Notes

Compulsive gambling, otherwise known as pathological gambling disorder, is an uncontrollable urge to keep on gambling even despite the enormous cost it exacts in your personal life. Gambling just means you are willing to risk something that you value very much in the hopes of getting something else of even greater value. However, the more you gamble, the more value you put on every win and loss. The ultimate goal of any gambler would be to get the casino pay out more than they took. It's a vicious cycle that has plagued countless gamblers throughout the ages.

To know how to beat the odds in gambling, it's important to understand a little about the way the game is designed. In a simple game of roulette, in case you lay bets equal to the odds of the particular number or"line" that is drawn, you win. Should you make any other changes such as folding or changing the line or number, the amount you can win will decrease. So how does this factor into gambling? It is important to keep in mind that the chances are in favor of the house and that any effort to alter the odds by way of such tactics as laying bets that are in opposition with the house's odds will raise the amount you stand to lose.

One great example of how gambling can affect your bottom line is the case of prominent British author, Jonathan Swift. Swift trivia will reveal that the very person who is credited with the quote that is known as the American Thomas Cromwell was in actuality, a gambler. On one of his many visits to the notorious gaming enclave of London, Cromwell experienced what many of us call the"caveat emptor." This phrase called the situation wherein a traveler coming to another country could be persuaded, perhaps persuaded enough to go ahead and sign whatever contract was being negotiated. One of the conditions that was commonly understood in the gaming world during this time period was"the cut". The cut was that the casino's way of saying that they would take a loss in exchange for a higher commission from the winner of this game.

In the event of the famous quote,"The odds are against the wager," the gaming establishment was shown to be unyielding. Many players tried to deceive the wagers by placing larger bets when the odds were against them. Those players who couldn't discern the truth were frequently either forced out or put in prison. Even though the issue of gaming laws and their application were debated by both sides of the debate throughout the years, the American Revolution and the creation of the US Constitution solved the issue once and for all. Today gambling is strictly illegal in america, except in the few states that have legalized sports wagering and have created state-funded gambling establishments.

Many Muslim gamblers in Las Vegas and other gambling cities around the globe feel that America is despised by their fellow Muslim gamblers. This is based on the fact that America supposedly stands for freedom and democracy, while their own gaming establishments present an obvious symbol of unearned wealth. Additionally, many Muslims fear that all gambling, even in a country such as the United States, is a symbol of Western decadence and depravation. All in all, the mindset of the American majority towards gambling seems to boil down to one question: Is America ready for shariah?

For many non-gamers, the answer would be no. While some non-gamers would express concern over gambling, the overwhelming majority would dismiss it out of hand. This is most likely because gaming seems so banal. Few Americans consider it to be a problem, so the idea that gaming is a pathology worthy of a law or just a solution appears absurd. This attitude is understandable, but if you look deeper, you will see that the origin of the problem really lies within America, instead of with the players.

The real problem with American culture, and the real reason why so many Americans are against gambling, is based in the fact that most of them are unwilling to acknowledge that gambling is an issue. The refusal to accept that gambling is a problem forces gamblers to be in an unnatural position, where they need to either decide to gamble more to alleviate feelings of anxiety or to withdraw from playing altogether. Gambling, which seems to be such an important part of daily life, is often removed from these situations. Gamblers are consequently forced to find other ways to"alleviate feelings of anxiety".

For Muslim Americans, this scenario is even more problematic. Although Islam doesn't prohibit gambling, most Protestants see gambling as a source of riches for non-Muslims, especially in areas like Las Vegas. Thus, many Protestants feel that all gamblers, Muslim or not, are guilty of unearned riches. This means that all Muslims are poor and must therefore stop playing because they are thieves and profiteers. By this logic, all Muslims should immediately resign their posts at all government agencies and mosques and join the army of Islamic resistance against America and the Jews.
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