What to Know About Investing vs. Gambling (2024)

FAQs

What to Know About Investing vs. Gambling? ›

Gambling is a short-term pursuit where the individual owns nothing, with negative average returns expected over time. Investing provides ownership in an asset (for stocks) or an expected return (for bonds), over a much longer time frame.

Key Takeaways

A key principle in investing and gambling is to minimize risk while maximizing reward. Investors have more sources of relevant information than gamblers. Gamblers have fewer ways to mitigate losses than investors. Over time, the odds will be in your favor as an investor and not in your favor as a gambler.

However, institutional investors do tend to have more knowledge, as these are large companies with numerous analysts specialising in a particular market. Still, the stock market is not entirely comparable to a casino. Indeed, with gambling, it is the case that you cannot predict it at all, nor explain it afterwards.

The Bible doesn't specifically state that we should invest, but also does not forbid it. Investing is mentioned in Proverbs 31:16 and used in Jesus's parables (ex. Parable of the Ten Minas found in Luke 19:11-27), implying that it is expected and normal.

While option trading involves an element of risk, it is generally regarded as a legitimate part of the financial markets rather than a form of gambling.

Key Takeaways. Gambling is not a good alternative for earning extra cash. Each game you play at a casino has a statistical probability against you winning. Slot machine odds are some of the worst, ranging from a one-in-5,000 to one-in-about-34-million chance of winning the top prize when using the maximum coin play.

In-person gambling remains the bread and butter of the industry. Slot machines brought in $35.51 billion in 2023, an increase of 3.8% from the previous year. Table games brought in $10.31 billion, up 3.5%. Sports betting generated $10.92 billion in revenue, up 44.5%.

Our faith calls us to be responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us by God. The stock market presents a unique opportunity for faithful stewardship. Consider Matthew 25:14-30. Here, Jesus teaches us about the importance of investing our resources wisely and multiplying them for the glory of God.

Investing is the act of committing capital to an asset like a stock, with the expectation of generating income or profit. Gambling, on the other hand, is wagering money on an uncertain outcome, that statistically is likely to be negative. A gambler owns nothing, while an investor owns a share of the underlying company.

History of recession and gambling

In times of economic recession, gambling, particularly on lotteries, usually stays strong. Gambling during recession times is typically highest amongst those who are experiencing the greatest financial hardship as it represents a potential way out.

When should you not invest? ›

“I advise my clients that any money they are going to need to spend in the next two to three years should not be invested in stocks,” says Itkin. “You do not want to have to sell during a bear market and risk losing principal.”

Can You Make a Lot of Money in Stocks? Yes, if your goals are realistic. Although you hear of making a killing with a stock that doubles, triples, or quadruples in price, such occurrences are rare, and/or usually reserved for day traders or institutional investors who take a company public.

Although there are some who experience gambling as something rewarding and fun, it tends toward being highly addictive and potentially ruinous. The Bible doesn't call gambling a sin as such, although the Bible warns against the love of money and get-rich-quick schemes.

The buyer of an option can't lose more than the initial premium paid for the contract, no matter what happens to the underlying security. So the risk to the buyer is never more than the amount paid for the option. The profit potential, on the other hand, is theoretically unlimited.

As options approach their expiration date, they lose value due to time decay (theta). The closer an option is to expiration, the faster its time value erodes. If the underlying asset's price doesn't move in the desired direction quickly enough, options buyers can suffer losses as the time value diminishes.

Options can be a better choice when you want to limit risk to a certain amount. Options can allow you to earn a stock-like return while investing less money, so they can be a way to limit your risk within certain bounds. Options can be a useful strategy when you're an advanced investor.

A gambler can still strike it big, but it's more likely the person will ultimately lose. Investing can yield great losses, but the stock market generally appreciates over time, and if you keep investing, the odds are generally in your favor, certainly more so than for a gambler.

Harm from gambling isn't just about losing money. Gambling can affect self-esteem, relationships, physical and mental health, work performance and social life. It can harm not only the person who gambles but also family, friends, workplaces and communities. Here are some signs of gambling harm you can look for.

Guideline 1: Gamble no more than 1% of household income

Don't bet more than 1% of your household income before tax per month. For example, someone with a household income of $70,000 before tax should gamble no more than $58 per month.