I am a fan of gambling. I like the thrill of potentially losing or gaining money. Putting up something important on the line, there is a certain thrill to it. The pain of loss is acute, the thrill of the win is tremendous. Feelings which make you feel alive. Gambling is a drug, and an addictive one at that. Now I’m going to pass off perhaps as a spoiled brat with this post, so before I begin, let it be said that I am a spoiled child.

I used to play the lottery, but it’s not a thrill thing so I wont discuss it much here.

In my younger and more venerable years, I used play some card games with my mother and grandparents for cash. It is a fun family bonding type thing, so the concept of loss of money in a card game and fair play has been instilled in me for quite some time.

These days, there are two main gambling activities I partake in. Poker, and on occasion I go to the Montreal Casino to play Blackjack. Poker nights are fun not because of the risk involved, but more for the trash talking and the consumption of alcohol. Good friends, good beer, good buzz, good jokes. Poker must be played among a few close friends with plenty of verbal (sometimes physical) smack down. We generally play for no more than 10-15 bucks an evening which may seem trivial, but I must insist on some form of monetary compensation else the trash talk is worthless. All in all I like our poker system. The stakes are low, and when people lose they don’t lose enough to become resentful. The winners walk out feeling like winners. Everyone is happy and generally drunk.

Blackjack is a more serious and expensive form of entertainment. For one, I don’t like to drink when I play blackjack. The minimum bet is usually 15 bucks a hand, and I like to keep my wits about me. Plus alcohol might make me angry if I lose, but that’s besides my theory of gambling. When I go to the casino I do not go to win. I go to play and observe. My goal is to make my money last as long as possible or until I get bored. Rule number one, “the house always wins,” so lets be realistic and never walk into a casino thinking you’re going to walk out richer. Such fantasies are for delusioned romantics. Meanwhile I enjoy watching the people play, getting advice from older veteran players, watching the hot females gamble their boyfriend’s money stupidly, the prostitutes, the badasses with too much gel in their hair, getting bitched out by the old guy next to you when you hit when you shouldn’t, and “steal his cards.” A wide variety of people both friendly and retarded. The casino offers an interesting cross section of society. Of course there is a thrill and satisfaction to winning. But there is also a certain gain in just playing. However, the thrill is an expensive one (hence spoiled child). Walking in with 150 to 200 bucks a night is expensive, especially when you walk out with nothing. However just so no one gets the wrong idea, I’ve been to date only three times to the Montreal Casino in 3 years. I plan on going again soon, but I have yet to organize people. I prefer gambling with friends.

I realize that my philosophy on the casino frame of mind is a difficult one to have. Some of my friends refuse to join me on casino trips saying they don’t believe in gambling or that they don’t believe in their own ability at self-control. These are valid arguments and I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of evil has been done because of loss at the game. However so long as one is capable of knowing one’s own limits it can be a fun and harmless experience.

PS: Cheers to Hobbes for installing my message board. You may now freely trash me.