Gambling....what's the point if it?

Mister Trebus

Ok, I have no file in my head for gambling, I don't get it nor understand it.
I personally think it's an atrocious waste of money and usually ends up with the bookmaker getting your money now or later .
I spoke with someone yesterday who put €200 on a horse to win some race or other , of course it lost and he wasn't in the least bit pissed off or annoyed ...although me repeating myself asking him " you put €200 on a horse ?" Over and over started to irritate him no end.
I am amazed that someone could waste approx half a weeks wages on a horse race and even more amazed that he didn't seem in the slightest bit annoyed by that... So it can't be bout the money otherwise why take a chance loosing it, so what's the point if it....what's the point in this (IMHO) stupid pastime?

catallus

It is entertainment.

Mister Trebus

catallus wrote: »

It is entertainment.

It's entertaining loosing half a weeks wages on a horse race???

Mongfinder General

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Ok, I have no file in my head for gambling, I don't get it nor understand it.
I personally think it's an atrocious waste of money and usually ends up with the bookmaker getting your money now or later .
I spoke with someone yesterday who put €200 on a horse to win some race or other , of course it lost and he wasn't in the least bit pissed off or annoyed ...although me repeating myself asking him " you put €200 on a horse ?" Over and over started to irritate him no end.
I am amazed that someone could waste approx half a weeks wages on a horse race and even more amazed that he didn't seem in the slightest bit annoyed by that... So it can't be bout the money otherwise why take a chance loosing it, so what's the point if it....what's the point in this (IMHO) stupid pastime?

What's the point in drinking 5 or 6 pints? Or taking a holiday in Rome? Terrible waste of money both are.

jobeenfitz

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Ok, I have no file in my head for gambling, I don't get it nor understand it.
I personally think it's an atrocious waste of money and usually ends up with the bookmaker getting your money now or later .
I spoke with someone yesterday who put €200 on a horse to win some race or other , of course it lost and he wasn't in the least bit pissed off or annoyed ...although me repeating myself asking him " you put €200 on a horse ?" Over and over started to irritate him no end.
I am amazed that someone could waste approx half a weeks wages on a horse race and even more amazed that he didn't seem in the slightest bit annoyed by that... So it can't be bout the money otherwise why take a chance loosing it, so what's the point if it....what's the point in this (IMHO) stupid pastime?

You are right, it is stupid, when ya lose. I gamble. I think its called free will.

catallus

Mister Trebus wrote: »

It's entertaining loosing half a weeks wages on a horse race???

No, it is entertaining to wager amounts of money, (the amounts are different for everyone) on the outcome of sporting events with the prospect of winning.

The possibility of losing is the natural counter-point to the possibility of winning.

Mr Burgess

What was his EV on the horse? Was €200 a relative proportion of his bankroll?

2 very key questions before any comment can be made

Mister Trebus

catallus wrote: »

No, it is entertaining to wager amounts of money, (the amounts are different for everyone) on the outcome of sporting events with the prospect of winning.

The possibility of losing is the natural counter-point to the possibility of winning.

Even if what you are betting on could possibly be already fixed?

ancapailldorcha

Mongfinder General wrote: »

What's the point in drinking 5 or 6 pints? Or taking a holiday in Rome? Terrible waste of money both are.

Pints or a holiday can give you a break from the daily grind. Do what you will with your money, I've seen far too many people waste fortunes in betting shops for nothing.

Mister Trebus

Mr Burgess wrote: »

What was his EV on the horse? Was €200 a relative proportion of his bankroll?

2 very key questions before any comment can be made

Sorry what does EV mean?
We'll I know he earns around 400 - 500 a week

Ohh and he is not married so I guess not answerable to anyone

Mongfinder General

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Pints or a holiday can give you a break from the daily grind. Do what you will with your money, I've seen far too many people waste fortunes in betting shops for nothing.

I get enjoyment out of betting and especially out of others who bet. It's called schadenfreude. Especially those who think they know everything about a particular sport. How many clowns lost their rocks betting on Rangers and Barcelona this weekend? Twits.

Mister Trebus

Mongfinder General wrote: »

I get enjoyment out of betting and especially out of others who bet. It's called schadenfreude. Especially those who think they know everything about a particular sport. How many clowns lost their rocks betting on Rangers and Barcelona this weekend? Twits.

Do you get the same enjoyment if you loose... does it matter overall if you loose?
Is the buzz the same either way?

flashjohn

Mister Trebus Did you ever get an adrenaline rush?

Mongfinder General

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Do you get the same enjoyment if you loose... does it matter overall if you loose?
Is the buzz the same either way?

My average losses are about 20 quid a week. There's no real buzz or compulsion, just a sense of satisfaction when I win and a sense of well fcuk it anyway when I lose.

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

Mister Trebus Did you ever get an adrenaline rush?

Of course

Mr Burgess

Expected Value. If he was getting the horse at 6/4 and he made it a 1/1 shot, his EV would be +€20.00.

I regularly lose amounts greater than €200 and it doesn't bother me in the slightest, what I care about is positive EV, the rest will look after itself.

flashjohn

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Of course

Well you have just answered your question. Thats what you get when you gamble

Mister Trebus

Mr Burgess wrote: »

Expected Value. If he was getting the horse at 6/4 and he made it a 1/1 shot, his EV would be +€20.00.

I regularly lose amounts greater than €200 and it doesn't bother me in the slightest, what I care about is positive EV, the rest will look after itself.

I didn't ask that because I seemed to be stuck on the loss of €200

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

Well you have just answered your question. Thats what you get when you gamble

Really? It's that simple....is this why some get addicted to it, for a rush ?

flashjohn

110%

longhalloween

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Really? It's that simple....is this why some get addicted to it, for a rush ?

I only place small bets on rugby matches. You're a bit more invested in the game if you've something to win (or lose)

I bet 30 euro that Ireland would beat the All Blacks by less than 5 points, would have won over 600 euro. I was euphoric right up till the last 3 minutes.

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

110%

And is the rush the same for a win and a loss?

flashjohn

In the reverse way though! thats why another bet is needed to get back the rush, like cigs, alco, solpedeine!

Mister Trebus

longhalloween wrote: »

I only place small bets on rugby matches. You're a bit more invested in the game if you've something to win (or lose)

I bet 30 euro that Ireland would beat the All Blacks by less than 5 points, would have won over 600 euro. I was euphoric right up till the last 3 minutes.

You know, I work with a lot of lads who gamble, and you have just typed what I hear all the time ...."I would have won.....such and such"...
It's like the fish that got away....

It's like a bloody mantra at break times listening to them and what they would have, but didn't, win

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

In the reverse way though! thats why another bet is needed to get back the rush, like cigs, alco, solpedeine!

We'll at least your honest about it....

Mister Trebus

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

All my losses mean nothing for about 10 minutes, until I blow the lot on some american horse race!

And do you honestly not care about loosing money you had to earn

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

I lose, I win....do you spend on leisure activities?

Sure, but I don't have a file in my head for gambling as I said and am trying to understand it.....even though I really think it is a waste of hard earned money.

flashjohn

Yes but what do you do for kicks?

longhalloween

Mister Trebus wrote: »

You know, I work with a lot of lads who gamble, and you have just typed what I hear all the time ...."I would have won.....such and such"...
It's like the fish that got away....

It's like a bloody mantra at break times listening to them and what they would have, but didn't, win

100% correct!

That's why I don't gamble often. Maybe 20 or 30 a year.

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

Yes but what do you do for kicks?

Well I travel a bit, do a huge amount of cooking, too old for any energetic sports , don't drink btw, my biggest buzz is spending time with the missus ....now that I write it down seems a bit sad....:-)

flashjohn

Thats great, I do too btw. We are all pre-disposed to enjoy certain activities. Some people have an adictive personality. I have controlled mine somewhat over the years (sorry, the missus and kids have, and the mortgage)

Mister Trebus

flashjohn wrote: »

Thats great, I do too btw. We are all pre-disposed to enjoy certain activities. Some people have an adictive personality. I have controlled mine somewhat over the years (sorry, the missus and kids have, and the mortgage)

Hahaha...know what you mean.

I do spend money on technology and just recently bought a new desktop pc without giving it a single thought...€700... so maybe that would bankroll someone for a few days in a bookies?
Will be upgrading to 3D tv shortly so maybe that's my fix ,so to speak!

Weathering

Looking at it from an ex gamblers point of view I see how stupid gambling is now while at the time I tried to justify it as entertainment, pastime etc. However there are different types of gambler and I was in the waste crap loads of money with no control to stop.

For some people doing the lotto or going to the dogs or slots with friends now and then and gambling small it can be more for the social/entertainment aspect and gambling will never be a problem for them but for the person you mentioned throwing 200 on a horse it's a cancer

Mister Trebus

Weathering wrote: »

Looking at it from an ex gamblers point of view I see how stupid gambling is now while at the time I tried to justify it as entertainment, pastime etc. However there are different types of gambler and I was in the waste crap loads of money with no control to stop.

For some people doing the lotto or going to the dogs or slots with friends now and then and gambling small it can be more for the social/entertainment aspect and gambling will never be a problem for them but for the person you mentioned throwing 200 on a horse it's a cancer

Good post

Cartel Mike

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Ok, I have no file in my head for gambling, I don't get it nor understand it.
I personally think it's an atrocious waste of money and usually ends up with the bookmaker getting your money now or later .
I spoke with someone yesterday who put €200 on a horse to win some race or other , of course it lost and he wasn't in the least bit pissed off or annoyed ...although me repeating myself asking him " you put €200 on a horse ?" Over and over started to irritate him no end.
I am amazed that someone could waste approx half a weeks wages on a horse race and even more amazed that he didn't seem in the slightest bit annoyed by that... So it can't be bout the money otherwise why take a chance loosing it, so what's the point if it....what's the point in this (IMHO) stupid pastime?

The only way to understand it Trebus I think is to pick a football game this week and put €5 on a player to score the first goal or something. Or put €5 on one of the televised horse races on channel 4 Saturdays.
At least then you'll understand it cause you'll have experienced it . Not really going to understand it otherwise (win or lose.... leave it at that)

On the inside I reckon your mate was extremely pissed off, but screaming, pulling hair out and crying about loosing that money would be as fruitful as trying to stop the titanic from sinking by blocking the leak with your fist. When its gone its gone.

Gambling adrenaline is just being attracted to risk, although some people just do it to try and get ahead, as flawed or as calculated as that may be ... depending on the individual.

It's certainly always hard to make a case for gambling.
It's ruined so many lives . To the small amount of people who have won the lotto or for eg won massive on sports ( either through luck or skill) it has also arguably enhanced lives massively. That's the bind.For all the losers there are going to be some winners ,even consistent winners who have the mental ability to treat it as a 9 to 5.
I"m deffo not one of those people , I think you have to be extremely organised , disciplined and cool (bordering on 'ice') for that.

3DataModem

Mister Trebus wrote: »

Ohh and he is not married so I guess not answerable to anyone

And yet, you kept asking him.

3DataModem

If you are genuinely concerned about your friend's gambling then you should take a look at this; http://www.gambleaware.ie/index.php/recognise-a-problem.html and perhaps discuss with your friend.

From what little you say it doesn't necessarily appear there is a problem, but best to be sure.

(I work in the gambling industry BTW)

Bateman

It is possible to make money from betting on sports, however like learning to be a classical pianist or an architect, it requires hours of time and effort.

There are no shortcuts.

Aside from putting first goalscorer fun bets on, in order to enhance your enjoyment of a game, there is no reason to gamble other than to make money to supplement your income.