Your Thoughts on Gambling

[voicecrying]

I've been to a casino only once in my life. I had enough sense to budget 20.00 for that day. I played the nickle machines and drank free cokes. I enjoyed myself and at the end of the day, I had come out even. But if I had not, I would have only lost 20.00.

.

My family & I drove from Ohio to California the summer I turned 21. I was 20 on the way out, but 21 on the way back. We stopped in Vegas on the way back home and I sat down at the $2 blackjack table. I lost $40 before I could even get a free drink. I was done after that.

Back around that same time, my friends & I would play cards every Wednesday night. Wagers were never much. It was mostly just to hang out and drink a few beers. We played a variety of games: blackjack, 5-card stud, chase the ace, cut the deck, etc. Most pots were only a few dollars. One year, I decided to track everything I won & lost so I could see how I did for the year. At the year's end, I was less than a dollar ahead.

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

In that respect, I suppose, I was expressing to Huk that the harmful intent and consequences of both are real, maybe only different in the magnitude and kind of their efforts to take advantage (and appeal to sinful traits).

My gambler friend really has just about lost everything from gambling. He lives in a converted shed behind his daughter’s home. He lost his car and now rides a bike back and forth to work, We can’t even play golf anymore because he pawned off my used golf clubs I sold him. (I actually feel regret now for always betting when we played, but it seemed like he couldn’t find the motivation to play or even focus if money wasn’t constantly on the line).

 

[Baptist City Holdout]

That "funding for education" thing was just a ruse in many jurisdictions. While lotto proceeds were funneled to education, (as well as lining many pockets) state legislatures took funds from education because lotto funds were filling the gap.

You ain't never lied!

 

[ALAYMAN]

My gambler friend really has just about lost everything from gambling. He lives in a converted shed behind his daughter’s home. He lost his car and now rides a bike back and forth to work, We can’t even play golf anymore because he pawned off my used golf clubs I sold him. (I actually feel regret now for always betting when we played, but it seemed like he couldn’t find the motivation to play or even focus if money wasn’t constantly on the line).

I’m reminded of the story of the prodigal who hit the bottom of the barrel in the pigsty and fled to the father. Hopefully your friend has such a turn in his life.