There is no question about it. Gambling is a dangerous game.
Every time a person enters a casino, he leaves safety behind and faces the unknown.
He brings with him the skills he has acquired over the years, but even skill can pale in the face of luck which can turn to good or bad, depending on the whims of whatever higher powers govern the universe.
Nearly al of the organized crime figures were gamblers. They gambled for money, excitement, and power.
Joe Conforte, who built and owned the infamous Mustang Ranch near Reno, NV., was a gambler. He loved the dangerous life, challenging the authority of elected officials and law enforcemen.
Conforte made millions of dollars by offering attractive women to male customers. Then he took the money he made and went into a casino where he often lost his entire bankroll.
My former editor Barry Miller at LottoWorld Magazine often complimented me on my gambling activities. He said it took guts to try to earn a living playing poker or gambling on the horses or dice.
I had a quick response to his remarks: 'Either guts or stupidity, Barry,' I said.
A gambler or a poker player will have good sessions and bad sessions at the tables. Any time sit down and the dealer begins shuffling the cards, I can feel the tinge of danger rolling through my sin.
Danger is part of the game. It's part of what makes gambling fun and a challenge.
There are few words powerful enough to describe the thrill of hitting a bad beat jackpot. Then you can relax, sit back in your chair, and think, 'I did it.'
With thousands of new dollars filling your pockets, the world is your oyster. You can fly to Madrid, Rome, or Rio. You can afford a cruise t the Caribbean or the South Pacific. You can pay cash for a car.
Or you can go back the dangers of gambling, which most players do.
Gambling is a dangerous life. It was dangerous in the 1800s when most gamblers carried a gun, and it is dangerous in 2017.
Let the games begin.
