Dear Scobe and A.P.:
Don't you think that magazines such as the ones you write for
encourage people to gamble? Don't we have enough problem gamblers in
the country without giving tacit approval in such publications? Would
you want your children to gamble? I realize that there is very little
chance this letter will wind up in your publication as I've sent
similar ones to other gambling magazines and I have been ignored.
Gambling has ruined many people. Casino gambling should be banned as
should magazines that cater to it.
Sincerely,
Ruth S.
Dear Ruth:
Gambling has ruined some people or, rather, some people have ruined
themselves by gambling. There are certain types of people who take their
pleasures to excess. Gamblers who throw good money after bad because
they crave "the action" and who will lie, steal and cheat to get a stake
which they proceed to blow on ill-conceived bets. There are drinkers who
can't stop until they are unconscious. Drivers who speed for the thrill
of it--on highways where they endanger everyone around them!
Still, there are magazines and newsletters for people who love wine and
spirits and for those who love cars. The magazines we write for are not
geared to "problem gamblers" because problem gamblers aren't interested
in the advice given in their pages--to play within your means, never
over-bet, learn the best strategies for the games you enjoy, and treat
the games as a hobby. The other advice that we give in those pages goes
even further--only play games where you can get the edge, reduce the
edge or the speed to a reasonable level and play these games expertly
and wisely.
We recognize that a small percentage of people who engage in any
activity will take it to an extreme. Even something as simple as eating
has become a source of anguish for sections of our population--anorexia
and bulimia are rampant among some high school and college students.
Yet, we would never consider banning cooking magazines, or restaurants.
People who eat to excess, and who threaten their health by so doing, are
not a good enough reason to ban all-you-can-eat buffets.
As far as we're concerned, gambling has been a great recreational
pastime for us. We practice what we preach by playing the best
strategies at the games we love, such as blackjack and craps. At the
present time our children are not interested in gambling but if they
were--and if they followed our advice--we would not be the least
concerned about them.
However, we are not making light of those individuals who cannot control
their urges but we are totally opposed to banning an enjoyable activity
such as casino gambling because a small percentage of people can't
handle it. Think of how many things we would have to ban if such were
the case! (Marriage for one, since 50 percent of married people are in
"problem" marriages--a monstrous percentage compared to problem
gamblers.)
In fact, no one reads these magazines looking for an "encouragement" to
gamble. They already enjoy going to the casinos and they want to explore
the best possible methods and approaches to the games. If we encourage
anything, it is to play smart and know the nature of the games before
risking your hard-earned money.
There is always a tendency to want to blame a "problem" gambler's
problem not on himself (where it belongs) but on casinos or magazines
that publish information about casinos. Food and restaurants and gourmet
magazines are not the reason an anorexic is an anorexic; liquor stores
and wine connoisseur magazines are not the cause of alcoholism; and
casinos and magazines about gambling are not the reason some people
become "problems." Individuals who know they have a problem should
exercise their free will and turn off the road that says: "This way to
the casinos." The rest of us can continue merrily on our way!
