Compulsive gambling, otherwise called pathological gambling disorder, is an uncontrollable desire to continue betting even despite the enormous cost it exacts on your personal life. Gambling just means you're willing to risk something which you value very much in the hopes of getting something else of much greater value. However, the more you gamble, the more value you put on each win and loss. The ultimate goal of any gambler is to have the casino pay out more than they took. It is a vicious cycle that has plagued countless gamblers all over the ages.
To understand how to beat the odds in gambling, it is important to understand a little about the way the game is designed. In a very simple game of roulette, if you lay bets equal to the odds of the specific number or"line" which is drawn, you win. If you make any other changes like folding or altering the number or line, the amount you can win will decrease. So how does this factor into gambling? It is important to keep in mind that the chances are in favor of the house and that any attempt to alter the odds by means of such tactics as placing bets that are in opposition with the house's odds will increase the amount you stand to lose.
One great example of how gambling can affect your bottom line is the case of prominent British author, Jonathan Swift. Swift trivia will reveal that the very person who is credited with the quote that has become known as the American Thomas Cromwell was in fact, a gambler. On one of his many visits to the infamous gambling enclave of London, Cromwell experienced what many of us call the"caveat emptor." This term called the situation wherein a traveler coming to a new country could be persuaded, perhaps persuaded enough to go ahead and sign whatever contract was being negotiated. Among the terms that was commonly understood in the gaming world in this time period was"the cut". The cut was that the casino's way of saying that they would accept a loss in exchange for a higher commission from the winner of the game.
In the event of the famous quote,"The odds are against the bet," the gambling establishment was shown to be unyielding. Many players tried to deceive the wagers by placing larger bets when the odds were against them. Those players who couldn't discern the facts were frequently either forced out or put in prison. Even though the dilemma of gambling laws and their application were debated by both sides of the debate throughout the years, the American Revolution and the creation of the US Constitution solved the issue once and for all. Today gambling is strictly illegal in america, except in the few states that have legalized sports wagering and have generated state-funded gambling institutions.
Many Muslim gamblers in Las Vegas and other gambling cities around the world feel that America is despised by their fellow players that are Muslim. This is based on the fact that America supposedly stands for freedom and democracy, while their own gaming establishments present an obvious symbol of unearned wealth. Additionally, many Muslims fear that all gambling, even in a country such as the United States, is a symbol of Western decadence and depravation. Overall, the attitude of the American majority towards gambling appears to boil down to one question: Is America prepared for shariah?
For many non-gamers, the answer would be no. While some non-gamers would express concern over gambling, the overwhelming majority would dismiss it out of hand. This is most likely because gaming seems so banal. Few Americans consider it to be a problem, so the idea that gaming is a pathology worthy of a law or even a solution seems absurd. This attitude is understandable, but if you look deeper, you will see that the root of the problem really lies inside America, instead of with the gamers.
The actual problem with American society, and the real reason why so many Americans are against gaming, is based in the fact that most of them are reluctant to acknowledge that gambling is a problem. The refusal to accept that gambling is a problem forces gamblers to be in an unnatural position, where they need to either choose to gamble more to relieve feelings of anxiety or to withdraw from playing altogether. Gambling, which seems to be such an important part of everyday life, is often removed from these situations. Gamblers are consequently forced to find other ways to"alleviate feelings of stress".
For Muslim Americans, this situation is even more problematic. Although Islam doesn't prohibit gaming, most Protestants see gambling as a source of riches for non-Muslims, particularly in areas such as Las Vegas. Thus, many Protestants feel that all gamblers, Muslim or not, are guilty of unearned wealth. This means that all Muslims are poor and must therefore stop playing because they are thieves and profiteers. By this logic, all Muslims should immediately resign their posts at all government agencies and mosques and join the army of Islamic resistance against America and the Jews.