no bet is a waste - reframin our perspective on gambling as entertainment

[voxveritatis]

hello people, after years of observing gambling communities and participating in discussions, i've noticed we often frame gambling through the wrong lens. we obsess over profits, chase losses, and judge sessions solely by their monetary outcome.
but consider this alternative perspective:

when you spend $50 at a restaurant, you don't expect monetary return
$15 movie ticket disappears the moment you enter theatre
$60 video game provides entertainment with no financial upside
$100 concert ticket is gone after 2 hours

so why do we view gambling differently?
my philosophy (developed over 5+ years):

set entertainment budget (like any hobby)
never borrow or use bill money
view losses as "entertainment cost"
celebrate wins as bonus, not expectation
enjoy the experience, regardless of outcome
understand you're paying for excitement/entertainment

key is treating gambling like any other leisure activity - you budget for it, enjoy it and never risk what you can't afford to lose.
curious about your perspectives on this. how do you view your gambling spending? has anyone else adopted similar mindset?

 

[bessiepace]

Sugar, this is exactly what I've been telling folks at my local bingo hall! It's about the fun and socializing

 

[sinner_olaf]

nice philosophy but hard to maintain when you're down 2k and that slot is "due" to hit easier said than done

 

[voxveritatis]

nice philosophy but hard to maintain when you're down 2k and that slot is "due" to hit easier said than done

indeed, the "due to hit" fallacy is precisely what we need to overcome. no slot is ever "due."

 

[Ganimed]

An interesting parallel to ancient Greek philosophy here - the concept of moderation in all things. Gambling included.

 

[JamesCook]

Think of it like dining out - you're paying for the experience. Sometimes you get an amazing meal, sometimes it's meh.

 

[voxveritatis]

Think of it like dining out - you're paying for the experience. Sometimes you get an amazing meal, sometimes it's meh.

@JamesCook excellent analogy. we don't expect restaurants to refund our money if the meal wasn't perfect.