Gambling is usually a very bad idea, especially if you have an addictive personality. At first you might enjoy playing for just a couple bucks, and leave it at that, but oftentimes players will lose the thrill when they are just playing for small cash. Eventually they may move up and starting gambling for money that will make a significant difference in their everyday lives.

What does one really get out of gambling that is a positive? Only the rare player will turn a lifetime profit at the game, although most who gamble believe they will hit a big score eventually and be back in the plus earnings. Unfortunately for every player who hits a big jackpots, there are hundreds who don’t. There’s a reason casinos make billions of dollars, and that reason has nothing to do with handing out a lot of money to their players.

Risk of addiction is another big reason to stay away from gambling. Everyone believes that it will never happen to them, that they have to much control over themselves to get sucked into the downward spiral that is problem gambling. In reality many can’t control and it and thus deny they even have a problem. Not many people will admit to being a problem gambler even though they may have lost tens of thousands of dollars.

Ask yourself, do I really enjoy the time I spend gambling? For most I expect the answer to be no, what is enjoyable about losing money to a casino? Sure you will get the occasional big win and probably be euphoric about your rare victory, but what about all the times you go home with no money in your pocket and feel depressed the following day. Is it really worth all the time spent there just to come home with nothing but tears and a lost paycheck? It saddens me to see so many otherwise intelligent people blow dollar after dollar on a machine that may never give them what they want, a big jackpot.

Most slot machines pay out around 90% of what comes in on average. Would you still put a dollar in a slot machine if every time it spit you back 90 cents? That is in effect what you are doing, if you play long enough. For some gambling may be a fun, recreational activity that they just put a few dollars towards, but sadly for many it becomes much more than that. Your safest bet is to stay away from the casino and be happy you never lost any of your hard earned money gambling!