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Are we so different?

I’m talking about gambling. Who doesn’t like a little flutter? Perhaps pigeons like a flutter. That’s a little gamble and not just a flight from the loft heading south and back home. I’m sure our feathered friends would be betting on themselves if they fancied their chance of winning.

Ten scoops of corn to one.

Do animals gamble?

I can’t say I have ever thought about it much but are we really so different as a species? I think we limit all creatures great and small. There has been little research of let’s say the gambling pursuits of snails. I doubt you will see the study sponsored by Ladbrokes. But that doesn’t mean to say the humble snail doesn’t know a thing or too.

Clearly, animals gamble and I will prove the point.

For starters, many of you may ask if homo sapien has a gambling gene. It seems that a small percentage of babies are born with such biology whereas all apes are born with the gambling gene. In fact, there is a famous chimpanzee called Mickey The Chimp who is quite an accomplished poker player. A professional gambler played him and said he is better behaved than most players.

But apes aren’t he only ones who like to gamble.

Psychologists have researched pigeons with regard to memory, learning and all aspects of cognition.

They’ve proven they like to gamble.

But which animals have been proven to enjoy a gamble?

It seems that pigeons do indeed like to gamble. In fact, the pigeon had the chance to peck and get a regular amount of corn but when a jackpot signal was seen they would take a chance on a gamble even though long term it would guarantee a lesser return. Those pigeons didn’t have any more luck than homo sapien. You’ve got to feel for our feathered friends. As Zentall said: ‘There’s something at a fundamental level for the attraction to gambling.’

Scientists in Canada built a ‘rat casino’ and found that flashing lights and sounds made rats more prone to taking risks when gambling. Instead of money, rats could win sugary treats. Under normal conditions, the rats worked out the most reliable payout and stuck with it. However, the addition of lights and sounds changed the rats behaviour. Large wins produced more lights and music than modest wins. Rats started to take greater risks to get those more exciting wins. Sadly, rats like many people displayed the signs of problem gamblers.

It’s interesting to consider that dopamine is the crucial neurotransmitter in that pleasure found in gamblers.

In time, scientific research will help understand the reasons why a percentage of gamblers are liable to succumb to addiction.

It is worth considering both vertebrates and non vertebrates have dopamine within their nervous system so you have to consider whether a snail may be prone to gamble in life. If you ever see a slug crawling up the handle of a one-armed bandit it may be a sign that it fancies its chance of hitting the jackpot.

Good luck to all.

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I’m fully Cosmos Mentis.

Sound mind, memory and understanding. True, I like a gamble. But I’m not a problem gambler and not addicted.

However, it is known that many problem gamblers actually believe they are social or professional gamblers.

Could this be you?

It is often considered that problems gamblers have mental health issues such as substance misuse, personality disorders, depression and anxiety.

Other risk factors include sex, age, family or friend influence and medication.

From a race point of view there is research to indicate that black people represent some of the most significant rates of gambling disorders. In fact, black people have over twice the rate of gambling addiction compared to white people.

It’s something to think about.

The definition of a professional gambler: is someone who makes a living off their gambling winnings.

The definition of a social gambler: is someone who bets for fun.

It’s interesting to consider the possibility that social and professional gamblers may be deluding themselves that they are not problems gamblers in the sense of compulsivity or addiction.

It made me stop for a moment to consider my character, motivation and mental health. Could it be possible I am a problem gambler without realising? For those who gamble on a continuous basis it could be something to assess. How would you feel if you had to stop gambling for a day, week, month or year? What if you had to stop gambling for the rest of your life.

Would it be a problem?

I guess the only way we can assess the implications of such abstinence is if we take part in such an experiment.

Could you stop gambling for a month?

I have dedicated much of my life to gambling. My niche is two-year-old horse racing which I consider myself to be a professional. These skills and knowledge have taken decades to learn.

Have I been motivated by an addiction I don’t realise I have?

If someone said I was a gambling addict, I would be quite abrasive about it. I’d take it personal.

‘What a ridiculous thought.’

‘I’m not an addict!’

But am I even qualified to have an opinion. Should I book an appointment to see a psychiatrist?

Perhaps we all need a little bit of ‘help’ or ‘assessment’ or ‘something’.

Personally, I don’t think I have a problem. I don’t feel that I need to gamble. However, there in lies the problem. I have to work within the gambling world because that’s what I do. How do I analyse my motivation to gamble? Is it something I do without addiction or is it part or wholly the reason why I bet?

I view my gambling as work. How would you assess your job? You work 36-hours a week and it’s your job. Are you addicted to your job? I guess not, hey. Because that’s what you do to make a living.

It kind of indicates that if you make a living from being a gambler that you aren’t an addict. But that doesn’t mean you’re not. To some extent I would suggest that being addicted to your profession isn’t all bad, because it keeps you dedicated and working hard.

Could I stop gambling for a month?

I have and do most years. Perhaps this details I’m not a gambling addict or a problem gambler.

Assessing how we gamble and the motivations behind this are worthy of thought because I’m sure there are many social and professional gamblers who really cannot stop gambling. I guess if it doesn’t impact negatively on your life that isn’t a problem. But by the very nature of addiction it is a problem. If you find your gambling is creating chaos in your life then you may have a big problem.

Abstain from gambling for a month and see if you can do it or not.

It may be an indicator for further self reflection.

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The short answer is probably no.

However, like most things, there isn’t a simple answer to why we should gamble or not. Obviously we live in a world where our very existence, opportunities, hopes and dreams are in the balance.

A gamble.

Something we can, with wisdom or blind faith, manipulate for our ends.

We can alter the recipe of serendipity to benefit our very chance of success.

A gamble can be calculated, built on a strong foundation of knowledge.

However, there is a world of difference between a stupid gamble and one which we can have earnest beliefs will prove positive.

Most people consider a gamble as a sports wager as if it is devoid of the larger life at hand. Betting for fun or having a fun bet is a concern for me. For most people who do gamble this is exactly how they bet. It starts with ‘fun’ and may progress to a higher level of understanding to a point of someone achieving the status of a professional gambler. The likelihood of this happening is minimal.

There is a concern and almost inevitability that any new gambler is naive to the potential problems. What is the percentage of punters who fall victim to addiction? I have no idea, but surely one is too many. This is why individuals need to assess the implications of gambling as if you would smoking that first cigarette or taking drugs. It sounds extreme but I feel gambling shouldn’t be viewed as fun.

My personal story about gambling is like any other, starting with exceptional naivety. I have never been a reckless person or bet in a reckless fashion. That is a Godsend. I’ve followed the trusted maxim: ‘Bet what you can afford to lose’. That was the starting point of a life which has seen me bet a couple of grand on an individual horse. From those initial thoughts of interest about horse racing I have worked tirelessly to develop my skills, understanding and knowledge. It’s been a long winding road, and I’m still on that dusty path, heading towards the end of the rainbow. I say that tongue in cheek but it is an ambition to make a lot of money from gambling. I’ve made a substantial amount of money but those skills to build an ultimate knowledge are  progressive and eternal.

Gambling akin to investing shouldn’t be taken lightly. In truth, your success or failure isn’t anything to do with money. It is based on skill. If you cannot appreciate and reason why you have an edge over the layer then you shouldn’t bet. In the short term you can win some and lose some. But long term you need to have the skills which detail you are very likely to be in profit. That knowledge can take decades to learn. You need a real passion to fuel your motivation to learn everything you need to be a successful gambler. If you are simply interested because you feel it is a get rich quick scheme you are sadly mistaken. It is much more interesting to learn the skills to a subject than bet for fun. It isn’t something you should take lightly because it can be detrimental to your life and your family.

Good luck.

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I was going to say 1000 words.

I guess if I write 500 it’s only telling half the story! Perhaps you can imagine the rest. Very much like the jigsaw puzzle Wasgij, where you need to use your imagination to piece together the solution.

A novel twist on a traditional puzzle.

Take a look at the photo, above.

What’s going on here?

It could be a scene of three mates watching a football match.

Plain and simple.

However, I don’t think that would make for a good read and it doesn’t illustrate a wild and vivid imagination. The kind of thoughts that really should be kept behind closed doors. But that wouldn’t be much fun, hey.

Imagine what each of the trio is watching. What is the relationship between the three men and what on Earth are they viewing.

It’s not a football match.

Press play on the YouTube song, below, as you continue to read.

The game was cancelled. The mum of the bloke in the middle has decided as a bet that she will take her clothes off after drinking far too much beer.

In despair, the son is shouting: ‘Mum! What the Hell are you doing?’

His friend on the left, Mark, has always fancied his mum and encouraging her to take more clothes off, and paying dollars as she’s going to Las Vegas very soon. There’s nothing like a bundle of cash to get your best friends mum naked.

His cousin on the right, who is visiting from Kilkenny, Ireland, can’t believe what he’s seeing but loving every moment. He’s not making a bet for the game, but taking notes and estimating vital statistics. Definitely a 36-24-36.

As you can see from the facial expressions, the music of Hey Big Spender and The Stripper Song by David Rose blasted from an iPhone.

If the photographer had waited ten more seconds you’d have seen the g-string flying across the room.

Who says a picture tells a 1000 words.

This one took a maximum of three-hundred and forty seven.

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I always remember watching Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) when Sid Plummer got a tip from his pet budgie, Joey, and it won. In fact, the winners kept coming and coming until his bookie, Benny, barred him.

Sid Plummer said: ‘What sort of sportsman are you?’

The bookie replied: ‘If I was a sportsman, I’d be riding the horse!’

True.

Modern-day bookmakers are often criticised, for very good reason. They have turned into accountants who knock any liability on the head. Meaning, any punter who looks to have the slightest chance of winning cash will have their account closed.

Well, it probably won’t be closed, just limited to a point where you will be lucky to place a bet of a couple of quid, best odds guarantee will be removed, all in the hope that you, the punter, will just withdraw your cash and leave the bookmaker too it. I guess from a data point of view it means they don’t have to show they’ve closed thousands of accounts!

A limited account is worse than a closed account.

It really is a poor state of affairs.

It’s cynical the way bookmakers keep the losing punters and make record profits.

You have to question what is happening when a bookmaker won’t even take a few quid on an each-way accumulator.

And the way they pretend to care about welfare issues. I honestly think all these ‘tools’ are simply about protecting the bookmaker. I don’t want anyone to have a gambling problem and it’s good reason why individuals need to be responsible and don’t just bet for fun.

I’ve heard of so many punters struggling to open accounts, having accounts closed or limited, even punters who have lost money (not addicted) have had their accounts closed.

None of this makes much sense.

I think bookmakers are creating a problem for themselves and for punters alike.

I had one bookmaker close my account before I’d even placed a bet. They said: ‘Because of the nature of your business we don’t think it’s in our interest…’

‘Blah, blah, blah.’

You can’t make it up, hey.

I think to keep your account open you have to be conscious of what makes a bookie want to close it. It doesn’t take much have them on your back. I don’t have lots of information to guarantee you won’t have problems.

I would open an account with four or five hundred pounds.

I think it’s best to have routine bets of similar monetary value. The worst problem is trying to trade from one account to another as using the bookmaker account and exchange. If you try to be too clever betting, cashing out you can guarantee you will receive an email detailing your account have been limited. They won’t give you a warning, just the bad news. It’s a real annoyance but you kind of reap what you sow. Although I do think it is a pain.

I’d look to keeping your account pretty level. In that sense, if you are winning a fair amount of money you may want to bet on a loser or two. Ideally, place a bet you think will lose and see if you can lay the bet to lose on the exchanges, hopefully at a similar price. You will need to do this because if you keep winning your account will be limited if not worse.

To be honest, you are better off using exchanges compared to bookmakers because they don’t care whether you win, lose or draw.

I know, at times, it is better or preferable to have a bookmaker’s accounts. And if you do, then make sure you are betting with the mind set that your account will be scrutinised. If you’re a winner, you will need to level it out with a few losers.

Good luck.