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Gambling is entertainment, the same as going to see a movie or listening to music. You don't get anything in return other than what you experience going through
by hamstercat 10y ago
Gambling is entertainment, the same as going to see a movie or listening to music. You don't get anything in return other than what you experience going through it. I agree that comparing it to buying a physical product may not be the best metaphor, but I can understand where it's coming from.
In the end, it becomes a problem when it's no longer entertaining (just a game), but rather pathological.
- Bartweiss 10y agoThe house edge on well-played blackjack is only a few percent, and the highest-payout slot machines are similar. Which means that a low-limit player can keep their losses down to a few dollars pretty easily. So stingy gambling is actually pretty similar to music and movies in dollars-per-hour terms. I've certainly seen movies bad enough that I would have happily spent my money playing dollar blackjack instead.
- lfowles 10y agoWhen I interned in Las Vegas, I often joked that it was cheaper and just as entertaining to go play some flashy slot machines vs going to the arcade.
- zild3d 10y agoRight, and a lot of people forget that when comps are thrown in the edge is whittled down even more, if it exists at all. If I went to a bar I'd be ordering drinks, maybe paying a cover charge, but instead I get "free" drinks while I gamble. Craps is also a very low (<1%) house edge, and it's a more social and exciting game compared to blackjack (to me atleast)
- Bartweiss 10y ago> Craps is also a very low (<1%) house edge, and it's a more social and exciting game compared to blackjack (to me at least) This is an even better example. I didn't cite it because I couldn't remember the edge on good play, but it's a solidly social experience which can be had for a very reasonable price.