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Interesting thread.
I can only speak for myself, by I play
ed with the 'hope' that I could perhaps win big, or at least get a decent size win to withdraw with.
I never felt happy when losing. At the same time, there were varying degrees of unhappiness based on any particular session.
A) If I deposited $100, and was spinning at $1-2 per spin on RTG slots, and lost within a few minutes, I shouldn't be all that surprised (mind you I haven't done this much over the past couple of years). In the end, I wouldn't be happy, but hardly angry or depressed because I was basically sticking my chin out waiting to get smacked anyway. No surprises there.
B) If I deposited $100, got white hot (on the very odd occasion), and took it up to a substantial amount, more than I had anticipated (as I'm generally just looking to double my investment), and broke my initial plan to withdraw at a certain targeted amount, did well, but only to eventually go bust, then I'm more numb than anything. I'm unhappy once I come to my senses, and truly disappointed with myself more than anything.
C) If I deposited $150 with a monthly match bonus at a reputable casino, losing month after month, when I'm only placing bets in the .09-27 cents range, and losing it within a couple/few hours time, then I'm very unhappy. I'm unhappy (and likely bitter) because there wasn't even a hint of 'hope' that I could win big, and if this repeats itself over dozens of deposits, it's hard trying to contain my resentment, by being 'level-headed'.
Personally, if people cry "rigged" when they've experience something similar to examples
A) or
B), it's VERY hard to feel any sympathy for them. They've either bet too much too soon, or that they had the golden opportunity to withdraw a substantial amount, only to lose focus while nodding off to delusions of grandeur while the reels were spinning.
But if it's example
C), and the sessions repeat themselves all the time, and they're betting small amounts, and going bust in a very short amount of time, with little value on their deposits, with little to no hint of 'hope'/'entertainment'/'adventure' etc, then I would understand if they're searching for reasons for their lousy gameplay; because 'luck' should swing both ways and it hasn't been for ages.
If they've been playing at the same casino for a year or even years, deposited thousands of dollars, and have never been able to double-up from where their initial balance was at, and their money just drops down in moments just like the last time, just like the time before that, and just like the dozens of times before that, it's hard coming away from the experience without wondering if they're not getting a fair shake at winning.
Looking at the other side of the spectrum, if the other camp fully accepts that the games aren't rigged, that betting systems don't work, and that the player will ultimately be on the wrong side of variance in the long run anyway, which is accepted here as being the 'mature' way of looking at it, and by that I mean that they've
REALLY accepted it, not just understand it, but
accept it as truth, I can't completely understand why they would want to continue playing either. It's hard fathoming that either side fully endorses being on the wrong side of variance over the long haul, committed to losing when all is said and done, at least from a player's perspective; that being mine.
I can understand if someone is gambling for fun - knowing that they're likely not going to win - which is something they might do every couple of months or so at the local bingo hall/casino, but let's face it, if someone is coming here everyday, posting everyday, you'd have to think that the members here (those who are players), are quite serious about online gambling, to the point where it can't
just be about 'fun' anymore.
*The term 'rigged' to everyone in the online industry, gets so many knee-jerk responses, you'd think it was on par with calling someone a racist.
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"
Luck is the residue of opportunity and design." - Branch Rickey
One more point I'd like to add, which is about 'luck'. If the software isn't rigged or at least manipulated, there's still a house edge/variance, and there are software providers (or the casinos) who can adjust their payouts, and all of that other stuff, there's really not much left over for any kind of a real unfabricated 'luck' factor, now is there?
Maybe my understanding of it all isn't necessarily correct, but that's the way I interpret it.
Steed
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