Vegas/Reno winnings. She says it's a big adrenaline rush, but even now she'll admit it's kinda dumb.

[BlackCanary]

I'm not a gambler, my dad plays online poker a lot and has spent too much money IMO on that.

DH and I sometimes play poker with friends now and again, it's only a $5 buy in per person.

[FrozenSunshine]

I use to run a poker game. It was for fun and the allure of winning.

Scratch offs I'll do from time to time, but that's just silly fun. I always figure I've wasted money on sillier things.

[niq]

I have a friend who plays craps. He likes it because it's the most social and cooperative gambling game. Everyone at the table is usually rooting for the shooter. Since it's the worst odds in the casino unless you make boring bets, everyone knows they're lighting money on fire and is just having a good time.

Poker is fun for the illusion of some skill (well, there is skill if you're really good). I really don't get the appeal of slot machines or roulette or things like that.

[Deleted]

I only buy a lotto ticket if the jackpot is really high but I know I just basically wasted that dollar. When we go to a casino the only thing I play is the slot machines. I just really don't care about gambling that much and don't enjoy it so we rarely do it.