I know for sure that if we take periodic account of how many times that we gamble, maybe weekly, monthly or yearly, we'll find out that the loses are far greater than the winnings, so I sometimes wonder how we can be indulging in something that we lose far more than we gain, in the name of having fun. I know that it's human nature to want to conquer, defeat, control and be the leader, yet we go into gambling knowing that the system doesn't give us a fair advantage of achieving these aims, yet we're happy to go back and likely be defeated again.
Perhaps deep down in our conscience, somewhere that we don't like to listen to, it still tells us the truth that the reason why we're going to gamble is to hopefully win money, not really to have fun.
I know that it's said that you should gamble the amount that you can afford to loose, but will you call it a true fun when you know that there's a higher probability of losing your bet?
Well, actually I really understand what you said in this thread. however, it seems there is a different meaning and essence between me and you. first of all, I want to say first, what I said does not mean I am comparing. so, please understand. the title of your thread, is really very interesting to me. I will quote him, "Gambling for fun, is it a lie that we tell ourselves?". there is a big question that you seem to be struggling with, especially regarding gambling and the idea of having fun. at this point, many people actually have the same questions as you think. however, both you, me, we, have different definitions regarding what gambling is. first, what does pleasure mean to you? so, what does this have to do with the gambling you do? you can answer it, but keep your answer to yourself. for me, pleasure has a broad meaning depending on how I respond to it and condition it to the situation and conditions. now, what is gambling to you? for me, gambling is expensive entertainment and contains a lot of risk. then, what allows us to have fun and get pleasure. yeah, the answer depends on each individual.
So you see, the idea of having fun doesn't have to be what you mean in the title of this thread and neither does what you say in this post. before we gamble, either you or I, must first spend capital as a medium for playing and betting. at this point, you are willing and aware to do it. the question is, are you thinking about something bad instead of having fun? Of course it's not like that. besides, it doesn't mean that with the idea of having fun we don't expect to win. as you said, even if you say it seems like we are lying to ourselves and this is where the difference lies. pleasure doesn't have to be winning, even in situations where you lose, you can learn lessons in the form of pleasure. for example, I bet on Arsenal "football" a team that is my favorite. then, the fact is that Arsenal lost the match. meaning, I also lost. however, because Arsenal played the game very well, neatly and impressively, I enjoyed it even though they lost. even though I lost, psychologically I got the game I wanted and the results from the bets I made. and this, is a form of pleasure. so each gambler can define his own pleasure, and it depends on how he reacts to it. so, we don't need to lie to ourselves. regarding winning or losing, isn't that part of the risk of gambling? well, enjoy it according to your own version.
Personal perceptions matter in the gambling niche. It depends on the way we envisioned gambling before venturing into it, but it's rare to find a new gambler who didn't have at the back of his mind to win money while gambling. It was recently I read in a book that gambling is meant to be for fun. Just the same way we pay to play in a Park, gambling can give us the same pleasure. Before, then gambling was a way of making money, in my perspective. Lots of people are still on that same level of seeing gambling as a means of making money, and when they don't win, it gets them sad and pushes the player to try again immediately. Those who know or use gambling as a form of gaining fun, wouldn't figure out that other people still think of making money in gambling. Op could be among the gamblers who wouldn't accept gambling as a fun game. Because he's losing money while gambling.
However, truthfully, losing money is not always fun, especially when we lose lots of it. Hence gamblers who wish to make fun through gambling have one common peculiar characteristic, staking what they'll be able to lose and not bother about it. Unlike those seeking money, greed leads them to stake lots of money, and they end up being sad in the process of losing all of their money. So, as you said, it's for the gambler to choose sides, whether fun or sad after losing money. However, the first mentioned is better for our mental health. No need to be sad over some things we can't control. It's also a good reason gamblers shouldn't chase money, rather gamblers should be learning and taking pleasure from the outcomes of their decisions. Prioritizing money alone, as a factor of joy in gambling, can only yield a small amount of happiness in the life of the gambler. Because the losses keep coming more than the win. If Op can spend the amount he's able to lose without feeling sad, gambling wouldn't be a hassle to him.
