When I say "gambling," I mean with the purpose of financial gain, not putting your physical being in danger ("gambling with your life.")  Investing money in a business/product (buying stock shares, etc) is a gamble, but I would not include buying bonds or putting money in your savings account to draw interest.


As for me, I am regular at the casino. The dealers and personal know my name, and I know a lot about each of their families and lives. However, if for some reason I wouldn't be able to go for the next year, it wouldn't bother me. I have plenty of other ways to pass the time. For me it is nothing but entertainment where I accept every time that I walk in that I could lose what I brought, and I can easily walk away when I am ahead rather than stick around trying to win even more (which could eventually lead to losing it all.) If I ever felt disgusted at the idea that I could lose money, I would stop going.


My primary game of choice is craps.

Not really. I've been in Vegas and Reno casinos (and riverboat casinos here) before, but never gambled more than a little on the slot machines.

I buy a $1 lotto ticket a week.  I know the odds are astronomical.

Gambling and financial gain? I don't think those go together! 

My mom comes up from Florida twice a year. We always go to the casino for dinner and to play slots.

A few times a year I'll buy a few scratch off lottery tickets or get a couple for friends.

We also play pinochle for big money - 25 cents a game!

My habits have changed over the years.

I originally would play the slots maybe for an hour. I found it a bit tedious, but back then the casinos were so much more lively with the noises of winning (coins falling into metal trays with bells going off in harmony *ching ching ching ching ching ching* and lights flashing.) But then they removed the coins and trays and gave you only a receipt at the end of playing instead, and moved from mechanics to microchips determining the payouts and the payout percentages plummeted. That took away what little enjoyment I had been receiving.

Back then I also played blackjack a lot more, but players have grown so much more rude since then believing that if you don't do exactly the way that the statistics say are best for winning a hand, it will not only hurt you, but it will change the cards in such a way that it will cause everyone else at the table to lose. It's complete BS, and there are many ways to prove it, but no one thinks logically when they are drunk or were losing far before I showed up.  So, I quit to avoid having to deal with people that act that way.

Now, it's almost strictly craps for me. I keep a log of my visits, winnings, and losses, and so long as I continue to enjoy the company that I am with (which is most important) and continue to win (I made a very nice profit this past year,) I'll continue to go and be able to enjoy myself

Quoting mediadogg:

Quote:
Shame your poll doesn't include 'vacation' style recreational gambling. I love playing the slots on a trip to Vegas every few years. Expect to lose it all - no matter - just fun. But if I come away with a few bucks extra     

I was going to say the same thing.  I'm heading out to Vegas next week.  It's the only time I gamble (poker) and I don't play for much.

Quoting mediadogg:

Quote:
Shame your poll doesn't include 'vacation' style recreational gambling. I love playing the slots on a trip to Vegas every few years. Expect to lose it all - no matter - just fun. But if I come away with a few bucks extra     

This...I used to go twice a year, every year, until they tore down my casino of choice.  After a few years off, I went back last year and had a great time...took my just-turned-21 daughter and taught her how to play craps.  Hoping to go again in the next few months...especially since they are throwing free rooms at me.

I used to play the lottery for $1 million  .. then I stopped and only played the $5m lotterys.. etc etc over the years I now only play the lottery if over $25 M ....