I love math.
I understand math. Okay, not all math. I had to drop Graph Theory in college, but algebraic math is comforting. It’s like building a Lego set or finishing a puzzle; it is nice knowing that you have done something to completion.
I also enjoy a certain degree of stress. I thrive under pressure; it is my time to shine.
Gambling combines stress, math, and uncertainty to give you a whole new experience.
I was hooked on Texas Hold’em in college. It felt like I understood the game and the risks, while other people were “just having fun.” I was able to make some money online, but I was stressing over winning $25 pots. Ultimately, the time/value payoff was not there for me.
I always had a hunger for sports gambling, though. I found it hilarious that there were so many things you could actually bet on. March Madness was my time of year.
Betting on how many threes Jimmer Fredette was going to make was just good fun. My friends and I went on a trip to Vegas to watch the games and try to pick winners.
Before too long, gambling became legal in Colorado. I limited myself to $100/year.
I would make some fun prop bets and make predictions for the NFL year. I had brief periods where I was up a little, but ultimately the money slowly drained away.
Similar to fantasy football, I began to realize how pointless it was.
There was a small amount of money on the line, and I was agonizing over the results. I would be upset because I lost a chance at $25.
I don’t know why I was stressing over such a relatively small amount of money, but it was in my nature not to waste a single dollar. I didn’t need to raise the stakes to make things more interesting, but I also didn’t need to keep gambling for such little possible rewards.
It used to be a little thrill, and now it is seen on TV as a normality. My kids are more aware of it than I was at their age.
Not everyone can treat gambling as simply a fun thing to do. Even if you are gambling what you can afford to lose, you might not be realizing the amount of time you spend thinking about it or the way it may change the way you feel.
I’m not completely done with sports gambling, but it is not something I want to be thinking about constantly. Now, about that stock market…
