That moment when you are done with not just a job...

[Android Kaeli]

I see it like alcohol. Some people can have a drink and enjoy an evening, and some people wake up in a drunk tank.

This is me. I've gambled at a casino three times in the past five years ] and didn't spend more then maybe $250 in total. That amount could be more, but I figure since I most likely won't be doing it again for another couple of years it's okay.

[Food Lady]

I see it like alcohol. Some people can have a drink and enjoy an evening, and some people wake up in a drunk tank.

You just described my relationship with cookies. And ice cream.

[notalwaysright]

A manager at my work goes with her husband every once in a while... They eat dinner, and take a certain amount of money each (like $20) and play until either it's gone, or they feel like going home. I see it like alcohol. Some people can have a drink and enjoy an evening, and some people wake up in a drunk tank.

[wolfie]

From what I've seen (from the outside), casinos have all sorts of gaudy lighting displays, and numerous promotional giveaways (back in '06, the Red Garter in Wendover NV was even giving away a 379 Peterbilt). The money for this has to come from somewhere - with a bit of common sense, you can see that casinos take in far more money as bets than they pay out as winnings.

If someone views it as entertainment, and doesn't spend more than they can afford, I say go for it (even though it's not my cup of tea). If someone spends money that's needed for a necessity in hopes of winning enough to balance their budget, they've got a problem.

[smileyeagle1021]

... but an entire industry.
Yeah, finally had that moment last week.
I was talking with a new(er) employee on the count team, who was surprised how busy it was this time of year, and I replied quite calmly and matter of factly, "of course it is busy this time of year, people are trying to win money to pay for Christmas."
His reply was "so basically we are counting people's Christmas money for the next few weeks."
I don't know why, I've known for a while that casinos profit off of those who can least afford it, and I've always justified it as, no casino has ever forced someone to gamble, they made the choice, and I still believe that to this day, the casinos aren't some evil group of thugs roughing people up, but it still feels dirty to be involved in the industry.
I so need a different job and a change of scenery.