The allure of gambling.

You can't avoid some gambling. Insurance is a gamble. You're betting something bad will happen to you and the insurance company is betting it won't. And, they know the odds. Investments are always a gamble. Look at the 2008 stock crash.
 

Olivia said:
one of the favorite destinations for Hawaii citizens to take vacation is Las Vegas. For some that's the only place they will ever go. But don't worry there are still otherwise a lot of things you can do here, even get married or honeymoon. You won't miss the gambling.
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Me and my kids lived in Vegas for a couple of years or so. We lived out in the desert, out past the airport.

I'm not a gambler but when family or friends came to visit us, they all wanted to hit Las Vegas Blvd at night.

Back then (mid-80s), I liked taking the kids to the all-you-can-eat buffets - breakfast: 99cents, lunch: $1.99, dinner: $2.99 / $4.99 if you want a lobster tail. And the food was great! Fresh, yummy, and the desserts were awesome.

The kids loved it, and it actually cost less to eat at a buffet every day than it did to buy groceries. But we didn't go every day, of course. Traffic and parking was kind of a bummer.
 
The chance to win big is a draw for sure but not for us anymore. Winning a life changing amount would be for our sons. For us a couple times a week it's entertainment. Were ahead for the year & have invested part of the winnings. The rest we use to entertain ourselves.

Probably the most important consideration. There is no impact on our cost of living.
 

The global online gambling market was estimated at USD 63.53 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 70.64 billion in 2023.

That’s just the online gambling. New casinos are being built on a regular basis. In Vegas, fancy hotels that don’t seem old or worn are replaced or upgraded. It’s big money invested because they know bigger money will keep coming in.
 
When I think of casinos I think of fat women in stretch pants with cups full of quarters. Not exactly James Bond in a dinner jacket. I did take a tour of the casino in Monte Carlo once at about 11 in the morning. Sort of a "so what" experience.
 
Father a poker player during his WWII Navy days, for awhile had a bodyguard for protection. While living several years about Sacramento, was addicted to Reno and Tahoe casinos. As a teen practiced card counting in blackjack. I dabbled as a young adult because as a Tahoe skier in groups would follow others into casinos. Winning money was never much a thrill but losing hard earned income, didn't need. Don't believe in "luck".
 
Rakaia said:
@JustDave
Gambling is a drug and that drug is adrenalin, once the dealer calls 'no more bets' the adrenalin kicks in until the result is known.
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I've felt that but never been to a casino. I play Hearts online, no money involved, but if I get a good hand for "Shooting the Moon," my heart starts to pound a little. I just don't need to have money involved.

Long ago, when my state first got the lottery, I sold tickets in the store where I worked. One day I bought a one dollar scratch off ticket -- didn't win -- felt sick over the loss. That was it for me and gambling.
 
To add to your description, @bobcat, one can never tell inside a casino whether it's day or night. There aren't any windows and, of course, no clocks.

I personally never felt the urge to gamble, or at least not much. I've only ever used slot machines and never spent more than $50 (and I never ended up with a net gain). I was always too intimidated to try the table games, plus they just didn't interest me.

My ex and our kids and I lived in northern Nevada for several years. We took a few trips to Las Vegas, mostly to take the kids to the exotic swimming pools, and those trips were fun because Vegas is just so over the top. In our small town, though, slot machines seemed to rule. They could be found in every grocery store, in corner convenience stores, and even in the laundromat. I actually found it a bit depressing.
 
My mom was fairly lucky and when she visited for 2 weeks she usually went home with more money than she came with. One year it paid for her entire vacation. She only played slots and bingo. That year it seemed like she couldn’t lose.

Walking out of a grocery store she put the change in the slot machine and it paid her more than she spent on groceries. She never got rich but she had fun and was careful to never spend more money than she could afford.
 
No! Never. I’ve never had any interest in gambling! I don’t ever buy lottery tickets.
Then again, I don’t drink so that whole party atmosphere doesn’t appeal to me. Plus I have social phobia. I don’t like being around lots of people; especially those who are highly intoxicated. I’d rather go to a park and maybe meet other dog lovers.
 
KSav said:
My ex and our kids and I lived in northern Nevada for several years. We took a few trips to Las Vegas, mostly to take the kids to the exotic swimming pools, and those trips were fun because Vegas is just so over the top. In our small town, though, slot machines seemed to rule. They could be found in every grocery store, in corner convenience stores, and even in the laundromat. I actually found it a bit depressing.
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I lived 90 miles from Vegas for a year in Arizona. It was a great place to shop and eat out. With or without the casinos, I rather liked the place. But that was 50 years ago. I don't know about now. I drove through there a few years ago, and it seemed awful crowded and busy. It's too big for me.
 
I used to like playing poker at home when I was young. Even my parents played sometimes. Never any big money on the table. Maybe $50.00 on one hand if there were five or six of us playing but that was very rare.
I buy two lottery tickets about every two or three weeks at the gas station.
I don't like going to casinos. Been to Vegas once on a weekend business trip with my boss. Never spent a dime in the casino.
My family used to get together once in a while at a local casino for breakfast or a dinner. Food was always very good. I think I lost $20.00 one time. Just doesn't do anything for me.
 
Tesla was fixated on 3 - 6 - 9 and you know where that got him.
Us kids were in Las Vegas once. It was like daylight down town, wear sun glasses.
I got $5 worth of quarters, ran them thru,
My brother ran what left thru,
His wife, then mine, _ $5 worth of quarters, all gone.
One woman had the tray full of quarters and just kept plugging along.

You can see the lights of Vegas from Many miles away in the distance. Bye all.
Went to camp at Lake Mead. Went to the Big Sur later. Knuff of Cal. too.
Saw it all as a big gamble.

A friend where I worked when gambling was legalized said "just keep doubling down."
He got himself divorced.
 

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