War Against Gambling

1. War Against Gambling Games
2. War Against Gambling Against
3. War Against Gambling Losses
4. War Against Gambling Rules
5. War On Gambling

Billions of people love to gamble. For some, it's the thrill of the chase – the possibility of winning. For others, it's entertainment or a way to escape the day-to-day grind.

If you asked them, they'd tell you they're not doing anything wrong. That gambling is no different or no more a waste of money than going to a movie, concert or nice dinner out.

This bet would be a pari-mutuel, not a bet against the house. Horse racing betting is pari-mutuel, meaning that I'm betting against the other bettors, not the track or a casino itself. A Pick Six ticket can be had for a little as fifty cents, and I will win a share of the total prize pool if it pays off. Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Monday 'an all out war' against illegal gambling after being booted out from President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. But this time, it won't be bloody as it claimed the lives of more than 7,000 drug suspects.

But then there are people who disagree. That, for one reason or another, think there's something wrong with gambling.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — With the war on drugs on the back burner, the police launch another battle — this time against illegal gambling. For Philippine National Police Chief Ronald. 'The PNP is hereby declaring war against illegal gambling,' PNP chief Director General Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame on Monday.

We thought it'd be interesting to explore the other side of the coin. So, the following are 6 arguments we've seen people make against gambling.

1. Religion

This is the biggest argument on our list. Do a Google search for ‘arguments against gambling' and you'll see what I mean.

There are different reasons why religious people are against gambling. But they all stem from different verses you'll find in the Bible.

For example:

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.
Hebrews 13:5

You shouldn't try to gain material things when all your basic needs are met.

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
Proverbs 28:19

God wants you to work (for what you have). Gambling is a way to make money without working, which is fueled by greed, selfishness and laziness.

For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD hateth.
Psalm 10:3

And yet another passage that condemns greed and overabundance.

The bottom line – the Bible teaches you to be selfless and not to covet (materialistic) things. And that you can save both time and money by not gambling – which you can use instead to better yourself and those around you.

But is gambling truly a sin? That depends on who you ask, how they interpret the Bible's lessons, and whether or not they follow everything the Bible teaches.

Not surprising, some say gambling is a sin. No two ways about it; no ifs, ands or butts.

But then there are others who believe only compulsive gambling is a sin; it's sinful to be addicted to gambling. But it's not a sin to gamble in moderation.

'Bible-believing Christians would consider compulsive gambling a sin. That is, gambling is sinful for those who are addicted to it. Compulsive gamblers sin by wasting time. Gambling is for them such an addiction, that most or all of their spare time is spent gambling in one form or another and weekends and vacations which should be spent with family are taken up with trips to cities that have casinos. The more focus on gambling an addicted person becomes the less time he spends with his family and the less productive he becomes in his job.' (Excerpt from nolotto.faithweb.com)

2. Gambling Leads to Addiction

Another argument against gambling is that it leads to developing a gambling addiction. Statistics show that 80 percent of American adults gamble annually. What's scary about that is they also show that every 3-5 gamblers (out of 100) struggle with a gambling problem.

Even scarier yet, statistics shows that as many as 750,000 young adults (14-21) have a gambling addiction. The risk of developing an addiction more than doubles for young adults, with people between the ages of 20 and 30 having the highest risk.

Gambling addiction – like most addictions – is destructive. It tears families apart and often leads to suicide, substance abuse, bankruptcy, crime and more.

3. It's a Waste of Money

Here's what Dave Ramsey (a financial expert) says about gambling in a casino:

'I don't really have a moral problem with it, but I don't understand the concept. Call me crazy, but I do not get a thrill from losing money I've worked hard to earn. That's not my idea of entertainment.'

He goes on to say he thinks people who say they gamble for fun or recreation are delusional – that they believe they'll actually beat the house and win – that they're an exception to the rule.

And what about the lucky few who actually win? Well, Dave says:

'You may see a news story once in a while about someone winning big money in a casino, but that rarely happens. Think, too, about how much money those people had flushed down the toilet previously while gambling. There's a really good chance they didn't really ‘win' anything. In most cases, they probably just recouped a small portion of their previous, substantial losses.'

Mark Ford (serial entrepreneur, author, real estate investor) shares similar, yet different sentiments to Dave Ramsey. Ford says he doesn't gamble because it's too much like work; he gets no pleasure from it; and because it's so clear to him he'd lose money.

He goes on to say you could spend the same amount of effort into nearly any other endeavor and you're likely to walk away richer, not poorer, as a result.

'Concentration. Focus. Calculations. Long hours. It all seems like work to me. The only difference is that in Las Vegas the odds are stacked against you.

In any other field of endeavor, you could take the same people and put them to work doing virtually these same things �concentrating, figuring, calculating, and executing �and you'd have� almost certainly� a viable business.

Not in Las Vegas. Over the long haul, gambling makes you poorer. Spend the same time and effort in almost any other endeavor, and you're likely to get richer.

So why is it that so many people like to gamble and don't like to work?'

4. Millennials Want Control

Another argument stems from stats that show millennials (people born from 1980-2000) gamble far less than previous generations. An interesting fact is how Las Vegas and The Strip visitation is increasingly being driven by millennials, yet gaming accounts for less than 37% of the revenue generated on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Motley Fool gives several reasons (guesses) why:

• Millennials find (current) slot machines boring.
• They want to be engaged and empowered – they want some control over the outcome.
• They prefer night clubs to casino gambling.
• They're more interesting in online gaming, poker and daily fantasy sports.
• They want skill based games.
• They demand fairness.
• They want to be more social.
• They want experiences.

The common denominator here is that millennials want more control over their outcome. They want games where skill can overcome luck – and that's just not possible when every casino game favors the house.

And why do all casino games favor the house?

5. Casino Games are Rigged

Did you know that every casino game favors the house? It might be by as little as half a percent (.5%), but the point is, casino games are rigged against you. This is called the house edge.

'My advice is don't waste your time and money on that stuff. One way or another, the house always wins. That's how they're able to build those giant, billion-dollar places called casinos'. – Dave Ramsey

In the same article referenced above (#4), the Motley Fool says that millennials wanting more skill-based games (control) isn't the (only) problem.

In Las Vegas specifically, the house edge – or the hold percentage – has increased over the last few decades. In other words, the games were already rigged against you – but now they're even more unfair. You can find better value gambling somewhere other than Las Vegas (at local casinos, for example).

'…the underlying assumption is that if millennials weren't spending their money partying in Las Vegas, they would be spending it gambling in Las Vegas (either that, or millennials apparently should be gambling more to match what they're spending on bottle service)'.

'This is 100% wrong – the reality is that if millennials weren't spending their money partying in Las Vegas, they wouldn't be coming to Las Vegas at all'. – The Motley Fool

The Motley Fool goes on to say that, while gambling has matured, so has the audience. Millennials have grown up using the internet – they have access to (gambling) information that past generations didn't have access to.

'(Millennials) are more knowledgeable and generally less stupid about gambling than any generation to come before us. We are far less likely to believe, for example, that the Martingale system is valid'. – The Motley Fool

The bottom line – the internet has made us wiser about gambling. Most people now realize that casino games are (legally) rigged against us. Between this and the worsening house edge, people choose to gamble far less, if at all (evident by the decreasing gaming numbers in Las Vegas).

6. Underage Gambling

Another problem people have with gambling is the affects gambling has on kids and young adults.

This is a very real concern. Earlier (#2) we shared a stat that says nearly 750,000 young adults have developed a gaming addiction, and that they're nearly twice as likely to do compared to adults aged 30+.

Most casinos say you need to be 18 or 21 (depending on if they serve alcohol) to gamble.

Never mind the stats that show that even adults 18-30 are twice as likely to develop a gambling addiction. What about those who are younger than 18/21, but manage to obtain a fake ID?

Want an example? What about poker pro Phil Ivey – you can't read a bio about him without it being mentioned he used a fake ID to play poker in Atlantic City in his early days.

This problem isn't limited to brick/mortar casinos, either. Poker pro Tom Dwan started playing online at 17. He's not the only one, either. It's easier for kids/teenagers to gamble online since many casinos (especially offshore) don't check your ID until you're ready to make your first cash out.

Next to addiction and religious reasons, underage gambling is the strongest argument people make against gambling. The prevention of underage gambling is a cornerstone of all state (online) gambling laws, as well as a big criticism of others.

Conclusion

These are the biggest and most common arguments against gambling today.

It's not hard to poke holes or make strong cases against any of these points. But that shouldn't be our focus.

Instead, I think it's a much better idea to understand why people are against it. For one, it's easier to empathize with others – to see where they're coming from.

But it can also help us improve the gambling industry – to talk about it and figure out what we can do to make the industry safer and more enjoyable for those who choose to participate. That, I think, is the best action of all.

For more than 2,500 years, a single work of literature has formed the foundation of mankind's approach to strategic thinking: 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu.

In the service of King Helü of Wu, general Sun Tzu (which translates to 'Master Sun') commanded several military victories during the Warring States Period of ancient Chinese history. Written in the 6^th century B.C., The Art of War contains 13 chapters of knowledge and insight gleaned from Sun Tzu's firsthand experience devising wartime strategy.

Many conquerors have put their expertise on paper throughout the annals of time, from Nero to Napoleon, but Sun Tzu managed to imbue The Art of War with something more. The text has become timeless for many reasons, not the least of which is Sun Tzu's ability to blend tactical guidance fit for the battlefield with philosophical teachings and reflections on a life well lived.

Aside from a stint in the Merchant Marines, I'm not exactly a military man, but I still have a dog eared copy of The Art of War on my nightstand. That's because the wisdom of Sun Tzu seems to apply directly to my work as a professional casino gambler.

Just like Sun Tzu well, maybe not just like him I make my way in the world by analyzing situations designed to put me at a disadvantage (gambling games). And all the while, I'm forced to contend with an enemy that has made my demise their sole objective (casinos).

Success in Sun Tzu's arena was defined by victory, but the threat of loss always loomed, and that holds true for casino gamblers. A properly employed strategy gave Sun Tzu the advantage over a better equipped force. Knowing this, I'm always looking for lessons in The Art of War that may be helpful in my enduring struggle against the house edge.

Fortunately, you won't find many teachers as wise as Sun Tzu, whether you're preparing an invasion or placing wagers at the casino. Below you'll find 12 of my favorite quotes from The Art of War, along with a little insight into how Sun Tzu's wisdom translates to the world of modern gambling.

Reflection

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.'

Chapter III: Attack by Stratagem

This is probably the most well known quote from The Art of War, as it can be extrapolated to every aspect of life.

Just replace the word 'enemy' with a goal you're striving for, a habit you're trying to break, or anything in your life that requires effort and exertion. Sun Tzu tells his followers to be introspective even while focusing on external issues, because without knowing yourself, you can never be truly prepared for the battle to come.

As a gambler, I tend to think of this quote like this:

I can work on my mathematical skills, memorize facts and figures, and build up my confidence but none of that will matter if I don't study specific games. Conversely, I can dive deep into the details of any given casino game, learning about pay tables, probabilities, and house rules but it won't make a difference if I don't have personalized skills.

Mastering one game or another just isn't good enough in the cutthroat casino industry, because setups, rules, and other factors are constantly changing. Along with game specific study, you should always take the time to solidify your base skills.

War Against Gambling Games

In doing so, you'll achieve a balanced approach to combating the casinos that would make Sun Tzu proud.

Preparation

Chapter IV: Tactical Dispositions

For a warrior like Sun Tzu, the battle was won and lost before his soldiers ever swung a sword.

Collect free My Konami slots chips with no tasks or registration! Mobile for Android and iOS. Play on Facebook! My Konami Slots Free Chips: 01. Collect 50,000+ Free Chips. Hello KONAMI Slots Players! Welcome to best Game Resource website CoinForum. Here, We offers Giveaways, Cheats & Promo Codes Related to myKONAMI Slots Game. On Daily Basis We Find working my KONAMI Slots Free Chips & Codes For our users.So They Can easily enjoy game without invest a single dollor in his game. Chip City - Chip City is a slot game which allows players to wager a maximum of 1500 credits on a single line. The line configurations that you can choose from include 10, 20, 25, and 30. The line configurations that you can choose from include 10, 20, 25, and 30. Konami slots free chips codes. My KONAMI Slots Free Codes There used to be an option to manually add chip codes to the my KONAMI game. These codes would give a set amount of chips or coins. This process has ended, instead Playstudios has made it more efficient by just having to click a link to have the free chips and coins automatically added. The simplest way to get free chips to play my KONAMI Slots is to follow the chip collect links on this website. In order to collect them you will need to have the my KONAMI Slots mobile app downloaded on your IOS or Android device.

By preparing diligently for the clash to come, Sun Tzu simply planned and prepared better than his opponents. He took everything into account, from the issues he could control (formations, supply routes, and training), to the elements divined by fate (weather, illness, and shifting alliances).

As a result, Sun Tzu regularly defeated enemies who arrived to the fray boasting larger armies and other tactical advantages.

Translating the quote above to the casino, I see Sun Tzu advising players to put in their practice time before putting real money on the line. He didn't have the advantage of the internet back in the days of Chinese dynasties, but if he did, you better believe Sun Tzu would be running simulations while preparing for every last contingency.

No matter what casino game you prefer, you should be able to find a free play version online somewhere. These might be offered by online casinos as a gateway to real money play, or through instructional resources like the Wizard of Odds website. Either way, these tools provide a perfect vehicle to practice casino game theories without the inherent risk of gambling with real money.

Victorious warriors win first, and successful gamblers do too, practicing proper strategy via simulator before stepping onto the casino floor.

Deception

Chapter VI: Weak Points and Strong

For decades before the Poker Boom of 2003, winning players earned the 'hardest easy living in the world' by applying this single rule.

Legends like Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan pioneered a style of poker based on trapping their opponents. Techniques like the 'slow play' may be standard stuff in the modern age, but before the boom, simply checking to feign weakness before springing your trap with a big raise was sneaky play. In fact, many of the older card rooms out there had house rules prohibiting the check raise altogether, due to its sheer effectiveness in separating suckers from their chips.

I love playing poker tournaments, and I suspect Sun Tzu would have as well.

In a tournament, all players begin on seemingly equal footing, with identical chip stacks to work with and starting hands dealt randomly from a shuffled deck. This equates to a battle between two equally staffed armies, with troop forces identical on either side.

But as Sun Tzu showed so many times during his military career, success isn't based on the number of soldiers at your disposal – but the quality of those soldiers.

Give a good pro 15,000 chips to start, and double that to 30,000 for a 'fish' and I'd be happy to bet that the pro winds up with more chips by the end of the day. The pro knows how to disguise their strong hands by betting the same as they would on a bluff. Conversely, when they're holding nothing but rags, the pro can stare straight through your soul while convincing everyone at the table they have the goods.

All is fair in poker and war – including the art of deception.

Tactics

Chapter V: Energy

This is another quote that speaks to the poker player in me, but it also applies to table game advantage play.

Obviously, for poker players, employing tactics designed to confuse your opponent is the entire objective.

You want them to put chips in the pot when you have strong hands, and to fold when you're bluffing. Getting a stranger to follow your lead like that can be difficult enough, but when you're both trying to take one another's money, the game takes on an entirely different level of strategy.

I always go back to the classic 'rock paper scissors' example to explain how this multilevel approach to strategy shakes out. If your opponent knows you like to throw rock, they'll counter with paper, and knowing this, you should opt for scissors. But if your opponent knows you know that, perhaps they'll adjust and throw rock themselves, in which case you should roll with paper.

And round and it goes…

The best poker players remember how certain situations went the first time, adjusting on the fly for that second encounter in hopes of confusing their mark. Like I said in the preceding entry, I wouldn't want to play poker with Sun Tzu, as I expect he'd have me calling off value bets and blundering into ill timed bluffs with regularity.

As for the advantage play blackjack specialists out there, use Sun Tzu's maxim to conceal your card counting and other techniques from the pit boss. The casino is always watching, after all, so it's in your best interest to disguise your activity. Intentionally misplaying a hand or missing a bet on occasion is a great way to leave casino staff in the dark about your true abilities.

Focus

Chapter II: Waging War

This quote speaks to me because I view the casino floor as the ultimate in controlled chaos.

Just think about it… Everywhere you look, the player is surrounded by elements designed to distract and deceive. Scoreboards hang above the roulette table, trying to bait you in by broadcasting streaks and patterns. Slot machines advertise massive jackpots with bright, bold signage, but you'll only find the long odds against buried in the fine print. The craps table contains dozens of bets, almost all of them consigned to the 'sucker' category.

The list goes on and on.

Casinos are a tough place to operate if you're easily distracted by chaos, which is why the best gamblers out there tend be a focused bunch. Rather than wander the floor in search of the latest longshot wagers, these players simply stick to the script, grinding out a profit by beating skill based games.

The casino is chaos defined, and those who thrive amidst that disorder do so by focusing on the opportunities at hand.

Economics

Chapter II: Waging War

It doesn't take a genius to see how this pearl of Sun Tzu wisdom pertains to casino gambling.

In my line of work, bankroll management is by far the most essential skill that separates winning players from the rest.

Picture two players sitting side by side at a pair of video poker machines, each with $500 to work with. These players both have basic strategy for Jacks or Better memorized, and they're both capable of recalling that information to play the game perfectly. Thus, aside from random variance, they should both perform equally over a set number of sessions.

Alas, one of these players likes to 'take shots,' so they start betting $25 per hand at the high stakes. The other player sticks to $5 per hand betting, which is standard for his bankroll limitations.

By the end of the day, barring an incredible stroke of fortune, the big bettor is far more likely to go broke than his counterpart. Betting $25 per hand, or five percent of their total bankroll, doesn't leave much room to survive the swings. But at the $5 increment, you're applying just 1 percent of your bankroll on any given hand.

Before competing in any casino game, be sure to count the cost.

Rest

Not surprising, some say gambling is a sin. No two ways about it; no ifs, ands or butts.

But then there are others who believe only compulsive gambling is a sin; it's sinful to be addicted to gambling. But it's not a sin to gamble in moderation.

'Bible-believing Christians would consider compulsive gambling a sin. That is, gambling is sinful for those who are addicted to it. Compulsive gamblers sin by wasting time. Gambling is for them such an addiction, that most or all of their spare time is spent gambling in one form or another and weekends and vacations which should be spent with family are taken up with trips to cities that have casinos. The more focus on gambling an addicted person becomes the less time he spends with his family and the less productive he becomes in his job.' (Excerpt from nolotto.faithweb.com)

2. Gambling Leads to Addiction

Another argument against gambling is that it leads to developing a gambling addiction. Statistics show that 80 percent of American adults gamble annually. What's scary about that is they also show that every 3-5 gamblers (out of 100) struggle with a gambling problem.

Even scarier yet, statistics shows that as many as 750,000 young adults (14-21) have a gambling addiction. The risk of developing an addiction more than doubles for young adults, with people between the ages of 20 and 30 having the highest risk.

Gambling addiction – like most addictions – is destructive. It tears families apart and often leads to suicide, substance abuse, bankruptcy, crime and more.

3. It's a Waste of Money

Here's what Dave Ramsey (a financial expert) says about gambling in a casino:

'I don't really have a moral problem with it, but I don't understand the concept. Call me crazy, but I do not get a thrill from losing money I've worked hard to earn. That's not my idea of entertainment.'

He goes on to say he thinks people who say they gamble for fun or recreation are delusional – that they believe they'll actually beat the house and win – that they're an exception to the rule.

And what about the lucky few who actually win? Well, Dave says:

'You may see a news story once in a while about someone winning big money in a casino, but that rarely happens. Think, too, about how much money those people had flushed down the toilet previously while gambling. There's a really good chance they didn't really ‘win' anything. In most cases, they probably just recouped a small portion of their previous, substantial losses.'

Mark Ford (serial entrepreneur, author, real estate investor) shares similar, yet different sentiments to Dave Ramsey. Ford says he doesn't gamble because it's too much like work; he gets no pleasure from it; and because it's so clear to him he'd lose money.

He goes on to say you could spend the same amount of effort into nearly any other endeavor and you're likely to walk away richer, not poorer, as a result.

'Concentration. Focus. Calculations. Long hours. It all seems like work to me. The only difference is that in Las Vegas the odds are stacked against you.

In any other field of endeavor, you could take the same people and put them to work doing virtually these same things �concentrating, figuring, calculating, and executing �and you'd have� almost certainly� a viable business.

Not in Las Vegas. Over the long haul, gambling makes you poorer. Spend the same time and effort in almost any other endeavor, and you're likely to get richer.

So why is it that so many people like to gamble and don't like to work?'

4. Millennials Want Control

Another argument stems from stats that show millennials (people born from 1980-2000) gamble far less than previous generations. An interesting fact is how Las Vegas and The Strip visitation is increasingly being driven by millennials, yet gaming accounts for less than 37% of the revenue generated on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Motley Fool gives several reasons (guesses) why:

• Millennials find (current) slot machines boring.
• They want to be engaged and empowered – they want some control over the outcome.
• They prefer night clubs to casino gambling.
• They're more interesting in online gaming, poker and daily fantasy sports.
• They want skill based games.
• They demand fairness.
• They want to be more social.
• They want experiences.

The common denominator here is that millennials want more control over their outcome. They want games where skill can overcome luck – and that's just not possible when every casino game favors the house.

And why do all casino games favor the house?

5. Casino Games are Rigged

Did you know that every casino game favors the house? It might be by as little as half a percent (.5%), but the point is, casino games are rigged against you. This is called the house edge.

'My advice is don't waste your time and money on that stuff. One way or another, the house always wins. That's how they're able to build those giant, billion-dollar places called casinos'. – Dave Ramsey

In the same article referenced above (#4), the Motley Fool says that millennials wanting more skill-based games (control) isn't the (only) problem.

In Las Vegas specifically, the house edge – or the hold percentage – has increased over the last few decades. In other words, the games were already rigged against you – but now they're even more unfair. You can find better value gambling somewhere other than Las Vegas (at local casinos, for example).

'…the underlying assumption is that if millennials weren't spending their money partying in Las Vegas, they would be spending it gambling in Las Vegas (either that, or millennials apparently should be gambling more to match what they're spending on bottle service)'.

'This is 100% wrong – the reality is that if millennials weren't spending their money partying in Las Vegas, they wouldn't be coming to Las Vegas at all'. – The Motley Fool

The Motley Fool goes on to say that, while gambling has matured, so has the audience. Millennials have grown up using the internet – they have access to (gambling) information that past generations didn't have access to.

'(Millennials) are more knowledgeable and generally less stupid about gambling than any generation to come before us. We are far less likely to believe, for example, that the Martingale system is valid'. – The Motley Fool

The bottom line – the internet has made us wiser about gambling. Most people now realize that casino games are (legally) rigged against us. Between this and the worsening house edge, people choose to gamble far less, if at all (evident by the decreasing gaming numbers in Las Vegas).

6. Underage Gambling

Another problem people have with gambling is the affects gambling has on kids and young adults.

This is a very real concern. Earlier (#2) we shared a stat that says nearly 750,000 young adults have developed a gaming addiction, and that they're nearly twice as likely to do compared to adults aged 30+.

Most casinos say you need to be 18 or 21 (depending on if they serve alcohol) to gamble.

Never mind the stats that show that even adults 18-30 are twice as likely to develop a gambling addiction. What about those who are younger than 18/21, but manage to obtain a fake ID?

Want an example? What about poker pro Phil Ivey – you can't read a bio about him without it being mentioned he used a fake ID to play poker in Atlantic City in his early days.

This problem isn't limited to brick/mortar casinos, either. Poker pro Tom Dwan started playing online at 17. He's not the only one, either. It's easier for kids/teenagers to gamble online since many casinos (especially offshore) don't check your ID until you're ready to make your first cash out.

Next to addiction and religious reasons, underage gambling is the strongest argument people make against gambling. The prevention of underage gambling is a cornerstone of all state (online) gambling laws, as well as a big criticism of others.

Conclusion

These are the biggest and most common arguments against gambling today.

It's not hard to poke holes or make strong cases against any of these points. But that shouldn't be our focus.

Instead, I think it's a much better idea to understand why people are against it. For one, it's easier to empathize with others – to see where they're coming from.

But it can also help us improve the gambling industry – to talk about it and figure out what we can do to make the industry safer and more enjoyable for those who choose to participate. That, I think, is the best action of all.

For more than 2,500 years, a single work of literature has formed the foundation of mankind's approach to strategic thinking: 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu.

In the service of King Helü of Wu, general Sun Tzu (which translates to 'Master Sun') commanded several military victories during the Warring States Period of ancient Chinese history. Written in the 6^th century B.C., The Art of War contains 13 chapters of knowledge and insight gleaned from Sun Tzu's firsthand experience devising wartime strategy.

Many conquerors have put their expertise on paper throughout the annals of time, from Nero to Napoleon, but Sun Tzu managed to imbue The Art of War with something more. The text has become timeless for many reasons, not the least of which is Sun Tzu's ability to blend tactical guidance fit for the battlefield with philosophical teachings and reflections on a life well lived.

Aside from a stint in the Merchant Marines, I'm not exactly a military man, but I still have a dog eared copy of The Art of War on my nightstand. That's because the wisdom of Sun Tzu seems to apply directly to my work as a professional casino gambler.

Just like Sun Tzu well, maybe not just like him I make my way in the world by analyzing situations designed to put me at a disadvantage (gambling games). And all the while, I'm forced to contend with an enemy that has made my demise their sole objective (casinos).

Success in Sun Tzu's arena was defined by victory, but the threat of loss always loomed, and that holds true for casino gamblers. A properly employed strategy gave Sun Tzu the advantage over a better equipped force. Knowing this, I'm always looking for lessons in The Art of War that may be helpful in my enduring struggle against the house edge.

Fortunately, you won't find many teachers as wise as Sun Tzu, whether you're preparing an invasion or placing wagers at the casino. Below you'll find 12 of my favorite quotes from The Art of War, along with a little insight into how Sun Tzu's wisdom translates to the world of modern gambling.

Reflection

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.'

Chapter III: Attack by Stratagem

This is probably the most well known quote from The Art of War, as it can be extrapolated to every aspect of life.

Just replace the word 'enemy' with a goal you're striving for, a habit you're trying to break, or anything in your life that requires effort and exertion. Sun Tzu tells his followers to be introspective even while focusing on external issues, because without knowing yourself, you can never be truly prepared for the battle to come.

As a gambler, I tend to think of this quote like this:

I can work on my mathematical skills, memorize facts and figures, and build up my confidence but none of that will matter if I don't study specific games. Conversely, I can dive deep into the details of any given casino game, learning about pay tables, probabilities, and house rules but it won't make a difference if I don't have personalized skills.

Mastering one game or another just isn't good enough in the cutthroat casino industry, because setups, rules, and other factors are constantly changing. Along with game specific study, you should always take the time to solidify your base skills.

War Against Gambling Games

In doing so, you'll achieve a balanced approach to combating the casinos that would make Sun Tzu proud.

Preparation

Chapter IV: Tactical Dispositions

For a warrior like Sun Tzu, the battle was won and lost before his soldiers ever swung a sword.

Collect free My Konami slots chips with no tasks or registration! Mobile for Android and iOS. Play on Facebook! My Konami Slots Free Chips: 01. Collect 50,000+ Free Chips. Hello KONAMI Slots Players! Welcome to best Game Resource website CoinForum. Here, We offers Giveaways, Cheats & Promo Codes Related to myKONAMI Slots Game. On Daily Basis We Find working my KONAMI Slots Free Chips & Codes For our users.So They Can easily enjoy game without invest a single dollor in his game. Chip City - Chip City is a slot game which allows players to wager a maximum of 1500 credits on a single line. The line configurations that you can choose from include 10, 20, 25, and 30. The line configurations that you can choose from include 10, 20, 25, and 30. Konami slots free chips codes. My KONAMI Slots Free Codes There used to be an option to manually add chip codes to the my KONAMI game. These codes would give a set amount of chips or coins. This process has ended, instead Playstudios has made it more efficient by just having to click a link to have the free chips and coins automatically added. The simplest way to get free chips to play my KONAMI Slots is to follow the chip collect links on this website. In order to collect them you will need to have the my KONAMI Slots mobile app downloaded on your IOS or Android device.

By preparing diligently for the clash to come, Sun Tzu simply planned and prepared better than his opponents. He took everything into account, from the issues he could control (formations, supply routes, and training), to the elements divined by fate (weather, illness, and shifting alliances).

As a result, Sun Tzu regularly defeated enemies who arrived to the fray boasting larger armies and other tactical advantages.

Translating the quote above to the casino, I see Sun Tzu advising players to put in their practice time before putting real money on the line. He didn't have the advantage of the internet back in the days of Chinese dynasties, but if he did, you better believe Sun Tzu would be running simulations while preparing for every last contingency.

No matter what casino game you prefer, you should be able to find a free play version online somewhere. These might be offered by online casinos as a gateway to real money play, or through instructional resources like the Wizard of Odds website. Either way, these tools provide a perfect vehicle to practice casino game theories without the inherent risk of gambling with real money.

Victorious warriors win first, and successful gamblers do too, practicing proper strategy via simulator before stepping onto the casino floor.

Deception

Chapter VI: Weak Points and Strong

For decades before the Poker Boom of 2003, winning players earned the 'hardest easy living in the world' by applying this single rule.

Legends like Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan pioneered a style of poker based on trapping their opponents. Techniques like the 'slow play' may be standard stuff in the modern age, but before the boom, simply checking to feign weakness before springing your trap with a big raise was sneaky play. In fact, many of the older card rooms out there had house rules prohibiting the check raise altogether, due to its sheer effectiveness in separating suckers from their chips.

I love playing poker tournaments, and I suspect Sun Tzu would have as well.

In a tournament, all players begin on seemingly equal footing, with identical chip stacks to work with and starting hands dealt randomly from a shuffled deck. This equates to a battle between two equally staffed armies, with troop forces identical on either side.

But as Sun Tzu showed so many times during his military career, success isn't based on the number of soldiers at your disposal – but the quality of those soldiers.

Give a good pro 15,000 chips to start, and double that to 30,000 for a 'fish' and I'd be happy to bet that the pro winds up with more chips by the end of the day. The pro knows how to disguise their strong hands by betting the same as they would on a bluff. Conversely, when they're holding nothing but rags, the pro can stare straight through your soul while convincing everyone at the table they have the goods.

All is fair in poker and war – including the art of deception.

Tactics

Chapter V: Energy

This is another quote that speaks to the poker player in me, but it also applies to table game advantage play.

Obviously, for poker players, employing tactics designed to confuse your opponent is the entire objective.

You want them to put chips in the pot when you have strong hands, and to fold when you're bluffing. Getting a stranger to follow your lead like that can be difficult enough, but when you're both trying to take one another's money, the game takes on an entirely different level of strategy.

I always go back to the classic 'rock paper scissors' example to explain how this multilevel approach to strategy shakes out. If your opponent knows you like to throw rock, they'll counter with paper, and knowing this, you should opt for scissors. But if your opponent knows you know that, perhaps they'll adjust and throw rock themselves, in which case you should roll with paper.

And round and it goes…

The best poker players remember how certain situations went the first time, adjusting on the fly for that second encounter in hopes of confusing their mark. Like I said in the preceding entry, I wouldn't want to play poker with Sun Tzu, as I expect he'd have me calling off value bets and blundering into ill timed bluffs with regularity.

As for the advantage play blackjack specialists out there, use Sun Tzu's maxim to conceal your card counting and other techniques from the pit boss. The casino is always watching, after all, so it's in your best interest to disguise your activity. Intentionally misplaying a hand or missing a bet on occasion is a great way to leave casino staff in the dark about your true abilities.

Focus

Chapter II: Waging War

This quote speaks to me because I view the casino floor as the ultimate in controlled chaos.

Just think about it… Everywhere you look, the player is surrounded by elements designed to distract and deceive. Scoreboards hang above the roulette table, trying to bait you in by broadcasting streaks and patterns. Slot machines advertise massive jackpots with bright, bold signage, but you'll only find the long odds against buried in the fine print. The craps table contains dozens of bets, almost all of them consigned to the 'sucker' category.

The list goes on and on.

Casinos are a tough place to operate if you're easily distracted by chaos, which is why the best gamblers out there tend be a focused bunch. Rather than wander the floor in search of the latest longshot wagers, these players simply stick to the script, grinding out a profit by beating skill based games.

The casino is chaos defined, and those who thrive amidst that disorder do so by focusing on the opportunities at hand.

Economics

Chapter II: Waging War

It doesn't take a genius to see how this pearl of Sun Tzu wisdom pertains to casino gambling.

In my line of work, bankroll management is by far the most essential skill that separates winning players from the rest.

Picture two players sitting side by side at a pair of video poker machines, each with $500 to work with. These players both have basic strategy for Jacks or Better memorized, and they're both capable of recalling that information to play the game perfectly. Thus, aside from random variance, they should both perform equally over a set number of sessions.

Alas, one of these players likes to 'take shots,' so they start betting $25 per hand at the high stakes. The other player sticks to $5 per hand betting, which is standard for his bankroll limitations.

By the end of the day, barring an incredible stroke of fortune, the big bettor is far more likely to go broke than his counterpart. Betting $25 per hand, or five percent of their total bankroll, doesn't leave much room to survive the swings. But at the $5 increment, you're applying just 1 percent of your bankroll on any given hand.

Before competing in any casino game, be sure to count the cost.

Rest

Chapter II: Waging War

At one point in my younger days as a blackjack sharp, I found myself sitting next to a man who seemed to have it all. He was well dressed, hand plenty of dough, and best of all, he knew blackjack like the back of his hand.

This guy played perfectly, and I mean that – every decision he made aligned with the tenets of proper strategy. He never deviated from the correct course of action, and as a result, he built his initial stake into a multicolored mountain of chips.

I had a decent night myself, so I colored up and cashed out after a few solid hours of grinding. When I did, the previously silent pro shot me a glance and asked 'quitting time already?' He then told me that a good gambler never gets up when they're running good, advising me to 'play out my rush.'

I politely declined, heading back to the room to count my winnings and get some sleep. The next morning, I took a walk and wound up near the blackjack pit, where I saw the same man, sitting in the same seat and wearing the same clothes.

He had been there all night, trying to ride out that rush, but by now his former castle of chips lay in ruin. I hung around and watched him play out the last of it, only this time, he was making basic mistakes common to a blackjack rookie.

After a 24 hour session on the tables, even this blackjack savant slipped up and lost his way. Prolonging the battle may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but the choice backfired spectacularly.

Sun Tzu had it right all along, which is why I always recommend getting a full night's rest before playing.

Discretion

Chapter III: Attack by Stratagem

I think about this Sun Tzu quote every time I encounter a new side bet on one of my preferred table games.

I love to play Three Card Poker, and I enjoy the idea of an added jackpot element, so I was happy to see the Six Card Bonus side bet during my latest sojourn to Sin City. This optional wager allows players to combine their three card hand with the dealer's three cards, in hopes of making their best five card poker hand.

Before betting on the Six Card Bonus, however, I decided to do a little research. As it turns out, this seemingly attractive side bet offers an absurd house edge of 15.28 percent – nearly triple that found on the double zero roulette wheel. In fact, the house edge was so high, only a few games on the casino floor (Big Six Wheel, keno, longshot bets in craps) were worse.

Armed with that knowledge, I became a winning player on the Six Card Bonus, simply by avoiding the bet at all costs. Knowing when to fight is important, but knowing when the battle won't be worth your effort can be even more valuable.

Selectiveness

Chapter VI: Weak Points and Strong

This rule is simply an extension of the previous entry, but it bears repeating: don't play games that aren't player friendly.

Casinos rely on uninformed recreational players who don't know a thing about odds and probabilities.

That's how they're able to get away with running Jacks or Better video poker using the inferior 8/6 (98.40 percent house edge) and 9/5 (98.45 percent) pay tables, right alongside full pay 9/6 machines (99.54 percent). Players who don't know the score sit down and dump a $100, without ever knowing that they're backing reduced odds.

Follow the advice found in The Art of War, and strike at what is weak (full pay games with higher house edge rates), while carefully avoiding combat with what is strong (inferior pay tables that favor the house).

Balance

Chapter III: Attack by Stratagem

With all of that said, I still enjoy the occasional spin on the slots or the roulette wheel.

I play these games of chance for fun, knowing full well that they offer higher house edge rates when compared to skill based options like blackjack or video poker. My goal as a gambler is always to win, but I also recognize the need for balance.

Trust me, grinding blackjack for 10 hours every day can be profitable for skilled players but it can also be a slog. For all of its beauty, blackjack is based on a rote gameplay experience, more like a math formula than anything else. Take your hole cards, compare them to the dealer's up card, and proceed according to basic strategy. Wash, rinse, and repeat…

After focusing intently on a game like blackjack, I find a few spins on a game of chance to be quite therapeutic. Call it blowing off steam, or getting away from the grind, but I consider these intermissions in my regular schedule to be useful over the long run.

Sure, I may give a few bucks back to the house by playing roulette, but those small losses are more than offset by the balanced mindset I bring back to the blackjack table. The trick is knowing how to handle the inferior gambles playing short sessions and betting small while you work to overcome superior games.

Savvy

Chapter III: Attack by Stratagem

Whenever I cash in a buffet voucher or free play coupon, this Sun Tzu quote comes to mind.

Casinos have plenty of ways to take your money, but they also offer tremendous opportunity to offset losses through the Player's Club and similar promotions. Anytime you can score free funds from the casino, you've managed to subdue the enemy before the fight begins.

Generosity

War Against Gambling Against

Chapter X: Terrain

War Against Gambling Losses

On a final note, Sun Tzu recognized the importance of treating his comrades well.

Gamblers should do the same, by tipping their dealers, chip runners, cocktail servers, and cashier attendants whenever the opportunity arises. If you're a regular, it only takes a few tips to show the staff that you're an ally to be valued.

War Against Gambling Rules

From there, they might not follow you into any valleys, but they'll be more than happy to comp your next meal or send you to a show on the house.

Conclusion

'The Art of War' is one of the most famous strategy books of all time. It's not often associated with games of chance, but what the 'Art of War' taught me about gambling shows you how you can use this classic to help you in your gambling ventures.

War On Gambling